Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin
I’d heard of Ian Rankin and I’d heard of Rebus, but I didn’t know much about either of them. Certainly I didn’t know Ian Rankin had written the Rebus novels – and that there’s rather a lot of them! It turns out my dad is a fan and he’d bought himself a box of 12 at a bargain price, but he’d already read the first four. What to do with them? Give them to his bookworm daughter, of course! I’m always happy to try new books and I’m definitely happy to receive books for free.
Knots and Crosses is the first Rebus novel. Rebus is a hard-drinking, unpopular detective sergeant, adjusting to life as a single man after separating from his wife. Two young girls have already been abducted and murdered in Edinburgh and now a third is missing. Rebus is one of many police officers hunting the killer to no avail.
In the meantime, Rebus is receiving mysterious notes in the post, containing knotted string and matchstick crosses. He sees them as little more than a nuisance and is far too focused on the case to take much notice of them.
Are the notes connected to the case? Is Rebus’s brother involved? And is journalist Jim Stevenson onto something relevant?
This is a real page-turner, although I did guess at least some of it. Set in 1987, it seemed strange that the only way of tracking someone down was to phone them at their flat to see if they were in!
I would definitely recommend this for fans of crime novels and I’m certainly looking forward to reading my next Rebus book.
I’ve read a few of the Rebus novels and enjoyed them. Probably should revisit them at some point as I don’t think I finished them.
I’m definitely going to keep going with them. I’ve read a few different books since, but I will return to them soon.
It’s really weird to remember how life was without mobile phones! Much simpler in some ways 🙂
Thanks for sharing your review, I’m going to look out for thus series.
#readwithme
It really is hard to remember life without mobile phones now, but we all coped OK, I think!
I haven’t come across Rebus before but I love a good detective novel so will have to try and pick one up. Sounds like an interesting read. #readwithme
I’d heard of him, but never read them before. I think he’s still writing them – or there are some much more recent ones at least. It would be interesting to read those and see the contrast with the old technology in this one.
I’ve not heard of these, my mum loves this type of genre so will have to recommend to her. Thanks for sharing with #ReadWithMe
Always a pleasure to share with ReadWithMe! They would probably be right up your mum’s street! 🙂
I started this book last year and really struggled with it. I think I got about 1/4 of the way through and gave up. I should probably try again as I think I *should* like these books!
#readwithme
Great review! I love crime novels and am definitely adding this series to my list. Thanks for sharing. xx
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