Play Book Tag discussion

Cross-posted to PBT Prosperous Game


Knots and Crosses – Ian Rankin

This is the first in the Inspector John Rebus mystery series. Edinburgh is plagued by a series of kidnapping/killings of young girls, and Rebus is on the investigative team. When he realizes that the anonymous messages he’s been receiving coincide with the kidnappings, he is forced to consider that he may have a personal connection to this killer.

Rankin writes a fast-paced thriller with several twists and turns in the plot. Rebus is a complicated character, turning to alcohol to lessen the pain of his past experiences, including a failed marriage, but still clearly an intelligent and resourceful detective. His former work as a member of Britain’s elite SAS adds a certain mystique to his background. A subplot involving his brother, Michael, and an investigative reporter, Jim Stevens, adds both tension and a distraction from the killings. Makes me wonder if these characters will also appear in later books.

I’ll definitely read more of this series.