Ian Rankin finds novel inspiration in Fred the Shred and trams chaos

Published on Wednesday 12 August 2009 22:07

HE WAS at the helm of Royal Bank of Scotland when it had to be rescued with a huge bailout from the taxpayer.

Now the story of Sir Fred Goodwin is to be immortalised in print – by the nation's best-known crime writer.

Ian Rankin has revealed how the demise of "Fred the Shred" and widespread outrage over Britain's other bank bosses has helped inspire his eagerly awaited new book.

He says the banking crisis and the credit crunch provide the backdrop against which The Complaints – a novel tackling issues involving police corruption – is played out.

The book is billed as "an inquiry into personal morality, private vice, friendship and the state of the nation", and Rankin will be lifting the lid on it when it is launched at the Edinburgh International Book Festival next week.

But he has revealed how it is entirely set during February of this year – when anger over Sir Fred's pension package was at its height.

The former chief executive of RBS later agreed to take a 40 per cent cut.

He left Edinburgh for a secure villa on the French Riviera and was out of the country when vandals smashed several windows at his 2 million home in the Grange, Edinburgh.

Rankin's book is thought to be peppered with references to mounting public anger over the banks, the growing threat of protests against them and fury over bumper pension payouts for executives.

Edinburgh's controversial trams scheme also receives regular mentions as the plot unfolds during the bitter dispute between the council and the German firm it accused of holding the city to ransom.

The impact of the credit crunch on Edinburgh in general is also relived by Rankin, in his second book since ending his best-selling Inspector Rebus series two years ago.

Rankin said: "Sir Fred isn't in the book and he's not named in person. But the backdrop to the book is everything that was going on in Edinburgh at the time it was set in February.

"Although there is not a character inspired by Sir Fred as such, what is happening in the city does very much impinge on the consciousness of the cops who are living and working in the city at the time the book is set.

"It takes place during a time when you have the credit crunch, Sir Fred, the trams, the roadworks. Although it'll eventually date, the residents of Edinburgh will think, 'Yep, yep'."

He added: "I did actually meet Sir Fred a couple of times, including once at the rugby when I was a guest of RBS.

"I actually thought he was pretty quiet and shy. The image of him as 'Fred the Shred' was a bit harsh, I thought.

"I've no idea if he'll buy the book or not, I don't know if he's interested in crime fiction.

"As long as the politicians keep buying my books, I'll be happy – they can even put them on their expenses."

The Complaints is published on 3 February, and Rankin will be previewing it at the book festival next Tuesday and Wednesday.