Inspector John Rebus is hunting a serial killer whose prey is young girls- similar in age to his daughter Samantha. Meanwhile, he’s battling the demons of his past that leave him dissociated and haunted. He craves salvation from the bottom of a bottle and the sweet embrace of one-night stands. And yet, he just might be the best person for the job.
My first impression of Knots and Crosses was not a particularly favorable one. John Rebus initially struck me as a cardboard cliche, interchangeable with any beleaguered detective from the noir genre. I found it difficult to connect with our main character and I wondered why I should care about him at all. The story itself didn’t seem especially original either and the changing POV was slightly jarring for me personally.
I know, not exactly a ringing endorsement, but stick with me here. All that being said, I have to applaud the author for the character development that gradually ensues. The plot really begins to take off during the last third of the book. Wowza! It’s like going from 25 to 90 miles an hour in the blink of an eye.
As Detective Rebus’s background is carefully unraveled, it became much easier to sympathize with him and understand what makes him tick. I was suddenly and unexpectedly glued to my Kindle, desperate to discover what happened next. This book is gritty, crackles with tension and has interesting details such as a family history of hypnotism. The supporting character Gill Templer was a standout in my eyes.
Needless to say, the way that the latter half was handled really redeemed Knots and Crosses for me. I can admire a steady improvement and Rankin truly managed to pull it off. I can see potential in this series, so I very much doubt this will be the last I see of Inspector Rebus and the rain-soaked streets of Edinburgh. From what I hear, it keeps getting better and better.
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
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