dɪvˈɛləpɪŋ ɐnˈʌðɚ pəlˈiːs dɪtˈɛktɪv kˈæɹɪktɚ wʊd ɐlˈaʊ ɹˈæŋkɪn tə kəntˈɪnjuː tə ɹˈaɪt ɐbˌaʊt ɹᵻbjˈuːzᵻz wˈɜːld ˈæftɚ ɹᵻbjˈuːzᵻz ɹᵻtˈaɪɚmənt, ðˌoʊ fɹʌm ɐ dˈɪfɹənt pɚspˈɛktɪv.
Developing another police detective character would allow Rankin to continue to write about Rebus's world after Rebus's retirement, though from a different perspective.