A murder has been committed - but as the victim is a rapist, recently released from prison, no one is that concerned about the crime. That is, until Detective Inspector John Rebus and DS Siobhan Clarke uncover evidence that a serial killer is on the loose . . . When Rebus also starts looking into the apparent suicide of an MP, he is abruptly warned off the case, not least because the G8 leaders have gathered in Scotland, and Rebus's bosses want him well out of the way. But Rebus has never been one to stick to the rules, and when Siobhan has a very personal reason for hunting down a riot cop, it looks as though both Rebus and Clarke may be up against their own side . . .
The Naming of the Dead
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Listen to an extract of Ian Rankin's new thriller, 
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Review
'Rankin's home provided him with a brilliant backdrop for a crime novel: Edinburgh during the crazy week in 2005 when the G8 came to town' (LITERARY REVIEW )
'Masterly...Ian Rankin's finest novel. It is more than a crime novel, or rather, Rankin's achievement is to show, convincingly, how crime permeates society' (THE SCOTSMAN )
'The Naming of the Dead is Ian Rankin's Exile on Main Street: dark, murky and less immediate than his other novels, but still zinging with wit and his inimitable gift for plot. His richest and most complex work to date, it comes close to trascending genre fiction' (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY )
'Rebus's latest adventure is as gripping as ever' (THE LONDON PAPER )
'Rebus may seem to be running on something very near empty, but there is no sign that Rankin has lost any of the energy to continue this consistently impressive series' (SUNDAY TIMES )
'This may be Rankin's 19th Rebus book, but while there's still plenty of life in the old devil yet, Siobhan Clarke is proving that she is more than capable of taking up the baton' (DAILY MIRROR )
'Rankin deftly inserts Rebus into the true story of that week, culminating, as it did in the London bombings of July 7. An excellent performance, for a cop on the verge of extinction' (Marcel Berlins THE TIMES )
'combines the page-turning appeal of a modern police procedural with the moral complexity of a political novel' (John Boyne THE IRISH TIMES )
'Politics crashes head on into Inspector Rebus's usual interests (solving grisly murders and supping pints) in the latest of this award-winning series. The Naming of the Dead set against the 2005 G8 Summit, is yet another irresistable page-turner from the UK's best crime novelist' (MAIL ON SUNDAY )
'Not only an intriguing murder-mystery but an excellent piece of reportage. Ian Rankin, despite his dodgy musical tastes, has produced yet another class act' (Mark Sanderson EVENING STANDARD )
'This one with its heady mix of crime and current affairs, is staggering. He is now at the top of his game and has almost catapulted himself out of the more limited crime genre altogether' (DAILY MAIL )
'Rankin is on top form here, with a suitably scornful attitude to Bob Geldof and the wishy-washy Live8 endeavour. Excellent stuff' (DUBLIN EVENING HERALD )
'This is Rankin at his hard-bitten best' (METRO LONDON )
'Rankin is on top form: in a stellar career, this is the best Rebus yet' (SAGA )
'Classic Rankin, and if you're in love with the unchangeable Rebus, you'll relish it. It's page-turning, complicated crime' (Frances Fyfield THE INDEPEDENT )
'Classic Rebus' (SHE )
'Crime writing at its best' (WOMAN AND HOME )
'as much a political thriller as a crime mystery. His vivid descriptions of the so-called Battle of Princes Street are as good as any newspaper reports written at the time' (Allan Laing GLASGOW HERALD )
'The plot is another Rankin corker, complex yet convincing, and played out on this occasion over only nine days against the backdrop of last year's G8 summit at Gleneagles, with its retinue of concerts and marches against poverty...The best crime novel you'll read this year' (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
'Impeccably plotted, dripping with suspense and never afraid to get down and dirty this book is further proof a nation will weep when Rebus hangs up his cuffs' (Shari Low DAILY RECORD )
'Rankin brings his characters to life with precision, and handles the novel's complex thematic relationships with his usual skill' (TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT )
'Rankin's mischievous sense of humour is strongly evident too with an inspired Ann Summers/Basque separatists gag' (FQ )
'a big, sometimes elegiac, read' (Peter Gutteridge THE OBSERVER )
'Rankin just gets better. The topicality and eye for detail are awesome' (Jilly Cooper THE OBSERVER - Books of the Year )
'Ian Rankin is back on splendid form with The Naming of the Dead' (THE SPECTATOR )
'Just as Rebus keeps getting his man, Rankin keeps not only hitting his mark, but defining it' (TIME OUT )
'Rankin is on top form here, with a suitably scornful attitude to Bob Geldof and the wishy-washy live 8 endeavour. Excellent stuff' (EVENING HERALD DUBLIN ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
'Masterly...Ian Rankin's finest novel. It is more than a crime novel, or rather, Rankin's achievement is to show, convincingly, how crime permeates society' (THE SCOTSMAN )
'The Naming of the Dead is Ian Rankin's Exile on Main Street: dark, murky and less immediate than his other novels, but still zinging with wit and his inimitable gift for plot. His richest and most complex work to date, it comes close to trascending genre fiction' (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY )
'Rebus's latest adventure is as gripping as ever' (THE LONDON PAPER )
'Rebus may seem to be running on something very near empty, but there is no sign that Rankin has lost any of the energy to continue this consistently impressive series' (SUNDAY TIMES )
'This may be Rankin's 19th Rebus book, but while there's still plenty of life in the old devil yet, Siobhan Clarke is proving that she is more than capable of taking up the baton' (DAILY MIRROR )
'Rankin deftly inserts Rebus into the true story of that week, culminating, as it did in the London bombings of July 7. An excellent performance, for a cop on the verge of extinction' (Marcel Berlins THE TIMES )
'combines the page-turning appeal of a modern police procedural with the moral complexity of a political novel' (John Boyne THE IRISH TIMES )
'Politics crashes head on into Inspector Rebus's usual interests (solving grisly murders and supping pints) in the latest of this award-winning series. The Naming of the Dead set against the 2005 G8 Summit, is yet another irresistable page-turner from the UK's best crime novelist' (MAIL ON SUNDAY )
'Not only an intriguing murder-mystery but an excellent piece of reportage. Ian Rankin, despite his dodgy musical tastes, has produced yet another class act' (Mark Sanderson EVENING STANDARD )
'This one with its heady mix of crime and current affairs, is staggering. He is now at the top of his game and has almost catapulted himself out of the more limited crime genre altogether' (DAILY MAIL )
'Rankin is on top form here, with a suitably scornful attitude to Bob Geldof and the wishy-washy Live8 endeavour. Excellent stuff' (DUBLIN EVENING HERALD )
'This is Rankin at his hard-bitten best' (METRO LONDON )
'Rankin is on top form: in a stellar career, this is the best Rebus yet' (SAGA )
'Classic Rankin, and if you're in love with the unchangeable Rebus, you'll relish it. It's page-turning, complicated crime' (Frances Fyfield THE INDEPEDENT )
'Classic Rebus' (SHE )
'Crime writing at its best' (WOMAN AND HOME )
'as much a political thriller as a crime mystery. His vivid descriptions of the so-called Battle of Princes Street are as good as any newspaper reports written at the time' (Allan Laing GLASGOW HERALD )
'The plot is another Rankin corker, complex yet convincing, and played out on this occasion over only nine days against the backdrop of last year's G8 summit at Gleneagles, with its retinue of concerts and marches against poverty...The best crime novel you'll read this year' (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
'Impeccably plotted, dripping with suspense and never afraid to get down and dirty this book is further proof a nation will weep when Rebus hangs up his cuffs' (Shari Low DAILY RECORD )
'Rankin brings his characters to life with precision, and handles the novel's complex thematic relationships with his usual skill' (TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT )
'Rankin's mischievous sense of humour is strongly evident too with an inspired Ann Summers/Basque separatists gag' (FQ )
'a big, sometimes elegiac, read' (Peter Gutteridge THE OBSERVER )
'Rankin just gets better. The topicality and eye for detail are awesome' (Jilly Cooper THE OBSERVER - Books of the Year )
'Ian Rankin is back on splendid form with The Naming of the Dead' (THE SPECTATOR )
'Just as Rebus keeps getting his man, Rankin keeps not only hitting his mark, but defining it' (TIME OUT )
'Rankin is on top form here, with a suitably scornful attitude to Bob Geldof and the wishy-washy live 8 endeavour. Excellent stuff' (EVENING HERALD DUBLIN ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Book Description
The 16th Inspector Rebus novel from 'Britain's No.1 crime writer' [Daily Mirror]
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
By Ian Paterson
Format:Paperback
I'm a huge fan of Rankin's books and like most who read one have read them all. It's always been a key point of the series that Rankin has aged his central character in real time and here we start to realise just how close we are to the end of the career of John Rebus.
I have to say that I think this is possibly the best in the series since Black and Blue, it benefits from being set in reality in this case Edinburgh during the G8 summit. Tony Blair is the prime minister etc only adds to being sucked into the book.
I like this aspect as Rankin makes mention of current music and TV culture even CSI gets a mention from Rebus.
This book is as much about Siobhan as it is about Rebus and we continue to see that Rankin will be able to continue this series even without the man who was the central character. One principle character is Edinburgh and the setting isn't going to change.
I don't want to give away the ending as like all the stories there is plenty of twists and turns but I like that with Rankin the crimes are always based on real reasons like money, love and revenge.
I usually read these books in a couple of days but this time I purposely read this slower savouring every word like the fine wine this book is with only one Rankin book a year and possibly only one more Rebus story to come it's going to be tough to find another series as good as this one has consistently been.
I have to say that I think this is possibly the best in the series since Black and Blue, it benefits from being set in reality in this case Edinburgh during the G8 summit. Tony Blair is the prime minister etc only adds to being sucked into the book.
I like this aspect as Rankin makes mention of current music and TV culture even CSI gets a mention from Rebus.
This book is as much about Siobhan as it is about Rebus and we continue to see that Rankin will be able to continue this series even without the man who was the central character. One principle character is Edinburgh and the setting isn't going to change.
I don't want to give away the ending as like all the stories there is plenty of twists and turns but I like that with Rankin the crimes are always based on real reasons like money, love and revenge.
I usually read these books in a couple of days but this time I purposely read this slower savouring every word like the fine wine this book is with only one Rankin book a year and possibly only one more Rebus story to come it's going to be tough to find another series as good as this one has consistently been.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Bookworm
Format:Hardcover
Ian Rankin has been in fine form of late. Having only discovered his work about 2 years ago I have been enthralled by every single book. The Black Book, A Question of Blood and Dead Souls were particularly good, but The Naming Of The Dead is probably my favourite of all so far. This is another book in the Inspector John Rebus series, but it focusses a great deal on Siobahn Clarke who may well become the focal point of forthcoming novels by Mr Rankin. This is fast paced and reads like an episode of the TV series '24'. Rankin has also taken to dropping in popular culture references like one would expect to find in a Nick Hornby novel. This makes it similar in style and pace to The Innocent Man by John Grisham. There are a number of top notch thrillers coming out in time for the Christmas rush, and The Naming Of The Dead is as good as any of them. If you're looking to buy a book for someone as a gift I would recommend starting them on one of Rankin's earlier efforts if they are unfamiliar with his work. For fans though this is a must have, and the sooner the better.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By James M.
Format:Hardcover
Ian Rankin is surely ahead of his fellow crime writers if only in the amount of books that he has written that are consistently of a high standard. This is Rankin's 16th Rebus book since 1988, an asthonishing amount by by anyone standards -- not mentioning the other books not featuring Rebus.
This latest edition in the Rebus series sees the Scottsman nearing retirement only for a mysterious set of murders to drag him back in to murky world of criminality -- all set against the backdrop of the G8 summit. This book sees Rankin and Rebus on top form, and Rankin, in particular, uses the G8 and the protest marches that surround it to great effect.
Considering that this is the penultimate Rebus novel it seems to me that Rankin is grooming Siobhan Clarke to succeed Rebus when the old man finally retires -- or worse. She is given a more central role, like the previous few books, and we are seeing new and interesting sides to her.
Quite how Rankin keeps such a high standard is beyond me, but be sure not to miss out on the latest Rebus books before the character is finally seen off.
This latest edition in the Rebus series sees the Scottsman nearing retirement only for a mysterious set of murders to drag him back in to murky world of criminality -- all set against the backdrop of the G8 summit. This book sees Rankin and Rebus on top form, and Rankin, in particular, uses the G8 and the protest marches that surround it to great effect.
Considering that this is the penultimate Rebus novel it seems to me that Rankin is grooming Siobhan Clarke to succeed Rebus when the old man finally retires -- or worse. She is given a more central role, like the previous few books, and we are seeing new and interesting sides to her.
Quite how Rankin keeps such a high standard is beyond me, but be sure not to miss out on the latest Rebus books before the character is finally seen off.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rebus
Another dark Rebus story, lots of twists and turns throughout the novel will keep any reader wanting more, it's over seven hours but not overlong.
Published 4 days ago by Peter Joiner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great read from Ian Rankin
Yet another great story from Ian Rankin. It keeps you guessing as you go through the chapters - the plot twisting and turning as you go on a journey with Rebus and Siobhan through... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Lynda Gilroy
4.0 out of 5 stars
the naming of the dead
I think I must have missed a book or two because rebus brother was still alive in the last one I had and he is dead in this one what happened
Published 1 month ago by val
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Naming of the Dead
Listening to this at the time of this review, totally absorbing as always, and I have no idea as always where it will end. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. E. C. Lovesey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
As with all his novels the flawed character of 'Rebus' holds your attention throughout! Most definitely recommend this to others .
Published 5 months ago by Bam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read,
Great read - follows in the tradition of the rest of the series. well written and extremely readable. good story and stands on its own even if you haven't read any of the others.
Published 5 months ago by Scotty
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too Many Themes
Well, yes. Not my favourite Rebus story; still better than less able crime writers I've come across. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Elizabeth-Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even if you're not a Rebus fan
An excellent reading of this Rebus book. The narrator sounds a bit posh to start with, but he does the voices brilliantly.
Published 15 months ago by Ms D Paulett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Personally found extremely enjoyable
This is the first Ian Rankin book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definately be reading more of this series, although I think everyone is aware of the character of... Read more
Published 19 months ago by AmyRose
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rebus, the Scottish Marlowe
Can the British detective fiction cop ever escape from the shadow of Chandler's Marlowe? Judging from Rankin, the answer is no, which is not to say that The Naming of the Dead... Read more
Published 22 months ago by selina o'grady
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