The Good Son (Russel D. McLean, 2008)

I try to familiarise myself with the local crime scene when travelling to a city for the first time. So I've picked up this one in the local Waterstones last year when I went to see the almighty Swans in Glasgow. It wasn't a straightforward decision, though (about picking up the book, I mean; going to see Michael Gira & co was a no-brainer)! Having P.I. for its main protagonist obviously cannot hurt, but I was a bit wary because of a Ray Banks' cover blurb saying that the author has updated the genre, etc. And we of course don't want our genre to be "updated", we want authors to respect it and write good hard-boiled books. But what the hell, I was finally persuaded by the pretty cute dedication at the beginning saying: "To Mum and Dad with huge amounts of love. But, sadly, still not enough money to buy that house in France." Nice touch, hope my 8 pounds will get them a bit closer to that house.

The first half is good; I really liked it. PI McNee is hired by a local farmer to find out what really happened to his long-lost brother Daniel Robertson, who unexpectedly reappeared after 20+ years and was found hanged in the woods. Suicide or some more sinister affair? McNee, in no time at all, discovers that the guy has left his rustic surroundings to become a  "violent, self-serving bastard with little or no redeeming qualities" working for a London mobster, Gordon Egg. When he fled from his employer, some money got lost, so soon his girlfriend Kat and two "cockney pricks psychopaths" arrived from the capital to Scotland (Jockland). The stage is all set and ready!

Quality, good stuff. I was quite impressed by how McLean managed to create a tense atmosphere so quickly, despite having a relatively weak plot and not particularly strong protagonists. Using the proven techniques (lying and evasive client, mysterious woman, stolen money, messed-up family, and greed) that never fail if used properly. Very skilful writing, especially when you think that this is his debut novel. Started to cheer for a guy and hoped to at least keep this suspense and style on the same level. Which, sorry to report, doesn't happen at all.

Because the second half is mostly about family shit and boring moral dilemmas. And not only about the Robertson family, McNee also has this big guilt thing about his late wife. So, it gradually turns into another one of those psychological thrillers, lacking much classical detective work and featuring numerous inner struggles. And while I'm on this topic, let me also bitch quickly about our hero. He's okay guy and I guess that author wanted to make him non-orthodox by giving him a gay male secretary instead of a hot blonde Velda type but somehow it doesn't work. A pretty ridiculous part is when he forgets to switch off his gun's safety. Come on!

But still it was a good and entertaining read, at least the first half of it. The writing is tight and fluent, the story plausible enough and easy to follow, and I have also enjoyed the use of slang, including both Scottish local and London Cockney. Lots of ayes, bobbies and stupid bloody eejits...

Cool enough to check out McNee's next case when I go to Edinburgh's Fringe festival later this year.

3/5

Facts:

Hero:
J. McNee, the "Steed" P.I.

Location: 
Dundee, Scotland. Where:

The life of an investigator is hardly seen as glamorous.We don't have the same lone-wolf mythology as our counterparts in the US. If people think of us, it's as sleazy, cheap last-resorts. And in Scotland, we're barely even thought of that.

Body count: 
5 + an additional one in the prologue (not directly related to the main story)

Dames: 
Police Constable Susan Bright + Rachel, McNee's dead wife Elaine's sister

Blackouts: 
He gets smashed twice by a gun. Saying just "I went down on my knees. Everything went out of focus". But for me, something doesn't add up here. Considering that just two blows had knocked him out, there should definitely be another blackout at the final shoot-up when he really gets beaten to the pulp!

Title:
Refers, of course, to Daniel, the good son compared to his black sheep brother.

Cover: 
Pretty dull. It's probably supposed to be sinister and/or mysterious, but it doesn't feel either to me. It would be much more effective if there were an actual corpse hanging from that tree.

Cool lines: 
Bloodshot eyes made him look like he's drunk enough booze to re-float the Titanic.

"Playing at PIs. You wear a fucking trenchcoat and a hat while you fuck him?"[The Coolest!]


The bullet caught Liman in the chest. He stopped, stood still for a moment, and then jerked once before falling backwards, collapsing onto the wet ground: an abandoned doll. Except no child would want a toy that looked like that.