‘Laidlaw’ by William McIlvanney

My Review (5 stars out of 5)

The murder of a young woman in Kelvingrove Park brings rebel detective Jack Laidlaw onto the streets of Glasgow. Laidlaw’s unconventional approach unsettles his new sidekick but the pair gradually being to track the killer down. Trouble is, the cops aren’t the only ones looking for justice…

This is one of those classic crime novels I should have read years ago. McIlvanney’s writing is perhaps a little dated now, but the witty one-liners are still appealing and the author’s descriptive style drew me in, particularly his use of the Scots lingo. Set in seventies Glasgow, the book is an obvious influence on the many crime-writers who followed in McIlvanney’s footsteps and though some readers might find it a bit slow by modern-day standards, I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be reading the other books in this series.

A classic Scottish crime thriller from the creator of Tartan Noir.

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  2 comments for “‘Laidlaw’ by William McIlvanney

  1. 26/12/2021 at 11:02 AM

    Great choice! I was on a BAFTA jury with the author once, and stood in the lane behind Blythwood Square sharing a few cigarettes with him back when that was a thing. He really had a gift for writing….

    Like

    • 27/12/2021 at 10:04 AM

      Cool. The nearest I’ve come to the great mannie is watching his interviews on YouTube 😉

      Like

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