John Rebus I am so glad you are back in A Song for Dark Times.

Rebus having moved as faces a health set back receives a call from his daughter saying her partner is missing.

Rebus is off the north coast of Scotland ( lots of history in the story of interment camps) . The village and townsfolk are described so well you feel like you are sitting in the pub having a pint with them.

Rebus wears two hats: one as a Dad and the other as a detective. One he wears so much better than the other but he is really trying.

At home Sutherland, Clarke and Fox ( so enjoyed him in this book) are solving their own murder.

Cafferty does not let Clarke or Fox forget he is to be reckoned with.

I don't want to spoil the plot so I will let you the reader discover what happens.

The book has all the banter, they mystery that one expects from Ian Rankin and he does not let the reader down.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Song for the Dark Times and cant wait to get my hard copy , the space on my book shelf is waiting.

Thanks Ian Rankin for a great story.

Thanks to NetGalley , Little Brown and Company for allowing me once more into John Rebus's world.

John Rebus has just moved downstairs in his building because of his COPD when he gets a call from his daughter Samantha that her partner has gone missing. So he drives north to help. Meanwhile Inspectors Siobhan Clarke and Malcom Fox had the murder of a Saudi student to investigate. As the missing person case in the north turned into a murder investigation, the two cases started intersecting and intertwining like a very convoluted jigsaw. The ending for both cases and the sideshow with Fox was nicely done. It will be interesting to see what comes next for John Rebus and his colleagues.

Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title.

This book is not one of the best in Rankin's Rebus series. There are two mysteries, set far apart geographically to give Rebus and Clarke the space to be independent, but neither one is particularly compelling. Even a side story about a threat to Big Ger Cafferty does not add much interest. I gained no new insight into the characters or the human condition in general. Recommended only for established fans of the series.

I’ve read all the books in the series and felt that this was different in that it was better written-not to put down the other titles. Some have seen more put them out quickly but this a much more nuanced telling and I have to admit I enjoyed it both for the literary merit and the mystery. A high five for this read.