Entertainment · Books & Arts · 10 hrs ago
Ian Rankin’s new crime novel examines wealth and class in London
Ian Rankin’s new novel, The Heights, is set in a luxury apartment building in Knightsbridge, London.
Its concierge is found killed, and detective sergeant Gillian Gish arrives to question the residents.
Gish is a new lead character, unlike Rankin’s better-known Edinburgh detective, John Rebus.
Rankin says he is interested in crime fiction that examines society and politics.
He describes Gish’s investigation as a way to unsettle the wealthy residents and their comfortable world.
The story also follows Gish’s life in Tottenham, where she cares for her mother.
The novel explores class and the sharp contrasts between different parts of London.
Ian Rankin’s new novel, The Heights, focuses on wealth and class in London.
The story is set in a luxury apartment building in Knightsbridge, where a concierge is found bludgeoned to death.
Detective Sergeant Gillian Gish investigates the residents, who are rich and famous.
Rankin said he is interested in crime fiction that examines society and politics.
Gish is based in Tottenham and cares for her mother after work.
- Who
- Ian Rankin wrote The Heights, featuring Detective Sergeant Gillian Gish.
- What
- The crime novel examines wealth and class through a murder investigation at a luxury apartment building.
- When
- The article was published on 11 October 2026. The novel’s release date is not stated.
- Where
- The story is set in Knightsbridge, London, and Gish lives in Tottenham.
- Why
- Rankin said he is interested in crime fiction that looks at society and politics.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The crime fiction I’m interested in is the crime fiction that’s looking at society and the mess we’re in and how we got there, and it’s predominantly political.
I didn’t realise it when I was watching as a teenager, but he’s a socialist figure.
It’s to do with class: he’s the underclass, they’re the overclass, and he’s going to bring them down.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Novel
- The Heights
- Author
- Ian Rankin
- Setting
- Knightsbridge, London
- Lead detective
- DS Gillian Gish
- Murder victim
- The building’s concierge
Sources
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