The Black Book by Ian Rankin - 1994

New York: Otto Penzler Books, 1994. AR5 - A first American edition hardcover book SIGNED by Ian Rankin with small drawing on the title page in very good condition in very good dust jacket that is mylar protected. Dust jacket has wrinkling on some edges and corners, light discoloration and shelf wear. Book has some bumped corners, small patch rolled-up of the cover on the front top edge (publisher defect), some light stains on the page edges, light discoloration and shelf wear. An John Rebus Mystery. The Black Book is the fifth novel featuring Inspector John Rebus. 8.75"x5.75", 278 pages. Satisfaction Guaranteed. When the Central Hotel, a place of decidedly unsavory reputation, burned to the ground in a mysterious fire, the Edinburgh police were unable to disguise their delight. That is, until a body was found in the still-smoldering ashes, charred beyond all identification but with a bullet lodged in its skull. Now it's five years later and Inspector John Rebus is following any leads in a vicious off-duty ambush that has put one of his favorite junior officers into a coma. A cheap black notebook belonging to the wounded policeman contains a cryptic allusion to the almost-forgotten blaze, but crucial pieces of the puzzle obstinately refuse to fall in place. What could young Detective Sergeant Brian Holmes have learned to render him such a threat that he must be silenced at all costs? "The past is important," Rebus hardly needs to remind himself, yet the secrets he persists in uncovering are buried in layer upon layer of sordid and evil lies. Once again, the combination of Rebus and Rankin is a powerful one. Richly seasoned by the weary toughness of Edinburgh's citizenry, The Black Book is compelling modern noir, and John Rebus's mean streets are ones you'll want to walk down again and again. . Signed by Author. First American Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.