Rebus' Exit set as final title revealed

BEST-selling crime writer Ian Rankin has revealed the long-awaited title of what is likely to be his final Inspector Rebus novel.

The book, the 20th in the series, is called Exit Music and charts the final ten days of the hard-drinking policeman's career.

Mr Rankin revealed that the maverick detective is actually thrown off the force early in the novel, which is set in the run-up to the 2007 Scottish elections.

The title was taken from an album by Steven Lindsay, which the Merchiston-based author discovered some years ago.

He said: "I bought the album a couple of years ago and I thought what a great title for a book, Exit Music.

"Especially for Rebus's retirement, because he has got an interest in music; I've always had an interest in music and have used music throughout the books.

"And the word exit resonated for me in so many different ways as it could be the last we see of Rebus, but I don't know, and also it is set in the run-up to the Scottish elections with the possibility if the SNP win there might be an exit for Scotland from the United Kingdom."

The author also joked that he had considered calling the book Rebus and the Deathly Hallows, in tribute to the final Harry Potter novel which smashed sales records when it was released last month.

There has been widespread speculation that Exit Music, the 20th in the Rebus series, will be the last as the key character is handing in his police badge.

But Mr Rankin did not rule out the possibility that Rebus would put in another appearance.

He said: "Is this the last of him? It would be very hard to let go.

"I thought long and hard about all the possible things he could do, including bumping him off, obviously, and I couldn't do it.

"Rebus has been my punchbag and psychiatrist for the last 20 years.

"It's Rebus's last ten days in the force and he is trying to tie up as many loose ends as he can.

"All I know is he retires. I haven't thought about anything after that, but he won't be retiring to Marbella."

As he launched the book, Mr Rankin refused to comment on the reported argument between himself and fellow crime writer Val McDermid.

A row apparently flared between the two writers after McDermid reacted angrily to comments made by Rankin about lesbian crime writers.

Rankin said in an interview last year that the most violent novels were written by women - and mostly lesbians.

Ms McDermid, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, a lesbian herself, hit out at Rankin's comments when she spoke at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Tuesday.

The spat threatened to overshadow the launch of Rankin's latest Rebus book, but she insisted last night that a full-scale row had not broken out.

She said: "Ian and I have been friends for some years, and we have already discussed this story.

"We are not in any sense having a feud. To suggest this trumped-up storm in a teacup is an argument bears no relationship to the situation between me and Ian."