Laidlaw (Laidlaw 1)

William Mcilvanney Press Reviews

'Glittering' -- Val McDermid

'The Laidlaw books are like fine malt whisky - the pure distilled essence of Scottish crime writing' -- Peter May

'Fastest, first and best, Laidlaw is the melancholy heir to Marlowe. Reads like a breathless scalpel cut through the bloody heart of a city' -- Denise Mina

'A crime trilogy so searing it will burn forever into your memory. McIlvanney is the original Scottish criminal mastermind' -- Christopher Brookmyre

'It's doubtful I would be a crime writer without the influence of McIlvanney's Laidlaw. Here was a literary novelist turning his hand to the urban, contemporary crime novel and proving that the form could tackle big moral concerns and social issues' -- Ian Rankin

'The first of Laidlaw's investigations sets a stunningly high standard ... A world apart from other examples of the genre' Guardian

'The Laidlaw books are not just great crime novels, they are important ones. McIlvanney proved that crime writing could have both perfect style and huge ambition. Most of us writing crime fiction today are standing on the shoulders of giants. McIlvanney is one such giant' -- Mark Billingham

'McIlvanney is the razor king of Scottish crime writing, carving out crackling prose and pounding storylines. His Laidlaw is an enduring hero with the dry wit and insight to make other literary detectives seem two-dimensional' -- Gordon Ferris

'William McIlvanney paints a world of harsh reality, but does so in language that is strangely beautiful and hauntingly poetic. His work defies pigeonholing in any genre: this is simply great writing from a master of his craft' -- Craig Russell

'Deeply understood people, fine descriptive writing' The Times

'In his compelling novel, LAIDLAW, McIlvanney lays bare the soul of Glasgow, capturing every nuance of its many voices' -- Alex Gray