Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin

I find Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin the best of the Inspector Rebus series.


The underlying theme of the book is corruption. The author is telling us that corruption can come in different forms.

When the rich and powerful are bribing Inspector Rebus, they do not offer money.

They offer privilege, promotions, and the prospect of having friends in high place. These are the kinds of bribes that can never be caught, and will continue on to time indefinite.

Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin starts from simple detecting. The story starts from Lord Provost calling for police assistance to locate his missing daughter.

The stories develops into car chase over the alleged kidnappers. Inspector Rebus finds a business plan that seems like the work of amateurs. As the story develops, the pressure from up high tries to push investigation off the track.

Inspector Rebus does not give in to intimidation. Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin shows the inner struggle of Inspector Rebus, especially when the rich and powerful nearly convince him that hundred of jobs will be lost if he insists on exposing them.

There is only a part of the story that I find is unnecessary cruelty. Inspector Rebus locks the cat out of the house, and the cat ends up being torn to death by the dog.

That is really unnecessary, and does not serve any purpose at all.

Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin shows the inner working of the government. It also shows how individuals can scam the government by setting up paper companies.

The story does not evolve into a political story. It remains as a police procedural story. That is the best part of all.

I like to see the way Inspector Rebus thinks. I like the way he trusts his instinct. Let it Bleed by Ian Rankin has all the suspense of a modern thriller. However, the underlying theme of corruption makes us think deeper about how the society and the government works.