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Crime Column

One of my favorite authors is Ian Rankin, who launched his own artistic career while studiously not-writing a dissertation on Muriel Spark. Rankin writes about flawed detectives in impossible situations, in Edinburgh, and he cranks out approximately one extravagantly-praised novel per year.

Around 2008, Rankin seemed to grow tired of his signature creation, Inspector Rebus, so he went in a new direction. He invented a character, Malcolm Fox, who had little in common with Rebus. Rebus is, famously, a drinker--and he is a guy who struggles with authority; by contrast, Fox has renounced alcohol, and he *is* authority, he watches the cops.

Fox made his debut in "The Complaints," in 2009, a novel that won praise from the grand master of European crime fiction, PD James. "The Complaints" refers to Fox's office--he handles and investigates complaints filed about other cops--but it also refers to something broader, more existential: The novel explores things we humans like to complain about. Loneliness, temptation, assholes at work, dishonesty, aging, weakness, gender inequality.

Rankin is known as a great engineer of plots, and in "The Complaints," he doesn't disappoint. Malcolm Fox must investigate a cop who may or may not have an interest in kiddie porn (Breck). At the same time, Breck must investigate Fox, because Fox looks like he may have murdered the tyrannical thug whom his sister had been dating. (Talk about cat and mouse!)

As these two men circle each other, additional stories develop. I'm especially interested in Fox's sister, Jude, short for "Judith," who lies about her boyfriend, Vince, and the injuries Vince inflicts. (I just fell down the stairs.) I'm interested in Fox smelling, and rejecting, an alcoholic drink. And I'm interested in Fox visiting his father in a retirement home, wondering if the "assisted-living" route is the right choice.

Rankin is such a pro, you don't often stop to appreciate his craft. You just feel that someone is watching actual life, and taking careful notes. At the same time, the scenes are more explosive and shocking than actual life tends to be.

I very much like this guy. I'm enjoying "The Complaints."
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