Best-selling crime-writer keeps on giving

Crime-writer Ian Rankin has given £200,000 from his detective books to a charity set up with his wife.

The money was given to a charitable trust which he and Miranda Harvey set up 12 years ago to fund good causes at home and abroad.

The trust has helped health, art and educational charities in the past with Rankin regularly handing over lump sum payments.

Figures show Rankin’s company show it boosted its value to £2.8 million in 2019, £400,000 up on the previous year.

An entry in the accounts, which have just been filed at Companies House, states: “During the year charitable donations of £200,000 were paid to a charitable trust whose trustees include directors of the company.”

Rankin has given over £1m to charity over the last five years.

He has sold over 20m books and has recently announced he is working on his 23rd Rebus novel.

He said: “I’ve started a new novel, started it last week in fact.

“Early days, so I’ve no idea if it’s any good or where it’s heading.

“All I can really tell you at this stage is, Rebus is coming back.”