Rebus: The Early Years: Knots And Crosses, Hide And Seek and Tooth And Nail
£9.50
‘Ian Rankin is a genius’ Lee Child
Knots and Crosses
The very first Rebus novel from the No.1 bestselling author.
‘And in Edinburgh of all places. I mean, you never think of that sort of thing happening in Edinburgh, do you…?’
‘That sort of thing’ is the brutal abduction and murder of two young girls. And now a third is missing, presumably gone to the same sad end. Detective Sergeant John Rebus, smoking and drinking too much, his own young daughter spirited away south by his disenchanted wife, is one of many policemen hunting the killer.
And then the messages begin to arrive: knotted string and matchstick crosses – taunting Rebus with pieces of a puzzle only he can solve.
Hide and Seek
Inspector Rebus returns in the second novel from ‘Britain’s No.1 crime writer’ (DAILY MIRROR).
A junkie lies dead in an Edinburgh squat, spreadeagled, cross-like on the floor, between two burned-down candles, a five-pointed star daubed on the wall above.
Just another dead addict – until John Rebus begins to chip away at the indifference, treachery, deceit and sleaze that lurks behind the facade of the Edinburgh familiar to tourists.
Only Rebus seems to care about a death which looks more like a murder every day, about a seductive danger he can almost taste, appealing to the darkest corners of his mind…
Tooth and Nail
Rebus is back, this time on the tail of a serial killer known as the Wolfman…
They call him the Wolfman – because he takes a bite out of his victims and because they found the first victim in the East End’s lonely Wolf Street. Scotland Yard are anxious to find the killer and Inspector Rebus is drafted in to help. But his Scotland Yard opposite number, George Flight, isn’t happy at yet more interference, and Rebus finds himself dealing with racial prejudice as well as the predations of a violent maniac.
When Rebus is offered a serial killer profile of the Wolfman by an attractive female psychologist, it’s too good an opportunity to miss. But in finding an ally, he may have given his enemies an easy means of attack.
Read more
Additional information
| Publisher | Orion (9 July 2020) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 2972 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 673 pages |
by Mrs Moira J MacLeod
Saved buying 3 books separately, bulky but good.
by D. Blewitt
I’ve been reading a lot of crime fiction this year, hadn’t read any Rebus. I read Doors Open by Ian Rankin and loved it so knew it was time to dive in, with high expectations based on all the praise and respect around the name.
I’ve read all three novels in a week.
I won’t say I was disappointed, I was expecting to be blown away and wasn’t exactly.
All three are very readable.
Knots & Crosses ticks along, giving great character to Rebus, then once it kicks in it grips very tightly indeed.
Hide & Seek is a good traditional detective yarn, following the leads, with much less of Rebus’ mental anguish.
Tooth & Nail sees him sent to London carrying the label and expectations as an expert in serial killers.
All are good, but not great, there are moments of greatness, and very readable throughout.
I’ve ordered all the other Rebus Omnibus collections, largely after the tension in the latter parts of Knot & Crosses.
So, a mixed review overall, but I’m definitely looking forwards to reading the next instalments.
by D I McConnachie
I’ve enjoyed reading the first two books into the third. The character of John Rebus is well-written, a man with his own foibles who does not always play by the book.
by Sparrow Kelly
Engaging characters, intriguing plots and a vivid setting.
by F. M. Havicon
Early Rankin novels are a revelation to new readers who have maybe only seen the TV shows and heard the hype…the writing isn’t up to much. First thing you notice is that you could probably write it better yourself. Second thing is…Rankin watches too much TV and too many thriller films. He rehashes what he has seen thinking it to be reality. All very disappointing if you want good writing and believable plots. Move on 20 years, the writing has slightly improved, the stories haven’t. The character of Rebus changes over the years, so by book 4 he is a different man, and by book 8 a different man again… inconsistency waiting down the line.
by Janet Os
I really enjoyed this gruesome mystery set in London. There was humour in there despite the grim storyline. I like John Feb is. Ready to read more in this series.
by John D. Gordon
Plot a little obvious. Why all the fuss in the gallery? Where were the officers accompanying him? I usually get more from Rebus!
by Gary Richards
Arrived quickly in excellent condition