Knots and Crosses

infobox Book |
name = Knots and Crosses
orig title =
translator =


author = Ian Rankin
cover_artist =
country = Scotland
language = English
series =
genre = Detective novel
publisher = Orion Press
release_date = 1987
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 256 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-7528-7718-6
preceded_by =
followed_by = Hide and Seek

(This page is about a novel. For the 1990's folk band Knots and Crosses, see Carol Noonan.)

"Knots and Crosses" is a 1987 crime novel by Ian Rankin. It is the first of the Inspector Rebus novels. It was written while Rankin was a postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh. In the introduction to this novel, Rankin states that Rebus lives directly opposite the window in Marchmont that he looked out of while writing the book.

Plot Outline

Edinburgh has been shocked by the abduction and subsequent strangling of two young girls. Journalist Jim Stevens runs his own investigation, and has uncovered Michael Rebus's drug dealing. He suspects that his brother John, a police officer, knows or even supports his brother's illegal activities.

John Rebus is meanwhile assigned to the investigative team. The investigation, however, remains without success, and eventually two more girls disappear. Throughout the case, John is haunted by his past in the SAS. Then, his former wife is attacked and his daughter abducted. Only when hypnotized by his brother, is he able to share his past with him and his colleague and lover Gill Templer. Taking hints from seemingly cryptic anonymous letters, John connects the murders to his own military past. Relieved from his duty because of the personal involvement, he decides to find and face his enemy.

Characters and notes

*Detective Sergeant John Rebus - Lead character, hard drinking, Scottish detective with a troubled past.
*Michael Rebus - John's younger brother, rich from following his fathers career in stage hypnotism, but with a few secrets to hide.
*Samantha - John Rebus' daughter
*Detective Inspector Gill Templer - The Press Liaison officer on the abduction case, and Rebus' on-off love interest
*Jim Stevens - Investigative journalist