As the Scottish Parliament prepares to return to Edinburgh after three centuries, Detective Inspector John Rebus investigates a body found entombed within the masonry of Queensberry House. The discovery of the long-dead corpse coincides with two fresh fatalities: a candidate for the new parliament and a homeless man who falls from a bridge. Rebus navigates the shifting political landscape of a city in transition, tracing connections between old wealth, modern power-brokering, and a historical mystery involving a missing person from the late 1970s. The investigation forces him to confront the dark history of the site itself while dealing with a newly arrived London gangster.
Readers who value gritty procedural realism and urban geography gravitate toward this novel. It serves those interested in the intersection of local politics and criminal investigation, providing a detailed look at how national shifts affect street-level policing. The reader gains an understanding of Edinburgh’s specific social hierarchies and the persistent legacy of historical crimes. This book appeals to people who prefer flawed, cynical protagonists and narratives where the atmospheric setting acts as a primary character, balancing logistical police work with the complexities of Scottish identity.
- Published
- 2001
- Language
- EN
