DetectiveInspectorJohnRebusisaharddrinking,unkempt,womanizingpoliceofficerwhosejobishiswholelife.HeisthemostseniorandmostexperiencedDIathisstation.HehasamysteriouspastthathispartnerDSSiobhanClarkelearnsaboutfromtimetotimethroughvariouscommentsRebusmakes.Sheisayoungwomanwhowantstosucceed,butdoesnothavemuchofapersonallife.ShefeelsbeingpairedwithRebusjeopardizeshercareerbecauseofhisunorthodoxmethods,butsheisalsofascinatedbythemanandisextremelyloyal.DIRebus'bossisChiefSuperintendentTemplar,awomanwhowasoneofRebus'loversinadistantpast.Theirrelationshipisnowonewheretheybarelytolerateeachother.