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Knots And Crosses (Paperback)

by Ian Rankin (Author) "The girl screamed once, only the once ..." (more)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Orion; New edition edition (22 Sep 2005)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0752877186
  • ISBN-13: 978-0752877181
  • Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 40,247 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #30 in  Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Authors, A-Z > R > Rankin, Ian > Complete List

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Product Description

Product Description

'And in Edinburgh of all places. I mean, you never think of that sort of thing happening in Edinburgh, do you...?' 'That sort of thing' is the brutal abduction and murder of two young girls. And now a third is missing, presumably gone to the same sad end. Detective Sergeant John Rebus, smoking and drinking too much, his own young daughter spirited away south by his disenchanted wife, is one of many policemen hunting the killer. And then the messages begin to arrive: knotted string and matchstick crosses - taunting Rebus with pieces of a puzzle only he can solve.

About the Author

Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982, and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987, and the Rebus books are now translated into thirty-six languages and are bestsellers worldwide. Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow, and is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award. He is the recipient of four Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards including the prestigious Diamond Dagger in 2005. In 2004, Ian won America's celebrated Edgar Award for Resurrection Men. He has also been shortlisted for the Anthony Award in the USA, won Denmark's Palle Rosenkrantz Prize, the French Grand Prix du Roman Noir and the Deutscher Krimipreis. Ian Rankin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, Edinburgh, Hull and the Open University. A contributor to BBC2's Newsnight Review, he also presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin's Evil Thoughts. Rankin is a number one bestseller in the UK and has received the OBE for services to literature, opting to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his partner and two sons.
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The girl screamed once, only the once. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

40 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (40 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars The first Rebus, flat and hesitant, 19 April 2005
By Budge Burgess (Kilmarnock, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Knots And Crosses (Inspector Rebus) (Paperback)
The first of the Rebus novels and interesting as a source of background for the more developed character who would emerge in later works. This is a very limited piece of writing - the sort a teacher might describe as "showing promise". Rankin goes on to much better work, and his growth in literary maturity and confidence will shine through.

Rankin uses a simple, direct plot. He imports clichés - serial killer, revenge, the policeman and his family under threat. He hasn't made up his mind whether to write a police procedural or a thriller. He doesn't really nail his colours to the mast, so the plot and the characterisation drift innocuously in places. Even the background colour of Edinburgh is sparse - as if it might be a marketing mistake to make the book too Scottish ... or as if no one could believe evil would visit Edinburgh.

Indeed, Rankin does agonise at places in the book, reminding the reader that Edinburgh has its own history of grave robbers and murderers, that the city might present itself as a tourist, cultural, and political centre, but it is also a city which experiences violence, drugs, poverty. And it's the city of Stevenson, the source, perhaps, of his Jekyll and Hyde.

So "Knots and Crosses" is a bit coy. There is little use of Scots languages - it's a very English novel in that sense. This is far removed from, say, "Trainspotting". It introduces Rankin, a police sergeant who believes in god but who can't find a church he quite believes in. He's a man with a failed marriage, a fragile relationship with his daughter, and a successful brother. And Rebus is a man with a military past who is now being plagued with anonymous letters which distract his attention from a spate of murders which have begun to trouble the city.

The plot is a bit simplistic, it doesn't take much effort to work out whodunnit, the conclusion lacks tension and drama, the characters are a bit flat ... and Rebus' military background is provided courtesy of reading a book on the SAS. Rankin doesn't really get inside the man. Instead, he toys with a stereotype.

He resolves this in later novels. Rankin does grow enormously as an author in his later works, and it is well worth persevering. Reading "Knots and Crosses" helps you understand the development of the author rather than the character, but it does give insights into the series. However, I would advise you to buy "Rebus: The Early Years", which offers an anthology of the first three Rebus novels ("Knots and Crosses", " Hide and Seek", and " Tooth and Nail"). This is far better value, and it will help you see the growth and maturity in Rankin's writing rather than just dismissing him because of the limited nature of his first creation.

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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A good place to start, 26 Jan 2006
I was recommended to Rankin's works by a very well read friend of mine, who, fortunately, warned me that the Rebus novels improve with each subsequent book.

Having now read the next three books I can confirm that that statement is true, but I would strongly advise that anyone wanting to 'get into' Rebus should most definately read them in order as there are themes that run through the books, and you really do start to build up a very good mental picture of the inspectors life, loves, work colleagues and family.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars The First Book in the Rebus Series, 3 July 2007
By Snapdragon (London) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
'Knots and Crosses' is the first book in Rankin's Rebus series. Several young girls have been kidnapped and murdered in Edinburgh and the murderer seems intent on getting Rebus to pursue him by sending Rebus cryptic notes. All the notes contain either a knotted piece of twine or two crossed matches. To solve the case, Rebus must confront aspects of his past that he would much rather forget.

The introduction to the novel is really interesting as Rankin reflects on his work and points out the flaws that he now sees. It's fascinating to watch the progression of a novelist from their own perspective.

I liked the novel very much. It's short and pacey, but I think that the character develops much further in later novels and is more psychologically and intellectually realistic later on which is why I've only given it three stars. Nevertheless, recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as strong as later Rebus titles
This was the first outing for Rebus by Ian Rankin, and to be honest it shows. The book has good characterisation but lacks plot and pace - something Rankin learnt about in later... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Emanon

4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to the dark side of Edinburgh
This is a very well written and highly dark crime thriller. Not for the faint hearted, this book deals with a murderous killer of several innocent, 11-year old girls who in some... Read more
Published 5 months ago by A. Faulkner

3.0 out of 5 stars A good start
Having read some of the later books I thought I would start at the beginning of this series. The story is good but one of the main 'surprises' in the book is obvious too early... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Nautical

3.0 out of 5 stars Introducing John Rebus
The first Rebus book and a good start to the dark character. Here we meet John drinking, smoking and investigating several murders of 12 year old girls. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Clive

1.0 out of 5 stars One of the worst books I've ever had the displeasure to read
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed every single crime novel by Peter Robinson I was looking for a new author and Ian Rankin came highly recommended. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Michaela Menzel

4.0 out of 5 stars My first Rankin... not the last!
Knots and Crosses introduces John Rebus, an ex-army police officer. Everything about him is complicated, his relationships, his family, his job and his past. Read more
Published 8 months ago by L. Felthouse

5.0 out of 5 stars Great thriller
This was my first Ian Rankin and so I wasn't really sure what to expect from the book. I'd had recommendations from friends but had always found something I wanted to read more... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Kirsty B

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
This was the first time I'd ever read an Ian Rankin book and I hadn't watched the Rebus tv series either. Read more
Published 9 months ago by 80s kid

4.0 out of 5 stars Good start
The fact that I read this, binge-fashion, in one afternoon speaks volumes about its prowess as a page-turner. Read more
Published 16 months ago by daisyrock

2.0 out of 5 stars You must persevere
Being entirely new to the Crime Fiction genre, I took Ian Rankin as being a good entry point. Plenty of books already on the shelf, recommendations aplenty... Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2007 by Paul Everdark

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