Let it bleed (original 1996; edition 2008)

This was one of the first of Sir Ian Rankin’s Rebus books to engage with politics – a setting that he would revisit several times in novels such as Set in Darkness and The Naming of the Dead among others.

It opens with a frantic car chase out towards the Forth Road Bridge. Rebus’s boss, Chief Inspector Lauderdale is driving, and is fired up with a desire to catch the objects of the chase before they can make it into Fife, and hence into another force’s jurisdiction. The chase does end on the Edinburgh side of the bridge, but in unexpected circumstances.

Meanwhile, a man who has recently been released from prison attends a constituents’ surgery conducted by a local councillor, also with very dramatic and unforeseen circumstances. Rebus is called on to investigate, and finds himself plunged into a morass of intrigue, kidnapping and murder, and involving a varied cast of characters including senior policemen, prominent civil servants, leading businessmen and foreign diplomats.

This may sound like a rather heady mix, but Rankin manages all the various threads with his customary deftness, leaving a rock-solid plot peopled by immensely plausible characters. It is easy to see how Rebus has become such a well-established and popular character. ( )

Unfortunately, I liked the seventh Rebus novel a lot less than the previous ones. While the case started out in a very interesting way, it was drawn out too much and the pace was very slow.
The novel starts with a car chase on the Forth Road Bridge which leads to the death of two young men. Shortly after that, a man shoots himself in front of a local politician. Rebus has a gut feeling that the cases - which are not even considered to be "cases" by his superiors - are connected and that something is not right. He starts digging and of course leads himself into trouble.
Without giving too much away, this is a novel with a lot of political background, starring many organizations, state officials, IT/tech companies, and way too many characters. It was hard to follow everything after some time, and towards the end I just wanted the story to finish.
On the other hand, it was probably one of the most atmospheric Rebus novels I read up until now. The sense of place is very, very strong. There are constant references to public buildings and streets in Edinburgh, to the Scottish winter weather, to the different accents of the people Rebus meets and so on. This gave the novel an intense atmosphere that I enjoyed much more than the plot itself. ( )

This is the first Rebus mystery I have read, but I watched several episodes of the television series. I didn't love the series and I didn't love this book.

Rebus is looking for a young woman whose parents have reported missing. A ransom is demanded, but it all goes wrong, resulting in the two young men involved in the presumed kidnapping killing themselves. Rebus finds the suicides odd, especially given the method, but finds a reason that makes some sense. Soon after, a councilmember is faced with an ex-con who kills himself in his office. The councilman claims no knowledge of the man yet Rebus sees fear just under the surface.

Why did the recently-parolled con kill himself there?

Rebus pursues an investigation but is warned off by higher-ups. True to form, he continues on his own. His job is threatened, and to Rebus work is all there is - except for alcohol, that is - but he is determined to follow the threads to whatever end.

I couldn't like Rebus. As a rule, I like flawed characters, but the flaws here just made me annoyed. I understand drinking and am not talking about that. Rather, his need to start arguments, distancing himself from his former wife and his daughter; his beliefs in once a con always a con, and for me, his flagrant disregard for other animals. Just couldn't like him.

The writing is good, though. I can't fault him for that. I just didn't like the character. I suspect we are not meant to like him altogether, frankly, but to like his commitment to the truth. I just can't stay with him any longer. ( )

Rebus ist zwei Jugendlichen auf der Spur, die die Tochter des reichen Lord Provost Kennedy entführt haben sollen. Vor seinen Augen stürzen sich die beiden verängstigten Jungen von einer Brücke in den Tod. Rebus, der sich für den schrecklichen Vorfall mitverantwortlich fühlt, stößt in der Wohnung der beiden auf Spuren, die auf eine Verschwörung in den höchsten Kreisen hindeuten. Prompt wird der grummelige Detective Inspector zwangsweise von diesem Fall beurlaubt …

Best Rebus so far. ( )