Crime writer Sir Ian Rankin said it was “absolutely thrilling” to be honoured with a knighthood at Buckingham Palace. Sir Ian, creator of Detective Inspector John Rebus and winner of several national and international awards, was knighted for services to literature and charity on Tuesday.
The University of Edinburgh graduate, 63, is known across the world for his crime novels focused on Rebus, which are mostly based in and around the Scottish capital. Knots & Crosses, the first in the series, was published in 1987 and Rebus now features in 26 books. The novels have been translated into 22 languages and become bestsellers on several continents.
After getting his gong from the Princess Royal, Sir Ian said he was initially “bemused” when told about the knighthood “because a few years ago I was given an OBE and I probably thought that’s about as much as I can expect”.
