Title: The Complaints
Author: Ian Rankin
First published January 1, 2009
381 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780752889511 (ISBN10: 0752889516)
Rating: 3.87
Overview
Meet Malcolm Fox, a member of The Complaints, the department responsible for investigating other cops. Fox is a man with a lot on his plate – a father in a nursing home and a sister stuck in an abusive relationship.
Just when he thinks his plate is full, he’s given a new case. A dirty cop named Jamie Breck.
The catch? No one can prove it.
As Fox delves deeper into the case, he uncovers dangerous knowledge about Breck. When a brutal murder takes place too close to home, Fox realizes he may be in over his head.
In Ian Rankin’s gripping crime novel, THE COMPLAINTS, he weaves together an unstoppable pace with a deep moral compass. Will Fox be able to determine right from wrong?
About the Author
Ian Rankin, also known as Jack Harvey, was born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960. He studied at the University of Edinburgh, but instead of working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature, he spent three years writing novels.
In 1987, his first Rebus novel was published and has since been translated into 22 languages and become a bestseller on several continents.
Rankin has been recognized for his work, including being elected a Hawthornden Fellow, winning the Chandler-Fulbright Award, and receiving two Dagger Awards for the year’s best short story and the Gold Dagger for Fiction. He has also received honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, and Edinburgh.
Aside from writing, Rankin has also contributed to BBC2’s and presented his own TV series on Channel 4 in 2002. Recently, he was awarded the OBE for his contributions to literature and chose to receive the prize in his home city of Edinburgh, where he lives with his partner and two sons.
Editoral Review
In “The Complaints”, Ian Rankin introduces us to a new protagonist outside of his popular Inspector Rebus series. First published on January 1, 2009, Rankin creates an intricate and intense tale that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
The novel follows Malcolm Fox, a member of The Complaints department in Edinburgh, Scotland. This team is responsible for investigating fellow police officers who may have broken the law.
When a coworker tips off Fox to an officer taking bribes from known criminals, he begins to dig deeper, only to find himself embroiled in a larger conspiracy. As he races to bring the corrupt officers to justice, he must also navigate his own moral compass and deal with conflicts within his personal life.
Ian Rankin is a bestselling Scottish author who has won several awards for his crime fiction. He has a talent for capturing the essence of Scottish culture and its people, and “The Complaints” is no exception.
Set in a vividly realized Edinburgh, Rankin’s prose immerses the reader in the gritty and complicated world of police work. At its core, “The Complaints” is a novel of contradictions.
It plays with the idea of justice and morality, raising difficult questions about the line between right and wrong. Rankin’s characters are multi-dimensional, with complex histories and motivations.
Fox himself is a compelling protagonist, with a dry wit and a dogged sense of determination. One of the strengths of the novel is its pacing.
Rankin is a master of the slow-burn, skillfully ratcheting up the tension as Fox delves deeper into the conspiracy. But he also knows when to insert heart-pumping action scenes, which keep the reader fully engaged.
This novel is an excellent addition to the crime genre, and while it avoids some of the cliches that can often weigh down other books in this category, it still hits all the notes that make this type of story so satisfying. However, it isn’t without its flaws.
The secondary characters aren’t always as developed as Fox, and at times the plot feels overly complicated. Overall, “The Complaints” is a compelling read that will satisfy fans of crime fiction.
Ian Rankin proves that he’s not just a one-hit wonder with the Inspector Rebus series, and that he can create compelling characters and intricate plots outside of that world. It is an engaging read that will keep you turning the pages, and is definitely worth a recommendation to anyone looking for a gritty, complex thriller.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
