Midnight And Blue by Ian Rankin

 

John Rebus has finally fallen.  He is in prison, his actions in the death of Edinburgh's crime boss questioned and charged, and after a trial, found guilty.  Cops in prisons usually don't do well and at first he was in isolation.  But the man who runs things inside puts Rebus under his protection and he is moved to the general population.  He keeps to himself, is helpful where he can be, and does his time.  But things change when a man on the wing is found dead one morning, his throat slit.  Who could have done it at a time when everyone was locked in?  Was it a guard?  Did someone unlock the cell and let in an enemy?  

On the outside, Rebus's best friend, Siobhan Clarke, is busy with police work.  She has a missing teenage girl and is also involved in the prison case.  When an old nemesis Malcolm Fox shows up in the prison as well, Clarke asks to go full time on the missing teenager case and is given permission.  Fox used to work in what is called Professional Standards, charging his fellow officers when they strayed, and Rebus had been one of his major targets.  Clarke isn't sure what happened to the girl but as the days go by and she isn't found, projections aren't good.  When a man she worked for is found killed, Clarke has a bigger case and breaks a pedophile ring.  

This is the twenty-fifth book in the Rebus series.  It is rare that an author can keep a series fresh and involving but Ian Rankin has been able to do so with this one.  Rankin is a Scottish author and he knows the territory.  The writing is crisp and Rebus is the focus even brought down low.  The ending to both cases is unexpected and satisfying.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.