Ian Rankin returns with another tale of murder for John Rebus in Even Dogs in the Wild

TOWARDS the start of Ian Rankin’s new John Rebus novel, it emerges that the curmudgeonly detective has “taken the gold watch” and retired.

When Rebus goes to his doctor, he’s told he needs to give up the booze. When Rebus asked for a second opinion, the doctor said: “You should give up smoking too.”

Rebus admits halfway through the novel that he’s “knackered.”