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Although many American readers have only become acquainted with Detective Inspector John Rebus in the past few years, U. K. mystery fans have followed the cases of Ian Rankin's surly Scottish policeman since 1987 with KNOTS AND CROSSES. With THE FALLS, Rankin takes the reader and Rebus on another dizzying ride and shows why he's rightfully considered one of Britain's best living crime novelists.
When the collegiate daughter of a wealthy banking tycoon goes missing --- and possibly murdered --- the only clues Rebus and fellow detective Siobhan Clarke can find lie in a computer puzzle game in which the girl was involved. Run by a person identified only through his e-mail as "Quizmaster," Clarke finds herself playing the exact same "game" as the missing student. What --- if anything --- Quizmaster has to do with the disappearance is slowly unraveled as Rebus and Clarke run their parallel (and sometimes conflicting) investigations. Their work leads them on wildly divergent detours, including the real-life centuries old cases of Scottish body snatching, pathology, unsolved decades-old murders, and the continual appearance of tiny handmade coffins with dolls inside, left mysteriously at scenes of crimes both old and new. And with Rebus's personal and professional life in turmoil, several supporting fellow officers on the force from previous novels play integral roles in the investigation --- not always with an eye toward helping Rebus.
On the surface, John Rebus has a lot of familiar (and cliché) characteristics of detectives since the era of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett: He's a lone wolf, his methods are unorthodox, and he drinks. Drinks heavily, that is, spending almost as much time in a variety of pubs as he spends at his desk at the station. But it's Rankin's skill as a mystery writer that keeps Rebus from ever falling into parody or tiredness as well as genuinely developing his character over a body (no pun intended) of work.
In THE FALLS, Rebus has crossed over into his 50s, no longer able to withstand the physical punishment or exertion of previous books or even hold as much lager. But for what the book lacks in slam-bang action, it makes up for with its cyber-based mind game plot and the strong, compelling cast of suspects, informants, and law enforcement officers.
Perhaps the strongest aspect of the Rebus novels, though, is Rankin's literary use of Scotland and in particular Rebus's home base of Edinburgh. Always writing with a keen and detailed eye toward his setting's geography, history, sociology, and pop culture lingo, he writes an extremely vivid picture that surpasses even respected travel guides. And the grittiness of his depiction of Edinburgh's seamier side (not so much explored in this particular book) is unmatched. Of all mystery authors writing today, Rankin ranks high up there in knowing his fictional creation's "turf." It's enjoyable and accessible even to those whose knowledge of Scotland is limited to the All Things Scottish store from the Mike Myers "Saturday Night Live" sketches ("If it's not Scottish, it's crap!").
THE FALLS is another solid addition to the growing case file of DI John Rebus. And Rankin --- whose popularity shot up with the Gold Dagger Award winning and Edgar Award nominated 1997 book BLACK AND BLUE --- continues to break through to a wider audience. Even if they might turn down a pint of Guinness for a can of Bud Light.
--- Reviewed by Bob Ruggiero
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