The Falls by Ian Rankin (Paperback)

A young woman disappears in Edinburgh, leaving behind little more than a few scattered clues. Inspector John Rebus is drawn into the case when her wealthy parents push for answers. The girl’s online life reveals a link to a curious wooden doll found in her room, along with a trail of cryptic messages tied to a mysterious game.

Rebus follows these clues into a world shaped by puzzles, hidden societies and fringe beliefs. Each step raises more questions about why the young woman vanished and who might want to keep the truth buried.

At the same time, DS Siobhan Clarke starts her own line of inquiry. She digs into the victim’s digital footprint and uncovers a pattern of behaviour that hints at danger long before she disappeared. While Rebus and Clarke approach the case in different ways, their paths converge as connections emerge between the online game, local legends and a string of unanswered questions.

Edinburgh becomes a maze of secrets, leading Rebus from polished homes to forgotten corners of the city. As the case deepens, he must decide who to trust and how far he’s willing to go to expose the truth.
The Falls delivers a layered mystery centred on obsession, clues hidden in plain sight and the risks people take when playing with the unknown.