Ian Rankin is back with a new Detective Inspector Rebus novel. This time Rebus is assigned as liaison to the first Scottish Parliament in 300 years. The job seems simple enough job until a charred body of a young man is found in a fireplace during the renovations of the parliament's building. This is only the beginning. In a short time a total of three bodies are found. Pressure is brought to bear on Inspector Rebus when the third body is Roddy Grieve, a prospective MSP.

Rankin's characterizations are as always right on with the most interesting character for me being Lorna Grieve, a famous model and a target for many of Inspector Rebus's youthful fantasies. Lorna is an alcoholic and sees a kindred spirit in the still drinking Inspector Rebus. One night when both are in a drunken stupor they make Rebus fantasy come true. But, now he is in even more trouble having gone to bed with a person deeply involved in a murder investigation. To add more tumult to Rebus's life one of the criminals out of the past that he felt was in jail to stay reappears. It seems he has gotten out of jail because he dying of cancer. The interaction between these two is enticing as Rebus does not believe the man is dying of cancer but can not prove it.

Set in Darkness weaves what looks like unrelated details together to bring us a surprise ending. A tale, which is complex and impossible to figure out, but when you do find out it makes so much sense. Another four-thistle performance by Scotland's leading mystery writer, Ian Rankin.

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