Ian Rankin’s festival audience includes readers who have spent years in the company of John Rebus and people meeting his fiction through a new thriller. Hearing him offers time with the writer beyond the turning of a page. His 2026 Cheltenham visit centred on a standalone story.
Rankin writes crime novels, detective fiction and thrillers, with standalone fiction, plays and shorter work alongside the Rebus books. His work has been adapted for radio, stage and screen. A reader who first met a character through an adaptation can follow that interest back into the novelist’s voice.
His awards include four Crime Writers’ Association Daggers, among them the Diamond Dagger, and the Edgar Award in the United States. They sit within a career that gives readers both the long acquaintance of a recurring detective and the fresh start of a novel without an established cast.
The Heights, published by Orion on 8 October 2026, is a standalone thriller set around an expensive London high-rise. It moves away from the expectation of another Rebus investigation. For a longtime reader, that change of setting is a reason to follow the writer into unfamiliar territory; for a newcomer, it provides an entrance without a reading-order hurdle.
Where to start with their books
Knots & Crosses
Meet Rebus at the start: a detective hunting a serial killer in Edinburgh while carrying troubles of his own. This is the natural choice if you want to begin an acquaintance with the character and follow how that relationship changes through later novels.
Black and Blue
This Rebus novel won the CWA Gold Dagger and sits further into the series. Choose it if you would like to sample an established investigation before deciding whether to return to the opening book and spend longer with the detective.
The Complaints
Malcolm Fox works in the department that investigates other police officers, making professional suspicion part of the job. It introduces a different investigator and is a strong alternative if you want to explore Rankin beyond his best-known detective.
Festival appearances
For tickets, use the host festival’s official box office. Confirm the date, venue and access details before paying.
Ian Rankin was part of Cheltenham Literature Festival’s 2026 programme.
Where to see them next
Ian Rankin is announced for Capital Crime, 28–30 May 2027, at The Brewery in London. His individual appearance day has not been announced yet. 2027 dates and event information.
Plan your trip
If a book discussion is your main reason for travelling, give yourself time to finish the novel before the day. A short note about a setting, a character’s decision or a passage that stayed with you can make the listening more personal without becoming homework.
Use the festival links on Ian Rankin’s profile for the event’s own ticket and audience guidance.
Do I have to read all the Rebus books first?
No. You can attend because you enjoy Rankin’s storytelling, or begin with a standalone. For readers who do want a longer relationship with the detective, the opening novel is one of the suggestions above.
How do I get a ticket to hear Rankin?
Use the festival links on Ian Rankin’s profile for the event’s own ticket and audience guidance.
Should I finish the featured thriller before going?
If you enjoy discovering a thriller without knowing its turns, finishing before a book-centred conversation may be the most comfortable choice. You can also listen with only a brief publisher introduction in mind. Choose the amount of advance reading that keeps the pleasure intact.
When should I look for another Cheltenham appearance?
Use the festival links on Ian Rankin’s profile for the event’s own ticket and audience guidance.
