Ian Rankin tackles a real-life mystery

Crime writer Ian Rankin, who is no stranger to a mystery story, is tackling a real-life conundrum as paper carvings linked to the Scottish author and his books have been left in a number of locations across Edinburgh, with no clue about the artist responsible for them.

The mystery began when tiny paper sculptures made of pages from Rankin's Rebus novels were left at the Scottish Poetry Library earlier this year, soon followed by more creations deposited at the Filmhouse Cinema and the National Library of Scotland.

The sculpture left at the Filmhouse was a miniature cinema depicting Rankin himself sat in the middle row with a bottle of Deuchars beer.

Meanwhile, the National Library of Scotland received a gramophone and coffin carved from pages of the last Rebus book, Exit Music.

Rankin said he is as confused as anyone else by the carvings, though the creator is clearly very familiar with his books, as many of the scenes have appeared in the Rebus novels.

'It seems to be someone who knows about my books - Exit Music has a scene at the Poetry Library - and maybe also my personal habits (drinking Deuchars, often to be found at the Filmhouse), but otherwise I'm in the dark,' he told the Scotsman.

Bryan Christie, from the National Library of Scotland, said the most recent paper model was received yesterday (June 28th) and praised the craftsmanship of the sculpture, while offering no explanation as to why it had been created.

Rankin added that he will hopefully take a page out of Rebus' book and get to the bottom of the 'very strange and wonderful' mystery.