Inspector Rebus is in the hospital due to his hands being badly burned.  At the beginning of the book, he is somewhat vague as to how the burns occurred.  Rebus would soon be called in to help on a case involving a shooting at a private school.  An ex-army soldier went berserk and killed two people and injured another.  He then turned the gun on himself.  It seemed that this case was cut and dry - there was no mystery - except for "why". 

Rebus is called in to help figure out what caused this person to do what he did.  A criminal is stalking Rebus's friend, Siobhan Clarke.   All of a sudden Rebus fell under suspicion because this criminal was found burned to death.  Due to the burn injuries on Rebus's hands, it made him look very much like he might have been involved in this criminal act.

Rebus and Clarke have their hands full trying to handle the media and the upset father of the surviving student.

Why did the ex-soldier kill these people?  Do Rebus and Clarke find the answer?

Inspector Rebus uncovers several things in this case that make it even more interesting. 

Ian Rankin does a great job with the Inspector Rebus novels.  His writing is powerful and it all comes together in excellent form.  There is always plenty of police procedural excitement in Rankin's books.  His fans will thoroughly enjoy this book.  If you haven't read any of Ian Rankin's books, this is a great place to start!

REVIEWED BY NANCY EATON

DO NOT REPRINT WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR, NANCY EATON