The Saints of the Shadow Bible by Ian Rankin

Saints of the Shadow Bible is Ian Rankin’s nineteenth novel featuring John Rebus, an aging and cantankerous police detective in Scotland.  Rebus retired at the mandatory age of sixty then went back to work in a cold case unit.  Now he is back in the Criminal Investigation Unit, CID at the rank of sergeant, where he began thirty odd years earlier.  He is constantly reminded that he is lucky any commander will have him due to his total disregard for authority and his old school methods. But his keen investigation skills and his love of the hunt continues to make him relevant in a modern crime solving unit.

Rebus is assigned to investigate an auto accident involving Jessica, the daughter of a wealthy businessman.  Evidence found at the scene suggests the girl was not the car’s driver.  He learns her boyfriend is son of a prominent politician and her flat mate, Alice is the niece of a common criminal… his imagination kicks in.  A couple days later the politician is found bludgeoned to death in his home which is near the accident site.  Rebus is not assigned to the murder but as he digs into the accident, he becomes convinced the two cases are tied together.  Jessica’s father arrives and limits Rebus’s access to Jessica but he keeps digging into the activities of Alice and her uncle until other crimes are discovered and are connected to the car crash.

Meanwhile, Scotland is considering retracting the double jeopardy law which will allow a defendant to be tried a second time for a crime even if found not guilty in the first trial.  This causes the Solicitor General of Scotland to begin reinvestigating a murder from thirty years earlier.  Billy Saunders was acquitted of killing a man and the police were suspected of withholding evidence.  The rogue police were part of a close knit group calling themselves Saints of the Shadow Bible.  They were notorious for manipulating and creating evidence to convict and spare criminals of their choosing.  Rebus had just begun his career and was starting to be accepted by the Saints when they disband.  Rebus managed to distance himself from the group and enjoyed a long career in the CID.  Now the Solicitor General has sent Malcolm Fox to investigate.  Rebus is assigned to his team but isn’t sure if he is a suspect or is deemed helpful to rousting his old pals.  But Rebus is all about finding the truth, no matter what and his methods often offend those in authority.  Fox learns from Rebus… both what to do and what not to do… and a mutual respect is founded.

Saints of the Shadow Bible is classic John Rebus.  His obsession to find the truth regardless of the consequences to himself, his friends or his superiors borders on personally disorder.  This has cost him his family, many friendships, and any chance at advancement but at the end of his career, all he wants to do is more of the same… if they’ll have him.   A great read!