Fleshmarket Close
Fleshmarket Close is a crime novel written by Ian Rankin in 2004, marking the fifteenth installment in the Inspector Rebus series. For its US publication, the title was altered to Fleshmarket Alley to avoid confusion, as the term "close" might be unfamiliar to American readers.
This book served as the basis for the second episode of the second season of the Rebus TV adaptation, featuring Ken Stott, which aired in 2006.
Background
The title Fleshmarket Close derives from an actual close located in Edinburgh, situated between the High Street and Market Street, intersecting with Cockburn Street. In Scots, "fleshmarket" denotes a butcher’s marketplace. The alteration of the title for the US edition reflects the publisher’s effort to align with American readers’ linguistic familiarity.
Plot summary
Detective Inspector John Rebus, under discreet pressure to retire, persists in his detective work alongside his mentee Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke. Their investigation weaves through multiple linked cases: the disappearance of a sister related to a rape victim, human remains encased in concrete, the homicide of a Kurdish journalist, and the arrival of a Glasgow crime figure’s son into Edinburgh’s illicit underworld.
The narrative unfolds within two contrasting settings: a segregated sink estate illustrating conflicts between residents and refugees (modeled after Wester Hailes), and a small town economically dependent on an internment facility for asylum seekers (inspired by Dungavel).
Themes
Central themes include immigration, asylum seekers, societal outsiders, and notions of "community and shared history," emphasizing those marginalized by society. Critics point out the novel’s exploration of how crime is intertwined with place and its depiction of Edinburgh’s more shadowy aspects. According to Publishers Weekly: "Rebus remains one of crime fiction’s most compelling protagonists—and his Edinburgh one of the most intriguing backdrops."
Reception
The novel garnered positive critical acclaim, with Kirkus Reviews commending its "intricate and layered" storyline and describing the Rebus series as "the finest literary export from Scotland since single malt whisky."