Doors Open is a stand-alone crime novel by Ian Rankin, published in 2008. Unlike Rankin’s famous Inspector Rebus series, this book introduces new characters and is a departure from his usual police procedural format. The story revolves around a heist in Edinburgh, where a group of art lovers, including a software entrepreneur, a banker, and an art professor, concoct a plan to steal valuable paintings from the National Gallery’s warehouse during an open day event—hence the title “Doors Open.”
The novel’s tone is lighter compared to Rankin’s typical gritty crime thrillers, with more focus on the intricacies of the art world, deception, and greed. However, it still maintains Rankin’s signature style of exploring Edinburgh as a character in itself, bringing the city to life through vivid descriptions.
Doors Open was adapted into a TV movie in 2012, starring Douglas Henshall and Stephen Fry, which brought the plot and characters to a wider audience. If you enjoy Rankin’s ability to weave complex, morally gray characters with suspenseful plotting, this standalone novel offers an entertaining and slightly different take on the crime genre.
