Even though we are still not sure if there is a panda cub on the way, the world keeps on turning and crime writer Ian Rankin confirmed that he is writing the next Rebus book.

Ian Rankin in March 2017 announcing Rebus 30

When he appeared on stage at the Edinburgh International Book Festival last night Rankin told his audience that he is indeed writing another novel about John Rebus (who was presumably propping up the Oxford Bar while Rankin was on stage).

The novel to be published by the Orion Publishing Group will be available in Autumn 2018 with the paperback published the following year.

This year has been a momentous one for Rebus as it was the 30th anniversary of the publication of the first novel, Knots & Crosses marked by the festival Rebus 30.

Ian Rankin said: “After 30 years and 21 novels, John Rebus seems to have more fans than ever – and luckily for me there’s still plenty of life (and fight) in the old dog. Rebus has been proud to call Orion his home for his various adventures and it’s a thrill and privilege for me to say that a further instalment will arrive in 2018, published by Orion, overseen by my indefatigable editor, Jon Wood. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to spend some time with an old friend…”

 

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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.