Fleshmarket Alley is the sixteen book in Ian Rankin's series featuring Inspector John Rebus. Complex story lines filled with a moody, warts and all inspector grappling with modern police procedures characterize these novels. In this tale, the bones of a woman and a child are found beneath a concrete floor in a newly renovated bar. As usual, every fact that Inspector Rebus uncovers leads him to new questions and toward a web of murder.

Not for the fan of light mystery nor of humor mystery, Rankin's books bring sinister plots, detailed characters, and heavy atmosphere alive.