EDINBURGH locals have been gearing up for the release of the latest installment in Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus novel series with some makeshift promo material.
Posters bearing the slogan “Free John Rebus” have been spotted around the city, with Rankin quick to take notice online yesterday.
The posters refer to the titular character being imprisoned in Midnight and Blue, the new novel released today, after being put on trial in the previous book in the series.
Rankin, 64, shared a snap taken by a friend of one of the homemade posters, with others spotted by a fan on Gorgie Road, close to the city centre.
One poster can be seen stuck to a blue-painted wall, and simply reads, “Free John Rebus” in block capitals, underneath an image of a figure behind bars.
Another is wrapped around a traffic cone, with several also attached to a billboard promoting the book.
It reads: “Rebus behind bars in the new thriller from Ian Rankin.”
Rankin posted the snap to social media yesterday with the caption: “Spotted in Edinburgh by a chum…”
It has since received over 1,500 likes and more than 40 comments from fans sharing their reactions.
One quipped: “I’m waiting for a bill before [the] Scottish Parliament. They did it to extend the mandatory retirement age. Or perhaps petition the King for a royal pardon.”
A second said: “With every book purchased? A bargain or a lot to carry.”
Another wrote: “Bit annoyed… didn’t want to know John was in [prison].”
A fourth agreed: “Bit of a spoiler that?”
Another joked: “This could grow to Deirdre Barlow proportions.”
