Scottish author Ian Rankin plans to downsize to Edinburgh apartment block where the fictional nemesis of his hero detective Rebus lives
- Ian Rankin is moving into apartment of villain in his Inspector Rebus novels
- The crime boss Big Ger Cafferty lived in a luxury penthouse apartment
- Rankin, 58, is following his footsteps and moving to Quartermile, Edinburgh
Scottish author Ian Rankin has revealed he is moving into the apartment of the arch villain in his crime novels
Scottish author Ian Rankin has revealed he is moving into the apartment of the arch villain in his crime novels.
The Inspector Rebus writer is downsizing to a flat where his fictional detective’s nemesis Big Ger Cafferty resides.
In a previous book in the best-selling series about the Edinburgh police officer, Rankin moved crime boss Cafferty from a large home in the city’s Merchiston area to a luxury apartment in the Quartermile development.
And the 58-year-old told how he is about to make the exact same move with his wife Miranda.
The author said he had switched from ‘hero to villain’ as Rebus’ flat in the books is where he lived when he wrote the first novel in the series.
He said: ‘Here’s a bizarre thing, Rebus lives and always has done in Arden Street in Edinburgh which is not an area he would realistically live in because it’s all students.
Rankin moved crime boss Cafferty from a large home in the city’s Merchiston area to a luxury apartment in the Quartermile development (pictured)
The former Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh was converted into luxury apartments known as the Quartermile
The novel series was turned into British television show starring John Hannah as DI John Rebus (left) and James Cosmo as Morris ‘Big Ger’ Gerald Cafferty (right)
‘It’s four storey tenements, 19th century, and it’s a student area but he has always lived there because that’s where I was taying when I wrote the first Rebus novel.
‘Cafferty lives in a lovely penthouse apartment in what’s called Quartermile which used to be the old infirmary, the old hospital in Edinburgh. That’s where I’m moving to in a couple of months.
‘We are selling our big house and we are downsizing into Cafferty’s apartment.’
He added: ‘I think that’s really weird. I’m sure a psycho analyst could make much of the fact I have gone from being the hero of my books to the villain of my books.
‘My personal trajectory has been from hero to villain.’
The novel series was turned into British television show starring John Hannah as DI John Rebus and James Cosmo as Morris ‘Big Ger’ Gerald Cafferty.
The former Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh was converted into luxury apartments known as the Quartermile.
Fife-born Rankin was speaking during a talk in the US to promote his latest Rebus book, In A House of Lies.
Fife-born Rankin was speaking during a talk in the US to promote his latest Rebus book, In A House of Lies
Last year, he revealed he was donating an archive of his work, letters, and papers to the National Library of Scotland. He had gathered the material into 19 boxes while preparing for his house move.
In A House of Lies, which was published last year, is the 22nd Rebus novel. A new television series featuring the detective is also being planned.
Gregory Burke, the playwright who wrote Black Watch, the much-lauded National Theatre of Scotland play, is working on the script for the new television version of Rankin’s famous character.