Black & Blue (Rankin novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Ian Rankin |
| Products | Crime fiction |
Black & Blue is a 1997 crime novel authored by Ian Rankin, marking the eighth installment in the Inspector Rebus series. It was the inaugural Rebus story adapted for television, featured in the Rebus show with John Hannah in the lead role, broadcast in 2000.
This novel earned the prestigious Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award for fiction.
Background
Rankin considers Black & Blue his breakthrough work. Although his previous novels received favorable critiques, their commercial success was limited. At this stage, writing was his main source of income, and he was managing personal difficulties, including caring for a son with special needs. Reflecting on that time, Rankin stated:
Anger and confusion overwhelmed me; I experienced panic attacks and questioned whether I should abandon writing for a conventional job. Instead, I poured all my energy into Black and Blue. Influenced heavily by James Ellroy, whose terse style I adopted, I aimed to populate my narrative with authentic crimes, genuine villains, and real enigmas. I felt I had completed my apprenticeship and truly understood John Rebus’s psyche and motivations.
He deliberately infused the book with extensive (sometimes fabricated) slang expressions such as "biscuit tin" to mean police interrogation rooms and "woolly suit" referring to police constables.
Plot summary
Detective Inspector John Rebus manages four investigations simultaneously while pursuing a suspect he believes to be the infamous Bible John. Amid an internal probe led by an officer Rebus previously accused of accepting bribes linked to Glasgow’s underworld, television reporters scrutinize Rebus over a potential miscarriage of justice. His inquiries take him across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, the Shetland Islands, and the North Sea.
Full summary
Set in Scotland during the mid-1990s, Black & Blue centers on Detective Inspector Rebus, recently assigned to Craigmillar, as he delves into the Johnny Bible case—a series of murders echoing the 1960s "Bible John" killings. Early in the story, Rebus resolves a conflict involving his colleague Brian Holmes and the criminal known as Mental Minto before investigating the savage murder of Allan Mitchison. In his off-hours, Rebus reviews old case files about Bible John. He also revisits the Spaven case alongside his former superior Geddes; despite Spaven’s arrest with a victim’s handbag as evidence, suspicions linger that some proof was planted. Spaven consistently proclaimed innocence before taking his own life in prison.
While probing Mitchison’s homicide, Rebus assigns Holmes to examine Geddes’ notes on Spaven. Suspecting Tony El’s involvement in Mitchison’s killing, Rebus circulates a description and contacts Joseph Toal, a crime boss who once employed Tony El. The narrative shifts perspective to Bible John as he arrives in Scotland intent on tracking Johnny Bible—whom he dubs "the Upstart"—and monitoring anyone investigating him.
In Partick, Rebus teams up with CI Ancram and DI Jack Morton, using his connection with imprisoned Edinburgh gang leader Cafferty. Cafferty arranges a meeting with Uncle Joe, who reveals Tony El has left his employ and relocated southward. After clashing with Ancram, Rebus returns home only to discover one of his informants has been killed.
To placate media scrutiny, authorities reopen the Spaven investigation and summon Rebus as the sole surviving key witness. Attempting to delay involvement, Rebus travels to Aberdeen where he consults DS Lumsden about Tony El and Mitchison. At a North Sea Conference alongside Minchell and Major Weir, he meets oil executive Ryan Slocum discussing U.S. investments in oil.
Rebus and Lumsden dine near a Johnny Bible murder location; later Lumsden reports Tony El’s apparent suicide by wrist-cutting—a conclusion that Rebus disputes. Meanwhile, Bible John becomes aware that both the Upstart and Rebus are investigating him.
Rebus journeys to Shetland, learning from Mitchison’s colleagues about his environmental activism and a missing associate. At Burke's Club, conversations prove unproductive; on returning home he is assaulted as a warning. Accompanied by Lumsden to Bannock, they find protesters chained to an oil rig railing. Discovering Mitchison organized a Save Our Oceans concert, Rebus returns to Aberdeen but is detained following a nearby woman’s murder. Suspended pending inquiry, he accepts oversight from Jack Morton. Bible John debates alerting police but chooses instead to confront the Upstart directly.
Undergoing forensic testing and interviews related to Spaven, Rebus finds his flat ransacked but nothing stolen—only his Bible John clippings disturbed—and consults Mick Hine, last person seen with Spaven alive. Spaven’s cellmate confirms his claims of innocence. After exchanging barbs with Jack Morton for stress relief, Rebus urges Nell to stay with Holmes.
Discovering Glasgow criminal Shankley boasts sudden wealth tied to Tony El and an unknown Mr. H., Rebus tracks them down. Supported by Jack Morton, he quits drinking and smoking. Linking Johnny Bible murders to the oil industry leads Rebus to suspect the killer is connected to that sector. Marie provides intelligence on Weir while being surveilled by Bible John, who also breaks into Rebus's flat searching for his business card.
Following another interview with Ancram, Rebus returns to Glasgow where he convinces Stanley and Eve to admit orchestrating Mitchison’s murder under aliases—resulting in their arrests. Siobhan Clarke reveals Johnny Bible used an alias researching his predecessor; meanwhile Bible John narrows suspects regarding the Upstart.
Rebus and Jack locate Jake’s girlfriend who directs them to Jake’s hideout; Jake feared retaliation from Mitchison’s killers. They learn Mitchison was involved with a protester who is Major Weir's daughter. Back at Burke's Club, Rebus is attacked by co-owners Fuller and Stemmons; during torture he identifies Mr. H as Haydn Fletcher before escaping. Posing as police officers, Bible John narrows down suspects further.
Forensic tests clear Rebus of DNA evidence at Spaven's scene; inquiry concludes. Geddes’ daughter sends a note written before her death revealing Geddes suspected Spaven of an earlier prostitute murder in Kampong but lacked cooperation needed for arrest; Geddes denies planting evidence.
Sharing Geddes’ letter with Ancram and Siobhan leads them to identify Johnny Bible as Martin Davidson. A police raid uncovers Davidson murdered by Bible John; trophies taken from victims confirm identity.
At a CID party afterward, Rebus realizes Ryan Slocum is Bible John. Visiting Slocum’s residence reveals he has vanished; Slocum’s wife reports no business trip planned and removal of a trunk containing victim mementos. The novel ends with Holmes leaving the police force while Rebus discards his collection of Bible John clippings.
Allusions
- The book's title draws inspiration from the Rolling Stones album Black and Blue and metaphorically represents the bruises Rebus sustains during physical altercations in the story.
- As mentioned by Rankin in his introduction, the title also symbolically references oil (black) alongside law enforcement officers (blue).
- Within the narrative, Rankin features a fictional punk group named Dancing Pigs, a band he once performed with at age 19. Although their initial efforts were unsuccessful, he took pleasure in depicting their eventual triumph in the novel.
Reception
The book was met with considerable praise: Kirkus Reviews highlighted Rankin's "skillful finesse" and "lyrical elegance," while Publishers Weekly noted its "depth of character and complexity of events."
It was honored with the distinguished Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger award.