I.S.P BLOG #5

LET IT BLEED by Ian Rankin

Through good sensory detail, the harsh winter night is pictured as a car chase screams through not allowing the dangerous conditions to deter any of them away from their objective; whether that be cat or mouse. Then, the picture in our minds has another dimension added to it when Rankin follows the classical order of the introduction 0f a story by introducing the characters; Inspectors Rebus and Lauderdale as well as noting their character traits with their action. The rule is to show what you can rather than tell. "Rebus had his teeth bared. He gripped the door handle with one hand, and the front end of his passenger seat with the other." A cautious inspector, willing to catch the bad guy yet would rather keep all his bones intact. This describes his partner as well, specifically how he handles an automobile in the winter which clearly is quite distant from relaxed. An 0n the edge r0ad rager is at the wheel, we are in the back seat listening; "We'll get them! We'll get the bastards!" If I were Rebus, I'd be 0n edge as well; "Rebus c0uldn't unl0ck his jaw l0ng en0ugh t0 reply." Rankin continues t0 show us character's emoti0ns thr0ught0ut this chapter, t00 many t0 write d0wn all.

We learn a backst0ry bef0re anything is 0verc0me 0r acc0mplished, via flashback. There is n0 sentence bef0re t0 prepare a reader, the reader sh0uld get what is g0ing 0n seeing as it has nothing t0 d0 with the present. This effect gives a 'c0p drama' t0ne that 0f which seen 0n T.V and adds t0 the wh0le idea 0f watching a b00k.
The characters are well established thr0ugh speech. In the flashback, a tapped phone call shows the dialect and traits 0f the kidnappers, "'We' phone tonight with the details. One last thing, no police understand?'... The ph0ne caller had sounded, working-class. In the mouth, understand had become unnerstaun."

I have not read any of the Inspector Rebus Series, but I can see why it is popular.