Book review: Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin

Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I like to read crime novels between my “serious” reads, to clean my palate. Having just read some 19th century Russians, I thought it would be nice to try some Ian Rankin instead of the usual Christie cosy murder.

Now, I once read a Rebus novel about 10 years ago but can’t remember anything about it, not even its title. But I remember not disliking it, so when Rankin’s first 3 Rebus novels came up on a Kindle sale, I jumped at the opportunity to get them. Coincidentally, he was interviewed soon after for a podcast I follow (on writers’ creative processes) and I came away thinking: what a nice chap! And intelligent too, plus self-deprecating. Now I must really read something of his.

This is his second novel, and first crime one, written when he was just 25, a post-grad student in Edinburgh. It bristles with a bit of punk energy, a slightly over the top plot (around a serial killer of young girls who sends cryptic messages to Rebus), and really good dialogue and pacing. It’s short and everything in it is there for a reason. I was particularly impressed by how well Rankin weaved police procedural (my understanding is that he didn’t know anything when starting out; just interviewed some cops.)

Look forward to reading the next ones and seeing how he develops the “Rebus world” he sketches out here.

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