Finished Fr 3/27/2020
This is a trade paperback that I bought at the library book sale on Fr 6/7/19
Published in 2015 it is a later book in the John Rebus series.
The title refers to the book of rules for Scottish police to interact with the public. How police should conduct themselves.
The Saints was an Australian rock band from the 70's, but the title refers to a group of detectives in the Edinburgh, Scotland police force. They believed that they were involved in a complete war on crime and they would do whatever was necessary to win that war. And, the actual laws of the country were secondary to that goal.
The plot of the novel concerns a murder of a man who witnessed one of The Saints accidently kill a prisoner during interrogation. This man was killed by one of The Saints, although now they are retired. The murder happened in the 80's. The man's wife pulled the trigger and she was doing it to protect her husband who is dying of cancer. John Rebus had a relationship with this woman back in the day.
There is also a traffic accident involving the daughter or a very wealthy Scottish businessman. She claimed that she was alone and driving the car, but Rebus learns that the driver was a boy who is the son of an influential Scottish politician.
Siobhan (pronounced- 'Chiv-awn') Clarke is technically Rebus's boss in this novel. He has left the police department and is back as a kind of detective in Cold Case Files.
The relationship between Siobhan and John is one of the most interesting aspects of the book. She learned a lot from John as to how to be a detective, and she also learned from him how not to behave as a detective.
Malcolm Fox is another detective that becomes closer to Rebus. This man is temporarily in Internal Affairs and he works with Rebus and they come to respect each other.
The best part of Ian Rankin's novels is the character of John Rebus. He's rough and drinks and smokes incessantly, but his heart is in the right place. He wasn't part of the 'Saints culture' because he was just new on the job when the group was active. I think that had he been fully vetted with the men he would have been part of the illicit activities of the group. He would certainly shed no tears if a bad man was brought down and the rules were not rigidly adhered to.
Rebus loves good music. He is a Stones fanatic and is always playing vinyl on his player. I learned about the Scottish musician, John Martyn from this novel. One of the chapters ends with Rebus putting on Martyn's album, 'SOLID AIR'. I found that album on YouTube and many more that I downloaded from Amazon Music. Martyn's style is a blend of Folk, Jazz, and Electronica, and I really like it. And that night I watched a YouTube video documentary about Martyn and wasn't all that surprised that this musician has struggled his whole life with drugs and drink. In his own biopic he was barely coherent and even lost part of a leg. This was most likely due to diabetes due to alcoholism.
I would summarize that there is not much of a plot, or it's far too convoluted to follow, but all is worth it as you watch John Rebus conduct his investigations.
From the book's page on Amazon:
"Rebus is back on the force, albeit with a demotion and a chip on his shoulder. He is investigating a car accident when news arrives that a case from 30 years ago is being reopened. Rebus's team from those days is suspected of helping a murderer escape justice to further their own ends.
Malcolm Fox, in what will be his last case as an internal affairs cop, is tasked with finding out the truth. Past and present are about to collide in shocking and murderous fashion. What does Rebus have to hide? And whose side is he really on? His colleagues back then called themselves "The Saints," and swore a bond on something called the Shadow Bible. But times have changed and the crimes of the past may not stay hidden much longer -- and may also play a role in the present, as Scotland gears up for a referendum on independence.
Allegiances are being formed, enemies made, and huge questions asked. Who are the saints and who the sinners? And can the one ever become the other?"
From a review in the Independent:
"Saints meditates on the changing nature of police work. Rebus, with his network of snouts and underworld contacts, his willingness to take liberties with the law, even to out-and-out break it, is something of a dinosaur when set against a new generation of web savvy coppers. When his rough-hewn sort have finally departed the police service, it ought to be a cleaner place, but will it be a better place?"
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