Exit Music

by Ian Rankin
Exit Music cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Crime, Mystery, Thriller/Suspense
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 9173
  • Added: 2025-12-23
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780316039826
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2008-09-17
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In the late fall of Edinburgh, Detective Inspector John Rebus is on the cusp of retirement, ready to tie up loose ends. However, a new case disrupts his plans: a dissident Russian poet is found murdered in what appears to be a mugging gone wrong. As Rebus delves into the investigation, he uncovers a connection to an elite delegation of Russian businessmen in town, expanding their interests. Meanwhile, a local gangster with whom Rebus has a long history is brutally assaulted, raising questions about whether Rebus has overstepped his bounds for the last time. With only a few days left in his career, Rebus must navigate these complex cases to ensure he makes it to the end.

Reviews
Mum of Three World · 2023-04-21
brilliant 4.50

The book is a brilliant addition to the series, with a realistic portrayal of Edinburgh. The character development and the emotional impact are particularly praised.

They found the book to be another brilliant read from Ian Rankin, with a complex and realistic portrayal of Edinburgh that makes the story feel very real. The character development is particularly strong, and the emotional impact of Rebus's retirement is handled with sensitivity and depth. The reviewer appreciates the way Rankin weaves together the various threads of the plot, creating a compelling and satisfying conclusion to the series. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page, and it's a testament to Rankin's skill as a writer that he can make you feel so invested in a character's journey.

Quick quotes

    Exit Music is another brilliant read from Ian Rankin.

    Rebus novels are complex, but they also feel very real and paint a picture of Edinburgh that is both vivid and authentic.

    The emotional impact of Rebus's retirement is handled with sensitivity and depth.

BooksPlease · 2010-10-18
satisfying 4.50

The book is a satisfying conclusion to the series, with a strong emotional impact. The character development and the sense of closure are particularly noteworthy.

This book is a bittersweet farewell to one of crime fiction's most beloved characters. The reviewer found it incredibly moving, as it ties up Rebus's story in a way that feels both conclusive and emotionally resonant. The pacing and the way Rankin weaves together the various threads of the plot are particularly praised. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page, and it's a testament to Rankin's skill as a writer that he can make you feel so invested in a character's journey.

Quick quotes

    I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    Having read all the Rebus books in sequence I feel I've come to the end of an era as Rebus comes to the end of his career.

    It is a fitting farewell to a character who has been a constant companion for so many years.

EuroCrime · 2010-01-01
poignant 4.50

The writing is nuanced and subtle, making it one of Rankin's most sophisticated works. The emotional depth and the sense of an ending are particularly poignant.

They found the writing to be particularly nuanced and subtle, with a depth that makes it one of Rankin's most sophisticated works. The emotional impact is significant, as it marks the end of an era for Rebus. The reviewer appreciates the way Rankin handles the character's retirement, giving it a sense of finality and closure. The pacing and the way the various plot threads are woven together are also praised, making it a compelling read from start to finish. It's a book that will resonate with long-time fans of the series.

Quick quotes

    EXIT MUSIC is written brilliantly, possibly with more subtlety and nuance in the writing than ever before.

    It may be the ending of a chapter in Rebus' career, but it is also a new beginning for Rankin.

    The emotional depth and the sense of an ending are particularly poignant.

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