Biography

Bestselling crime-writer Ian Rankin was born in Fife, Scotland, in 1960. He was educated at Edinburgh University. On graduating he worked for the civil service, later working as a researcher and journalist.

His first published book was The Flood (1986). Knots and Crosses (1987) was the first in a series of novels featuring Inspector John Rebus and set in contemporary Scotland.

Other novels in the series include Hide and Seek (1991), Strip Jack (1992), A Good Hanging (1992), The Blackrankin_ian Book (1993), Mortal Causes (1994), Black and Blue (1997) (winner of the Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction), Let It Bleed (1995), The Hanging Garden (1997), Tooth and Nail (1998), Dead Souls (1999), Set in Darkness (2000), The Falls (2001), Resurrection Men (2002), A Question of Blood (2003), and Fleshmarket Close (2004). The Naming of the Dead (2006), was the winner of the 2007 British Book Awards Crime Thriller of the Year. His latest book in this series is Exit Music (2007). Several of these novels have been adapted for television, starring John Hannah as Rebus. Three of Rankin's novels were written under the pseudonym Jack Harvey: Witch Hunt (1993), Bleeding Hearts (1994) and Blood Hunt (1995).

Ian Rankin is married with two sons, and lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was awarded an OBE in 2002, and appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Edinburgh in 2007. His latest novel is Doors Open (2008). - updated 17/01/09

Bibliography

The Flood   Polygon, 1986

Knots and Crosses   Bodley Head, 1987

Watchman   Bodley Head, 1988

Westwind   Barrie & Jenkins, 1990

Hide and Seek   Barrie & Jenkins, 1991

A Good Hanging and Other Stories   Century, 1992

Strip Jack   Orion, 1992

Wolfman   (re-issued as 'Tooth and Nail' in 1998)   Century, 1992

The Black Book   Orion, 1993

Witch Hunt   (writing as Jack Harvey)   Headline, 1993

Bleeding Hearts   (writing as Jack Harvey)   Headline, 1994

Mortal Causes   Orion, 1994

Blood Hunt   (writing as Jack Harvey)   Headline, 1995

Let It Bleed   Orion, 1995

Black and Blue   Orion, 1997

Death is Not the End   Orion, 1998

The Hanging Garden   Orion, 1998

Dead Souls   Orion, 1999

Set in Darkness   Orion, 2000

The Falls   Orion, 2001

Beggars Banquet   Orion, 2002

Resurrection Men   Orion, 2002

A Question of Blood   Orion, 2003

Rebus: The Lost Years   (Let it Bleed, Black & Blue, The Hanging Garden)   Orion, 2003

Fleshmarket Close   Orion, 2004

Three Great Novels: Capital Crimes   (contents: 'Dead Souls'; 'Set in Darkness'; 'The Falls')   Orion, 2005

The Naming of the Dead   Orion, 2006

Exit Music   Orion, 2007

Doors Open   Orion, 2008

Prizes and awards

1991   Chandler-Fulbright Award

1994   Crime Writers' Association Macallan Short Story Dagger   ('A Deep Hole')

1996   Crime Writers' Association Macallan Short Story Dagger   ('Herbert in Motion')

1997   Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction   Black and Blue

1999   Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction   (shortlist)   Dead Souls

2000   Palle Rosencrantz Prize (Denmark)

2003   Grand Prix du Roman Noir (France)

2003   Whodunnit Prize (Finland)

2004   Edgar Award for Best Novel   Resurrection Men

2004   WH Smith People's Choice Award   (shortlist)   A Question of Blood

2005   British Book Awards Crime Thriller of the Year   Fleshmarket Close

2005   Crime Writers' Association Cartier Diamond Dagger   (lifetime achievement award)

2006   Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year   (shortlist)   Fleshmarket Close

2007   British Book Awards Crime Thriller of the Year   The Naming of the Dead

2008   British Book Awards Crime Thriller of the Year   (shortlist)   Exit Music

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