Standing in Another Man's Grave
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Products | Detective fiction |
Standing in Another Man's Grave represents the eighteenth entry in the acclaimed Inspector Rebus detective series, released in 2012. The book's title is a mondegreen, originating from Ian Rankin's misinterpretation of Scottish singer-songwriter Jackie Leven's song "Standing in Another Man's Rain," a fact shared with Rebus. Throughout the narrative, selections from Leven's lyrics are interwoven.
Plot summary
Having been retired for five years, Rebus is engaged with the cold case unit. When a mother of a missing girl seeks his assistance, he uncovers a chain of disappearances connected over the past decade. He is temporarily assigned to CID, where DI Siobhan Clarke investigates a recent serial killer targeting individuals along the A9 highway. Rebus frequently journeys to locations such as Pitlochry, Inverness, and even as far north as his daughter Samantha's residence.
Within Edinburgh, Rebus keeps connections with the criminal figure 'Big Ger' Cafferty and meets younger gang members linked to the missing girl. His activities are under surveillance by Malcolm Fox, who seeks evidence of Rebus’s alleged corruption. Due to ongoing reforms within Scottish policing, Rebus ultimately loses his official role by the story’s conclusion.
Reception
Jake Kerridge from The Telegraph awarded the novel four stars out of five, concurring with Alison Flood (The Guardian) that Detective Inspector Malcolm Fox, who appears in earlier books, is less compelling than Rebus, who remains the central figure here.
The Metro gave the novel two stars, describing it as "mediocre at best," though leaving open the possibility for further Rebus stories. John Dugdale of The Sunday Times characterized it as a "confounding blend of strengths and weaknesses," emphasizing its "meticulously constructed whodunit" qualities.