Ian Rankin swaps Edinburgh for Knightsbridge in first standalone in 20 years
Ian Rankin has left Edinburgh behind for his new novel, The Heights.
The book centres on a Knightsbridge apartment building aimed at the highest end of the property market, and introduces a brand-new lead character, DS Gillian Gish. It is scheduled for release in October 2026, according to an announcement from the author’s team The Guardian.
The luxury tower overlooks Hyde Park. Inside it, a concierge is discovered with his head bludgeoned. That death pulls Gish into a closed world of wealth, service corridors and private interests.
Gish is a break from John Rebus. She is embedded in Tottenham in north London. After work, she cares for her mother. Rankin has said the character was partly influenced by Columbo, the raincoated American television detective of the 1970s known for his persistent, polite questioning.
Rankin told The Guardian he felt no trepidation about stepping away from Edinburgh. He described the city setting as potentially stifling after so long. He has written 26 Rebus books.
That long run explains the publishing stakes. The Heights is Rankin’s first standalone novel in 20 years, meaning a one-off book outside an ongoing series The Telegraph. He has also written a series involving detective Malcolm Fox, plus other standalone novels and plays.
Rebus remains active on screen and stage. The most recent television portrayal was by Richard Rankin, following earlier versions played by Ken Stott and John Hannah. Rankin’s stage play, Rebus: A Game Called Malice, premiered in Hornchurch in 2023. His most recent Rebus novel, Midnight & Blue, was published in the United Kingdom on 10 October 2024.
What makes this stand out for readers is the change of beat. No Edinburgh closes. No Rebus. A London detective with caring responsibilities takes the case, in a building built to keep the outside world out.
