Mortal Causes
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Ian Rankin |
| Products | Book |
Mortal Causes is a 1994 novel authored by Ian Rankin, marking the sixth installment in the Inspector Rebus series. In 2004, it was adapted into the fourth episode of the Rebus television adaptation, featuring John Hannah in the lead role. Additionally, an audiobook rendition narrated by James MacPherson is accessible.
Plot summary
The narrative is set against the backdrop of the Edinburgh Festival and opens with a savage homicide in Mary King's Close, a historic subterranean thoroughfare. The deceased, bearing a tattoo inscribed with "SaS"—associated with the now-defunct Scottish Nationalist faction 'Sword and Shield,' which has connections to sectarian elements in Northern Ireland—is identified as the offspring of criminal figure 'Big Ger' Cafferty. The inquiry reveals a looming terrorist menace targeting Edinburgh’s tourist districts. A significant portion of events takes place within the fictional Garibaldi estate located in Pilmuir.
The murder weapon is determined to be an uncommon Smith & Wesson 547, a "high velocity" 9mm revolver—a detail of note due to its rare calibre and ballistic properties. Although Rebus possesses a military background as an ex-Army personnel and was once considered for SAS selection, he refrains from commenting on these peculiarities.
Connections to other Rankin books
- The Scottish Sword and Shield group first appears in The Black Book.
- The recurring character 'The Weasel' makes his initial appearance here.
TV adaptation
In the television version, this story was positioned as the fourth episode following The Hanging Garden. The adaptation modifies the relationship between Rebus and Cafferty, portraying Rebus as owing Cafferty a debt from a previous favor.
Writing Mortal Causes
In an Author’s Note, Rankin clarifies that “mortal” in Scottish vernacular can mean “intoxicated.” He also mentions that a minor figure in the book draws inspiration from Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary Billy Wright.
Political background
The storyline explores a coalition between fringe Scottish nationalist factions and loyalist paramilitary groups disillusioned by the IRA peace agreement. While loyalist paramilitaries have some backing within Scotland, radical Scottish nationalists tend to support the Irish Republican movement and regard the Republic of Ireland as an exemplar for independence.
The novel emphasizes how Northern Irish paramilitary organizations have gravitated toward organized crime, engaging in financial dealings with their adversaries. Much of the plotting revolves around criminal enterprises rather than ideological objectives—the would-be terrorist depicted lacks any political agenda.
The joke
Throughout the novel, Rebus catches fragments of a joke involving a squid sporting a moustache entering a restaurant. The punchline alludes to the longstanding advertising tagline of Fairy Liquid: "For Hans that does dishes can be as soft as Gervase with mild, green, hairy-lipped squid."
Reception
Critics responded positively to the novel, commending Rankin’s depiction of "the two faces of Edinburgh." Publishers Weekly characterized it as "powerful and absorbing."