Laidlaw (Coronet Books) (Pantheon International Crime) (Textplus)

by William McIlvanney

WINNER OF THE CWA SILVER DAGGER

'If you only read one crime novel this year, this should be it' Guardian
'A bloody good read' Val McDermid

When a young woman is found brutally murdered in Kelvingrove Park, only one man stands a chance of finding her killer. Jack Laidlaw. He is a man of contrasts, ravaged by inner demons but driven by a deep compassion for the violent criminals in Glasgow's underworld. But will Laidlaw's unorthodox methods get him to the killer in time, when the victim's father is baying for blood?

Acclaimed for its corrosive wit, dark themes and original maverick detective, the Laidlaw trilogy has earned the status of classic crime fiction.

• ISBN10: 1838850325
• ISBN13: 9781838850326
• Publish Date: 2 April 2020 (first published 1 January 1977)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 30 July 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd
• Imprint: Black Thorn
• Edition: Main
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Laidlaw is a re-release of the original police procedural by William McIlvanney. Originally published in 1977, this re-formatting from Canongate on their Black Thorn imprint was released in paperback and ebook format April 2nd 2020.

There has been an ocean of commentary on tartan noir (and Scandi-noir and all their siblings). I have heard Laidlaw (there are three books in all) referred to as Scottish noir (or at least a precursor) and while that might be strictly speaking true, it is certainly gritty and brooding and Scottish, it's much more than that. I love crime novels with imperfect protagonists, Laidlaw is that in spades.

One of the things that sets this one apart is that McIlvanney was a remarkably adept writer, precise and masterful. There is not one fumble in the book. There is a spareness to the prose (the author was also quite well known as a poet). The characterizations are rich, varied, and precisely rendered. This might be the best crime novel I've read; it's certainly one of the best at any rate.

That being said, this is a relentlessly dark book. It's violent, with raw language and brutality. It had been a decade or more since I read it last and though quite unflinching, it has aged surprisingly well. It's a beautifully written book. I'm glad to see it being presented to a new generation of readers.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.