Much as he hates dealing with the crowds and commotion of the Edinburgh Festivals, Inspector John Rebus is again caught up in the tumult in this sixth novel in the series from Diamond Dagger winner Ian Rankin. But this time, amid the blare of music, laughter, and toasts of "Slainte!" Rebus finds the lifeless body of Billy Cunningham swinging from a butcher's hook. After gangster Big Ger Cafferty discovers that his only son has been murdered, Rebus has even more motivation than usual to find the killer first. Then it comes to light Billy was tied to radical nationalists, and Rebus realizes he is up against a foe that could shake even Big Ger himself.