At times, other policemen think Rebus is grasping at straws, that he is imaging things that don’t exist. The official line is that Margolies’ suicide was tragic, but personal and that the pedophile’s actions are innocent and Rebus is reading too much into them. Nonetheless, Rebus continues chipping away at each case, looking for a solution that will satisfy everyone, himself most of all.

At the same time, Rebus is having his own personal struggles. His daughter, paralyzed after an accident, is fighting to regain the use of her legs and her independence. He has also been neglecting his home life and risks losing total control of his life if he continues spending too much time on these cases.

Glimpses into his past go a long way to explaining some of his seemingly erratic behavior. Despite his dark side, Rebus has a dry, quick wit and is a very likable character. Most of the other characters are not delved into too deeply, although the serial killer is clever and cunning, so much so at times, he is almost likable.

Dead Souls will keep many readers up late into the night as they are held rapt by Rebus’s theories and investigations. Each twist is more surprising than the previous one, and even readers who guess the final solution will be intrigued by Rebus and his tenacity.

Even after ten novels, Ian Rankin has not lost his edge. This will be a welcome addition to those readers who favor English crime novels, and a great introduction to those new to the genre.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry