Jan/ Feb 2016 Group Read Selection - Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin

[Bill]

This is the thread that you can use to discuss Knots & Crosses by Ian Rankin. This is the first book in the Inspector Rebus mysteries, an excellent, gritty, well-written serie that has also been translated into a couple of excellent TV series. Barbara will be your group read moderator. Enjoy, but fair warning, the series is addictive.. :0)

[Amanda]

I'm going to read this

[Tracey]

I am going to read it too. This is a new series for me.

[IShita]

I'm in too.

[Keshav]

well, that's new series to add in want to read shelf

[Barbara]

Hi readers! I'm the moderator of this group read. Though I've read a number of Inspector John Rebus books - and liked them all - I never read this first book in the series. (I'm criminally notorious for reading series out of order.)

My library doesn't have this book :( so I've ordered it from Amazon and look forward to discussing it with fellow mystery fans.

So....discuss away. Please mark potential spoilers.

[Tom]

I've had this on my shelf for a long time and hope I'll be aboe to squeeze it in this month. I'm always up for a little tartan noir.

[Thomas]

I read it in 2002 and enjoyed it.

[Jan C]

I read it years ago and it hooked me on the series.

[Annette]

I'm in!

[Theweebarrell]

I will read this i have had the whole series on my tbr for ages

[Bill]

My wife bought me the whole series for Xmas 2010. It was such a great surprise. Since that time I've read the first 13 books. Excellent series. I've also enjoyed the two TV series based on the books. The first one had John Hanna as Rebus, the second featured Ken Stott. I look forward to seeing what everybody thinks of the book once you get into it.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Another series I've dipped in to and enjoyed.

[Theona]

a little late, but I've just started the this one. so far, so good.

[M.]

I'll swing by to read your comments. Ian Rankin is an amazing author and I believe his Inspector Rebus is one of the greatest series out there.

unfortunately, I'm anxiously awaiting his most recent book due out today. Since a Rankin book is a hefty read/listen, I can't wait to begin.

I hope you all love his writing!

[Ann]

It seems like this book is coming highly recommended ! - I look forward to reading it

[Ann]

I read the prologue last night and Rebus seems so, well, ordinary. The book has an almost literary style, quite different from modern thrillers. I shall be reading this slowly, to savour it!

[Adrian]

Its the first book I read this year and indeed the first one I read on my Kindle Paperwhite.

Really enjoyed it and and look forward to the rest of the series.

[Karl]

I read this book a couple of years ago. Thoroughly enjoyed it

[Tracey]

I got the book today and am already at the half way point of the book. Some of the sentences that struck me:

'It was an Old Testament land that he found himself in, a land of barbarity and retribution.'

'It was a never ending search for some of them, staggering in and out of clubs and pubs and take-aways, gnawing on the packaged bones of existence.'

Raw and stark and true of much of life in modern cities?
Yes Rebus seems to be to be a different kind of detective. I will keep reading.

[Britney]

I will be reading this. I find more & more people everyday that like this series. I hear the my character is really likeable.

[Judy]

I've read a couple of Ian Rankin books (including a non-Rebus) but never the first one in the Rebus series. I just picked it up at my local bookstore and shall start on it after I finish up the book I'm currently reading (The Killer Next Door by another Brit, Alex Marwood).

[Tracey]

Hi, I finished the book tonight. I wasn't sure about the book at first but at the halfway point I found myself more drawn into the story and the characters and by the end found that it was a satisfactory choice. I look forward to more in the series.

[Barbara]

Tracey wrote: "Hi, I finished the book tonight. I wasn't sure about the book at first but at the halfway point I found myself more drawn into the story and the characters and by the end found that it was a satisf..."

@Tracey
Glad you liked it Tracey. I think you'll continue to enjoy the series as you go on with it.

Rebus gets older and goes through some changes as the series moves along -- which is different than some fictional detectives (which is okay too).

[Ann]

I'm on chapter 8- this is an interesting read

(view spoiler)[surprise 1 - Rebus has a strange stream of thoughts - talking about Dostoesky - he's a philosophical type when he's considering crime?
surprise 2- he steals some rolls and some milk! (hide spoiler)]

[Barbara]

My book arrived yesterday and I've started reading.

Right off the story drew me in, with Rebus visiting the cemetery where his dad is buried and then dropping in on his brother - who's a stage hypnotist!! What an unusual profession. I'm curious now, if it will figure in the story line.

[Storm]

Okay, you've convinced me. I shall buy this book and read it. Back soon.

[Barbara]

I don't think there are any spoilers ahead, but if you like to go into a book completely cold don't read any further.

I've read about 75 pages now and and it's interesting to find out some of the things that influenced Rebus. Like whatever terrible thing happened while he was in the Army and his relationship with his father, who apparently greatly favored Rebus's brother.

The plot has thickened as well, since Rebus is now assigned to the investigation of the abducted young girls.

[Barbara]

Ann wrote: "I'm on chapter 8- this is an interesting read

surprise 1 - Rebus has a strange stream of thoughts - talking about Dostoesky - he's a philosophical type when he's considering crime?
surprise 2- he ..."

@ Ann
(view spoiler)[ I think stealing the rolls and milk was a lark. He seemed to get a big kick out of it, like a little kid. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Barbara]

Tracey wrote: "I got the book today and am already at the half way point of the book. Some of the sentences that struck me:

'It was an Old Testament land that he found himself in, a land of barbarity and retribu..."

@ Tracey
Whenever I read a Rebus book I get the feeling (probably unfairly) that Edinburgh is chock full of crime and corruption and a terrible place to live. I suppose the city gives that impression (in the books) because these are the things that Rebus encounters in his job as a cop.

[Amanda]

I've not started reading it but will start shortly (reading a chunkster at the moment). I'm Scottish and I have lived in Edinburgh. It really is a lovely place to live. I wonder if I will get that same feeling, Barbara, in the way Rankin writes.

[Sharon]

I discovered Rebus about ten years ago and have read most of the series. Rebus is a fascinating character because he is flawed and brooding. Rankin essentially writes "police procedurals" but elevates the genre with his careful characterization of Rebus.

[Sharon]

Amanda wrote: "I've not started reading it but will start shortly (reading a chunkster at the moment). I'm Scottish and I have lived in Edinburgh. It really is a lovely place to live. I wonder if I will get that ..."
As an American who enjoys reading British novels, I wonder if Rankin accurately portrays Edinburgh? I find Rankin's description of Edinburgh to be vivid.

[Amanda]

I'll let you know, Sharon, what I think of how he portrays Edinburgh once I've finished the book. I think he must portray it well otherwise the series wouldn't be so popular.

[Michelle]

Just got the book last night. Looking forward to it.

[Barbara]

Amanda wrote: "I've not started reading it but will start shortly (reading a chunkster at the moment). I'm Scottish and I have lived in Edinburgh. It really is a lovely place to live. I wonder if I will get that ..."

@ Amanda
I look forward to hearing your opinion of how Edinburgh seems to be depicted in the books - how realistic Rebus's descriptions and experiences are.

[Ann]

hmm, interesting comments about Edinburgh - so far I feel like I'm living in Rebus' murky, not-mentally-positive-head and yes, it does create a bleak landscape

[Ian]

I do live in Edinburgh and Rankin portrays it accurately - only there are lots of layers in this city (lots of lawyers too!) and Rebus doesn't reach all of them.

[Barbara]

Ian wrote: "I do live in Edinburgh and Rankin portrays it accurately - only there are lots of layers in this city (lots of lawyers too!) and Rebus doesn't reach all of them."

Thanks Ian. It's good to get the view of a native.

[Barbara]

Okay, I've finished the book. I'll write a review later on but a few things about the story struck me.

The action started out kind of leisurely but once Rebus got into the thick of the investigation it zipped along at a pretty good clip.

Re: The anonymous letters
(view spoiler)[I thought Rebus was very slow on the uptake about the anonymous letters. Even though he couldn't remember what happened during SAS training, I think getting such letters during a murder spree would ring a bell in ANY detective's mind. (hide spoiler)]

I didn't like the journalist Jim Stevens but I think the author purposely wrote him as kind of an obnoxious character.

Re: Gill Templer.
(view spoiler)[ As much as I like Rebus as a detective I don't believe his paunchy, sloppy-looking self would get a beautiful DI to sleep with him right off the bat. I think male authors are especially prone to pen this kind of male fantasy and I never find it credible. (hide spoiler)]

I enjoyed this first book in the series and feel like it's a good introduction to Rebus. The series gets even better in later books, with Rebus becoming more fully realized as a character and the mysteries themselves becoming more sophisticated and complex.

[Ian]

Barbara wrote: "Okay, I've finished the book. I'll write a review later on but a few things about the story struck me.

The action started out kind of leisurely but once Rebus got into the thick of the investigat..."
I agree that the later Rebus books are the best ones, elevating Rankin to world-class status.

[Judy]

I've read other books by Rankin, including some newer Rebus novels, and with the Rebus novels, while I enjoyed them, I always felt like a bit of an outsider at the family picnic. This novel helped to share some of John Rebus' history. I quite liked this book, though I would say that Rankin has improved with age and experience. (view spoiler)[ The hypnosis bit, though explained, seemed a bit too "tidy" to me to be altogether believable; surely there was a better way? Still, a good read, one worth exploring if you're a Rankin fan. (hide spoiler)]

[Ann]

I'm on the last part of the book and am saving the final chapters for my weekend reading!

[Barbara]

Judy wrote: "I've read other books by Rankin, including some newer Rebus novels, and with the Rebus novels, while I enjoyed them, I always felt like a bit of an outsider at the family picnic. This novel helped ..."

@ Judy - I agree with you that Rankin's Rebus books improved with age and experience. He may have taken a shortcut or two in this first book, to move the plot along.

(view spoiler)[ At the beginning of the book , when it was revealed that Michael Rebus is a stage hypnotist, I suspected his profession would be involved in the plot somehow. I agree with you that 'hypnotizing' detective Rebus into remembering his SAS days was an easy fix..... but maybe it was better than bonking him on the head or something. (hide spoiler)]

[Judy]

Barbara wrote: "Judy wrote: "I've read other books by Rankin, including some newer Rebus novels, and with the Rebus novels, while I enjoyed them, I always felt like a bit of an outsider at the family picnic. This ..."

I agree on all counts Barbara and had the same impressions.

[Barbara]

I think a lot of people are either well into the book or finished so I'm going to toss out a topic for comments.

What do you think about the 'special training' Rebus underwent before he left the SAS?

If there are any SAS or British army veterans out there....is this realistic?

[Tom]

Barbara wrote: "What do you think about the 'special training' Rebus underwent before he left the SAS?

If there are any SAS or British army veterans out there....is this realistic? "

I finished the book this morning and, for the most part, really enjoyed it.

While I know nothing of SAS training, what they described closely resembles the SERE (Survival, Escape, Resistance, and Evasion) school that U.S. military pilots and special forces go through.

[Michelle]

Barbara wrote: "Okay, I've finished the book. I'll write a review later on but a few things about the story struck me.

The action started out kind of leisurely but once Rebus got into the thick of the investigat..."
This was my first time reading Ian Rankin. Although it was a good enough story I can see what you mean about the plot and character development. After reading your comments about his later works I am considering giving Rankin and Rebus another go.

[Judy]

Michelle wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Okay, I've finished the book. I'll write a review later on but a few things about the story struck me.

The action started out kind of leisurely but once Rebus got into the thick o..."
I really enjoyed Doors Open, which is a standalone by Rankin. I also enjoyed The Complaints, which is not a Rebus book either (Malcolm Fox).

[Barbara]

Tom wrote: "Barbara wrote: "What do you think about the 'special training' Rebus underwent before he left the SAS?
..."

I finished the book this morning and, for the most part, really enjoyed it.

While I know nothing of SAS training, what they described closely resembles the SERE (Survival, Escape, Resistance, and Evasion) school that U.S. military pilots and special forces go through.

@Tom
Thanks for the information. I hadn't heard of SERE training.

The way Rebus described his training - going on for so long and being so mentally and physically horrific - it sounded more like torture than training. I was shocked - and skeptical about the credibility. (It reminded me of the training Jason Bourne was put through in the movie series.)

I do kind of get it though; special forces have to be very tough.