Table of Contents

Ian Rankin and his work Outline Black & Blue: the social landscape John Rebus in Black & Blue -Rebus's empathy with victims and underdogs -Rebus's lack of respect for establishment figures -Rebus and personal engagement Characters -Detective Inspector Jack Morton -Detective Sergeant Ludovic Lumsden -Chief Inspector Charles Ancram -Bible John -Detective Sergeant Brian Holmes Themes -The power of past sins -Fathers and children -The effects of the oil industry Structure and style Bibliography