Siobhan comes of age (The Falls - Ian Rankin)

Member Name: chris105

Product:	The Falls - Ian Rankin
Date:	24/06/01 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great read, non-condescending plot

Disadvantages: some deja-vu

"His twelfth Rebus mystery, The Falls, will be out in hardback in April/May, but I don't think I'll be diving into that for now. I might wait for the paperback, or for some trusted advice." -chris105 (op on "Set in Darkness" by Ian Rankin)

And sure enough, as punctual as Christmas, here I am breaking my umpteenth resolution. I've just finished reading Ian Rankin's latest Rebus novel, "The Falls", *in hardback*. Oh well, might as well tell you what I thought of it, now...

Set dangerously near, in 2001, Inspector John Rebus of Edinburgh's police force is once again involved in a high-media-profile case of murder. Of course, as any Rankin fan will know, Rebus' mysteries are no run-of-the-mill thrillers. The intrigue is piled high, no doubt, yet the characters assume subtler and more complex facets than the good-cop/bad-cop routine (ironically, the notorious and overused good-cop/bad-cop routine makes an appearance in this novel, but in such an over-the-top self-deprecating way as to be incredibly funny).


THE STORY

The plot sets off with the mysterious disappearance of a young Edinburgh university female student, Philippa Balfour - any disappearance would be cause for major investigations in Edinburgh's relatively tranquil city (more on this later though...), but here the top brass come out in full force to investigate, given that the girl is the only daughter of one of England's wealthier men, the owner of a private bank. Her flat in the New Town yields no indications whatsoever. The only, disquieting, track to follow is a model wooden coffin found near The Falls - a find which brings back unpleasant memories of a serial killer active intermittently over the past thirty years. Rebus and his colleagues have to engage the services of a number of high-ranking civilians to help them with the arcana of the case, viz. a retired pathologist and a (female) museum director who
develops an interest in Rebus.

Meanwhile, what starts off as an adjunct to this plot develops into a main sub-plot of the novel: one of the younger police officers, Siobhan Clarke (a regular of Rankin novels), finds in the missing Philippa's emails traces of her involvement in an online game - and she sets off cyber-sleuthing in search of the mysterious Quizmaster, who slowly entangles Siobhan into his/her own web (excuse [or don't] the pun) of hints and red herrings.

The story in itself is complex and intriguing enough. My only quibble is that part of the ending is somewhat predictable - I was fervently hoping I was wrong, and that dear Mr Rankin had thoughtfully provided a superb red herring, but alas... On the other hand, though, there was another unexpected twist, and that had me fooled. So there - I'm not that smart after all (only terribly immodest...) [Ok, if you haven't got it yet, this is where you chip in by leaving messages in the commentary to the effect "oh no, chris, of course you're smart" - thank you.]

Of course, all Rebus/Rankin fans have come to expect much more than a mere story from the Rebus series, not least the development of the careers/private lives of the main protagonists in the Lothian and Borders police force. You might be interested to know (and I'm not giving anything away here, it's practically in the first couple of pages) that Gill Templer replaces the retiring "Farmer" as head, complete with a welcome fete at the Balmoral Hotel, and that Ellen Wylie and Grant Hood get run into the potentially powerful PR post.


COMMENTS

Interestingly, in "The Falls" Inspector Rebus takes a back seat in the investigations. Granted, he does in the end provide the de rigeuer spectacular ending, but on the whole for the greater part of the ride the drivers are Siobhan Clarke, Ellen Wylie and - to a lesser extent - Grant Hood. What exactly is Rank
in trying to do? Spin off a parallel Siobhan Clarke mysteries series? I doubt it. Do an Aurelio Zen? (in the sense of the latest Zen episode - Malu'll know what I'm talking about...) Of course Rankin the author, who is apparently a mere forty, is obsessed with Rankin's age and nearing pensionable age (please, this is getting too much - let the man live in peace, fifty-something is NOT old!). The cynicism has admittedly been somewhat toned down from the excesses of "Set in Darkness", the previous novel, yet this has been to a large extent replaced by resignation to impending doom. And even young Siobhan is already showing signs of premature cynicism. Oh no again, let the girl enjoy life!

Rebus has another affair/relationship in this novel - or rather he has one of his more stable relationships in recent novels (which isn't saying much). In Ellen Wylie, Rankin has provided fodder for another novel - stay tuned. And the Siobhan-and-Gill bit will (I hope not, but anyway...) in all probability develop into a fully-fledged female rivalry sub-plot.

Ah, but I'm getting all cynical myself now. Speak of subliminal messaging (yes, books ARE the undisclosed evil...). The truth is that I LOVE Rankin's novels - I find them among the more creatively and intelligently written (not to mention absorbing) crime novels - however at times, totally unexpectedly and amidst a great thematic development - Rankin has this absolutely annoying habit of slipping into the worst of cliches and sigh-inducing actions. Not often, I must say, but enough to remove what could have been Rankin's first "fifth-star" rating from me.

Something else on the city of Edinburgh. Ian Rankin has in the past been criticised in sections of the press for demonising the city of Edinburgh, and for nullifying the attempts of the tourist authorities to depict the city as tranquil, peaceful and safe (which it is). Rankin's previous novels have
exposed (or created, depending on whose version you believe) the underworld of crime and corruption beneath the polite facade that is Edinburgh. This has understandably caused consternation in certain circles - and indeed, although I'd tell these circles to get a life (remember this is fiction after all), it is true that every tranquil city has its disturbing flip side (oops, another pun - read the book and Philippa's online nickname...).

So what does Rankin do in "The Falls"? He goes and repeats, ad nauseam I'm afraid, in all possible ways and using guile and subterfuge, how safe and quiet Edinburgh is. On various occasions we meet members of the force commenting aloud how unexciting work in Edinburgh police is, with pub brawls being the maximum of warfare... Oh come on, Mr Rankin - we've been to Edinburgh (if for nothing else to admire the playingfield of Rebus) and although we know it's safe, we're not THAT naive. So stop trying to make amends with the Edinburgh tourist authorities, at our (your readers') expense.


CONCLUSION

Oh my, oh my. I can't make up my mind whether to give three or four stars. Three would be for the minuses I've pointed out above. Four, on the other hand, would be a fairer mark to distinguish "The Falls" from the rank and file of detective fiction which, I repeat, this is not.

So four stars be it. I love Rebus, notwithstanding his faults. And I'm looking forward to the next instalment in 2002.


** UPDATE **

For all Rankin/Rebus fans out there, I've just read that Rankin has a new Rebus instalment coming out in January 2002 (in hardback). So there's something to look forward to - it'll be called RESURRECTION MEN. Hmmm....

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