Author Ian Rankin Books in Order List [2025]
![Author Ian Rankin Books in Order List [2025]](https://msuhfnkvjfghswtyoljs.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/media/1758773191026-pp7r2opiigl.webp)
Ian Rankin is a top Scottish crime writer, best known for the Inspector Rebus novels. This guide lists his books by publication date, popularity, and reading order for every major series.
The article makes it easy for fans and new readers to find every Rankin novel, thriller, and collection.
🕒 Author Ian Rankin Books in Chronological Order (By Year)
Here are Ian Rankin’s major works in order of publication (novels, short stories, non-fiction, plays):
No. | Year | Book Title | No Time To Read? |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1986 | The Flood >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
2 | 1987 | Knots and Crosses (Rebus #1) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
3 | 1988 | Watchman >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
4 | 1990 | Hide and Seek (Rebus #2) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
5 | 1991 | Westwind >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
6 | 1992 | Tooth and Nail (Rebus #3) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
7 | 1992 | Strip Jack (Rebus #4) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
8 | 1992 | A Good Hanging and Other Stories (Short Stories) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
9 | 1993 | The Black Book (Rebus #5) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
10 | 1993 | Witch Hunt (Jack Harvey #1) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
11 | 1994 | Mortal Causes (Rebus #6) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
12 | 1995 | Let It Bleed (Rebus #7) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
13 | 1995 | Blood Hunt (Jack Harvey #2) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
14 | 1995 | Bleeding Hearts (Jack Harvey #3) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
15 | 1997 | Black and Blue (Rebus #8) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
16 | 1998 | The Hanging Garden (Rebus #9) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
17 | 1998 | Death Is Not the End (Novella) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
18 | 1999 | Dead Souls (Rebus #10) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
19 | 2000 | Set in Darkness (Rebus #11) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
20 | 2001 | The Falls (Rebus #12) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
21 | 2002 | Resurrection Men (Rebus #13) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
22 | 2002 | Beggars Banquet (Short Stories) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
23 | 2003 | A Question of Blood (Rebus #14) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
24 | 2004 | Fleshmarket Close (Rebus #15) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
25 | 2005 | Rebus's Scotland: A Personal Journey (Non-Fiction) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
26 | 2006 | The Naming of the Dead (Rebus #16) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
27 | 2007 | Exit Music (Rebus #17) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
28 | 2008 | Doors Open >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
29 | 2009 | The Complaints (Malcolm Fox #1) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
30 | 2009 | A Cool Head (Quick Reads novella) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
31 | 2011 | The Impossible Dead (Malcolm Fox #2) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
32 | 2012 | Standing in Another Man’s Grave (Rebus #18) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
33 | 2013 | Saints of the Shadow Bible (Rebus #19) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
34 | 2014 | The Beat Goes On (Rebus Short Stories) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
35 | 2014 | Dark Road (Play) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
36 | 2015 | Even Dogs in the Wild (Rebus #20) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
37 | 2016 | Rather Be the Devil (Rebus #21) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
38 | 2018 | In a House of Lies (Rebus #22) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
39 | 2018 | Long Shadows (Play) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
40 | 2020 | A Song for the Dark Times (Rebus #23) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
41 | 2022 | A Heart Full of Headstones (Rebus #24) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
42 | 2023 | The Rise (Novella) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
43 | 2023 | A Game Called Malice (With Simon Reade, Play) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
44 | 2024 | Midnight and Blue (Rebus #25) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
45 | 2022 | The People’s City: The Edinburgh Diaries (Non-Fiction) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
46 | 2022 | John Rebus: A Mysterious Profile (Non-Fiction) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
47 | 2014 | In the Nick of Time (With Peter James, Short) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
48 | 2015 | The Travelling Companion (Novella) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
49 | 2016 | Meet & Greet (Short Story) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
50 | 1998 | Herbert in Motion (Short, in collection) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
51 | 2015 | The Kill Fee (Short Story) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
52 | 2013 | Dead and Buried (Short, with Saints of the Shadow Bible) >>Buy @Amazon<< | >>Get Audio Book<< |
✨If You Like Ian Rankin, Try These Authors
⭐ Michael Connelly – Smart detective stories, thrilling plots, and great characters.
Check out Michael Connelly’s books in order.
⭐ Peter James – Fast-paced police-procedurals with gripping suspense.
Check out Peter James’s books in order.
🌟 Author Ian Rankin Books by Popularity
No. | Year | Book Title | Star Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1997 | Black and Blue | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
2 | 1987 | Knots and Crosses | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
3 | 2002 | Resurrection Men | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
4 | 2015 | Even Dogs in the Wild | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
5 | 2007 | Exit Music | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
6 | 2016 | Rather Be the Devil | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
7 | 2004 | Fleshmarket Close | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
8 | 1998 | The Hanging Garden | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
9 | 2020 | A Song for the Dark Times | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
10 | 2018 | In a House of Lies | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
📚 Author Ian Rankin Books by Series Order
Ian Rankin’s books grouped by main series:
📙Inspector Rebus Series (Novels)
Knots and Crosses
Hide and Seek
Tooth and Nail
Strip Jack
The Black Book
Mortal Causes
Let It Bleed
Black and Blue
The Hanging Garden
Dead Souls
Set in Darkness
The Falls
Resurrection Men
A Question of Blood
Fleshmarket Close
The Naming of the Dead
Exit Music
Standing in Another Man’s Grave
Saints of the Shadow Bible
Even Dogs in the Wild
Rather Be the Devil
In a House of Lies
A Song for the Dark Times
A Heart Full of Headstones
Midnight and Blue
📖Companion Books
Death Is Not the End (Novella)
The Beat Goes On (Complete Rebus Short Stories)
A Good Hanging and Other Stories
Beggars Banquet
In the Nick of Time (with Peter James)
📙 Malcolm Fox Series
The Complaints
The Impossible Dead
📙 Jack Harvey Thrillers (as Jack Harvey)
Witch Hunt
Blood Hunt
Bleeding Hearts
📙 Novellas, Plays, Standalones & Collections
The Flood
Watchman
Westwind
Doors Open
A Cool Head
The Travelling Companion
Long Shadows (Play)
The Rise (Novella)
A Game Called Malice (with Simon Reade, Play)
Herbert in Motion (in Beggars Banquet)
Meet & Greet
Dark Road (Play)
📖Non-Fiction
Rebus's Scotland: A Personal Journey
John Rebus: A Mysterious Profile
The people’s city: The Edinburgh Diaries
✅ Final Thoughts
The best place to start with Ian Rankin is the Inspector Rebus series, especially Knots and Crosses. Fans of gritty mysteries and strong detective leads will enjoy reading every novel in order. For more thrilling crime stories, don’t miss Michael Connelly and Peter James.
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