Rather Be the Devil: Rebus-inspired hard-boiled mystery book

At 5.04 x 1.02 x 7.64 inches, Rather Be the Devil has a compact listed footprint that may suit a bedside table or a bag for reading on the go.

The title describes it as part of the bestselling series that inspired BBC One’s REBUS. Its book categories place it among hard-boiled mysteries, private investigator mysteries and police procedurals.

Buyer comments focus on engaging characters, readable storytelling and a steady pace. That feedback may help if you want a crime novel that readers describe as absorbing, though it does not reveal specific plot details.

Key takeaways

This is a crime-fiction choice with a clear mystery and police-procedural context in its category listings, rather than a book whose appeal is defined by a supplied plot synopsis. The title’s REBUS connection may also be a point of interest for readers who recognise the series, but the listing does not explain how the book relates to the television adaptation beyond calling it the series that inspired it.

Readers who comment on the book often praise its character development and storytelling, and some describe the pace as engaging. You’ll like it if those qualities matter more to you than having a detailed synopsis before choosing. The feedback is readers’ perception, not a guarantee that its style will suit everyone.

Size & fit

The listed dimensions are 5.04 x 1.02 x 7.64 inches. That gives a useful sense of its physical footprint, but the supplied details do not name the print format or provide a dependable page count. If the exact edition size or length is central to your choice, the information here may not settle that question.

Publication is listed as 15 June 2017. The product details also include ISBN-like numbers, but they do not provide a clear print-length figure, so it is better not to treat those identifiers as a page count. Compared with choosing a book by confirmed length or edition specifications, this listing gives more to go on about its crime-fiction category and reader response than its physical format.

Getting the most from it

The category information suggests a fit for readers looking for a hard-boiled mystery, a private-investigator angle or police-procedural crime fiction. It could be a practical pick for a commute or a quiet evening if you want a story-led read and are comfortable choosing without a plot outline in the supplied details. For a more demanding edition-focused purchase, such as one where print format or exact length is essential, a listing with those details confirmed would be more useful.

Buyer feedback describes the book as entertaining and easy to read, with particular appreciation for its characters and plot. Some readers also mention a pace that kept them engaged. These are subjective reactions rather than a promise about reading speed or an indication that every reader will respond in the same way.

Before you decide

What kind of mystery is it? Its listed categories include hard-boiled mystery, private investigator mysteries and police procedurals, so it sits within crime fiction rather than a general-fiction listing.

Does the product information give a page count? No dependable page count is supplied. The listed dimensions are available, but the print-length field does not provide a clear number of pages.

What do readers tend to praise? Buyer comments highlight the characters, storytelling, readability and pace. These impressions may help set expectations, but they are not a substitute for a plot summary.

Final verdict

Rather Be the Devil is worth considering if you want crime fiction with hard-boiled and police-procedural associations, and reader comments about engaging characters and an easy-to-follow story appeal to you. Better avoided if you need a confirmed page count or a named print format before deciding, those details are not reliably provided here.