HoustonChronicle.com

April 30, 2004, 6:41PM

`Resurrection Men' wins Edgar for best novel of '03 Resurrection Men, Ian Rankin's series novel featuring moody Scottish detective John Rebus, has won the Edgar for best novel of 2003.

Interrogating a mystery writer

Novelist Rankin delves into 'A Question of Blood'
character Inspector Rebus

By Sara Pearce
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Scottish mystery writer Ian Rankin will hit town this week to discuss his 15th Inspector Rebus novel A Question of Blood (Little, Brown; $22.95; 406 pages). We caught up with Rankin, via phone, at San Francisco's Hotel Monaco to ask him about Rebus, writing and music.

Q. During your visit to Cincinnati last year, you made it clear that, like Rebus, you could be found hanging out in Edinburgh's pubs. Have you found a great American pub yet?

A. The one that sticks out is in Houston, the Kelvin Arms. It is a Scottish pub run by a guy from Glasgow. It is in an old bank and it still has a big walk-in safe that is the lounge. You sit in there and order up pizza and drink Scottish beer.

Q. It sounds much more refined than the Oxford Bar ...

A. Let me tell you, it was not refined the night I went in.

More about Ian: www.ianrankin.net