notbenhoy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
varunob's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.75
allispark's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jay9813's review against another edition
4.0
I love that McIlvanney was brave enough to say what others wouldn't. A great read, even if you don't usually read crime/detective novels.
mt1's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cooloolat's review against another edition
4.0
I would like to thank William McIlvanney, Canongate and NetGalley for a copy of this book and a chance to review Laidlaw.
This is a republication of the first book in the Jack Laidlaw series. Its great crime fiction set in Glasgow in the 1970s it is dark with Laidlaw using unorthodox methods to solve the crime. I read this on holidays, it’s a good read and I will read the following two books in the series. Definitely recommend to lovers of crime fiction.
This is a republication of the first book in the Jack Laidlaw series. Its great crime fiction set in Glasgow in the 1970s it is dark with Laidlaw using unorthodox methods to solve the crime. I read this on holidays, it’s a good read and I will read the following two books in the series. Definitely recommend to lovers of crime fiction.
myrdyr's review against another edition
2.0
I was underwhelmed. On the jacket of the version I borrowed, there are positive comments from Val McDermid, Denise Mina, Ian Rankin, Peter May, and Mark Billingham - all authors I really enjoy, and the book won the CWA Silver Dagger, but I just don't get all the hype. I wanted to stop reading it repeatedly, but I persevered thinking that it had to get better to justify the positivity surrounding it. Unfortunately, my commitment did not pay off. Had it been a longer book, I really don't know if I would have seen it through to the end. I won't bother with others from the McIlvanney.