# Watchman (novel) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Watchman_(novel) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Watchman_(novel).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchman_(novel) > Source revision: 1355314422 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1988 crime novel by Ian Rankin For the 1961 novel by Davis Grubb, see [The Watchman (Grubb novel)](/source/The_Watchman_(Grubb_novel)). Watchman First edition Author Ian Rankin Language English Genre Thriller Publisher Bodley Head Publication date 1988 Publication place Scotland Media type Print (hardcover) Pages 224 pp ISBN 0-370-31208-2 OCLC 17439591 ***Watchman*** is a 1988 [novel](/source/Novel) written by [Ian Rankin](/source/Ian_Rankin), and is one of the author's earliest works. Originally published in 1988, it was reissued with a new introduction by Rankin in 2004. It also exists as an audiobook, read by [Roger Allam](/source/Roger_Allam).[1] ## Plot summary The book tells the story of Miles Flint, a surveillance officer who works for [MI5](/source/MI5). After two high-profile operations involving Flint are compromised with deadly consequences, he is sent to [Belfast](/source/Belfast) to witness what he believes is going to be the arrest of some [Provisional Irish Republican Army](/source/Provisional_Irish_Republican_Army) men. However, after accompanying the security forces on their mission, he discovers that what has actually been planned is the [assassination](/source/Assassination) of the [Irishmen](/source/Irishmen) – and with Flint having come along for the ride, he suddenly realises that his own life is at risk. As the killings are about to be carried out, Flint stages a daring escape with the aid of one of the Irishmen, Will Collins. Then, on the run, and playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with his own side, Flint and Collins begin to piece together a lethal conspiracy which they ultimately discover goes right to the very core of the [British Government](/source/British_Government). ## Reception *[Kirkus Reviews](/source/Kirkus_Reviews)* called it: "a gritty appraisal of the bomb-wielding miasma of the 1980s and a highly readable explanation of the demons that drive zealots to switch sides."[2] ## Connections to other Rankin books - Journalist [Jim Stevens](/source/Jim_Stevens_(journalist)) who appears in this book, first appeared in *[Knots and Crosses](/source/Knots_and_Crosses)*, the first [Inspector Rebus](/source/Inspector_Rebus) book, which ended with him leaving Edinburgh for London; he returned to Scotland in this book and future Rebus books. ## Release details - 1988, UK, Bodley Head ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0370312082](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0370312082)), pub. date 9 June 1988, hardback (first edition) - 2003, UK, [Orion](/source/Orion_Publishing_Group) ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7528-6033-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7528-6033-6)), hardcover (revised edition, with an introduction by the author) - 2004, UK, Orion ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-75285-915-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-75285-915-3)), pub. date 2 September 2004, paperback (revised edition) ## References - Rankin, Ian (1988). *Watchman*. Orion. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7528-5915-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7528-5915-3). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Robinson, Reviews by Karen (25 January 2004). ["Watchman by Ian Rankin; Absolute Friends by John le Carre"](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/watchman-by-ian-rankin-absolute-friends-by-john-le-carre-mm9lvnd6tsz). *www.thetimes.com*. Retrieved 10 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [*WATCHMAN | Kirkus Reviews*](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ian-rankin/watchman-2/). v t e Works by Ian Rankin Novels The Flood (1986) Knots and Crosses (1987) Watchman (1988) Westwind (1990) Hide and Seek (1991) Tooth and Nail (1992) Strip Jack (1992) The Black Book (1993) Witch Hunt (1993) Mortal Causes (1994) Bleeding Hearts (1994) Let It Bleed (1995) Blood Hunt (1995) Black & Blue (1997) The Hanging Garden (1998) Dead Souls (1999) Set in Darkness (2000) The Falls (2001) Resurrection Men (2002) A Question of Blood (2003) Fleshmarket Close (2004) The Naming of the Dead (2006) Exit Music (2007) Doors Open (2008) A Cool Head (2009, Quick Reads) The Complaints (2009) The Impossible Dead (2011) Standing in Another Man's Grave (2012) Saints of the Shadow Bible (2013) Even Dogs in the Wild (2015) Rather Be the Devil (2016) In a House of Lies (2018) A Song for the Dark Times (2020) The Dark Remains (2021; with William McIlvanney) A Heart Full of Headstones (2022) Midnight and Blue (2024) Short story collections A Good Hanging and Other Stories (1992) Beggars Banquet (2002) The Beat Goes On (2014) Plays Dark Road (2013) Long Shadows (2018) Short stories Death is Not the End (1998) Related articles Inspector Rebus Authority control databases MusicBrainz work Open Library This article about a thriller novel of the 1980s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. See guidelines for writing about novels. Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:1980s-thriller-novel-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3A1980s-thriller-novel-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:1980s-thriller-novel-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Watchman (novel)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchman_(novel)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchman_(novel)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.