Detective Inspector John Rebus is buried under a pile of paperwork generated by his investigations into a suspected war criminal. But an escalating dispute between the upstart Tommy Telford and Big Ger Cafferty's gang offers Rebus an escape clause. When Rebus takes under his wing a distraught Bosnian call-girl, it gives him a personal reason to make sure Telford takes the high road back to Paisley, and pronto.

Bill Paterson gives a vivid and assured reading of Ian Rankin's 'best novel yet', retaining the laconic wit of the novel but bringing his own knowledge of Scottish place and character.

'Rankin's handling of the gangland plot ... is masterly.' - Sunday Times (about the book)

'Bill Paterson delivers authentic copper-speak in a variety of authentic voices.' -  Sunday Times

Bill Paterson first appeared on the professional stage at the Citizens Theatre in his native Glasgow in 1967. Since then he has worked in such memorable productions as the original Guys and Dolls at the National Theatre and Death and the Maiden at the Royal Court. Television work includes Wives and Daughters, Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Trafjik, and films include The Killing Fields, Comfort and Joy and Truly, Madly, Deeply.