Find Similar Books | Similar Books Like Find Similar Books

Books like Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin


In "Knots and Crosses," Edinburgh detective John Rebus faces a complex murder investigation involving mysterious, seemingly crank but wholly manipulative letters. While several officers pursue the case, Rebus is the sole investigator who can assemble all the puzzle pieces, guiding the story through the city’s grim streets toward a chilling resolution.
First publish date: 1987
Genre: Mystery & Detective/Police Procedural
Authors: Ian Rankin
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3.5 (13 community ratings)

All books by Ian Rankin
Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin

How are these books recommended?

The books recommended for Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.

Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.

Books similar to Knots and Crosses (14 similar books)

Strip Jack by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Strip Jack
 by Ian Rankin

An early Inspector Rebus thriller in which a former schoolboy circle converges in Edinburgh, testing old friendships and moral lines amid a city‑wide mystery.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.4 (5 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Strip Jack
Tooth and nail by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Tooth and nail
 by Ian Rankin

Inspector Rebus teams up with Dr. Liza Frazer to hunt the Wolfman, a serial killer stealthily taking trophies from victims left on Wolf Street in Edinburgh.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.4 (5 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Tooth and nail
Hide And Seek A Detective John Rebus Mystery by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Hide And Seek A Detective John Rebus Mystery
 by Ian Rankin

Inspector John Rebus of Edinburgh recognizes a drug addict's death as murder, unraveling a case that challenges the police force.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.8 (4 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Hide And Seek A Detective John Rebus Mystery
The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus) by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus)
 by Ian Rankin

In the midst of an international conference in Scotland, Inspector Rebus is left alone to investigate a mysterious death at Edinburgh Castle, racing against time to uncover a sinister plot that could endanger world leaders.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.8 (4 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus)
En la oscuridad (Set in Darkness) by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 En la oscuridad (Set in Darkness)
 by Ian Rankin

Inspector Rebus investigates three murders at Queensbury House, the new Scottish Parliament building, uncovering secrets hidden for twenty years.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.5 (2 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like En la oscuridad (Set in Darkness)
Resurrection men by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Resurrection men
 by Ian Rankin

Inspector John Rebus, after a serious error, is confined to a rehabilitation school where he discovers classmates planning a drug heist. Joined by Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke, they investigate links to an art dealer’s murder that threatens senior law‑enforcement officials.

★★★★★★★★★★ 3.5 (2 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Resurrection men
Mortal Causes (An Inspector Rebus Novel) by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Mortal Causes (An Inspector Rebus Novel)
 by Ian Rankin


★★★★★★★★★★ 3.5 (2 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Mortal Causes (An Inspector Rebus Novel)
Hide and Seek by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Hide and Seek
 by Ian Rankin

Inspector Rebus #2

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Hide and Seek
The Long Call by 7703807|Ann Cleeves book cover

📘 The Long Call
 by Ann Cleeves


★★★★★★★★★★ 1.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like The Long Call
Rather Be The Devil by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Rather Be The Devil
 by Ian Rankin

Inspector John Rebus returns to a 1970s cold case in Edinburgh, re‑opening the investigation into a wealthy socialite’s murder and drawing new, dangerous enemies.

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Rather Be The Devil
Beggar's banquet by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Beggar's banquet
 by Ian Rankin

A gripping collection of seven Inspector Rebus tales, including the elusive "Death Is Not The End," that delves into Edinburgh's dark alleys and the minds of killers, a bent cop, and a hitman caught in a crowded fairground.

★★★★★★★★★★ 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Beggar's banquet
Death Is Not the End by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Death Is Not the End
 by Ian Rankin


★★★★★★★★★★ 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Death Is Not the End
Dead Souls by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Dead Souls
 by Ian Rankin

Inspector Rebus #10

★★★★★★★★★★ 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Dead Souls
Mortal causes by 7327135|Ian Rankin book cover

📘 Mortal causes
 by Ian Rankin

During the Edinburgh Festival, Inspector Rebus investigates a brutal murder in the city’s ancient underground, uncovering sectarian ties and a looming terrorist threat linked to a gangster’s son.

★★★★★★★★★★ 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Books like Mortal causes

Some Other Similar Books

Dark White by Val McDermid
Hitchcock's Blondes by William Rothwell
The Burning Man by Val McDermid
The Cold Song by Fin MacMillan
A Question of Time by Val McDermid
The Price of Double Cross by Chris Nickson
Revival by Peter Robinson
Missing, Presumed by Susan Hill

Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!

Please login to submit books!