Watchman (Crime Club)

Rating:
Summary: Spy/Watcher in the British Secret Service
Review: Ian Rankin first wrote this book in 1988, and it is re-released in 2003 with a new introduction by the author. This was his second novel, and it was novel of the times. A novel about the British Secret Service, a Spy or Watcher Service as called in the MI5 Surveillance Service.

Miles Flint, a cynical, worldly-wise spy has spent twenty years in his trade. He is a professional voyeur who becomes a more ruthless activist during this novel. He is married to Sheila, whom he met while in college, and they have a son, Jack, who is off to the University of Scotland. Miles and Sheila's marriage was born in love but the lust has dissapated. They have become stranges who meet in the night. Jack has a good relationship with both mom and dad, but not at the same time. Miles is proud of his son but not much mention is made of the years that they all spent together.

The action is fast paced in this book. Miles is part of the Latchkey group- surveilling an Arab with the codename, Latchkey. Someone was setting bombs all over London, and Latchkey was the prime suspect-it all goes bad when the suspect kills an Israeli official while Miles misses the clues. The Office is not happy with Miles and he is moved to a new job "Harvest". During this time, Miles understands that something is not quite "cricket". He fears a mole has infiltrated his section, and he proceeds methodically to find this person. As Miles develops his action plan and reads the files of all of those involved in the section, he understands that at the same time "they" are doing the same. No one is above suspicision

Miles goes home early one day and as he turns the corner he sees a man leaving his gate. The man has a fmailiar walk and Miles recognizes him as a colleague, Peter. He goes into his home and finds small clues that arise his suspicions that Sheila is having an affair. Miles deftly confronts his colleague , who admits to seeing Sheila, but only to talk. Miles leaves his wife and holes up in the watcher house- an empty home that is used for watching the group across the street. This turns sour and Miles decides to go home. He and Sheila unite and decide to start their marriage anew. Just as these decisions are made the phone rings.

Miles is asked to go to Northern Ireland to accompany a group of soldiers while an arrest is made. This new job is a demotion and Miles knows that he must be careful and silent. The trip turns out to provide the clues and the answers Miles is looking for. He connects with a man in Northern Ireland who is also looking for answers and together they return to London. Their worlds are turned upside down. The action is fierce and brilliant. The MI5 Section and the Watchaman Section will never be the same.

Ian Rankin's second book is fast paced, cutting quickly from one scene to the other. It wasn't until the middle of the book that I could put all he characters together. The characters were well developed and sometimes funny. A good book, not Ian Rankins greatest book, but you can see his writing develop with each successive book. I liked Miles Flint, would like to read more of his exploits. I wonder if this re-release is a phrophet of books too come? prisrob