Let It Bleed (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Ian Rankin |
| Products | Crime novel |
Let it Bleed is a 1995 crime novel authored by Ian Rankin, marking the seventh installment in the Inspector Rebus series. The version published in the United States features an additional concluding chapter not found in the UK edition; Rankin explained that this was added due to the North American publisher's dissatisfaction with the original ambiguous ending.
Plot summary
Detective Inspector John Rebus and Frank Lauderdale pursue kidnappers through a dramatic car chase across Edinburgh, culminating in the youths leaping from the Forth Road Bridge and Rebus sustaining injuries in a car crash. This event reveals Rebus's profound loneliness and suggests his underlying suicidal thoughts.
After investigating an unrelated suicide involving a terminally ill con, Rebus delves into a case that implicates senior government officials. The politically charged investigation puts his professional standing at risk, yet his daughter Sammy's support fosters growth in their previously strained relationship.
Publishing notes
The book’s title is a nod to the Rolling Stones album Let it Bleed.
Rankin mentioned that a particular scene depicting Rebus resting his foot on the Oxford Bar rail led to numerous reader complaints, as the establishment did not have such a rail at that time—a detail he acknowledged was an error based on faulty memory.
The extra final chapter in the American edition was created after US publishers expressed concerns about the novel’s uncertain conclusion.
TV serial
An episode of the Rebus television adaptation reworked the novel’s storyline with some alterations, featuring Ken Stott as Inspector Rebus.
Reception
The novel garnered considerable praise, with Kirkus Reviews describing it as "this author's boldest, most ambitious novel yet."