A Question of Blood - Ian Rankin

 A Question of Blood (2003) is one of the best Rebus novels.   I read and did't much rate the early ones as they came out.   The latest additions are expertly written but Rebus is retired, his involvement in crime solving increasingly difficult to justify and the police element split between the promoted Siobhan Clarke and the Complaints officer Malcolm Fox.   2003 is Rebus at the height of his buccaneering career.  At the start of A Question of Blood we are led to believe he has murdered Martin Fairstone, DS Clarke's stalker.   Fairstone died in a chip pan fire and Rebus is in hospital with what he claims are scalded hands but which others suspect might be burns.

A shooting incident at a private school in Queensferry gives Rebus and Clarke a chance to keep out of sight.   The officer in charge, DI Bobby Hogan, asks for Rebus's help and, since Rebus can't even light his own cigarettes, Clarke will have to assistt.   Hogan calls on Rebus because the shooter, who then killed himself, was an ex-SAS man called Lee Herdman, and Hogan knows that Rebus tried out for the SAS during his military service.   The two dead youths are the son of a judge and what Rebus suddenly realises is the son of a cousin he used to look after when he was on leave.   Rebus's family relations are always distant, so it is somewhat awkward when he visits his distraught cousin.

Rebus obviously shouldn't be involved because of the family link, but this is easily navigated as he is, and because of his hands can only be, a consultant.   He comes across a goth princess called Miss Teri who also attends the same school as the victims.   And then there is the youth who was shot and survived, James Bell, soon of Jack Bell the publicity hungry MSP whom Rebus has come across before.   Other old acquaintances with links to the crime are Peacock Johnson, gun supplier to Edinburgh's more militant thugs, and his henchman Evil Bob.

Clarke meanwhile comes across another SAS veteran called Doug Brimson, who was a friend of Herdman.  Brimson now runs a flying school.   He his handsome and friendly, obviously well off, and Siobhan takes a fancy to him.

The storytelling is masterful.   I guessed the twist in the main investigation but got nowhere near the motivation.   As I say, for me A Question of Blood is one of the best Rebus novels and highly recommended.