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Jack Laidlaw #0
The Dark Remains
In this scorching crime prequel, New York Times best-selling author Ian Rankin and Scottish crime-writing legend William McIlvanney join forces for the first ever case of D.I. Laidlaw, Glasgow’s original gritty detective.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2021
About the author
William McIlvanney
33 books202 followersWilliam McIlvanney was a Scottish writer of novels, short stories, and poetry. He was a champion of gritty yet poetic literature; his works Laidlaw, The Papers of Tony Veitch, and Walking Wounded are all known for their portrayal of Glasgow in the 1970s. He is regarded as "the father of 'Tartan Noir’" and has been described as "Scotland's Camus".
His first book, Remedy is None, was published in 1966 and won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize in 1967. Docherty (1975), a moving portrait of a miner whose courage and endurance is tested during the depression, won the Whitbread Novel Award.
Laidlaw (1977), The Papers of Tony Veitch (1983) and Strange Loyalties (1991) are crime novels featuring Inspector Jack Laidlaw. Laidlaw is considered to be the first book of Tartan Noir.
William McIlvanney was also an acclaimed poet, the author of The Longships in Harbour: Poems (1970) and Surviving the Shipwreck (1991), which also contains pieces of journalism, including an essay about T. S. Eliot. McIlvanney wrote a screenplay based on his short story Dreaming (published in Walking Wounded in 1989) which was filmed by BBC Scotland in 1990 and won a BAFTA.
Since April 2013, McIlvanney's own website has featured personal, reflective and topical writing, as well as examples of his journalism.
Adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...
His first book, Remedy is None, was published in 1966 and won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize in 1967. Docherty (1975), a moving portrait of a miner whose courage and endurance is tested during the depression, won the Whitbread Novel Award.
Laidlaw (1977), The Papers of Tony Veitch (1983) and Strange Loyalties (1991) are crime novels featuring Inspector Jack Laidlaw. Laidlaw is considered to be the first book of Tartan Noir.
William McIlvanney was also an acclaimed poet, the author of The Longships in Harbour: Poems (1970) and Surviving the Shipwreck (1991), which also contains pieces of journalism, including an essay about T. S. Eliot. McIlvanney wrote a screenplay based on his short story Dreaming (published in Walking Wounded in 1989) which was filmed by BBC Scotland in 1990 and won a BAFTA.
Since April 2013, McIlvanney's own website has featured personal, reflective and topical writing, as well as examples of his journalism.
Adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 518 reviews
July 21, 2021
Bobby Carter was a notoriously venal lawyer, he was in up to his eyeballs with Glasgow’s criminal fraternity. It had been his job to protect and give guidance to an assortment of miscreants and villains of Glasgow, and now he’s dead - murdered and dumped in a dirty alleyway. The problem is, his killing is likely to cause a vicious war between the two main gangs, so the murder needs solving quickly, before all hell is let loose on the streets of Glasgow.
Investigating officers D.C. Jack Laidlaw and DS Bob Lilley make a brilliant pair - I love the way they bounce off each other. (Laidlaw, on the face of it, isn’t particularly likeable, but he has a wicked sense of humour, and I love that), though he does prefer to do his own investigating without any obstructions, so he often leaves Lilley behind - yes Laidlaw is very much a force of nature. He also isn’t one to furnish his boss with every little piece of information that he comes across, and that can sometimes give him an advantage in extracting said information from the criminals on his patch, who think he’s not like the other coppers, meaning they’re more likely to spill the beans. Another strange quirk of Laidlaw’s is his preference for travelling by public transport, namely the bus, rather than the car, it gives him time to think, and he does a lot of that. He’s a plain talking man, with a philosophical mind, he sees what others don’t, and that makes him a great copper!
Dark Remains is set in 1972 in Glasgow, against a backdrop of hard men, poverty, alcohol abuse, sectarianism, strip clubs and general dens of iniquity.
When Scottish writer William McIlvanney died in 2015, he left behind a half finished manuscript, which was handed to his publisher by his widow, and was then completed by that other wonderful Scottish writer Ian Rankin! What a terrific combination this is, resulting in a fine example of gritty Tartan Noir!
*I was invited to read The Dark Remains by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Investigating officers D.C. Jack Laidlaw and DS Bob Lilley make a brilliant pair - I love the way they bounce off each other. (Laidlaw, on the face of it, isn’t particularly likeable, but he has a wicked sense of humour, and I love that), though he does prefer to do his own investigating without any obstructions, so he often leaves Lilley behind - yes Laidlaw is very much a force of nature. He also isn’t one to furnish his boss with every little piece of information that he comes across, and that can sometimes give him an advantage in extracting said information from the criminals on his patch, who think he’s not like the other coppers, meaning they’re more likely to spill the beans. Another strange quirk of Laidlaw’s is his preference for travelling by public transport, namely the bus, rather than the car, it gives him time to think, and he does a lot of that. He’s a plain talking man, with a philosophical mind, he sees what others don’t, and that makes him a great copper!
Dark Remains is set in 1972 in Glasgow, against a backdrop of hard men, poverty, alcohol abuse, sectarianism, strip clubs and general dens of iniquity.
When Scottish writer William McIlvanney died in 2015, he left behind a half finished manuscript, which was handed to his publisher by his widow, and was then completed by that other wonderful Scottish writer Ian Rankin! What a terrific combination this is, resulting in a fine example of gritty Tartan Noir!
*I was invited to read The Dark Remains by the publisher, and have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
June 21, 2021
An extraordinary delight to savour, this is a pitch perfect smart collaboration between the legendary godfather of Scottish Noir, William McIlvanney, who left behind half a manuscript, a prequel of the trilogy featuring the original DI Laidlaw, expertly and authentically completed here by the creator of John Rebus, Ian Rankin. The year is 1972, and a atmospheric picture of the Glasgow of this period is evoked, the grit and the grime, the poverty, high unemployment, alcohol and domestic abuse, the casual brutality and violence, the sectarianism, the gangs, the hard men, the sexism and misogyny. When the dead body of lawyer Bobby Carter, right hand man and consigliere of gangster Cam Colvin, is found in the alley beside the Parlour pub, tensions escalate sky high, the threat of rival gang wars exploding hanging like a dark cloud, as metaphorical lit match thrown on a tinder dry bonfire.
DC Jack Laidlaw is now with the Glasgow Crime Squad, working on the case under the blindly ambitious DI Ernie Milligan. Laidlaw's partner, DS Bob Lilley has been tasked with keeping an eye on him by Commander Robert Frederick. Not known for being a team player, Jack goes his own way, travelling by bus, staying at the Burleigh hotel for the duration of the case, leaving behind his unhappy wife, Ena, and his 3 young children, Moya, Sandra and Jack. With his desk littered with philosophical texts, Jack is no ordinary copper, looking for answers in the nature of humanity, for whom every victim matters. Picking apart Carter's life, he follows a multitude of threads, a dancer, a former footballer, gang leaders and members, utilising informants, but none of it adds up, what is he missing?
This was an utter joy to read, beautifully written, with the force of nature that is the poetry loving Laidlaw believing 'the law is not about justice. It's a system we've put in place because we can't have justice.'. The highlights include the wonderful sense of the 1970s streets of Glasgow, and the stellar characterisation, my favourites including the likes of Lilley, Ena, and crime boss, John Rhodes. This is an unmissable crime treat for everyone who loves the gritty crime and mystery genre, particularly that of Tartan Noir. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
DC Jack Laidlaw is now with the Glasgow Crime Squad, working on the case under the blindly ambitious DI Ernie Milligan. Laidlaw's partner, DS Bob Lilley has been tasked with keeping an eye on him by Commander Robert Frederick. Not known for being a team player, Jack goes his own way, travelling by bus, staying at the Burleigh hotel for the duration of the case, leaving behind his unhappy wife, Ena, and his 3 young children, Moya, Sandra and Jack. With his desk littered with philosophical texts, Jack is no ordinary copper, looking for answers in the nature of humanity, for whom every victim matters. Picking apart Carter's life, he follows a multitude of threads, a dancer, a former footballer, gang leaders and members, utilising informants, but none of it adds up, what is he missing?
This was an utter joy to read, beautifully written, with the force of nature that is the poetry loving Laidlaw believing 'the law is not about justice. It's a system we've put in place because we can't have justice.'. The highlights include the wonderful sense of the 1970s streets of Glasgow, and the stellar characterisation, my favourites including the likes of Lilley, Ena, and crime boss, John Rhodes. This is an unmissable crime treat for everyone who loves the gritty crime and mystery genre, particularly that of Tartan Noir. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
June 14, 2021
"Whatever else happens, the dark remains."
From the moment I heard about this book I've been stalking various websites, scheming how to get my hands on it. Turns out I didn't have to kill anyone, resort to blackmail or sell a child....all I had to do was ask. Huge thanks to McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada for one of this year's most anticipated reads. And sincere apologies to the other books I promptly tossed after it arrived.
In 1977 William McIlvanney came out with Laidlaw, the first in a trilogy featuring Glasgow copper Jack Laidlaw. It was an innovative take on crime fiction unlike anything published before, requiring a new label....Tartan Noir. After McIlvanney died in 2015, an unfinished manuscript for a fourth Laidlaw book was found & eventually passed to some guy named Ian Rankin. Could he finish it? The answer is a resounding yes. This is a seamless collaboration that is so faithful to McIlvanney's style of prose, it's spooky.
The year is 1972 & Det. Jack Laidlaw has just been transferred to the Glasgow Crime Squad. His reputation precedes him & new boss DI Ernie Milligan is well aware of his history. The squad is currently working a missing person case. Bobby Carter, a flamboyant lawyer/fixer for local hard man Cam Colvin, is nowhere to be found. Until he is...face down in the alley behind a pub owned by rival wise guy John Rhodes. Oooh, this does not bode well. Laidlaw & new partner DS Bob Lilley are part of the team led by Milligan that need to find the killer before the city erupts in a full-on game of gangster quid pro quo.
That's really all you need to know about the plot. Cops, thugs, snitches & families.....just some of the peripheral characters you'll meet along the way. It's a master class in misdirection as Laidlaw drags the long suffering Lilley around Glasgow's less respectable streets. The bonus is the gritty, poetic prose. From descriptions of Glasgow & its citizens to Laidlaw's dryly sardonic dialogue, this was such a pleasure to read.
The setting is contemporary to when it was written but for some reason, it doesn't feel dated. There are plenty of cultural references plus a running gag about The Godfather. What may seem stereotypical to readers now was groundbreaking at the time. Jack was a new slant on the fictional cop. Yes he's a tough guy, but he's also a keen student/observer of the human condition. His philosophical & driven character reminded me of all my favourite detectives who came after....John Rebus, Jack Taylor, Harry Bosch & Émile Cinq-Mars to name a few. Many crime writers cite McIlvanney as an influence & it shows. (By the way, his son is no slouch either. If you're looking for a cracking read I highly recommend The Quaker by Liam McIlvanney.)
For the uninitiated, it's a smart & layered procedural full of great characters. If you're already a fan, it's quite simply a must-read. Rankin was the perfect choice to polish it up & I couldn't help wondering what would happen if Rebus & Laidlaw had met. Now there's a book I'd love to read.
From the moment I heard about this book I've been stalking various websites, scheming how to get my hands on it. Turns out I didn't have to kill anyone, resort to blackmail or sell a child....all I had to do was ask. Huge thanks to McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House Canada for one of this year's most anticipated reads. And sincere apologies to the other books I promptly tossed after it arrived.
In 1977 William McIlvanney came out with Laidlaw, the first in a trilogy featuring Glasgow copper Jack Laidlaw. It was an innovative take on crime fiction unlike anything published before, requiring a new label....Tartan Noir. After McIlvanney died in 2015, an unfinished manuscript for a fourth Laidlaw book was found & eventually passed to some guy named Ian Rankin. Could he finish it? The answer is a resounding yes. This is a seamless collaboration that is so faithful to McIlvanney's style of prose, it's spooky.
The year is 1972 & Det. Jack Laidlaw has just been transferred to the Glasgow Crime Squad. His reputation precedes him & new boss DI Ernie Milligan is well aware of his history. The squad is currently working a missing person case. Bobby Carter, a flamboyant lawyer/fixer for local hard man Cam Colvin, is nowhere to be found. Until he is...face down in the alley behind a pub owned by rival wise guy John Rhodes. Oooh, this does not bode well. Laidlaw & new partner DS Bob Lilley are part of the team led by Milligan that need to find the killer before the city erupts in a full-on game of gangster quid pro quo.
That's really all you need to know about the plot. Cops, thugs, snitches & families.....just some of the peripheral characters you'll meet along the way. It's a master class in misdirection as Laidlaw drags the long suffering Lilley around Glasgow's less respectable streets. The bonus is the gritty, poetic prose. From descriptions of Glasgow & its citizens to Laidlaw's dryly sardonic dialogue, this was such a pleasure to read.
The setting is contemporary to when it was written but for some reason, it doesn't feel dated. There are plenty of cultural references plus a running gag about The Godfather. What may seem stereotypical to readers now was groundbreaking at the time. Jack was a new slant on the fictional cop. Yes he's a tough guy, but he's also a keen student/observer of the human condition. His philosophical & driven character reminded me of all my favourite detectives who came after....John Rebus, Jack Taylor, Harry Bosch & Émile Cinq-Mars to name a few. Many crime writers cite McIlvanney as an influence & it shows. (By the way, his son is no slouch either. If you're looking for a cracking read I highly recommend The Quaker by Liam McIlvanney.)
For the uninitiated, it's a smart & layered procedural full of great characters. If you're already a fan, it's quite simply a must-read. Rankin was the perfect choice to polish it up & I couldn't help wondering what would happen if Rebus & Laidlaw had met. Now there's a book I'd love to read.
November 23, 2021
Gaelic Polis.
It’s famed Detective Constable Jack Laidlaw’s first case.
Newly transferred for rubbing his co-workers the wrong way, he’s paired with another seasoned detective to find out why Bobby Carter, a gangster’s lawyer, was murdered.
It was instant comedic gratification with a deadpan delivery containing this gem on the first page. Of the attorney in question, Commander Robert Frederick of the Glasgow Crime Squad had these thoughts:
“A man called Bobby Carter had disappeared… This in itself... wasn't exactly a cause for deep mourning. Bobby Carter was a career criminal. Or rather, a venally clever lawyer who didn’t so much rub shoulders with criminals as steep in the same polluted bath water as them.”
I was especially interested in the background of this story. After author William McIlvaney passed in 2015, a partially written manuscript backtracking to his popular character’s first case was discovered.
The author had created the Tartan Noir sub genre with his Jack Laidlaw series and other authors followed suit with their own successful books. Of these, Ian Rankin in collaboration with the William McIlvaney Trust completed The Dark Remains.
This was my first by either author and I struggled a bit. I loved the dry humor, subtlety, and condensed wording but I had to measure my pace and pay attention or I’d skip an important clue. I couldn’t rush the process and although 242 pages is relatively short, it took me several days to finish.
Now that I'm accustomed to their approach, I will be reading more by both authors. First up, the continuation of the Laidlaw books.
Thank you to my local library for the loan and thank you to MaryBeth for reading this with me!
It’s famed Detective Constable Jack Laidlaw’s first case.
Newly transferred for rubbing his co-workers the wrong way, he’s paired with another seasoned detective to find out why Bobby Carter, a gangster’s lawyer, was murdered.
It was instant comedic gratification with a deadpan delivery containing this gem on the first page. Of the attorney in question, Commander Robert Frederick of the Glasgow Crime Squad had these thoughts:
“A man called Bobby Carter had disappeared… This in itself... wasn't exactly a cause for deep mourning. Bobby Carter was a career criminal. Or rather, a venally clever lawyer who didn’t so much rub shoulders with criminals as steep in the same polluted bath water as them.”
I was especially interested in the background of this story. After author William McIlvaney passed in 2015, a partially written manuscript backtracking to his popular character’s first case was discovered.
The author had created the Tartan Noir sub genre with his Jack Laidlaw series and other authors followed suit with their own successful books. Of these, Ian Rankin in collaboration with the William McIlvaney Trust completed The Dark Remains.
This was my first by either author and I struggled a bit. I loved the dry humor, subtlety, and condensed wording but I had to measure my pace and pay attention or I’d skip an important clue. I couldn’t rush the process and although 242 pages is relatively short, it took me several days to finish.
Now that I'm accustomed to their approach, I will be reading more by both authors. First up, the continuation of the Laidlaw books.
Thank you to my local library for the loan and thank you to MaryBeth for reading this with me!
November 9, 2021
The mean streets of Glasgow. When a body is found on a footpath outside a pub, the discovery threatens to be the impetus of a war between two mob factions. The city is divided between John Rhodes and his men and Cam Colvins and his. The man killed was part of Colvins crew, his fixer so to speak. Colvins wants his killer found and is willing to tear the city apart to get answers.
Enters Laidlaw, a gritty detective, a man who quotes philosophers, who prefers to get his answers in the street rather than the station. Of ourse, this puts him on the outside, which is where he likes it best.
They are calling this a collaboration from beyond the grave since the unfinished manuscript was found after McIlvanneys death and finished by Ian Rankin. I've read quite a few by Rankin, enjoyed most but have not read the Laidlow series. I have now, however, started the first which I was lucky enough to find on Hoopla. The author of that series is credited with being the father of of Scottish noir.
"All cities are riddled with crime. It comes with the territory. Gather enough people together in one place and malignancy is guaranteed to manifest in some form or another. It's the nature of the beast."
"Whatever else happens, the dark remains."
Enters Laidlaw, a gritty detective, a man who quotes philosophers, who prefers to get his answers in the street rather than the station. Of ourse, this puts him on the outside, which is where he likes it best.
They are calling this a collaboration from beyond the grave since the unfinished manuscript was found after McIlvanneys death and finished by Ian Rankin. I've read quite a few by Rankin, enjoyed most but have not read the Laidlow series. I have now, however, started the first which I was lucky enough to find on Hoopla. The author of that series is credited with being the father of of Scottish noir.
"All cities are riddled with crime. It comes with the territory. Gather enough people together in one place and malignancy is guaranteed to manifest in some form or another. It's the nature of the beast."
"Whatever else happens, the dark remains."
January 1, 2022
I’ve been reading crime fiction novels for as long as I can remember. Agatha Christie whodunnits probably started it for me and I’ve never tired of the genre. But I’m almost embarrassed to say that I’d never come across the name William McIlvanney. In fact, it wasn’t until after I’d read this book that I discovered the truth: that Ian Rankin had fairly recently been approached to complete a half written draft of what turns out to be a prequel from a very well know trilogy. Yes, McIlvanney (now deceased) had published his three well received books in the period from 1977 -1991 and had subsequently been crowned ‘the father of Tartan Noir’.
The story involves the murder of a dodgy lawyer, right hand man to the leader of one of Glasgow’s prominent crime gangs. His body had been found in a lane behind a pub, on the turf of a rival gang. And when we’re introduced to the local flatfoots who are charged with investigating the case, the least senior of which is DC Jack Laidlaw, I’d assumed that it would be one of the senior officers who we’d be tracking as the investigation is set in train. But no, it’s Jack who take prominence on the pages that follow, and what an interesting character he proves to be.
The story is set in 1972 and as someone of a certain age the references to music, television and news items of the time all brought back memories for me. I think some of this will be lost on younger readers but I don’t see this as a significant drawback. The language is raw and the actions often ruthless as answers are demanded by gangland thugs on the mean streets of this city – is this killing going to kick off a battle between the gangs? That’s the fear the cops have as they chase around the same streets seeking the same answers, albeit in a slightly more civil manner.
Laidlaw, though, is the star of the show. A deep thinker and a reader of philosophical texts, he has his own way of doing things. He has a testy relationship with the lead cop on this case, due to events that ocurred some years back, and this merely cements his desire to do his own thing. Although he is married, with three young children at home, he immerses himself in the city: using buses for transport and moving into a centrally located hotel for the duration of the case. He absorbs the mood and the chatter and seeks out people of interest, testing them out with provocative questions and leaving no stone unturned.
The resolution is a satisfying one but as in many books of this type it’s the journey that matters. I loved the atmosphere the book created – it felt authentic and morbidly exciting –and the characters were all brilliantly brought to life. The dialogue is top-notch too and I was left to wonder how much of all of this was present in McIlvenny’s draft and what proportion was reliant on Rankin’s deft touch. It was all over too soon but at least I now have three more books added to my pending list – and I have a feeling they’ll soon be edging their way towards the top.
My thanks to Canongate and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story involves the murder of a dodgy lawyer, right hand man to the leader of one of Glasgow’s prominent crime gangs. His body had been found in a lane behind a pub, on the turf of a rival gang. And when we’re introduced to the local flatfoots who are charged with investigating the case, the least senior of which is DC Jack Laidlaw, I’d assumed that it would be one of the senior officers who we’d be tracking as the investigation is set in train. But no, it’s Jack who take prominence on the pages that follow, and what an interesting character he proves to be.
The story is set in 1972 and as someone of a certain age the references to music, television and news items of the time all brought back memories for me. I think some of this will be lost on younger readers but I don’t see this as a significant drawback. The language is raw and the actions often ruthless as answers are demanded by gangland thugs on the mean streets of this city – is this killing going to kick off a battle between the gangs? That’s the fear the cops have as they chase around the same streets seeking the same answers, albeit in a slightly more civil manner.
Laidlaw, though, is the star of the show. A deep thinker and a reader of philosophical texts, he has his own way of doing things. He has a testy relationship with the lead cop on this case, due to events that ocurred some years back, and this merely cements his desire to do his own thing. Although he is married, with three young children at home, he immerses himself in the city: using buses for transport and moving into a centrally located hotel for the duration of the case. He absorbs the mood and the chatter and seeks out people of interest, testing them out with provocative questions and leaving no stone unturned.
The resolution is a satisfying one but as in many books of this type it’s the journey that matters. I loved the atmosphere the book created – it felt authentic and morbidly exciting –and the characters were all brilliantly brought to life. The dialogue is top-notch too and I was left to wonder how much of all of this was present in McIlvenny’s draft and what proportion was reliant on Rankin’s deft touch. It was all over too soon but at least I now have three more books added to my pending list – and I have a feeling they’ll soon be edging their way towards the top.
My thanks to Canongate and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2022
Absolutely brilliant. What a combination- McIlvanney, Rankin and Laidlaw! Gritty Glasgow of the ‘70’s and Laidlaw starting to make a name for himself. Not always a good one especially with the upper police echelons who want to rein him in! I love the maverick, cerebral detectives and so this is right up my street. It’s a dark tale but hard to put down and I love the occasional humour. Very well written and captures the times to perfection.
If you like Tartan Noir you’ll like this and the Laidlaw series. William McIvanney is credited by the likes of Val McDermid and Ian Rankin with creating the genre. He was an excellent writer and Laidlaw is a terrific protagonist.
If you like Tartan Noir you’ll like this and the Laidlaw series. William McIvanney is credited by the likes of Val McDermid and Ian Rankin with creating the genre. He was an excellent writer and Laidlaw is a terrific protagonist.
May 24, 2021
When I heard about this new novel written by Ian Rankin and the late William McIlvanney joining forces for the first ever case of D.I. Laidlaw, Glasgow’s original gritty detective I just couldn’t resist reading it. I am very familiar with Ian Rankin’s work and enjoy the Rebus series but have never read any of Mcllvanney’s books. Mcllvanney’s widow found the unfinished manuscript of The Dark Remains and approached the publisher with it, who in turn asked Ian Rankin if he would be interested in finishing it. This really is a combined effort and Rankin does a good job in adopting the same feel for the novel, so much that I was unable to see the join.
The novel is set in 1972 in Glasgow and introduces a gritty detective called D.I. Laidlaw.
Bobby Carter is a lawyer who was not adverse to working for villains so when he is found murdered there are plenty of suspects. DC Jack Laidlaw needs to find the killer before two Glasgow gangs go to war and the city is set alight with violence. Laidlaw is a gritty detective who doesn’t mix well and prefers to work his own case but he gets results.
I found this book a decent read but I didn’t feel it was the best crime novel I have read this year. I am glad I read it but struggle to get as excited about it as some of the other reviewers. I realise that it is based in 1972 but though many of the dated tv references would not be understood by younger readers. A great effort and Laidlaw would probably grow on me in time.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Canongate for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The novel is set in 1972 in Glasgow and introduces a gritty detective called D.I. Laidlaw.
Bobby Carter is a lawyer who was not adverse to working for villains so when he is found murdered there are plenty of suspects. DC Jack Laidlaw needs to find the killer before two Glasgow gangs go to war and the city is set alight with violence. Laidlaw is a gritty detective who doesn’t mix well and prefers to work his own case but he gets results.
I found this book a decent read but I didn’t feel it was the best crime novel I have read this year. I am glad I read it but struggle to get as excited about it as some of the other reviewers. I realise that it is based in 1972 but though many of the dated tv references would not be understood by younger readers. A great effort and Laidlaw would probably grow on me in time.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Canongate for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2022
Jack Laidlaw, ένας ξεροκέφαλος, ιδιόρρυθμος, one man show επιθεωρητής, που έχει πάντα δίκιο αλλά σπανίως το βρίσκει στην ώρα του,που δεν χωράει πουθενά αλλά η πόλη όλη χωράει μέσα του. Άργησα κάπως να τον ανακαλύψω-ο McIlvanney είχε ήδη πεθάνει όταν έφτασε στα χέρια μου η (αμετάφραστη) τριλογία του Laidlaw-και πάνω που συζητούσαμε οι λάτρεις του είδους το πόσο άδικο είναι τόσο αξιολόγοι συγγραφείς να μην φτάνουν ποτέ στα χέρια των αναγνωστών, έσκασε το νέο για το prequel που υπήρχε στα σκαριά και που θα ολοκλήρωνε ο Ian Rankin.
Το σκοτάδι παραμένει, όσο και αν προσπαθήσεις να το καλύψεις, να το στολίσεις και να το γεμίσεις με λαμπερά φτιασίδια,και επειδή πραγματικά δεν μπορώ να δώσω περισσότερα στοιχεία για την υπόθεση πέραν του οπισθόφυλλου, θα πω μόνο τούτο,έχοντας διαβάσει όλα τα βιβλία και των δύο συγγραφέων:συγχαρητήρια στον Rankin που δεν μετέτρεψε τον Laidlaw σε Rebus-που σεβάστηκε τους χαρακτήρες και των δύο ηρώων και που το αποτέλεσμα είναι ομοιογενές.Το βιβλίο αυτό είναι μια καλή αρχή για να γνωρίζετε έναν αξιοπρόσεκτο συγγραφέα, και,αν διαβάζετε στα αγγλικά, να αναζητήσετε την τριλογία-ελπίζοντας πάντα πως κάποια στιγμή ίσως μεταφραστούν και στα ελληνικά.
Εξαιρετικό tartan noir, 5/5.
Το σκοτάδι παραμένει, όσο και αν προσπαθήσεις να το καλύψεις, να το στολίσεις και να το γεμίσεις με λαμπερά φτιασίδια,και επειδή πραγματικά δεν μπορώ να δώσω περισσότερα στοιχεία για την υπόθεση πέραν του οπισθόφυλλου, θα πω μόνο τούτο,έχοντας διαβάσει όλα τα βιβλία και των δύο συγγραφέων:συγχαρητήρια στον Rankin που δεν μετέτρεψε τον Laidlaw σε Rebus-που σεβάστηκε τους χαρακτήρες και των δύο ηρώων και που το αποτέλεσμα είναι ομοιογενές.Το βιβλίο αυτό είναι μια καλή αρχή για να γνωρίζετε έναν αξιοπρόσεκτο συγγραφέα, και,αν διαβάζετε στα αγγλικά, να αναζητήσετε την τριλογία-ελπίζοντας πάντα πως κάποια στιγμή ίσως μεταφραστούν και στα ελληνικά.
Εξαιρετικό tartan noir, 5/5.
May 18, 2023
"All cities are riddled with crime. It comes with the territory."
Glasgow, 1972. Bobby Carter’s body has been found in an alleyway behind a pub. Turf war is about to kick off in retaliation as he was the lawyer for one of the three gangs running the City.
Welcome to the mean streets. And welcome to one DC Jack Laidlaw. A bit of lone wolf who prefers to work on his own rather than follow orders. And who listens to his gut instinct and thinks outside the square. He’s someone whose “reputation has always preceded him” as he joins a new police station. On his desk are classics by Unamuno, Kierkgard and Camus. He finds reading them helps him to think more clearly. The other detectives aren’t sure what to make of him, and are wary. Especially his superior DI Ernie Milligan. The two are chalk and cheese. Water and oil. Opposing personalities who will clash throughout the story.
”The law is not about justice. It's a system we've put in place because we can't have justice.”
Now Bobby Carter was no angel, yet his stabbing needs to be avenged. The criminal fraternity start to combust as doubts are held within the gangs themselves, as they wonder if it could have been an inside job.
This is seriously gritty modern noir. Whiskey with a beer chaser.
There are mentions of current crimes and events, as they are still fresh at the time this book is set. The Bible John murders (which immediately had me thinking of Ian Rankin’s Black & Blue), as well as the Ibrox stadium disaster (where countless lives were lost in a crush amongst the crowd) are spoken about.
I have to admit to being taken aback when I read that “domestics” (domestic violence) was a term that was just starting to be used by the police, as increasingly so much of their time was involved in these crimes. I would have thought this was something that had always existed, but perhaps these matters were still being swept under the carpet then? It surprised me.
William McIlvanney has a straightforward approach to his writing, which allows him to tell a story well with no frills. He so perfectly captures the essence of the times. I could practically hear the Match of the Day theme music play in the background. The sexism, hard men drinking hard stuff, smoking in the workplace, on the bus, at the pub. The rampant alcoholism. Religious bias in the workplace. McIlvanney shows a world where approaches to policing and society in general were so different to what they are today. Or are they?
Like his creator, Jack Laidlaw is whip smart, and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. It’s not easy for him to toe the line, especially when he knows corners are being cut and cases not being given the right attention.
”Ask no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.” and ”I did what needed doing.” give perfect insight into Laidlaw’s character.
I can completely understand why William McIlvanney was an influence on Ian Rankin as he began to write his John Rebus series. Both are fiercely proud Scots, who are willing to show the underbelly behind the historic facades of their chosen cities.
In a strange twist of fate, it’s Ian Rankin who completed this novel, as William McIlvanney had passed away before completing the manuscript. It was fascinating trying to work out where Rankin “took over”, as it’s quite seamless. There were one or two moments where I thought “Hmmmm…did people really speak like that then?”as a few phrases seemed more current. But that was only the briefest doubt. It’s such a wonderful merging of two incredible crime Writers, at the top of their profession.
I get the sense that the ending was very Ian Rankin, as I could easily imagine that it was John Rebus being talked about in those last paragraphs, rather than Jack Laidlaw.
The paperback copy I have has a fantastic interview between Ian Rankin and William McIlvanney at a Crime Writing Festival in 2013. It’s interesting and adds to the whole ‘discovery’ for me of a Writer I’d not read before.
The no nonsense writing style absolutely took me back to a different time. This has whet my appetite, and I’m more than interested to continue to read the “Laidlaw Series”. Apparently these books were out of print for some time and are again available. So I feel that’s surely a sign to get to know Jack better.
”...the truth’s not about likes and dislikes, it just is."
Glasgow, 1972. Bobby Carter’s body has been found in an alleyway behind a pub. Turf war is about to kick off in retaliation as he was the lawyer for one of the three gangs running the City.
Welcome to the mean streets. And welcome to one DC Jack Laidlaw. A bit of lone wolf who prefers to work on his own rather than follow orders. And who listens to his gut instinct and thinks outside the square. He’s someone whose “reputation has always preceded him” as he joins a new police station. On his desk are classics by Unamuno, Kierkgard and Camus. He finds reading them helps him to think more clearly. The other detectives aren’t sure what to make of him, and are wary. Especially his superior DI Ernie Milligan. The two are chalk and cheese. Water and oil. Opposing personalities who will clash throughout the story.
”The law is not about justice. It's a system we've put in place because we can't have justice.”
Now Bobby Carter was no angel, yet his stabbing needs to be avenged. The criminal fraternity start to combust as doubts are held within the gangs themselves, as they wonder if it could have been an inside job.
This is seriously gritty modern noir. Whiskey with a beer chaser.
There are mentions of current crimes and events, as they are still fresh at the time this book is set. The Bible John murders (which immediately had me thinking of Ian Rankin’s Black & Blue), as well as the Ibrox stadium disaster (where countless lives were lost in a crush amongst the crowd) are spoken about.
I have to admit to being taken aback when I read that “domestics” (domestic violence) was a term that was just starting to be used by the police, as increasingly so much of their time was involved in these crimes. I would have thought this was something that had always existed, but perhaps these matters were still being swept under the carpet then? It surprised me.
William McIlvanney has a straightforward approach to his writing, which allows him to tell a story well with no frills. He so perfectly captures the essence of the times. I could practically hear the Match of the Day theme music play in the background. The sexism, hard men drinking hard stuff, smoking in the workplace, on the bus, at the pub. The rampant alcoholism. Religious bias in the workplace. McIlvanney shows a world where approaches to policing and society in general were so different to what they are today. Or are they?
Like his creator, Jack Laidlaw is whip smart, and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. It’s not easy for him to toe the line, especially when he knows corners are being cut and cases not being given the right attention.
”Ask no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.” and ”I did what needed doing.” give perfect insight into Laidlaw’s character.
I can completely understand why William McIlvanney was an influence on Ian Rankin as he began to write his John Rebus series. Both are fiercely proud Scots, who are willing to show the underbelly behind the historic facades of their chosen cities.
In a strange twist of fate, it’s Ian Rankin who completed this novel, as William McIlvanney had passed away before completing the manuscript. It was fascinating trying to work out where Rankin “took over”, as it’s quite seamless. There were one or two moments where I thought “Hmmmm…did people really speak like that then?”as a few phrases seemed more current. But that was only the briefest doubt. It’s such a wonderful merging of two incredible crime Writers, at the top of their profession.
I get the sense that the ending was very Ian Rankin, as I could easily imagine that it was John Rebus being talked about in those last paragraphs, rather than Jack Laidlaw.
The paperback copy I have has a fantastic interview between Ian Rankin and William McIlvanney at a Crime Writing Festival in 2013. It’s interesting and adds to the whole ‘discovery’ for me of a Writer I’d not read before.
The no nonsense writing style absolutely took me back to a different time. This has whet my appetite, and I’m more than interested to continue to read the “Laidlaw Series”. Apparently these books were out of print for some time and are again available. So I feel that’s surely a sign to get to know Jack better.
”...the truth’s not about likes and dislikes, it just is."
September 6, 2021
The Dark Remains is the prequel to McIlvanney's Detective Constable Jack Laidlaw series and was unfinished at the time of his death in 2015; now, bestseller Ian Rankin brings to life the untold story of Laidlaw's formative years in law enforcement set, as always, against the gritty, richly atmospheric backdrop of Glasgow city, in October 1972. You could even say this is the godfather of Tartan Noir, McIlvanney's, final (highland) fling. A war between rival gangs is set to explode on the streets of Glasgow after the stabbing of a local foot soldier. A fragile equilibrium that has been keeping the city relatively safe for many months is at risk. The death toll could be high, and the impact on the lives of innocent people calamitous. D.I. Jack Laidlaw is beginning to suspect that kingpins John Rhodes and Cam Colvin are being manipulated into a confrontation. His superiors, however, are quick to chalk the violence up to the usual gangland rivalries. Perhaps too quick. Then fraught tensions across the city get even worse when a local lawyer who dealt with money laundering and specialised in representing mob bosses, in particular Cam Colvin, is reported missing by his wife, Monica, and is later found stabbed to death behind the pub known as The Parlour by proprietor Conn Feeney.
Feeney immediately recognises him as Bobby Carter, but the fact that he was found on John Rhodes’s territory has both Glasgow residents and the police in fear that it could spark a turf war between Rhodes and Colvin who both control a third of the city each. Everyone including young Laidlaw, who is a new recruit to the Glasgow Crime Squad but just as troublesome to his bosses then as he is in the original trilogy, wants to know who murdered him as it's not likely that a guy up to his neck in the dirty business of the mob would just be let go with all of those sinister secrets rattling around his head. With the police supervisor in charge of the investigation primarily concerned about keeping the peace between the rival gangs rather than finding the killer, Laidlaw decides to go rogue to discover the origins of the dispute, try to solve it and identify and locate the murderer in the process. This is a scintillating and exhilarating treat for any crime enthusiast and Rankin’s result is gobsmacking. It’s Laidlaw at his very best – white-knuckle plotting, real-life complexity and writing sharper than a gangster’s blade.
I relished the return to McIlvanney's Glasgow, with its gangs, organized crime bosses, crooked politics, corrupt police, hard men and innocent battlers caught in the crossfire. In the midst of this melee stands D.I. Jack Laidlaw, as memorable and distinctive a noire character as has ever been created. He is like a diamond in the rough who knows he must strive for justice even though he knows justice is simply not possible. It's a gritty and essential book for fans of either author, and I was extremely impressed that it was so beautifully compiled that it was impossible to tell who wrote what. The mean streets of ’72 Glasgow are portrayed with a richly atmospheric authenticity and are ripe with abject poverty, loveless marriages, gang warfare, drunken aggression, sectarian bile, sexism, misogyny, rampant domestic abuse and peopled by a diverse cast of gangs fighting gangs, informants selling out former allies, bosses threatening their underlings and married partners arguing over each other's betrayals. An exquisite and unmissable crime novel that I cannot recommend highly enough.
Feeney immediately recognises him as Bobby Carter, but the fact that he was found on John Rhodes’s territory has both Glasgow residents and the police in fear that it could spark a turf war between Rhodes and Colvin who both control a third of the city each. Everyone including young Laidlaw, who is a new recruit to the Glasgow Crime Squad but just as troublesome to his bosses then as he is in the original trilogy, wants to know who murdered him as it's not likely that a guy up to his neck in the dirty business of the mob would just be let go with all of those sinister secrets rattling around his head. With the police supervisor in charge of the investigation primarily concerned about keeping the peace between the rival gangs rather than finding the killer, Laidlaw decides to go rogue to discover the origins of the dispute, try to solve it and identify and locate the murderer in the process. This is a scintillating and exhilarating treat for any crime enthusiast and Rankin’s result is gobsmacking. It’s Laidlaw at his very best – white-knuckle plotting, real-life complexity and writing sharper than a gangster’s blade.
I relished the return to McIlvanney's Glasgow, with its gangs, organized crime bosses, crooked politics, corrupt police, hard men and innocent battlers caught in the crossfire. In the midst of this melee stands D.I. Jack Laidlaw, as memorable and distinctive a noire character as has ever been created. He is like a diamond in the rough who knows he must strive for justice even though he knows justice is simply not possible. It's a gritty and essential book for fans of either author, and I was extremely impressed that it was so beautifully compiled that it was impossible to tell who wrote what. The mean streets of ’72 Glasgow are portrayed with a richly atmospheric authenticity and are ripe with abject poverty, loveless marriages, gang warfare, drunken aggression, sectarian bile, sexism, misogyny, rampant domestic abuse and peopled by a diverse cast of gangs fighting gangs, informants selling out former allies, bosses threatening their underlings and married partners arguing over each other's betrayals. An exquisite and unmissable crime novel that I cannot recommend highly enough.
September 16, 2021
It was ok. Rather read Rebus.
April 20, 2022
I’m not sure it’s such a good idea for the work of one famous writer to be finished by another famous one, especially when the former was the inspiration for the latter.
I haven’t read McIlvanney’s Laidlaw books, but I have read Rankin, and this book does not have many of the latter’s hallmarks except that it is a police procedural like the Rebus novels and the story and plot emerge through much talking and carrying around with routine police work. However, juxtaposed within the mundane activity of cops are chapters from the criminals’ POV in gangland Glasgow which provide a more sinister tone.
The plot is threadbare: the crooked playboy lawyer of one of the four main gang bosses in Glasgow is found murdered in the precinct of another boss. Suspicions of a turf war abound as properties, lucrative to the criminals, are burned down in either side’s camp. Who is responsible? Is this an overt attempt by one boss to overthrow the other, or is it the work of one of the other two bosses to stoke a war and pick up the pieces later? Or is it a crime related to the profligate life of the victim?
Enter DC Laidlaw, irreverent, chain-smoker, father of three, out of love with his long-suffering wife, and preferring to sleep in a hotel while on a case where an attractive receptionist makes cryptic remarks to him suggesting another whodunit in the wings. Laidlaw is literary and believes that it’s not cops who are needed but sociologists and philosophers who could go back to the origins before crimes are committed to find answers and prevent them from happening. He believes that clues lie in the little things: “Details are like the giant’s fingers,” paraphrasing John Updike. He is destined not to rise above the rank of constable for his “in your face” actions that his boss frowns upon; yet criminals shy away, allowing him to bulldoze into finding answers quickly.
This is a novel of deceptions. The mobsters are deceiving each other; their minions are deceiving their bosses and colleagues; the reader is deceived into going down many blind alleys and reading a lot of inconsequential chapters; and the cops are deceived into pursuing the wrong motive. When illumination finally strikes Laidlaw, the solution doesn’t appear to have had any prior foreshadowing, so it looks highly contrived. I’m not sure I even met the killer, although the name was mentioned often.
I found the writing pedestrian. There were so many viewpoints, no one (except for Laidlaw) stuck out as particularly memorable. It was as if the author needed someone to carry each chapter, so he picked one person at random – and they all ended up sounding like the same person to me. Cam Colvin’s four hoods moved around like a body with four heads; they did not look different from one another except that one guy carried a spanner and the other a knife, the third guy liked to eat, and the last? I can’t even remember the fourth guy. The most character-revealing chapter for me was the one in which the Laidlaws and the Lilleys (Laidlaw’s partner and the lead sergeant) have dinner and discuss each other afterwards once back in their respective homes. The snappy and sarcastic dialogue redeemed the flat narrative.
The final chapters also saved the book, and I wondered whether they had been written by Rankin. We are left with a new insight into Laidlaw and into the way gangs resolve their differences. There are no happy endings here, although some loose ends get tied up.
I haven’t read McIlvanney’s Laidlaw books, but I have read Rankin, and this book does not have many of the latter’s hallmarks except that it is a police procedural like the Rebus novels and the story and plot emerge through much talking and carrying around with routine police work. However, juxtaposed within the mundane activity of cops are chapters from the criminals’ POV in gangland Glasgow which provide a more sinister tone.
The plot is threadbare: the crooked playboy lawyer of one of the four main gang bosses in Glasgow is found murdered in the precinct of another boss. Suspicions of a turf war abound as properties, lucrative to the criminals, are burned down in either side’s camp. Who is responsible? Is this an overt attempt by one boss to overthrow the other, or is it the work of one of the other two bosses to stoke a war and pick up the pieces later? Or is it a crime related to the profligate life of the victim?
Enter DC Laidlaw, irreverent, chain-smoker, father of three, out of love with his long-suffering wife, and preferring to sleep in a hotel while on a case where an attractive receptionist makes cryptic remarks to him suggesting another whodunit in the wings. Laidlaw is literary and believes that it’s not cops who are needed but sociologists and philosophers who could go back to the origins before crimes are committed to find answers and prevent them from happening. He believes that clues lie in the little things: “Details are like the giant’s fingers,” paraphrasing John Updike. He is destined not to rise above the rank of constable for his “in your face” actions that his boss frowns upon; yet criminals shy away, allowing him to bulldoze into finding answers quickly.
This is a novel of deceptions. The mobsters are deceiving each other; their minions are deceiving their bosses and colleagues; the reader is deceived into going down many blind alleys and reading a lot of inconsequential chapters; and the cops are deceived into pursuing the wrong motive. When illumination finally strikes Laidlaw, the solution doesn’t appear to have had any prior foreshadowing, so it looks highly contrived. I’m not sure I even met the killer, although the name was mentioned often.
I found the writing pedestrian. There were so many viewpoints, no one (except for Laidlaw) stuck out as particularly memorable. It was as if the author needed someone to carry each chapter, so he picked one person at random – and they all ended up sounding like the same person to me. Cam Colvin’s four hoods moved around like a body with four heads; they did not look different from one another except that one guy carried a spanner and the other a knife, the third guy liked to eat, and the last? I can’t even remember the fourth guy. The most character-revealing chapter for me was the one in which the Laidlaws and the Lilleys (Laidlaw’s partner and the lead sergeant) have dinner and discuss each other afterwards once back in their respective homes. The snappy and sarcastic dialogue redeemed the flat narrative.
The final chapters also saved the book, and I wondered whether they had been written by Rankin. We are left with a new insight into Laidlaw and into the way gangs resolve their differences. There are no happy endings here, although some loose ends get tied up.
September 18, 2021
Definitely, and unsurprisingly, more Rankin than McIlvanney. It lacks the weight of the original Laidlaw books, and the feel and atmosphere of Glasgow that McIlvanney captured is completely missing. Still, Rankin, of course, knows how to write a crime novel, and this is perfectly serviceable, if light and completely forgettable, fair and it's nice to revisit many of the original characters.
Sidenote: the hardback sleeve bills this as 'Laidlaw's First Case', but it isn't, in any way, his first case. Odd.
Sidenote: the hardback sleeve bills this as 'Laidlaw's First Case', but it isn't, in any way, his first case. Odd.
August 15, 2021
Exposing the grittier side of Glasgow in the 1970s, this is not an action packed thriller, but rather an old fashioned who done it.
William McIllvanney’s death in 1995 left his last manuscript featuring Laidlaw unfinished. Ian Rankin has skillfully completed it.
Hugely atmospheric, it is the unique and colorful characters rather than the mystery itself that make this book. I haven’t read the other Laidlaw novels, but did enjoy this one. It is actually a prequel, introducing the Laidlaw character. It would be interesting now to read the earlier novels that feature the later Laidlaw!
December 29, 2021
Maybe I was reading a different book to everyone else but this one did not do it for me. As this was a prequel, maybe it just didn’t work coming in without knowing the characters or plot, orrrr maybe it’s just not for me.
Felt like pretty basic crime writing and way too many characters, most of whom seemed to add very little value…? (But they make more sense in the context of the whole series? Eh I’ll never find out.)
I liked the banter between the two cops but that might be as good as it got. 2 stars from me.
Felt like pretty basic crime writing and way too many characters, most of whom seemed to add very little value…? (But they make more sense in the context of the whole series? Eh I’ll never find out.)
I liked the banter between the two cops but that might be as good as it got. 2 stars from me.
September 29, 2023
This prequel set in 1972 in gritty Glasgow is a great story. The characters are wonderful from the dodgy lawyer found murdered in a back alley near a pub of an underground boss. Laidlaw is a mysterious philosophical copper who follows his intuition rather than the book. He reminds me of Rebus and you can see Rankin’s character in parts of Laidlaw.
The journey of the story takes you to a satisfying conclusion. The misdirection of the body, bloody knife and arson that was meant to lead to a gangland war between Conlan, Rhodes and Mason. However, the murderer of Bobby Carter was closer to home.
The journey of the story takes you to a satisfying conclusion. The misdirection of the body, bloody knife and arson that was meant to lead to a gangland war between Conlan, Rhodes and Mason. However, the murderer of Bobby Carter was closer to home.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2021
I picked THE DARK REMAINS up on Friday noon and had completed it by Saturday noon. I know that’s not fast for many of you, but it is for me given that I have to rest my old eyes every couple of hours.
What I considered perfect was the writing. I love good writing and this was the best. Not a wasted word. Simple yet stylish, moving the story quickly through the dark streets of Glasgow. I know this “less-is-more” approach is the one generally favoured by Ian Rankin, one of the co-writers. Now, I’ll have to read one of the original Laidlaw novels written by William McIlvanney to see if he also employed this style. If so, it was a perfect collaboration of two great writers.
When the book was announced, it was the first time I had heard about McIlvanney and his Laidlaw trilogy, written in the 1970s. Jack Laidlaw is a loner detective in the pattern of Rankin’s John Rebus and Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, both of whom I love. Rankin acknowledges his debt to McIlvanney with regards to his creation of John Rebus. When Connelly began his Bosch series in the early 1990s in the US, it is unknown whether he had ever heard of the by-then-forgotten Jack Laidlaw novels, knowledge of which seemed to be confined mainly to Scotland and Scottish writers.
The plot revolves around Glasgow gangsters and their violence, but if it hadn’t stated at the beginning that the year was 1972, I wouldn’t have been able to date it except for the references to “The Godfather”, a movie released in 1972. (Personal note: I saw the original in a theatre when it was first released, that’s how old I am.) There are many characters and many red herrings, and if I had a criticism, it would be that sometimes I forgot which gangster owed allegiance to which gang.
The sexism with regards to women’s roles in the community was also spot-on for the period, not only reflecting Glasgow values but also the biases of most of the Western world — certainly Canada, where I lived.
So all-in-all, a perfect book for those who love great writing and gritty crime novels.
What I considered perfect was the writing. I love good writing and this was the best. Not a wasted word. Simple yet stylish, moving the story quickly through the dark streets of Glasgow. I know this “less-is-more” approach is the one generally favoured by Ian Rankin, one of the co-writers. Now, I’ll have to read one of the original Laidlaw novels written by William McIlvanney to see if he also employed this style. If so, it was a perfect collaboration of two great writers.
When the book was announced, it was the first time I had heard about McIlvanney and his Laidlaw trilogy, written in the 1970s. Jack Laidlaw is a loner detective in the pattern of Rankin’s John Rebus and Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, both of whom I love. Rankin acknowledges his debt to McIlvanney with regards to his creation of John Rebus. When Connelly began his Bosch series in the early 1990s in the US, it is unknown whether he had ever heard of the by-then-forgotten Jack Laidlaw novels, knowledge of which seemed to be confined mainly to Scotland and Scottish writers.
The plot revolves around Glasgow gangsters and their violence, but if it hadn’t stated at the beginning that the year was 1972, I wouldn’t have been able to date it except for the references to “The Godfather”, a movie released in 1972. (Personal note: I saw the original in a theatre when it was first released, that’s how old I am.) There are many characters and many red herrings, and if I had a criticism, it would be that sometimes I forgot which gangster owed allegiance to which gang.
The sexism with regards to women’s roles in the community was also spot-on for the period, not only reflecting Glasgow values but also the biases of most of the Western world — certainly Canada, where I lived.
So all-in-all, a perfect book for those who love great writing and gritty crime novels.
November 30, 2021
Ian Rankin spreads his wings
This was like a comfortable, old overcoat for me. A bit cliched, but told well. Short. Entertaining. But not requiring too much thought. You’ve got to admire Ian Rankin for taking it on. He was always on a hiding to nothing leaving himself open to comparison with the late author. But he did well and it’s nice to see he is not a one-trick pony. It’s easy to see how Laidlaw might have inspired Rebus, who, in my view, has become a bit ridiculous in a series that has gone on too long. Lone-wolf characters like Laidlaw and Rebus belong in those past eras.
This was like a comfortable, old overcoat for me. A bit cliched, but told well. Short. Entertaining. But not requiring too much thought. You’ve got to admire Ian Rankin for taking it on. He was always on a hiding to nothing leaving himself open to comparison with the late author. But he did well and it’s nice to see he is not a one-trick pony. It’s easy to see how Laidlaw might have inspired Rebus, who, in my view, has become a bit ridiculous in a series that has gone on too long. Lone-wolf characters like Laidlaw and Rebus belong in those past eras.
February 14, 2023
Ο Τζακ Λέιντλο, έχει μόλις αναλάβει υπηρεσία στη Γλασκώβη, όταν ανακαλύπτεται το πτώμα του Μπόμπι Κάρτερ, ενός δικηγόρου που δούλευε για τα συμφλεροντα μίας από τις συμμορίες της πόλης. Ο επιθεωρητής Μίλιγκαν τον βάζει να δουλέψει μαζί με τον Μπόμπ Λίλεϊ, για να τον προσγειώσει απότομα. Ο Λέιντλο, έχει το δικό του τρόπο να λύνει τις υποθέσεις και ο Λίλεϊ τον ακολουθεί σε αυτό το μονοπάτι όσο εκείνος του επιτρέπει. Άραγε ο θάνατος του Κάρτερ είναι ένα ξεκαθάρισμα αντίπαλων συμμοριών ή κάτι ακόμη πιο σκοτεινό?
Η ιστορία κινείται χρονικά στο 1972, αλλά πέρα από τη χρονική αναφορά η γραφή είναι αρκετά σύγχρονη ή καλύτερα δεν μοιάζει σαν να γραφτηκε τη δεκαετία του '70 κι έχει λίγο απ' όλα: υπόκοσμο, συμμορίες, ρουφιάνους, όλο τον καλό τον κόσμο.
Το πρώτο βιβλίο του επιθεωρητή Τζακ Λέιντλο το οποίο βρέθηκε μισοτελειωμένο ανέλαβε να ολοκληρώσει μετά το θάνατο του William McIlvanney ο Ian Ranking και κατά την άποψη μου, το ολοκλήρωσε με επιτυχία, μιας και υπάρχει συνοχή στην ανάπτυξη του ιδιαίτερου χαρακτήρα του Λέιντλο. Το πρώτο ίσως δείγμα ενός tartan noir με έναν αντι-ήρωα που κάνει αυτό που θέλει χωρίς να το δικαιολογεί. Οι λάτρεις του Ian Ranking κι όχι μόνο θα το λατρέψουν μιας κι είναι ευκολοδιαβαστο.
3,5 αστέρια
Η ιστορία κινείται χρονικά στο 1972, αλλά πέρα από τη χρονική αναφορά η γραφή είναι αρκετά σύγχρονη ή καλύτερα δεν μοιάζει σαν να γραφτηκε τη δεκαετία του '70 κι έχει λίγο απ' όλα: υπόκοσμο, συμμορίες, ρουφιάνους, όλο τον καλό τον κόσμο.
Το πρώτο βιβλίο του επιθεωρητή Τζακ Λέιντλο το οποίο βρέθηκε μισοτελειωμένο ανέλαβε να ολοκληρώσει μετά το θάνατο του William McIlvanney ο Ian Ranking και κατά την άποψη μου, το ολοκλήρωσε με επιτυχία, μιας και υπάρχει συνοχή στην ανάπτυξη του ιδιαίτερου χαρακτήρα του Λέιντλο. Το πρώτο ίσως δείγμα ενός tartan noir με έναν αντι-ήρωα που κάνει αυτό που θέλει χωρίς να το δικαιολογεί. Οι λάτρεις του Ian Ranking κι όχι μόνο θα το λατρέψουν μιας κι είναι ευκολοδιαβαστο.
3,5 αστέρια
October 8, 2022
This is a gripping and extraordinary murder / mystery novel produced by William McIlvanney and Ian Rankin.
My understanding is that Rankin completed McIlvanney's novel about DC Laidlaw who is a Glaswegian equivalent of Rankin's Rebus from Edinburgh.
McILvanney had previously written 3 Laidlaw novels and I can't wait to read these novels as I much preferred this book to the Rebus novels.
Glasgow in the 1960s is the backdrop to this gangsterland story where a gang leader's lawyer is murdered and his body dumped in a rival's domain, causing friction between the rival gangs. The depictions of the various thugs in the story seem incredibly accurate and the different parts of the city described are so well portrayed that it almost feels like you're accompanying DC Laidlaw as he walks the streets, takes the buses, and visits the gangsters in their lairs.
DC Laidlaw is a one-off and must be treasured as he knows what's going on in the city and although this rubs up his superiors the wrong way, he achieves results.
My understanding is that Rankin completed McIlvanney's novel about DC Laidlaw who is a Glaswegian equivalent of Rankin's Rebus from Edinburgh.
McILvanney had previously written 3 Laidlaw novels and I can't wait to read these novels as I much preferred this book to the Rebus novels.
Glasgow in the 1960s is the backdrop to this gangsterland story where a gang leader's lawyer is murdered and his body dumped in a rival's domain, causing friction between the rival gangs. The depictions of the various thugs in the story seem incredibly accurate and the different parts of the city described are so well portrayed that it almost feels like you're accompanying DC Laidlaw as he walks the streets, takes the buses, and visits the gangsters in their lairs.
DC Laidlaw is a one-off and must be treasured as he knows what's going on in the city and although this rubs up his superiors the wrong way, he achieves results.
August 1, 2022
The Dark Remains is William McIlvanney's unfinished Laidlaw prequel novel. William McIlvanney's manuscript was given to Ian Rankin to complete.
The Dark Remains is set in 1972 and so predates the trilogy. We revisit characters from the trilogy in earlier times.
It's worth a read for those that enjoyed the original trilogy. That said, it's not a patch on those books. The Laidlaw trilogy is up there with the best crime writing I have ever come across. However this is unnecessarily convuluted and quite confusing in parts. There are so many characters that I am found it hard to keep track of them all. The big difference is the prose. What helps elevate the original trilogy is McIlvanney's poetic writing and philosophical meanderings. The Dark Remains is more nuts and bolts. Ian Rankin doesn't attempt to emulate McIlvanney's style.
It's fine, and worth a read for those that loved the original trilogy but far from essential. I suspect this is 20% McIlvanney and 80% Rankin. If only it had been the other way round.
2/5
The Dark Remains is set in 1972 and so predates the trilogy. We revisit characters from the trilogy in earlier times.
It's worth a read for those that enjoyed the original trilogy. That said, it's not a patch on those books. The Laidlaw trilogy is up there with the best crime writing I have ever come across. However this is unnecessarily convuluted and quite confusing in parts. There are so many characters that I am found it hard to keep track of them all. The big difference is the prose. What helps elevate the original trilogy is McIlvanney's poetic writing and philosophical meanderings. The Dark Remains is more nuts and bolts. Ian Rankin doesn't attempt to emulate McIlvanney's style.
It's fine, and worth a read for those that loved the original trilogy but far from essential. I suspect this is 20% McIlvanney and 80% Rankin. If only it had been the other way round.
2/5
November 3, 2021
The Dark Remains is undeniably authentic and a true testament to everything Glasgow was in the ’70s and ’80s. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading the Laidlaw series by the late and great William McIlvanney but I will be rectifying that as soon as possible. Gangland Glasgow and its brutal violence and its territorial wars, the tone was set and it was addictive as it was horrifying. Ian Rankin had massive shoes to fill but he laced them up, took pen to paper, and paid homage to Scotland’s father of Tartan Noir.
The Dark Remains is just that, dark. It doesn’t pull any punches, it doesn’t pretty anything up, it is just straight up potent. Bobby Carter, a notorious lawyer operating under Cam Colvin’s gang is found dead behind a bar on the rival gang’s turf. This discovery is going to cause an all-out war between the rivals, tearing down the streets of Glasgow and all that stand in their way. DC Laidlaw and DS Lilley have to find who the perpetrator is before everything goes to hell in a handbasket. I liked these two as an investigating duo, Laidlaw isn’t particularly likable but his sense of humour drew me to him like a moth to the flame.
The story portrayed Glasgow as a sentient being, the feeling that all is being watched, nothing goes unnoticed, nothing is left to chance. It never forgets. DC Laidlaw is a bit of a loose cannon. He doesn’t dance to the beat of anyone’s drum but his own. He has the measure of his superior officer, DI Milligan. He’s blindly ambitious but sleekit. He won’t think twice about bending the rules to serve his sense of entitlement. He can’t keep tabs on DC Laidlaw, a man that stops at nothing to get his man – even staying in a hotel for the duration of the case leaving his unhappy wife, Ena, and their three children, he’s a one-man-band.
McIllvaney’s view of Glasgow is unapologetic. The sectarianism, misogyny, and street politics are everywhere you turn. DC Laidlaw is a hindrance in DI Milligan making his name and cracking this case, and he doesn’t want him preceding him. Laidlaw is frustrated with the door-to-door house calls that Milligan would have him carry out, so decides to think outside the box. He reexamines the bystanders, who are not immediately obvious, and puts the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle that has pieces scattered throughout the dingy streets of Glasgow.
The Dark Remains is an uncompleted novel by McIlvanney handed over to the publishers and Ian Rankin being asked to complete it. It was an effortless read, you certainly couldn’t tell where one author’s writing finished and one commenced. It is an honest and sincere last hurrah to one of Scotland’s greats. Any crime fan will be in their element.
The Dark Remains is just that, dark. It doesn’t pull any punches, it doesn’t pretty anything up, it is just straight up potent. Bobby Carter, a notorious lawyer operating under Cam Colvin’s gang is found dead behind a bar on the rival gang’s turf. This discovery is going to cause an all-out war between the rivals, tearing down the streets of Glasgow and all that stand in their way. DC Laidlaw and DS Lilley have to find who the perpetrator is before everything goes to hell in a handbasket. I liked these two as an investigating duo, Laidlaw isn’t particularly likable but his sense of humour drew me to him like a moth to the flame.
The story portrayed Glasgow as a sentient being, the feeling that all is being watched, nothing goes unnoticed, nothing is left to chance. It never forgets. DC Laidlaw is a bit of a loose cannon. He doesn’t dance to the beat of anyone’s drum but his own. He has the measure of his superior officer, DI Milligan. He’s blindly ambitious but sleekit. He won’t think twice about bending the rules to serve his sense of entitlement. He can’t keep tabs on DC Laidlaw, a man that stops at nothing to get his man – even staying in a hotel for the duration of the case leaving his unhappy wife, Ena, and their three children, he’s a one-man-band.
McIllvaney’s view of Glasgow is unapologetic. The sectarianism, misogyny, and street politics are everywhere you turn. DC Laidlaw is a hindrance in DI Milligan making his name and cracking this case, and he doesn’t want him preceding him. Laidlaw is frustrated with the door-to-door house calls that Milligan would have him carry out, so decides to think outside the box. He reexamines the bystanders, who are not immediately obvious, and puts the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle that has pieces scattered throughout the dingy streets of Glasgow.
The Dark Remains is an uncompleted novel by McIlvanney handed over to the publishers and Ian Rankin being asked to complete it. It was an effortless read, you certainly couldn’t tell where one author’s writing finished and one commenced. It is an honest and sincere last hurrah to one of Scotland’s greats. Any crime fan will be in their element.
June 9, 2023
Magnífica novela negra de corte clásico donde un inspector de policía debe resolver el asesinato de la mano derecha de un capo de Glasgow antes de que dicha muerte desencadene una guerra entre los distintos clanes mafiosos de la ciudad. Si os gusta el género, la disfrutaréis seguro.
May 24, 2021
This was really great! Ian Rankin finished a previously unfound manuscript of McIlvanney's and immersed himself in the world of Laidlaw to bring us this gem, The Dark Remains. This was a fantastic Scottish mob crime story with excellent characters. Thanks to Netgalley and Europa Editions, I was able to read this one, and started it the moment I received the approval. Glad I did!
The "the hard-drinking, philosopher detective, Jack Laidlaw" is a fantastic character - I'm glad to have Rankin brought him to a new audience - especially me.
The "the hard-drinking, philosopher detective, Jack Laidlaw" is a fantastic character - I'm glad to have Rankin brought him to a new audience - especially me.
November 29, 2021
Hmmm
Pros: Lively writing in part. Some good characterisation. Interesting collaboration of two giants
But: a motley cast of too many names with minimal distinguishing features left me feeling less engaged than I’d hoped to be. I almost didn’t bother to finish it. Disappointing, over all.
Pros: Lively writing in part. Some good characterisation. Interesting collaboration of two giants
But: a motley cast of too many names with minimal distinguishing features left me feeling less engaged than I’d hoped to be. I almost didn’t bother to finish it. Disappointing, over all.
September 7, 2021
Pitch perfect.
July 7, 2023
„Legea nu este despre dreptate. E un sistem pe care l-am construit pentru că nu putem obține dreptate.„
Ce mi-a plăcut la carte a fost faptul că acțiunea este plasată în Scoția, romanele polițiste având de obicei ca decor cenușiul țărilor nordice sau ruralul britanic sau american. Avem multe descrieri scurte, dar dinamice, din interiorul barurilor scoțiene, în spatele unuia fiind descoperit trupul avocatului. Însă, să nu credeți că naratorul se lasă purtat de metafore și imagini extravagante, ci merge pe ruta directă, plină de acțiune.
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2023/...
Ce mi-a plăcut la carte a fost faptul că acțiunea este plasată în Scoția, romanele polițiste având de obicei ca decor cenușiul țărilor nordice sau ruralul britanic sau american. Avem multe descrieri scurte, dar dinamice, din interiorul barurilor scoțiene, în spatele unuia fiind descoperit trupul avocatului. Însă, să nu credeți că naratorul se lasă purtat de metafore și imagini extravagante, ci merge pe ruta directă, plină de acțiune.
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2023/...
May 8, 2023
A seamless combination of two top crime writers. It is hard to know who wrote what. I think William would be happy with Ian's writing. Pick it up folks
July 13, 2022
I wanted very much to love this novel - it just fell short for me.
Detective Constable Jack Laidlaw has been transferred yet again - his blunt approach, searching the streets for information have a tendency to rile his partners and coworkers, not to mention his personality.
Assigned to work a seasoned detective, they arrive at a local pub - the body of missing gangster lawyer Bobby Carter found in the alleyway. Many people wanted him dead - but who would make a move against his boss, Cam Colvin. Could it be their rival, John Rhodes?
The detectives are working hard to solve this case before a gang war breaks out; Cam and John also sending their men out to investigate.
Detective Constable Jack Laidlaw has been transferred yet again - his blunt approach, searching the streets for information have a tendency to rile his partners and coworkers, not to mention his personality.
Assigned to work a seasoned detective, they arrive at a local pub - the body of missing gangster lawyer Bobby Carter found in the alleyway. Many people wanted him dead - but who would make a move against his boss, Cam Colvin. Could it be their rival, John Rhodes?
The detectives are working hard to solve this case before a gang war breaks out; Cam and John also sending their men out to investigate.
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