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Malcolm Fox #1
The Complaints
Nobody likes The Complaints – they’re the cops who investigate other cops. Complaints and Conduct Department, to give them their full title, but known colloquially as ‘the Dark Side’, or simply ‘The Complaints’. Malcolm Fox works for The Complaints. He’s just had a result, and should be feeling good about himself. But he’s middle-aged, sour and unwell. He also has a father in a care home and a sister who persists in an abusive relationship.
In the midst of an aggressive Edinburgh winter, the reluctant Fox is given a new task. There’s a cop called Jamie Breck, and he’s dirty. Problem is, no one can prove it. But as Fox takes on the job, he learns that there’s more to Breck than anyone thinks. This knowledge will prove dangerous, especially when murder intervenes.
In the midst of an aggressive Edinburgh winter, the reluctant Fox is given a new task. There’s a cop called Jamie Breck, and he’s dirty. Problem is, no one can prove it. But as Fox takes on the job, he learns that there’s more to Breck than anyone thinks. This knowledge will prove dangerous, especially when murder intervenes.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
485 people are currently reading
4648 people want to read
About the author
Ian Rankin
423 books6,528 followersAKA Jack Harvey.
Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982 and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987; the Rebus books are now translated into 22 languages and are bestsellers on several continents.
Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow. He is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award, and he received two Dagger Awards for the year's best short story and the Gold Dagger for Fiction. Ian Rankin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, and Edinburgh.
A contributor to BBC2's Newsnight Review, he also presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin's Evil Thoughts, on Channel 4 in 2002. He recently received the OBE for services to literature, and opted to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his partner and two sons.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ianrankin
Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982 and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987; the Rebus books are now translated into 22 languages and are bestsellers on several continents.
Ian Rankin has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow. He is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award, and he received two Dagger Awards for the year's best short story and the Gold Dagger for Fiction. Ian Rankin is also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, and Edinburgh.
A contributor to BBC2's Newsnight Review, he also presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin's Evil Thoughts, on Channel 4 in 2002. He recently received the OBE for services to literature, and opted to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his partner and two sons.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ianrankin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,029 reviews
July 26, 2018
#1 in the Malcolm Fox Series.
This is a slow, methodical police procedural but it’s a very satisfying read.
Malcolm Fox is an Inspector with Lothian and Border police force, Scotland.
Malcolm works with The Complaints and Conduct Department. In other word he is the police that police the police and as such is generally hated by all of the other departments.
There is something off in The Lothian and Border Police force and it’s beginning to smell really bad. For no reason that Malcolm can think of all the accusing finger seem to be pointing at him. Malcolm is asked to investigate a fellow officer, DS Breck. Malcolm soon realises that Ds. Breck is clean and wants to know why he is being investigated. He doesn’t get any answers so Malcolm decides to approach Breck about his concerns. Breck is taken aback that he is under surveillance and convinces Fox that there is something very amiss. So together they try to get to the bottoms of what’s going on. But the more they dig the muddier the water becomes.
Not before long both Insp. Fox and Ds. Breck are suspended from duty and told not to communicate with each other.
All this achieves is to make Fox and Breck all the more desperate to find out what is going on.
This is a well constructed police procedural. The story takes it’s time evolve and along the way both Insp. Fox and Ds. Beck develop into characters that you will want to believe in.
So take a seat, relax and let the story envelope you.
Highly recommended. 4 stars.
This is a slow, methodical police procedural but it’s a very satisfying read.
Malcolm Fox is an Inspector with Lothian and Border police force, Scotland.
Malcolm works with The Complaints and Conduct Department. In other word he is the police that police the police and as such is generally hated by all of the other departments.
There is something off in The Lothian and Border Police force and it’s beginning to smell really bad. For no reason that Malcolm can think of all the accusing finger seem to be pointing at him. Malcolm is asked to investigate a fellow officer, DS Breck. Malcolm soon realises that Ds. Breck is clean and wants to know why he is being investigated. He doesn’t get any answers so Malcolm decides to approach Breck about his concerns. Breck is taken aback that he is under surveillance and convinces Fox that there is something very amiss. So together they try to get to the bottoms of what’s going on. But the more they dig the muddier the water becomes.
Not before long both Insp. Fox and Ds. Breck are suspended from duty and told not to communicate with each other.
All this achieves is to make Fox and Breck all the more desperate to find out what is going on.
This is a well constructed police procedural. The story takes it’s time evolve and along the way both Insp. Fox and Ds. Beck develop into characters that you will want to believe in.
So take a seat, relax and let the story envelope you.
Highly recommended. 4 stars.
November 15, 2012
With this book, Ian Rankin, the author of the very popular series featuring Scottish detective John Rebus, introduces a new protagonist, Malcolm Fox. Fox is also a Scottish police detective, but he belongs to the Complaints and Conduct division, usually known as the Complaints, which is the Scottish equivalent of Internal Affairs. Fox and his colleagues investigate other cops who have been accused of improper conduct.
As the book opens, Fox is assigned to investigate another detective, Jamie Breck, who is perhaps involved in a child pornography ring. But then, to complicate matters, the abusive live-in boyfriend of Fox's sister is murdered and Breck is assigned to the case. To further complicate matters, Malcolm Fox is a potential suspect.
Fox and Breck begin a delicate dance, wary of each other, but each needing the other's help. Although warned away from the investigation into his sister's lover's death, Fox can't help but at least nibble around the edges which will inevitably get him into trouble. It turns out that the murdered boyfriend was tied to a developer who mysteriously committed suicide at about the same time as the murder, and in the end Fox and Breck can't know who to trust as they are both enveloped in an apparent conspiracy that may destroy them both.
This is a good read, and Fox is an interesting protagonist, though he is not as compelling as Rebus. He doesn't drink; he's not as tortured and he does not share Rebus's interest in music. The plot is a bit too convoluted, but still this is a fun ride and I'll look forward to seeing more of Malcolm Fox.
As the book opens, Fox is assigned to investigate another detective, Jamie Breck, who is perhaps involved in a child pornography ring. But then, to complicate matters, the abusive live-in boyfriend of Fox's sister is murdered and Breck is assigned to the case. To further complicate matters, Malcolm Fox is a potential suspect.
Fox and Breck begin a delicate dance, wary of each other, but each needing the other's help. Although warned away from the investigation into his sister's lover's death, Fox can't help but at least nibble around the edges which will inevitably get him into trouble. It turns out that the murdered boyfriend was tied to a developer who mysteriously committed suicide at about the same time as the murder, and in the end Fox and Breck can't know who to trust as they are both enveloped in an apparent conspiracy that may destroy them both.
This is a good read, and Fox is an interesting protagonist, though he is not as compelling as Rebus. He doesn't drink; he's not as tortured and he does not share Rebus's interest in music. The plot is a bit too convoluted, but still this is a fun ride and I'll look forward to seeing more of Malcolm Fox.
June 9, 2019
Την άποψή μου μπορείτε να βρείτε και στον Βιβλιολόγο εδώ.
Βαθμολογία: 5/5
Όσοι με γνωρίζουν ξέρουν τη λατρεία που έχω για τον Ian Rankin. Θεωρώ πως είναι ο κορυφαίος στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο στο είδος του detective fiction. Από τα 26 βιβλία του που έχω διαβάσει τα τελευταία 5 χρόνια δε με έχει απογοητεύσει κανένα, ακόμη και τα πιο αδύναμά του. Το 2007, στο «Τελευταίο τραγούδι για τον Ρέμπους» είπαμε αντίο (προσωρινά) στον επιθεωρητή Τζον Ρέμπους που μας συντρόφευε για 17 μυθιστορήματα και δεκάδες άλλες ιστορίες. Δυο χρόνια αργότερα, ο Rankin επέστρεψε με το νέο του ήρωα, τον Μάλκολμ Φοξ.
Στη «Σκοτεινή πλευρά», λοιπόν, βρίσκουμε τον Φοξ να εργάζεται ως επιθεωρητής στις «Καταγγελίες» (Complaints). Ένα κομμάτι της βρετανικής αστυνομίας που ερευνά τους ίδιους τους αστυνομικούς για διάφορα περιστατικά όπως δωροδοκίες, κατάχρηση εξουσίας, βία κ.α. Ένα τμήμα που κανείς δε συμπαθεί, αλλά όλοι αναγκάζονται να ανεχθούν. Στη νέα του υπόθεση, ο Μάλκολμ Φοξ θα αναλάβει να ερευνήσει τον Τζέιμι Μπρεκ, ύποπτο για συνδρομή σε σελίδα παιδικής πορνογραφίας, τις ίδιες μέρες που θα βρεθεί νεκρός ο σύντροφος της αδερφής του. Δύο φαινομενικά άσχετα περιστατικά. Όταν βρεθεί και ο ίδιος υπό διερεύνηση, θα αναγκαστεί να συνεργαστεί με τον Μπρεκ για να βρει ποιος και πώς τον ενοχοποίησε, αλλά και να ανακαλύψει το δολοφόνο του παρολίγον γαμπρού του.
Ο Φοξ επιφανειακά μοιάζει πολύ με τον Ρέμπους. Είναι πεισματάρης, ευρηματικός, θαρραλέος με ιδιαίτερη αίσθηση του χιούμορ. Έχει κι αυτός τους προσωπικούς του δαίμονες: πρόβλημα με το αλκοόλ (ε βέβαια), μια καριέρα που αποτελεί εμπόδιο στην ερωτική και γενικότερα στην προσωπική του ζωή. Είναι όμως και πολύ διαφορετικός από τον Ρέμπους. Πιο προσεκτικός, προσπαθεί να ακολουθεί εντολές και κανόνες, αν και αναγκάζεται κάποιους να τους παραβιάσει. Πιο προσιτός, πιο ευγενικός, δε διστάζει να εμπιστευτεί και ζητήσει βοήθεια από άλλους.
Ο Ian Rankin καταφέρνει κάθε φορά να συνθέτει περίπλοκα αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα, συνδυάζοντας περίτεχνα διάφορες υποθέσεις, που όμως διαβάζονται εύκολα και ευχάριστα χωρίς να χάνεται ο αναγνώστης. Η γραφή του δεν είναι ούτε φλύαρη ούτε απλή, αλλά έξυπνη και πνευματώδης. Με φόντο πάντα το μαγευτικό, σκοτεινό και ολοζώντανο Εδιμβούργο, προσέχει να μένει πάντα στην επικαιρότητα. Όλα τα βιβλία του διαδραματίζονται χρονικά το έτος που τα γράφει και πάντα ασχολούνται με κάποιο κοινωνικοπολιτικό πρόβλημα της πόλης ή της χώρας. Στη «Σκοτεινή πλευρά» συγκεκριμένα, αποτελεί θέμα η κατάρρευση που υπέστη η αγορά ακινήτων εκείνη την περίοδο.
Αν δεν έχετε ξαναδιαβάσει Rankin, η «Σκοτεινή πλευρά» είναι μια καλή αρχή. Αν δοκιμάσατε και δε σας άρεσε, δώστε του μια ακόμη ευκαιρία διαβάζοντας κάποιο άλλο βιβλίο του, γιατί το καθένα έχει και κάτι διαφορετικό να δώσει.
Βαθμολογία: 5/5
Όσοι με γνωρίζουν ξέρουν τη λατρεία που έχω για τον Ian Rankin. Θεωρώ πως είναι ο κορυφαίος στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο στο είδος του detective fiction. Από τα 26 βιβλία του που έχω διαβάσει τα τελευταία 5 χρόνια δε με έχει απογοητεύσει κανένα, ακόμη και τα πιο αδύναμά του. Το 2007, στο «Τελευταίο τραγούδι για τον Ρέμπους» είπαμε αντίο (προσωρινά) στον επιθεωρητή Τζον Ρέμπους που μας συντρόφευε για 17 μυθιστορήματα και δεκάδες άλλες ιστορίες. Δυο χρόνια αργότερα, ο Rankin επέστρεψε με το νέο του ήρωα, τον Μάλκολμ Φοξ.
Στη «Σκοτεινή πλευρά», λοιπόν, βρίσκουμε τον Φοξ να εργάζεται ως επιθεωρητής στις «Καταγγελίες» (Complaints). Ένα κομμάτι της βρετανικής αστυνομίας που ερευνά τους ίδιους τους αστυνομικούς για διάφορα περιστατικά όπως δωροδοκίες, κατάχρηση εξουσίας, βία κ.α. Ένα τμήμα που κανείς δε συμπαθεί, αλλά όλοι αναγκάζονται να ανεχθούν. Στη νέα του υπόθεση, ο Μάλκολμ Φοξ θα αναλάβει να ερευνήσει τον Τζέιμι Μπρεκ, ύποπτο για συνδρομή σε σελίδα παιδικής πορνογραφίας, τις ίδιες μέρες που θα βρεθεί νεκρός ο σύντροφος της αδερφής του. Δύο φαινομενικά άσχετα περιστατικά. Όταν βρεθεί και ο ίδιος υπό διερεύνηση, θα αναγκαστεί να συνεργαστεί με τον Μπρεκ για να βρει ποιος και πώς τον ενοχοποίησε, αλλά και να ανακαλύψει το δολοφόνο του παρολίγον γαμπρού του.
Ο Φοξ επιφανειακά μοιάζει πολύ με τον Ρέμπους. Είναι πεισματάρης, ευρηματικός, θαρραλέος με ιδιαίτερη αίσθηση του χιούμορ. Έχει κι αυτός τους προσωπικούς του δαίμονες: πρόβλημα με το αλκοόλ (ε βέβαια), μια καριέρα που αποτελεί εμπόδιο στην ερωτική και γενικότερα στην προσωπική του ζωή. Είναι όμως και πολύ διαφορετικός από τον Ρέμπους. Πιο προσεκτικός, προσπαθεί να ακολουθεί εντολές και κανόνες, αν και αναγκάζεται κάποιους να τους παραβιάσει. Πιο προσιτός, πιο ευγενικός, δε διστάζει να εμπιστευτεί και ζητήσει βοήθεια από άλλους.
Ο Ian Rankin καταφέρνει κάθε φορά να συνθέτει περίπλοκα αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα, συνδυάζοντας περίτεχνα διάφορες υποθέσεις, που όμως διαβάζονται εύκολα και ευχάριστα χωρίς να χάνεται ο αναγνώστης. Η γραφή του δεν είναι ούτε φλύαρη ούτε απλή, αλλά έξυπνη και πνευματώδης. Με φόντο πάντα το μαγευτικό, σκοτεινό και ολοζώντανο Εδιμβούργο, προσέχει να μένει πάντα στην επικαιρότητα. Όλα τα βιβλία του διαδραματίζονται χρονικά το έτος που τα γράφει και πάντα ασχολούνται με κάποιο κοινωνικοπολιτικό πρόβλημα της πόλης ή της χώρας. Στη «Σκοτεινή πλευρά» συγκεκριμένα, αποτελεί θέμα η κατάρρευση που υπέστη η αγορά ακινήτων εκείνη την περίοδο.
Αν δεν έχετε ξαναδιαβάσει Rankin, η «Σκοτεινή πλευρά» είναι μια καλή αρχή. Αν δοκιμάσατε και δε σας άρεσε, δώστε του μια ακόμη ευκαιρία διαβάζοντας κάποιο άλλο βιβλίο του, γιατί το καθένα έχει και κάτι διαφορετικό να δώσει.
March 11, 2025
I liked this book. First Ian Rankin book I've ever read, and I did enjoy it. Was nice to read a book about the Police and a department I'd never heard of before.
Will be on the lookout for more of his books now.
Three stars.
Will be on the lookout for more of his books now.
Three stars.
May 29, 2020
The creator of Rebus puts together a really interesting and intricate tale about the police and crime conspiracy centred around the Police Complaints division. More solid Edinburgh set crime lore from Rankin. 6 out of 12
August 12, 2016
I listened to the Audiobook version of this book narrated by Peter Forbes. He did an excellent job. I’ve generally been impressed by the readers of the audiobooks I have listened to – the free librivox ones aren’t in the same league as the paid for versions (or in my case borrowed from the library versions)
This book has lots of threads which are slowly lain before us as the chapters evolve and then tied up nicely at the end. The story focuses on a member of the police complaints who finds himself under investigation. He teams up with another cop – who is himself under investigation for subscribing to a child porn site. The levels of trust / miss-trust build up as the book progresses creating a certain degree of paranoia – which puts you in a similar state of mind as the main character Malcolm Fox.
I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t talk about the plot anymore. The Edinburgh portrayed in the book is a cold and bleak place – a real place rather than a tourist destination. Technology is also dealt with well – it’s there it’s used it s not too intrusive – and there are no dead zones to explain why a phone can’t be used.
This book is the first Post-Rebus novel and – according to Amazon – is the first in a new series featuring Malcolm Fox. He will be an interesting person to follow having been through the events of this book. I’ll be keeping an eye out for book two
This book has lots of threads which are slowly lain before us as the chapters evolve and then tied up nicely at the end. The story focuses on a member of the police complaints who finds himself under investigation. He teams up with another cop – who is himself under investigation for subscribing to a child porn site. The levels of trust / miss-trust build up as the book progresses creating a certain degree of paranoia – which puts you in a similar state of mind as the main character Malcolm Fox.
I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t talk about the plot anymore. The Edinburgh portrayed in the book is a cold and bleak place – a real place rather than a tourist destination. Technology is also dealt with well – it’s there it’s used it s not too intrusive – and there are no dead zones to explain why a phone can’t be used.
This book is the first Post-Rebus novel and – according to Amazon – is the first in a new series featuring Malcolm Fox. He will be an interesting person to follow having been through the events of this book. I’ll be keeping an eye out for book two
April 11, 2018
Πρώτη επαφή με Ίαν Ράνκιν. Κλασσική σύγχρονη αστυνομική ιστορία, με πρωταγωνιστή ένα σκληροτράχηλο ντετέκτιβ, μοναχικό cowboy, με τους δικούς του δαίμονες. Αφήγηση με γοργούς ρυθμούς και μικρά plot twists που κρατούν το ενδιαφέρον ως τέλους, ενώ παράλληλα ο συγγραφέας αποτυπώνει και την κοινωνικο-οικονομική κατάσταση στη Σκωτία της προηγούμενης δεκαετίας. Αρκετά συμπαθητική δουλειά, χωρίς ποτέ ωστόσο να γίνεται κάτι το ιδιαίτερο.
★★★
★★★
November 23, 2015
~3.5
**Note: This is a reaction--a few ill-considered opinions not backed up by textual evidence-- rather than a review.**
It's always interesting to read a book from the perspective of the IAD/Complaints/Watchers of the Watchmen. As always, the watchers turn out to be just as corrupt as the watchmen. The Complaints introduces a new protagonist, Malcom Fox, who turns out to be just as rough-edged and difficult as John Rebus. I'm not sure what I think about him or his morals, but I found him a bit easier to sympathise with than Rebus. For me, the most interesting aspect of the book was its focus on the odd friendship that develops between Fox and one of his suspects. About half the efforts of the book is spent on their bromance, and it's pretty well drawn. Honestly, I think my major issue with the book was Fox's sister Jude, not just because her role as victim and defender of her abuser is left pretty stark and unexplored, but because whenever she was mentioned, I got "Hey Jude" stuck in my head.
And not the Beetles version.
This version.
Yep.
**Note: This is a reaction--a few ill-considered opinions not backed up by textual evidence-- rather than a review.**
It's always interesting to read a book from the perspective of the IAD/Complaints/Watchers of the Watchmen. As always, the watchers turn out to be just as corrupt as the watchmen. The Complaints introduces a new protagonist, Malcom Fox, who turns out to be just as rough-edged and difficult as John Rebus. I'm not sure what I think about him or his morals, but I found him a bit easier to sympathise with than Rebus. For me, the most interesting aspect of the book was its focus on the odd friendship that develops between Fox and one of his suspects. About half the efforts of the book is spent on their bromance, and it's pretty well drawn. Honestly, I think my major issue with the book was Fox's sister Jude, not just because her role as victim and defender of her abuser is left pretty stark and unexplored, but because whenever she was mentioned, I got "Hey Jude" stuck in my head.
And not the Beetles version.
This version.
Yep.
November 27, 2013
I read this book in reverse order. I read the second book in the series first but had no difficulty appreciating both truly extraordinary mysteries from, in my view, the master of UK crime fiction, Ian Rankin. This first book in Rankin's new series sets up the characters operating in one of Edinburgh's Internal Affairs units known in the UK as the "Complaints". This is a brilliantly crafted novel that challenged my deductive reasoning process with it's mind numbing plot complexity and surprising twists of this highly unique story.
I highly recommend it to my GR friends........Ed
I highly recommend it to my GR friends........Ed
June 12, 2016
Πάντοτε ξέρω πως κάθε φορά που νιώθω μια λογοτεχνική "κούραση" και χρειάζομαι κάτι ευκολοδιάβαστο, γρήγορο και με πλοκή που θα κρατήσει αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον μου, μπορώ να καταφύγω στα αγαπημένα μου αστυνομικά. Το συγκεκριμένο, λοιπόν, το είχα αγοράσει πέρυσι θέλοντας να διαβάσω επιτέλους κάτι του Rankin, αλλά ο όγκος του (580 σελίδες αν και pocket) με έκανε να πιστεύω πως αντί να πραγματοποιήσει τους παραπάνω στόχους, θα με κούραζε. Χαίρομαι πολύ όμως που βγήκα λάθος αυτή τη φορά.
Ο πρωταγωνιστής του βιβλίου, ο Μάλκολμ Φοξ (ο οποίος μου θύμισε αρκετά τον Χόλε), εργάζεται στις Καταγγελίες, το τμήμα της αστυνομίας που ασχολείται με τις "βρωμιές" των άλλων αστυνομικών. Έχοντας μόλις φέρει σε πέρας με επιτυχία μια υπόθεση, του αναθέτουν να ερευνήσει ακόμη έναν συνάδελφό του, ενώ ταυτόχρονα προκύπτει μια δολοφονία και μια αυτοκτονία δύο φαινομενικά ασύνδετων με την υπόθεση ανθρώπων. Ο Rankin υφαίνει μια πολύπλοκη ιστορία μέσα από την οποία εξερευνά τα άδυτα της ανθρώπινης ψυχής και αποδεικνύει πως πολλές φορές τα φαινόμενα απατούν.
Ήθελα πολύ να δω επίσης πως ο Rankin θα παρουσίαζε το Εδιμβούργο μέσα από την ιστορία του αυτή. Συνήθως τα αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα διαδραματίζονται σε περιοχές διεφθαρμένες και "βρόμικες", σα να αντανακλούν τις ψυχές των ίδιων των εγκληματιών. Κάπως έτσι παρουσιάζεται λοιπόν κι εδώ το Εδιμβούργο, σκοτεινό, μουντό και γεμάτο ανθρώπους που κρύβουν μια κάποια δυσαρέσκεια με τη ζωή τους και με το περιβάλλον γύρω τους. Δε λείπουν βέβαια και τα κοινωνικά σχόλια του συγγραφέα σχετικά με την οικονομική κατάσταση, τους μετανάστες και τις συνεχείς κατασκευές στην πόλη που τελειωμό δεν έχουν.
Το απόλαυσα αυτό το μυθιστόρημα και θεωρώ πως το διάβασα και την κατάλληλη στιγμή. Σίγουρα αποτέλεσε μια πολύ καλή γνωριμία με τη γραφή του Rankin - μένει τώρα να γνωριστούμε και με τον επιθεωρητή Ρέμπους.
Ο πρωταγωνιστής του βιβλίου, ο Μάλκολμ Φοξ (ο οποίος μου θύμισε αρκετά τον Χόλε), εργάζεται στις Καταγγελίες, το τμήμα της αστυνομίας που ασχολείται με τις "βρωμιές" των άλλων αστυνομικών. Έχοντας μόλις φέρει σε πέρας με επιτυχία μια υπόθεση, του αναθέτουν να ερευνήσει ακόμη έναν συνάδελφό του, ενώ ταυτόχρονα προκύπτει μια δολοφονία και μια αυτοκτονία δύο φαινομενικά ασύνδετων με την υπόθεση ανθρώπων. Ο Rankin υφαίνει μια πολύπλοκη ιστορία μέσα από την οποία εξερευνά τα άδυτα της ανθρώπινης ψυχής και αποδεικνύει πως πολλές φορές τα φαινόμενα απατούν.
Ήθελα πολύ να δω επίσης πως ο Rankin θα παρουσίαζε το Εδιμβούργο μέσα από την ιστορία του αυτή. Συνήθως τα αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα διαδραματίζονται σε περιοχές διεφθαρμένες και "βρόμικες", σα να αντανακλούν τις ψυχές των ίδιων των εγκληματιών. Κάπως έτσι παρουσιάζεται λοιπόν κι εδώ το Εδιμβούργο, σκοτεινό, μουντό και γεμάτο ανθρώπους που κρύβουν μια κάποια δυσαρέσκεια με τη ζωή τους και με το περιβάλλον γύρω τους. Δε λείπουν βέβαια και τα κοινωνικά σχόλια του συγγραφέα σχετικά με την οικονομική κατάσταση, τους μετανάστες και τις συνεχείς κατασκευές στην πόλη που τελειωμό δεν έχουν.
Το απόλαυσα αυτό το μυθιστόρημα και θεωρώ πως το διάβασα και την κατάλληλη στιγμή. Σίγουρα αποτέλεσε μια πολύ καλή γνωριμία με τη γραφή του Rankin - μένει τώρα να γνωριστούμε και με τον επιθεωρητή Ρέμπους.
February 8, 2010
Insp. John Rebus has retired, so from Rankin we now get a different type of cop: Malcolm Fox, who works for The Complaints and Conduct, the cops who investigate other cops. He and his team have just finished a case involving veteran officer Glen Heaton, meaning The Complaints has stirred up some more anger. Fox is also dealing with his sister, who is being physically abused by her live-in boyfriend, when he's asked to start investigating another cop who worked with Heaton, this time as part of an online child pornography group. Before Fox can even begin, he gets a call from that same officer, Jamie Breck, with news that his sister's boyfriend has been killed. Although Breck is one of the main investigators and this might appear a conflict of interest, Fox's boss tells him to continue investigating Breck. He does -- and finds Breck to be intelligent, charming, very likable. Can he really be a pedophile? And what about all the coincidences starting to build up?
The novel is all about rights and wrongs, as we try to figure out just which cop is bent -- and which is honest. As Fox mulls:
He wondered: did it bother him that the world wasn't entirely fair? That justice was seldom sufficient? There would always be people ready to pocket a wad of banknotes in exchange for a favour. There would always be people who played the system and wrung out every penny. Some people -- lots of people -- would keep getting away with it.
'But you're not one of them,' he told himself.
Rankin gives us a great story, a great protagonist and more than enough reason to believe there's life after Rebus.
The novel is all about rights and wrongs, as we try to figure out just which cop is bent -- and which is honest. As Fox mulls:
He wondered: did it bother him that the world wasn't entirely fair? That justice was seldom sufficient? There would always be people ready to pocket a wad of banknotes in exchange for a favour. There would always be people who played the system and wrung out every penny. Some people -- lots of people -- would keep getting away with it.
'But you're not one of them,' he told himself.
Rankin gives us a great story, a great protagonist and more than enough reason to believe there's life after Rebus.
May 24, 2010
This got off to a great start and I felt it was an improvement on Doors Open.
The Complaints are the internal affairs of the Edinburgh police force. Having put away a dodgy policeman.... Malcolm Fox is given the task of bringing Jamie Breck to justice. There is a paedophile ring run from Australia and Jamie has joined through his credit card but not yet submitted the 25 pictures for full membership.
This is a great start, not least because Jamie Breck is quite charming and diligent at his job. The early cat and mouse exchanges make it seem like its going to be a stunning thriller.
Malcolm is a well rounded character as well - a alcoholic on the wagon, there is a constant yearning for booze especially for Whiskey, where there are some stunning descriptions that make you want to hit the bottle.
Unfortunately, like a lot of 400 page crime novels, the plot just gets too convuluted. A mere week after finishing the book, I am struggling to remember who did what to who and who was guilty. This is not a good sign and I have to say I plodded through the last 200 pages and it was a relief to get to the end.
OK - not great.
The Complaints are the internal affairs of the Edinburgh police force. Having put away a dodgy policeman.... Malcolm Fox is given the task of bringing Jamie Breck to justice. There is a paedophile ring run from Australia and Jamie has joined through his credit card but not yet submitted the 25 pictures for full membership.
This is a great start, not least because Jamie Breck is quite charming and diligent at his job. The early cat and mouse exchanges make it seem like its going to be a stunning thriller.
Malcolm is a well rounded character as well - a alcoholic on the wagon, there is a constant yearning for booze especially for Whiskey, where there are some stunning descriptions that make you want to hit the bottle.
Unfortunately, like a lot of 400 page crime novels, the plot just gets too convuluted. A mere week after finishing the book, I am struggling to remember who did what to who and who was guilty. This is not a good sign and I have to say I plodded through the last 200 pages and it was a relief to get to the end.
OK - not great.
July 22, 2021
Malcolm Fox works in the Complaints and Concerns Department of the Scottish police; the equivalent of Internal Affairs in the U.S. The detectives there learn to develop a thick skin because they're treated with antipathy and even disgust by many of their fellow officers.
Fox receives an assignment to investigate Detective Sargent Jamie Breck, an officer with a magnificent track record within the force, who seems destined for early promotion to detective inspector. The reason Fox is to investigate Breck is that his name has come up in a pedophilia sting, having paid a membership to join an online site of men who post photos of children.
Fox is no sooner given his assignment before he meets Breck professionally when the detective is assigned to the murder investigation of the murder of the man living with Fox's sister, Jude.
The investigations, both of the murder and into Breck's background, quickly become complicated. It isn't long before the hunters become the hunted -- and the two men smell a set-up. But why? And who is behind it?
Ian Rankin pulls his readers into the action early on and keeps the suspense steadily building. His characters are multi-faceted and believable.
Fox receives an assignment to investigate Detective Sargent Jamie Breck, an officer with a magnificent track record within the force, who seems destined for early promotion to detective inspector. The reason Fox is to investigate Breck is that his name has come up in a pedophilia sting, having paid a membership to join an online site of men who post photos of children.
Fox is no sooner given his assignment before he meets Breck professionally when the detective is assigned to the murder investigation of the murder of the man living with Fox's sister, Jude.
The investigations, both of the murder and into Breck's background, quickly become complicated. It isn't long before the hunters become the hunted -- and the two men smell a set-up. But why? And who is behind it?
Ian Rankin pulls his readers into the action early on and keeps the suspense steadily building. His characters are multi-faceted and believable.
December 12, 2017
I really like Rankin's writing style but I'm unlikely to pick up another Malcolm Fox novel. There's clearly a reason the Rebus series is more popular & well known.
July 9, 2016
Finalmente acabei. Não foi uma boa escolha para terminar uma temporada sem ler. Acho que será bom para alguém que goste deste género e este estilo de escrita simples.
Pontos positivos:
. É fácil de ler (embora consuma tempo).
. A história é bem pensada pelo autor.
. Mostra bem a Escócia.
. É tudo claramente resolvido no fim.
Pontos negativos:
. Não há uma visão clara da personalidade de cada personagem e não é fácil o leitor sentir alguma espécie de conexão com alguma delas.
. Embora seja narrado na primeira pessoa, não compreendemos sobre o que é que o Malcom Fox está a pensar nem as opções que lhe passam pela mente. Isso faz com que tudo pareça surgir do nada. Não há um processo lógico na investigação.
. Demora muito até que comece a resolução de tudo.
. Ficou confuso com todas as distintas partes da ação em conjunto.
Basicamente, não sou fã!
Opinião em vídeo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVF60...
-
[EN] Finally I'm finished with it. It was not a good choice to get rid of a reading slump. I think it does the trick for someone who likes this genre and this simple kind of writing.
PROS:
. It's easy to read (although time consuming).
. The plot was really thought by the author.
. Nice show off of Scotland.
. Everything is wrapped up at the end.
CONS:
. There's not a clear vision of the personality of each character and it's not easy for the reader to feel any kind of connection with them.
. Although it's narrated in the first person, we don't really understand what Malcom Fox is thinking about and the options that cross his mind. That makes it all kind of appeared from thin air. There's not a logic process in the investigation.
. It took too long to start solving everything.
. It got confusing with all the parts of the plot together.
Basicly, I'm not a fan!
Video opinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVF60...
Pontos positivos:
. É fácil de ler (embora consuma tempo).
. A história é bem pensada pelo autor.
. Mostra bem a Escócia.
. É tudo claramente resolvido no fim.
Pontos negativos:
. Não há uma visão clara da personalidade de cada personagem e não é fácil o leitor sentir alguma espécie de conexão com alguma delas.
. Embora seja narrado na primeira pessoa, não compreendemos sobre o que é que o Malcom Fox está a pensar nem as opções que lhe passam pela mente. Isso faz com que tudo pareça surgir do nada. Não há um processo lógico na investigação.
. Demora muito até que comece a resolução de tudo.
. Ficou confuso com todas as distintas partes da ação em conjunto.
Basicamente, não sou fã!
Opinião em vídeo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVF60...
-
[EN] Finally I'm finished with it. It was not a good choice to get rid of a reading slump. I think it does the trick for someone who likes this genre and this simple kind of writing.
PROS:
. It's easy to read (although time consuming).
. The plot was really thought by the author.
. Nice show off of Scotland.
. Everything is wrapped up at the end.
CONS:
. There's not a clear vision of the personality of each character and it's not easy for the reader to feel any kind of connection with them.
. Although it's narrated in the first person, we don't really understand what Malcom Fox is thinking about and the options that cross his mind. That makes it all kind of appeared from thin air. There's not a logic process in the investigation.
. It took too long to start solving everything.
. It got confusing with all the parts of the plot together.
Basicly, I'm not a fan!
Video opinion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVF60...
August 28, 2011
A very well -written mystery... Looking forward to the next one to be published this fall...
September 14, 2012
I liked the twists and turns of this one. As others have mentioned, I found the pace a little slow and the book could have been shorter.
January 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I love Inspector Rebus and to have one of his "nemesis'" as a lead detective character was a brilliant idea.
September 5, 2016
I liked this book. I didn't love it but it was acceptable. I don't know if maybe Ian Rankin needs a little time to fully engross himself into the character of Malcolm Fox (as this is the debut novel in the series) or if he intends to flesh out the personality a bit more, but in this book I just felt like something was lacking.
Malcolm Fox is a respected member of the Complaints and Conduct department in the police force. He and his team are responsible for investigating other police officers who are deemed potentially 'dirty'. In this book, Jamie Breck is labelled as such and it is up to Fox to find out the truth. The back story is that Breck has signed up to a paedophile ring online using his credit card but as of yet he has not completed his membership by sending in 25 pictures of children. Immediately Fox doubts that Breck is actually a bad cop and he goes about trying to establish the truth.
To throw a spanner into the works, Fox's sister is in a domestically abusive relationship with a man who is found dead, battered to death and now Fox is in the frame for the murder. Without planning to, Breck and Fox make an unlikely team and start trying to solve the murder without the permission of their superiors.
This plot seemed a little bit convoluted to me and all over the place. I appreciate where Rankin was coming from and actually I really enjoyed parts of it. I almost felt like the two main characters were trying to prove far too much to each other and everyone else from the get-go so it just came off as a bit desperate. This book could have been 150 pages shorter and I don't think it would have suffered. In fact, towards the latter third of the book I felt myself losing interest, not because it wasn't interesting, but because it was drawn out to much and I believe it could have been more concise and succinct.
One saving grace of the book was though, that I didn't predict the ending and in fact felt like it was a welcome finale. Breck as a character was more endearing towards the end and I even found myself warming to Fox as he released his inhibitions.
My favourite character of the whole book had to be Malcolm Fox's father, who is elderly and absolutely fantastic. I lived for his chapters because I just knew my heart would warm and I would once more be drawn back into the story. So, Mr Rankin, if you're reading, please make a spin off of the exploits of Mr Fox Sr, thanks!
Malcolm Fox is a respected member of the Complaints and Conduct department in the police force. He and his team are responsible for investigating other police officers who are deemed potentially 'dirty'. In this book, Jamie Breck is labelled as such and it is up to Fox to find out the truth. The back story is that Breck has signed up to a paedophile ring online using his credit card but as of yet he has not completed his membership by sending in 25 pictures of children. Immediately Fox doubts that Breck is actually a bad cop and he goes about trying to establish the truth.
To throw a spanner into the works, Fox's sister is in a domestically abusive relationship with a man who is found dead, battered to death and now Fox is in the frame for the murder. Without planning to, Breck and Fox make an unlikely team and start trying to solve the murder without the permission of their superiors.
This plot seemed a little bit convoluted to me and all over the place. I appreciate where Rankin was coming from and actually I really enjoyed parts of it. I almost felt like the two main characters were trying to prove far too much to each other and everyone else from the get-go so it just came off as a bit desperate. This book could have been 150 pages shorter and I don't think it would have suffered. In fact, towards the latter third of the book I felt myself losing interest, not because it wasn't interesting, but because it was drawn out to much and I believe it could have been more concise and succinct.
One saving grace of the book was though, that I didn't predict the ending and in fact felt like it was a welcome finale. Breck as a character was more endearing towards the end and I even found myself warming to Fox as he released his inhibitions.
My favourite character of the whole book had to be Malcolm Fox's father, who is elderly and absolutely fantastic. I lived for his chapters because I just knew my heart would warm and I would once more be drawn back into the story. So, Mr Rankin, if you're reading, please make a spin off of the exploits of Mr Fox Sr, thanks!
November 17, 2011
Crime fiction. I've always been of the impression that it is highly schematic, tightly plotted and more interested in the workings of that plot than the workings of its characters. It is that, and this is such an example. The best crime fiction blends plot with character, and usually ends up saying something about the world we live in today.
Ian Rankin, one of the UK's brightest stars in the crime writing world, made his name with the Rebus novels. I read one of those many years ago, Fleshmarket Close, and thought Rankin a good writer - that novel blended crime with social commentary all built around the complex Rebus. Rebus hung up his hat a few years ago. Rankin is now concerned with Malcolm Fox, a man who works for The Complaints - Internal Affairs to you American readers. This is the first of the Fox novels.
The Complaints begins promisingly enough: Malcolm Fox is well drawn. A former alcoholic, he tows a straight line. His sister, Jude, is in an abusive relationship. Their father is in a care home, and neither child visits him as often as they should. The novel I hoped for - how a cop deals with the fact that his sister is in, and wants to remain in, an abusive relationship - was curtailed by the murder of Vince Faulkner, that abusive man. Meanwhile, Fox has been asked to help the CEOP shop (colloquially, the chop shop, a department who investigate sex predators) as they have information that an officer in a department Fox has only just finished investigating has paid to join a child pornography website. That all these disparate storylines will connect is in no doubt: this is a tightly plotted crime novel, written by a master.
Where for me the novel began to fail, was that as the schematics of the crime novel began to take over, and Rankin began to speed towards the climax, the emotional threads become discarded. Rankin has to complete the jigsaw puzzle an show us the full picture of the crime: that doesn’t allow us to engage with character as fully. This is, of course, not Rankin’s fault: it is the way crime fiction works. As an introduction to a new character designed to replace Rebus: it’s not at all bad.
The novel I think Rankin fans are all waiting for though will be the one where Fox squares up to Rebus: a man who surely must have come, at some point, into the target sights of The Complaints.
Ian Rankin, one of the UK's brightest stars in the crime writing world, made his name with the Rebus novels. I read one of those many years ago, Fleshmarket Close, and thought Rankin a good writer - that novel blended crime with social commentary all built around the complex Rebus. Rebus hung up his hat a few years ago. Rankin is now concerned with Malcolm Fox, a man who works for The Complaints - Internal Affairs to you American readers. This is the first of the Fox novels.
The Complaints begins promisingly enough: Malcolm Fox is well drawn. A former alcoholic, he tows a straight line. His sister, Jude, is in an abusive relationship. Their father is in a care home, and neither child visits him as often as they should. The novel I hoped for - how a cop deals with the fact that his sister is in, and wants to remain in, an abusive relationship - was curtailed by the murder of Vince Faulkner, that abusive man. Meanwhile, Fox has been asked to help the CEOP shop (colloquially, the chop shop, a department who investigate sex predators) as they have information that an officer in a department Fox has only just finished investigating has paid to join a child pornography website. That all these disparate storylines will connect is in no doubt: this is a tightly plotted crime novel, written by a master.
Where for me the novel began to fail, was that as the schematics of the crime novel began to take over, and Rankin began to speed towards the climax, the emotional threads become discarded. Rankin has to complete the jigsaw puzzle an show us the full picture of the crime: that doesn’t allow us to engage with character as fully. This is, of course, not Rankin’s fault: it is the way crime fiction works. As an introduction to a new character designed to replace Rebus: it’s not at all bad.
The novel I think Rankin fans are all waiting for though will be the one where Fox squares up to Rebus: a man who surely must have come, at some point, into the target sights of The Complaints.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2019
Ian Rankin has provided us a suitable replacement for the retired Rebus in the character of Malcolm Fox. Is he Rebus?…no. Does he share the same values as Rebus?...absolutely. Fox is a reformed drinker, and much like Rebus, in that he is honest and fights for the rights of the innocent. "The Complaints" as Fox's department is known...is investigating corruption within their own ranks. He and his colleagues are not particularly well liked as you can imagine. Ian Rankin is the master of complex plots and characters so we shouldn't be surprised that [The Complaints] is no exception. The only complaint that I had is that it is a little too long and at times takes a directions that is unnecessary to the story line…hence the 4 stars. Overall If you do not compare Malcolm Fox to previous characters or the plot to previous novels...you will really enjoy the book.
October 27, 2017
It is time I got caught up on my reviews. I've been just listening to audio books while traveling. Why do audio book readers insist on reading with accents? In the case of this book it's a Scottish brogue. I know the protagonist, Malcolm Fox is Scottish, and is on the Edinburgh police department. It doesn't add anything for me when the voices are done in accent, but maybe that's just me. This stand-alone mystery is very good, however. I like the characters and police procedures.
May 24, 2025
Malcolm Fox is an experienced Inspector in the complaints section at Lothian and Borders police in Edinburgh. As the story starts, he is winding up a case against a corrupt policeman. He is asked to assist the section who deal with paedophilia, as it has been flagged up by an Australian enquiry that a promising young Detective Sergeant, Jamie Breck, has made a credit card payment to a child pornography website based there. Fox is co-opted to organise surveillance on Breck by his team, but then the abusive partner of Fox's sister is found dead and suddenly Fox himself is under scrutiny.
Initially I quite enjoyed the book. Fox isn't much of a character - he's a recovering alcoholic, briefly married, with a father in a nursing home and a sister with her own drink problem as well as the issue with her partner
which she is in denial about. That's really all I garnered. Nothing personal about him. His father was actually a better realised character, coming across as a personality.
About two thirds of the way through, I started to struggle, due to the complexity of the plot and the sheer number of crooked characters and deals. I think I managed to keep those straight, and I understand the reason for the vendetta against Breck, but when it emerged who was responsible for framing Fox, I was no wiser as to what this person had against him, especially since a villain who Fox and Breck persuade to co-operate says he knows all about Breck but has never heard of Fox (and he's part of the general conspiracy). All in all, I wouldn't bother with subsequent books in what looks like another series, and would rate this as 3 stars.
Initially I quite enjoyed the book. Fox isn't much of a character - he's a recovering alcoholic, briefly married, with a father in a nursing home and a sister with her own drink problem as well as the issue with her partner
which she is in denial about. That's really all I garnered. Nothing personal about him. His father was actually a better realised character, coming across as a personality.
About two thirds of the way through, I started to struggle, due to the complexity of the plot and the sheer number of crooked characters and deals. I think I managed to keep those straight, and I understand the reason for the vendetta against Breck, but when it emerged who was responsible for framing Fox, I was no wiser as to what this person had against him, especially since a villain who Fox and Breck persuade to co-operate says he knows all about Breck but has never heard of Fox (and he's part of the general conspiracy). All in all, I wouldn't bother with subsequent books in what looks like another series, and would rate this as 3 stars.
January 25, 2022
I've been enjoying the Inspector Rebus mysteries by Ian Rankin for the past few years, very much. The Complaints is the first book in his Malcolm Fox series. It is also set in Edinburgh, Scotland. Fox works for The Complaints (aka Internal Affairs). His job is to investigate and catch bad cops.
Fox works with a team of two other cops, Tony Kaye and Joe Naismith. They in the process of completing an investigation on another cop, Glen Heaton, from another district and turning their findings over to the Procurator - General (the DA) for prosecution. They get a call from the sex crimes division, DS Annie Inglis and are asked to assist in investigating another cop, DS Jamie Breck. Sex crimes believes he is involved with a pedophile ring working out of Australia.
As well, Vince Faulkner, partner to Fox's sister Jude, has been found dead, basically beaten to death. Fox believed that Vince had recently broken his sister's arm and there is now suspicion that maybe Fox had something to do with his death.
That's the basic outline of the story. Fox is now being investigated by another Complaints division and he falls in with Jamie Breck as the two realize that their best outcome might result if they work together. It's all very fascinating and well-crafted. There are the usual actions that cause you to throw your hands up and shout, 'Oh, come on now!', but they are few and far between. There is a nice interaction between the two cops; can they trust each other or not? Which other cops can the trust and who will help them and who will grass them? How does the investigation into Breck and that of the murder of Vince relate, and do they even? What about the disappearance of real estate developer Charlie Brogan? How does that tie in?
It's all very intricate and interesting. And it's set during the 2009 bank / real estate crisis, all described very nicely. Rankin has a lovely flow in his stories, they move along at an excellent pace and are generally entertaining page turners. At the end of the book, Rankin offers some nice tidbits; what are the top five reads of Malcolm Fox and of Jamie Breck (I'm more like Fox, btw). What are Fox and Breck's top 5 films (once again, I'm more Fox, lol). Anyway, an excellent mystery and just an excellently entertaining story. (4 stars)
Fox works with a team of two other cops, Tony Kaye and Joe Naismith. They in the process of completing an investigation on another cop, Glen Heaton, from another district and turning their findings over to the Procurator - General (the DA) for prosecution. They get a call from the sex crimes division, DS Annie Inglis and are asked to assist in investigating another cop, DS Jamie Breck. Sex crimes believes he is involved with a pedophile ring working out of Australia.
As well, Vince Faulkner, partner to Fox's sister Jude, has been found dead, basically beaten to death. Fox believed that Vince had recently broken his sister's arm and there is now suspicion that maybe Fox had something to do with his death.
That's the basic outline of the story. Fox is now being investigated by another Complaints division and he falls in with Jamie Breck as the two realize that their best outcome might result if they work together. It's all very fascinating and well-crafted. There are the usual actions that cause you to throw your hands up and shout, 'Oh, come on now!', but they are few and far between. There is a nice interaction between the two cops; can they trust each other or not? Which other cops can the trust and who will help them and who will grass them? How does the investigation into Breck and that of the murder of Vince relate, and do they even? What about the disappearance of real estate developer Charlie Brogan? How does that tie in?
It's all very intricate and interesting. And it's set during the 2009 bank / real estate crisis, all described very nicely. Rankin has a lovely flow in his stories, they move along at an excellent pace and are generally entertaining page turners. At the end of the book, Rankin offers some nice tidbits; what are the top five reads of Malcolm Fox and of Jamie Breck (I'm more like Fox, btw). What are Fox and Breck's top 5 films (once again, I'm more Fox, lol). Anyway, an excellent mystery and just an excellently entertaining story. (4 stars)
January 11, 2014
I know Scottish writer Ian Rankin is best known for his award-winning series featuring a detective named John Rebus, but somehow I missed reading all of those. Instead, I stumbled on this book and was intrigued by the title and set-up. I'm really glad I picked it up.
The book focuses on Malcolm Fox, a detective inspector from Edinburgh who works in "The Complaints," a department we in America would refer to as Internal Affairs. Fox has scored a major triumph in a case -- but in short order he is himself suspended and put under investigation. Meanwhile his sister's live-in boyfriend (and sometime abuser) dies violently. The investigation of the murder is being handled by officers who despise The Complaints in general and Fox in particular, and it's clear they'd love to pin the murder on Fox, suggesting he was seeking revenge for what happened to his sister.
For a while, Rankin toys with the reader, leaving the question open as to whether Fox is indeed guilty of the murder and is engineering a cover-up. He winds up working with the lead investigator -- who also gets suspended, this time for helping Fox. Is Fox cooperating or is he really keeping tabs on where the investigation of the murder is going?
The plot spins and spins and soon you realize there's a lot more going on that what first appeared to be happening. I don't want to give too much away but I sped through this book to find out what happened next. The ending seemed a little pat, but otherwise I enjoyed the heck out of this book.
I must also give Rankin high marks for making me feel like I was in Scotland -- not just with his descriptions but also with the way he depicted the demeanor of the people there.
I've already made plans to read the next Malcolm Fox book, "The Impossible Dead." And who knows? Maybe next I'll try one about that Rebus fellow.
The book focuses on Malcolm Fox, a detective inspector from Edinburgh who works in "The Complaints," a department we in America would refer to as Internal Affairs. Fox has scored a major triumph in a case -- but in short order he is himself suspended and put under investigation. Meanwhile his sister's live-in boyfriend (and sometime abuser) dies violently. The investigation of the murder is being handled by officers who despise The Complaints in general and Fox in particular, and it's clear they'd love to pin the murder on Fox, suggesting he was seeking revenge for what happened to his sister.
For a while, Rankin toys with the reader, leaving the question open as to whether Fox is indeed guilty of the murder and is engineering a cover-up. He winds up working with the lead investigator -- who also gets suspended, this time for helping Fox. Is Fox cooperating or is he really keeping tabs on where the investigation of the murder is going?
The plot spins and spins and soon you realize there's a lot more going on that what first appeared to be happening. I don't want to give too much away but I sped through this book to find out what happened next. The ending seemed a little pat, but otherwise I enjoyed the heck out of this book.
I must also give Rankin high marks for making me feel like I was in Scotland -- not just with his descriptions but also with the way he depicted the demeanor of the people there.
I've already made plans to read the next Malcolm Fox book, "The Impossible Dead." And who knows? Maybe next I'll try one about that Rebus fellow.
May 17, 2016
4.5 stars really. An excellent plot line in this book but, following after the amazing Exit Music, this one didn't quite measure up to that fabulous Rebus swan song. The Complaints introduces Malcolm Fox; smart, calculating and a bit of a rule breaker himself. Inside sources told me Fox's and Rebus' paths do intersect in the next Rebus book after Exit Music, so wanted to get to know Fox in his two solo pieces first. I was not one bit disappointed with The Complaints. Although Fox is no Rebus, he's intriguing in his own right. Working as part of the Complaints and Conduct section of the force, Fox and his colleagues are the hated scourge of the police department; Investigating and charging their own; Sousing out dirty cops wherever they may be. In this one, Fox finds himself at the wrong end of an internal investigation with not a clue of how or who got him there. Working on the outside with another cop under investigation, Fox investigates the murder of his sister's significant other and the mysterious disappearance of a real estate mogul down on his luck. Nothing is at it seems and Fox and his partner in the shadows, Jamie Breck, unearth a complicated series of seemingly unrelated events that all tie together in a sinister but very satisfying way. This novel is well worth the read for any Rankin fan.
November 14, 2012
If you love great mysteries set in different locales, you'll enjoy the Complaints set in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Complaints is the Scottish version of our Internal Affairs. And we're introduced to Scottish police, politics and great locales. Malcolm is part of the Complaints team, when he's embroiled into a real tough case of dirty politics and corrupt policemen. Plenty of twists and turns with tons of drama and curvy surprises to keep you at the edge of the seat. We follow Malcolm's every move, meet his father in a nursing home and his sister who's involved with a troubled relationship. There's a lot of things you would never see coming. What a great introduction to a new series.
December 29, 2016
I had difficulty warming up to Fox, our man from Complaints, and felt further puzzlement as to where it was all going with a seemingly passive, boring, slow/ methodical type as the protagonist and the pages ahead looking more than daunting. I kept on wondering for the first half of the book, and that was quite a few pages to read. Then things turned and Fox was catapulted into action and change. The tasks he managed to pull off with the assistance of another younger man who had been framed into Complaints surveillance resulted in multiple crime solutions. Sticking with the book paid off.
February 4, 2018
Η Σκοτεινή Πλευρά είναι το δεύτερο βιβλίο του Rankin που διαβάζω, και με έκανε να ενδιαφερθώ πραγματικά για την αστυνομική λογοτεχνία. Η ροή των γεγονότων έχει τη σωστή ταχύτητα, η ιστορία έχει ενδιαφέρον και με κράτησε μέχρι το τέλος και οι χαρακτήρες είναι καλογραμμένοι. Σίγουρα ο Fox μου ταιριάζει περισσότερο από τον Rebus σαν χαρακτήρας και ο Μπρεκ ήταν αρκετά ενδιαφέρον επίσης.
Αυτό όμως που ξεχώρισα περισσότερο είναι οι περιγραφές του Εδιμβούργου. Ίσως συνέβαλε και το γεγονός ότι έχω ζήσει ένα διάστημα εκεί και έχω πολύ ιδιαίτερες αναμνήσεις τις οποίες ο Rankin κατάφερε να μου ξυπνήσει μία προς μία. Παρ' όλα αυτά, πιστεύω ότι οι περιγραφές του θα μπορούσαν να ταξιδέψουν τον καθένα και να τον κάνουν να νιώσει κομμάτι αυτής της μουντής, κρύας πόλης.
Αυτό όμως που ξεχώρισα περισσότερο είναι οι περιγραφές του Εδιμβούργου. Ίσως συνέβαλε και το γεγονός ότι έχω ζήσει ένα διάστημα εκεί και έχω πολύ ιδιαίτερες αναμνήσεις τις οποίες ο Rankin κατάφερε να μου ξυπνήσει μία προς μία. Παρ' όλα αυτά, πιστεύω ότι οι περιγραφές του θα μπορούσαν να ταξιδέψουν τον καθένα και να τον κάνουν να νιώσει κομμάτι αυτής της μουντής, κρύας πόλης.
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