It's a novel densely packed with incident and intrigue, and Rankin's thriller plotting is sublime as ever...Rebus remains a remarkably lived-in and mesmerising figurehead of the genre * INDEPENDENT *
Along come reminders of why Rankin, and Rebus, take their place at the head of the pack. A brief phone conversation between Rebus and a colleague is so tight, so efficiently written and so funny that you fall in love with the series all over again...add the novel to your contacts, or at least your Christmas list * THE TIMES *
Subtle, and ambitious... it is a fascinating exploration of ideas of loyalty and allegiance in a changing world, as well as a welcome return for a battered but tenacious survivor * GUARDIAN *
Rebus is determinedly centre-stage in Rankin's finest novel for years. A first-rate thriller but also a forensic examination of contemporary Scottish society * INDEPENDENT *
Ian Rankin unfolds a mystery that intrigues enough to keep one reading to the end * LITERARY REVIEW *
He weaves his dual plots into an ever more tangled maze, and then smoothly, oh so satisfactorily, irons them out again. SAINTS OF THE SHADOW BIBLE is a clever, subtle read but most of all, it's a genuine pleasure to see Rebus back in CID * OBSERVER *
Praise be! Ian Rankin's maverick inspector is a cop once again... It is a tribute to Rankin's consummate skill that this complicated tale of "lying and cheating and concealing" is so streamlined.... A brilliant return - for Rebus and Rankin * EVENING STANDARD *
"It's a novel densely packed with incident and intrigue, and Rankin's thriller plotting is sublime as ever...Rebus remains a remarkably lived-in and mesmerising figurehead of the genre." * INDEPENDENT *
"Along come reminders of why Rankin, and Rebus, take their place at the head of the pack. A brief phone conversation between Rebus and a colleague is so tight, so efficiently written and so funny that you fall in love with the series all over again...add the novel to your contacts, or at least your Christmas list." * TIMES *
"Subtle, and ambitious... it is a fascinating exploration of ideas of loyalty and allegiance in a changing world, as well as a welcome return for a battered but tenacious survivor." * GUARDIAN *
"Rebus is determinedly centre-stage in Rankin's finest novel for years. A first-rate thriller but also a forensic examination of contemporary Scottish society." * INDEPENDENT - The 50 Best Winter Reads *
"Ian Rankin unfold a mystery that intrigues enough to keep one reading to the end." * LITERARY REVIEW *
"SAINTS OF THE SHADOW BIBLE is a clever, subtle, read. But most of all, it's a genuine pleasure to see Rebus back in the CID." -- Alison Flood * OBSERVER - Thriller of the Month *
"SAINTS OF THE SHADOW BIBLE is a hugely enjoyable encounter, like meeting an old drinking buddy in the pub" * BIG ISSUE *
"It seems an odd thing to say about one the most successful crime novels ever but I feel that Rankin is just reaching his peak. his recent books are the most interesting and entertaining of his career." * MORNING STAR *
"A thoroughly compelling read." * MAIL ON SUNDAY *
"Praise be! Ian Rankin's maverick inspector is a cop once again... It is a tribute to Rankin's consummate skill that this complicated tale of 'lying and cheating and concealing' is so streamlined.... A brilliant return - for Rebus and Rankin." * EVENING STANDARD *
"Classic crime. Classic Rankin." * WOMAN & HOME *
"Britain's best-selling crime writer has lost none of his extraordinary skill, but there is a little less sparkle than in the great days two decades ago. Now 66, Rebus feels like a man out of his time, which adds poignancy to the story, but does not spoil its charm." * DAILY MAIL *
Past and present collide in a satisfying police procedural delivered in Rankin's customary laconic style. * IRISH TIMES *
"As ever Rankin's characters are finely observed and the gritty underworld his detectives inhabit becomes real even to those with no experience of it." * DAILY EXPRESS *
"One of Rankin's undoubted talents is his ability to manage parallel investigations without ever losing the reader... a richly satisfying read." * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *
"Rankin's easy style and constant unfolding of events means there is no temptation to put this down unfinished.... Where he stamps his personality on to this genre most engagingly is in his handling of characters." * SUNDAY HERALD *
"The latest Rebus novel finds the author at the very top of his game. The result is a beautifully plotted book in which two main story lines move forward in a totally convincing and utterly compelling way. It's been a while since we've read a 300+ page novel at a single sitting, but we did on this occasion, and reached the extremely satisfying and perfectly crafted ending with a sense of genuine regret that there were no more pages to turn." * UNDISCOVERED SCOTLAND *
"This is Rankin and Rebus at their very best." * CHOICE MAGAZINE *
Few alternative heroes have created the sort of passion from his faithful audience as Rebus. * YORKSHIRE POST *
"The master of the police procedural does it again: another riveting read that doesn't disappoint." * CAMBRIDGE MAGAZINE *
"Rankin has once again come up with a winning formula." * EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS *
"What makes this more than just a Scottish 'new tricks' is, as always , the quality of the writing and characterisation." * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *
"...rich in character description and plots that twisty-turn together until all is revealed. A cracking read, as usual." * BEST *
"Ingenious and a good read." * BOOKBAG *
"It's Rankin's best novel for years which, given that his are consistently the best crime novels going, is quite the accolade." * EAST ANGLIAN DAILY PRESS *