Ian Rankin’s Rebus series of books is, without a doubt, some of the best police fiction on the bookshelves today. The BBC-adapted television series, as usual, takes many liberties, shortcuts, and total rewrites, but that doesn’t make them any less exciting and gripping. It also has an alluring soap opera quality that’s just soapy enough.

It gives viewers insights into the three main characters, some day-to-day mischief, high jinks, infighting, backstabbing, slights, and arguments, and a few other emotional tugs, but does so in a way that makes the series more familiar and more familial. They stick together as a family in spite of their squabbles and differences.

There are four episodes in the boxed set and each contains an Ian Rankin bio and cast filmographies, and runs just under 70 minutes. There’s apparently a rotating stable of writers, all of whom are at least good, some better than others.

The three central characters in all the episodes are Detective Inspector John Rebus (Ken Stott), Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke (Claire Price), and Detective Chief Superintendent Gill Templar (Jennifer Black). A few other characters appear regularly in minor roles, with one appearing more often, that of Detective Chief Inspector Tennent (David Anderson).

This is a fast-moving, action-packed crime drama that deserves much more recognition than it receives.

"Knots and Crosses"
Writer Roger Gartland

In a story that’s familiar with everybody these days, a judge rules a voluntary confession as inadmissible due to the possibility of coercion. The prosecutor surprisingly declines to offer any further evidence, and the judge dismisses the charges. The victim’s family is now doubly distraught, while inside the halls of justice, fingers are pointing, and Rebus accuses the prosecutor of blowing the case. The prosecutor fires back and the fight is on.

Ghosts from the past compound matters when the anticipated investigation of Rebus begins. A former mate of Rebus, now a Detective Superintendent, is appointed to lead the investigation. More bodies turn up, Rebus is up the creek without a paddle (still again) with only his loyal sidekick Siobhan sticking by him, while the remainder of the police force stands by, ready to drive a nail or two themselves to seal his coffin.

Anonymous, cryptic letters begin to arrive as Rebus is investigating the old murder - and now, two new murders. He finally thinks he figures out the meaning of the anonymous letters, all of which contain either a knotted piece of twine, or a cross made of branches, and the occasional cryptic message. Meanwhile, the walls around Rebus are closing in, and the police are preparing to lay charges on him. But Rebus manages to save the day in an unexpected way.