Rebus author Ian Rankin admits he is struggling to keep up with the changing face of the fictional detective's home city as it becomes more gentrified.

The writer said he was quickly running out of seedy locations to set crimes in across Edinburgh.

Rankin even admitted that his books are more like "historical novels" because locations were changing so quickly after each book was completed.

Ian Rankin: I can't bring myself to 'bump off' Rebus

His main character, Detective Inspector John Rebus, first appeared in Rankin's 1987 novel 'Knots and Crosses', and is due to appear in the latest instalment, 'Rather Be The Devil'.

But the books have become harder to write for Rankin due to the ever-changing face of Edinburgh's streets.

Speaking at the launch of the new novel earlier this week, which sees Rebus go up against old nemesis Maurice "Big Ger" Cafferty, Rankin talked about the problems he faces.

Ian Rankin: I can't bring myself to 'bump off' Rebus

He said: "In the new book, Rebus and Cafferty go for a coffee at Starbucks on Forrest Road. It's become a Mexican restaurant since I wrote the book.

"I couldn't believe it. It was definitely there when I finished it in June. I turned around the corner in September or October and thought: 'where has it gone?'

"I was at The Stand Comedy Club last night and went for a few drinks to Mathers bar in Broughton Street and it wasn't there any more.

"It's become some kind of wine bar-type place since August. It's a lot more chi-chi than it used to be.

"It's problematic. These books are history now before they're even published. I don't like it when Edinburgh changes."

Ian Rankin: I can't bring myself to 'bump off' Rebus

Rankin said writing crime novels set in the city was becoming more and more difficult for him to do.

He joked: "There is nowhere left in Edinburgh that is kind of disreputable. We're running out of places to write about.

"The other problem is the Scottish murder rate keeps going down. There's not enough of them to go round."

The new novel 'Rather Be The Devil' is out now.

Rankin also revealed he would be happy for another writer to revive his Inspector Rebus character after the author passes away.

Ian Rankin: I can't bring myself to 'bump off' Rebus

He said: "Somebody was asking me just the other day if I could imagine anybody else writing Rebus after I was gone.

"I hadn't really thought about it, but I can't see any reason not to. Some characters can be reborn time and again.

"You see it with Sherlock Holmes a lot and there's a new Poirot book out. There's no reason why, if I drop dead tonight, somebody can't do another Rebus book.

"I'm a pessimist at heart. I always think each book could be the last. My books are getting shorter. I think it's because I'm afraid I'm going to drop dead before I finish it."