Tribune News Service
52
John Rebus, the Edinburgh police officer appearing in a novel by Ian Rankin for the 24th time, is growing old, but his mental acuity and sleuthing skills are as keen as ever.
Retired from the force because of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, he can no longer climb the stairs of his spacious apartment in a walk-up “tenement,” and is being helped by his former colleague Siobhan Clarke to move into a smaller flat on the ground floor. Downsizing is hard for all of us – including Rebus’ small but feisty dog Brillo – and for the aging detective, his old case files are among the most difficult possessions to part with.