Dear Rachel, 

We’re still on Knots & Crosses? Wait. What?

So. I did finish the book way back when I made my last post, and I did find it engrossing and fascinating. Psychology is my thing, and this book had all that hypnotism/Freudian defense mechanisms stuff going for it. (We won’t focus on the science behind it, because that would just ruin it.)

And I was interested enough in Rebus and Rankin’s writing to find the second book at my local used bookstore. 

But I don’t remember much about the book itself. I’ve read a lot of mysteries and watched a lot of crime dramas on TV and movies. Many of the themes become worn and trite and lose their umph. For example, every crime drama tv show ever has an episode with a murder victim who had multiple wives who didn’t know about each other. I can now spot those coming a mile away. They are fine while I’m watching, but they leave no lasting impression. Knots & Crosses felt like that to me. 

I mostly read fiction. And I mostly read for entertainment and escape. Mysteries are awesome for this. Gripping, entertaining, enveloping - and then they let you go when you’re done. The week I read Knots & Crosses was my last week of a very stressful semester that wasn’t quite over yet. That week, this book was exactly what I needed. It drew me into someone else’s problems - my stress combined with the stress of the missing girl, the psychological drama, the case - fascinated me  for a while, and then resolved. And when the case resolved, some of my personal stresses left with it. 

And for that, I am very grateful to Ian Rankin.

What did you think? Did you come to care for the daughter any more at all when she got kidnapped?

Ready for what’s next, 

Rachel

  1. detective-tastic posted this