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A Game Called Malice: A Rebus Play: The #1 bestselling series that inspired BBC One’s REBUS
A delicious, and somewhat drunken, dinner party segues into a murder mystery game created by the hostess. However, the parlour game may hold clues about the dark truths hiding just under the surface of this genteel gathering...As suspects, clues and red herrings are sifted - it seems one of the guests has an unfair John Rebus, an ex-detective who used to do this for a living. But is he playing another game, one to which only he knows the rules, that will soon be revealed? As the tension rises, one by one, all their secrets will come out - and there is a shocking discovery that awaits them all...
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2023
36 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Ian Rankin
381books6,367followersAKA Jack Harvey.
Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982 and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987; the Rebus books are now translated into 22 languages and are bestsellers on several continents.
Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow. He is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award, and he received two Dagger Awards for the year's best short story and the Gold Dagger for Fiction. Ian Rankin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, and Edinburgh.
A contributor to BBC2's Newsnight Review, he also presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin's Evil Thoughts, on Channel 4 in 2002. He recently received the OBE for services to literature, and opted to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his partner and two sons.
Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982 and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987; the Rebus books are now translated into 22 languages and are bestsellers on several continents.
Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow. He is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award, and he received two Dagger Awards for the year's best short story and the Gold Dagger for Fiction. Ian Rankin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, and Edinburgh.
A contributor to BBC2's Newsnight Review, he also presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin's Evil Thoughts, on Channel 4 in 2002. He recently received the OBE for services to literature, and opted to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his partner and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 26, 2025
Retired police inspector John Rebus is invited to a dinner party as a “plus one�. As it so happens, the hostess has organised a little game for them to play after dinner. A “whodunnit� no less. Reading the clues after one too many glasses of wine followed by one too many glasses of whiskey to unmask the fictional murderer highlights the tensions between the other two couples. Frictions are obvious and a few secrets accidentally spilt.
REBUS: I grew up in a time before health and lifestyle.
As chance would have it, a real-life body is discovered by one of the guests. But who had the means, motive and opportunity? Well, you know Rebus is going to solve this, don’t you.
This is a two act play which moves along at a nice clip and has more humour than we’re used to Rebus portraying. Perhaps there’s something to be said for retirement. Though he does retain his policeman’s instincts and after too many years on the force, he’s more than aware that the veneer of Edinburgh’s gentile facade can be just that.
REBUS: Edinburgh at its most gilded and dangerous, a city where vampires dwell. A city full of malice.
This was performed onstage with John Michie playing John Rebus. Perfect. I’d love to have seen it! Co-written with Simon Reade this is a quick read and is marked as book number 24.5, sitting in between A Heart Full Of Headstones and Midnight And Blue (which I’m about to commence).
REBUS: But I’m not a game to be played. (he gestures towards a bookcase) Maybe I’m more like a book, a book that’s best left closed. I read the room. The room doesn’t read me�
REBUS puts down his glass slowly, takes a last look around, maybe lingering on the smashed painting and others still on the walls. Then opens the door, exits, closing the door after him with deliberation.
CURTAIN
THE END
3.5 ⭐️ for an amusing dinner party. Which had me pondering which favourite fictional characters I'd invite. I was chatting with the wonderful, talented Mr. Neale-ski about this. Rebus would definitely be on my list.
REBUS: I grew up in a time before health and lifestyle.
As chance would have it, a real-life body is discovered by one of the guests. But who had the means, motive and opportunity? Well, you know Rebus is going to solve this, don’t you.
This is a two act play which moves along at a nice clip and has more humour than we’re used to Rebus portraying. Perhaps there’s something to be said for retirement. Though he does retain his policeman’s instincts and after too many years on the force, he’s more than aware that the veneer of Edinburgh’s gentile facade can be just that.
REBUS: Edinburgh at its most gilded and dangerous, a city where vampires dwell. A city full of malice.
This was performed onstage with John Michie playing John Rebus. Perfect. I’d love to have seen it! Co-written with Simon Reade this is a quick read and is marked as book number 24.5, sitting in between A Heart Full Of Headstones and Midnight And Blue (which I’m about to commence).
REBUS: But I’m not a game to be played. (he gestures towards a bookcase) Maybe I’m more like a book, a book that’s best left closed. I read the room. The room doesn’t read me�
REBUS puts down his glass slowly, takes a last look around, maybe lingering on the smashed painting and others still on the walls. Then opens the door, exits, closing the door after him with deliberation.
CURTAIN
THE END
3.5 ⭐️ for an amusing dinner party. Which had me pondering which favourite fictional characters I'd invite. I was chatting with the wonderful, talented Mr. Neale-ski about this. Rebus would definitely be on my list.
December 15, 2024
A dinner party & a murder mystery game soon turn into something more sinister. However, with retired detective John Rebus as one of the guests you know things will never be dull.
Ian Rankin's play has a fine first act where he establishes his characters quickly & provides some biting dialogue. The second act doesn't live up to the build up, but it's still pretty good.
While not as good as Rankin's previous Rebus play, Long Shadows, which was superb A Game Called Called Malice is still a good piece of theatre.
Ian Rankin's play has a fine first act where he establishes his characters quickly & provides some biting dialogue. The second act doesn't live up to the build up, but it's still pretty good.
While not as good as Rankin's previous Rebus play, Long Shadows, which was superb A Game Called Called Malice is still a good piece of theatre.
January 13, 2024
Rankin can do no wrong.
November 20, 2023
John Rebus is a guest at a dinner party in the New Town where guests are invited to work out whodunnit in a murder mystery game. However, when a dead body turns up in the house, the game turns very real.
Rankin's Rebus is one of British literature's greatest detectives, with a long history. The play stays true to his character and the plot, although convoluted, results in a stunning climax.
Rankin's Rebus is one of British literature's greatest detectives, with a long history. The play stays true to his character and the plot, although convoluted, results in a stunning climax.
June 1, 2024
A quick whodunnit featuring Rebus at a dinner party, with a nice twist at the end.
September 6, 2024
A short but entertaining read , in the form of a script, written by Ian Rankin , and playwright ,Simon Reade , who created this play , through the wonders of Zoom , during the Pandemic
It’s a murder mystery / whodunnit, story ( a slight departure for Mr Rankin ) , reassuringly, featuring ,retired Edinburgh cop ,John Rebus , which ,eventually became, a highly popular stage play ,debuting in 2022 , in London’s theatre- land
The action takes place in a very posh residence ,in a swanky part ,of Edinburgh’s Newtown
A varied group of characters meet ,for a Murder Mystery evening, during which relationships are examined , past and present, leading to personal secrets, and previous , ( and current) ,misdemeanours being revealed , and , things generally unravel, for these people,as the narrative goes on
From a readers point of view , there is an amazing amount of dialogue ,and character interaction ,packed into a brief 100 pages
The brief afterward, from the author himself , detailing the process involved , during the creative collaboration ,with Simon Reade , while both parties were in isolation ,is fascinating , and produced ,even more appreciation ,from this reader, as a result
I would highly recommend this quick - read , in a similar way ,that I did , earlier in the year, with the � Rise � short story , and, world say it’s a must read ,for the many, Ian Rankin fans ,out there in � ŷ Land �
It’s a murder mystery / whodunnit, story ( a slight departure for Mr Rankin ) , reassuringly, featuring ,retired Edinburgh cop ,John Rebus , which ,eventually became, a highly popular stage play ,debuting in 2022 , in London’s theatre- land
The action takes place in a very posh residence ,in a swanky part ,of Edinburgh’s Newtown
A varied group of characters meet ,for a Murder Mystery evening, during which relationships are examined , past and present, leading to personal secrets, and previous , ( and current) ,misdemeanours being revealed , and , things generally unravel, for these people,as the narrative goes on
From a readers point of view , there is an amazing amount of dialogue ,and character interaction ,packed into a brief 100 pages
The brief afterward, from the author himself , detailing the process involved , during the creative collaboration ,with Simon Reade , while both parties were in isolation ,is fascinating , and produced ,even more appreciation ,from this reader, as a result
I would highly recommend this quick - read , in a similar way ,that I did , earlier in the year, with the � Rise � short story , and, world say it’s a must read ,for the many, Ian Rankin fans ,out there in � ŷ Land �
December 31, 2023
I think the last time I “read� a play was Shakespeare at school.
It was typical Rebus and another intriguing case from the pen of Ian Rankin.
Short but beautifully written, as usual plenty to lose but no real winners.
It was typical Rebus and another intriguing case from the pen of Ian Rankin.
Short but beautifully written, as usual plenty to lose but no real winners.
November 18, 2023
As usual with Ian Rankin a really gripping and well written story (play) I could imagine the actors on the stage. The plot is unveiled and comes together well. All the clues add up. John Rebus is at his best stirring people up, shaking the tree and uncovering the bad apples.
November 19, 2023
Very enjoyable
Love a whodunnit - always rubbish at guessing who, and this time I was just so tied up in the story I forgot to guess!!
Love a whodunnit - always rubbish at guessing who, and this time I was just so tied up in the story I forgot to guess!!
November 12, 2023
A First for Rankin
After many years, Ian Rankin has achieved what was surely not his aim - a boring Rebus. This play fails on many levels. A boring plot; unbelievable characters; clunky dialogue - in short, a work without interest or merit. Ian Rankin, in the Afterword, references some truly iconic plays as having given him a steer in writing this playlet. I’m surprised he didn’t include “The Mousetrap�. Because, with the help of Simon Reade (who has to share the responsibility for this dud), what Ian Rankin has produced is a pale imitation of a 1950s pot-boiler. For get the plats, Ian; sick to the novels.
After many years, Ian Rankin has achieved what was surely not his aim - a boring Rebus. This play fails on many levels. A boring plot; unbelievable characters; clunky dialogue - in short, a work without interest or merit. Ian Rankin, in the Afterword, references some truly iconic plays as having given him a steer in writing this playlet. I’m surprised he didn’t include “The Mousetrap�. Because, with the help of Simon Reade (who has to share the responsibility for this dud), what Ian Rankin has produced is a pale imitation of a 1950s pot-boiler. For get the plats, Ian; sick to the novels.
November 25, 2023
𝑨 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆, Rebus play in two acts, by Ian Rankin & Simon Reade, as readers are invited along to an Edinburgh dinner party full of secrets and lies...
9 November 2023. Pre ordered 12.99. iBook Orion. 5/5.
Delightful read.
9 November 2023. Pre ordered 12.99. iBook Orion. 5/5.
Delightful read.
February 26, 2024
Retired Detective Inspector Rebus is invited as a plus one to a fun murder party. An enjoyable old-fashioned whodunnit.
April 5, 2024
A dinner party murder mystery
June 16, 2024
It’s an interesting read has very good ending. I’m just not one to read plays.
August 18, 2024
Two-act play in which Rebus is a guest at a dinner party that includes a real murder as well as the intended pretend mystery that was meant to entertain the guests. Delightful.
September 14, 2024
Having seen the play on Wednesday I thought should read play. Anything with rebus well he is my favourite detective
October 28, 2024
An interesting diversion but one for Rebus super fans only I’d say.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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