Set In Darkness cover art

Set In Darkness

The number one bestselling series that inspired BBC One’s REBUS

Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Unlimited access to our all-you-can-listen catalogue of 15K+ audiobooks and podcasts
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Set In Darkness

By: Ian Rankin
Narrated by: James Macpherson
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

Edinburgh is about to become the home of the first Scottish parliament in 300 years. As political passions run high, DI John Rebus is charged with liaison, thanks to the new parliament being resident in Queensbury House, bang in the middle of his patch. But Queensbury House has its own, dark past.

Legend has it that a young man was roasted there on a spit by a madman. When the fireplace where the youth died is uncovered another more recent murder victim is found. Days later, in the gardens outside, there is another body and Rebus is under pressure to find instant answers.

As the case proceeds, the Inspector finds himself face to face with one of Edinburgh's most notorious criminals...

Read by James Macpherson

(p) 2015 Orion Publishing Group©2000 John Rebus Ltd
Crime Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Crime Fiction Scotland

Critic reviews

Rebus resurgent ... a brilliantly meshed plot which delivers on every count ... Eleventh in the series. Still making waves
No one in Britain writes better crime novels today
Britain's No.1 crime writer
There's no one like Ian Rankin for bringing us right into the world of detectives (Tana French)
No one writes more gripping stories than Rankin ... [Rebus] is a good cop and a masterly creation
Rankin is a phenomenon ... these novels are totally absorbing. Once I start reading one, all else goes by the board till I have finished it
All stars
Most relevant
I felt the book was very good and the delivery was excellent as with the rest of the Rebus series but I just felt the book left too many loose ends unexplained which is a little frustrating for a crime novel. Most things were explained, just a few minor details but I would not let that put you off. It is still yet another great novel in the Rebus series.

Looses Ends

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Would you consider the audio edition of Set In Darkness to be better than the print version?

No, as the story is great, but the narration is awful.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The narration was over the top so had to be listened to in small measures. I would have expected Ian Rankin of all people to be against the use of this narrator.

Terrible Narration!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Ian Rankin is undoubtedly amongst the greatest writers of our times and James Macpherson brings Rebus and his Edinburgh to life in a totally believable way. I have been a fan since Ian Rankin's first book 'Knots & Crosses' and can find no fault in any of the following 24 books. Well done Ian, 'Set in Darkness' is every bit as insightful and engaging as any other book in your wonderful Rebus series.

What a wonderful series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

The new Scottish parliament is being built and Edinburgh is about to reclaim its place on the world stage. Unfortunately dead bodies keep turning up, and no one but Rebus seems to want to find out why.

Politics and corruption, a messy case for Rebus

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

love Ian rankin he's the best crime writer there is. I'm working my way through all he's books

fantastic as always

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews