exit music is the seventeenth crime novel in the internationally bestselling inspector rebus series, written by ian rankin. it was published on 6 september 2007. the title was released simultaneously by rankin himself at the edinburgh international book festival and by a special promotion featured on internet music networking site last.fm, arranged by the publisher to celebrate the theme of music which has run throughout the series. the cover was also revealed on the site. rankin has mentioned that his character siobhan clarke may in some way continue the franchise. the book is named after the radiohead song "exit music (for a film)".