In this paper we study the rationality problem for Fano threefolds $$X\subset {\mathbb P}^{p+1}$$
X
⊂
P
p
+
1
of genus p, that are Gorenstein, with at most canonical singularities. The main results are: (1) a trigonal Fano threefold of genus p is rational as soon as $$p\geqslant 8$$
p
⩾
8
(this result has already been obtained in Przyjalkowski et al. (Izv Math 69(2):365–421, 2005), but we give here an independent proof); (2) a non-trigonal Fano threefold of genus $$p\geqslant 7$$
p
⩾
7
containing a plane is rational; (3) any Fano threefold of genus $$p\geqslant 17$$
p
⩾
17
is rational; (4) a Fano threefold of genus $$p\geqslant 12$$
p
⩾
12
containing an ordinary line $$\ell $$
ℓ
in its smooth locus is rational.