Ian Rankin - The Complaints

Review by Malcolm Martland on show oct 29th

This new novel from Ian Rankin features a detective Malcolm Fox who replaces the famous Inspector John Rebus. But far from the beer swilling Rebus, Malcolm Fox does not drink! Apart from that would we know the difference in the novel? Set in Edinburgh, the usual gangster fraternity passing each other backhanders, the dysfunctional family members, and the occasional murder, it resembles just one of Ian Rankin's John Rebus novels but without the colour and flavour that the old rogue detective gave to the stories.

Anyway to get down to the plot! Malcolm Fox works in the complaints department and has just successfully put away another corrupt policeman much to the annoyance of his regular colleagues. He gets a call from the child protection department down the corridor-a meeting is requested with DS Annie Inglis. She is investigating an allegation of child pornography downloading by a colleague, Jamie Breck. Malcolm Fox's help is requested. Meanwhile Malcolm's sister due to repeatedly gets beaten up by her partner Vince. But one day Vince's body is found on a building site and while Malcolm was comforting his sister Jamie Breck turns up to investigate. The two men get on really well and become friends, Malcolm cannot believe that Jamie Breck is the real culprit in the child pornography suspicion.
Bodies go missing in the Firth of Forth, gangsters gather in pubs to plot, corrupt developers try to offload land that is now worthless because of the recession. There is a hint of a romantic relationship between Fox and Inglis, Breck and Fox are suspended for overstretching their authority and while hanging around wondering what to do next they wrap up the case satisfactorily for everybody. Oh, and Breck was being set up for the pornography he was completely innocent.

The genre of the story is just the same as Inspector Rebus just the characters are slightly different. Nevertheless a most enjoyable read.

Malcolm Martland 29th October 2009