An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton (full review)

Today I am thrilled to be sharing my full review of An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton, published yesterday by Canelo. Some of you may have seen my teaser review ten days ago, and if you search Douglas's name on the blog, you'll find reviews of many of his other books. But back to this one. Huge thanks to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Tours for inviting me on to the blog tour and to the publisher for my review copy. I've since bought my own handsome hardback.

 

The Blurb

1715. Jonas Flynt, ex-soldier and reluctant member of the Company of Rogues, a shady intelligence group run by ruthless spymaster Nathaniel Charters, is ordered to recover a missing document. Its contents could prove devastating in the wrong hands.

On her deathbed, the late Queen Anne may have promised the nation to her half-brother James, the Old Pretender, rather than the new king, George I. But the will has been lost. It may decide the fate of the nation.

The crown must recover it at all costs.

The trail takes Jonas from the dark and dangerous streets of London to an Edinburgh in chaos. He soon realises there are others on the hunt, and becomes embroiled in a long overdue family reunion, a jail break and a brutal street riot.

When secrets finally come to light, about the crown and about his own past, Jonas will learn that some truths, once discovered, can never be untold…

An atmospheric and utterly compelling blend of crime, history and thriller, to delight fans of SJ Parris, Andrew Taylor and CJ Sansom.

My Review

Just after I finished reading An Honourable Thief last month I posted the following on social media: 'Oh. My. Days. You are in for such a treat! This book has a bit of everything - history, crime, adventure, heroes, villains, muskets, swords and even a mysterious sexy woman! Will have more to say. I LOVED IT!!!' Whilst there are muskets in the book, I'd actually meant pistols, but had stayed up very, very late finishing the book and was tired! Anyway, I almost feel that I could just leave that as my review. Tells you all you need to know, right? No? You want more? OK, I'll tell you a wee bit more.

It is 1715. Queen Anne has just died and rumours abound of a secret letter to her half brother, James Stuart, making him the successor to the throne. The Jacobites feel this would be in their favour, a point of view not shared by the government who are desperate to ensure the document, should it exist, doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Particularly in light of the Jacobite rebellion building in Scotland. Jonas Flynt, a reluctant member of Colonel Charters' Company of Rogues, is tasked with retrieving it. He soon discovers he's not the only person searching for the letter, coming into contact more than once with the attractive, mysterious Madame de Fontaine. And the trail takes him back north to Edinburgh and to the family and friends he left years ago. Returning home means he has to face some hard truths... whilst also trying to complete the job at hand.

Firstly, I have to say how much I learned reading this book. Yes, it's a work of fiction, but it's rooted in real history, real events are unfolding which frame the story, and Skelton knows his stuff. My history knowledge generally is very weak and these were events I knew shamefully little about. Well, now I know more. Partly from what's in the book and partly because it sparked my interest to look into it a wee bit further. It's peppered throughout with historical words and phrases, and some are brilliantly descriptive.

Jonas Flynt is an interesting, intriguing character. Not afraid to steal or cheat, he also has a strong sense of what is right. Whilst extremely adept at fighting, it's not something He enjoys, it's not done for pleasure. He feels things deeply. And he's a tortured soul, something that Skelton explores to great effect over the course of the novel. Whilst generally controlled with his emotions, we sometimes see a glimpse of them escaping, but only in front of the right people. I found his homecoming to Edinburgh heartwarming and sad, in equal measure. He can be very humorous and has the best names for his pistols! But, whilst he is undoubtedly the central character in this story, he is supported by a large, colourful supporting company with each character beautifully described. Standouts for me were Cassie and Rab.

The scene setting is incredible. The streets in both London and Edinburgh are so vividly described. And the smells... oh my goodness! I don't have a sense of smell but even I could detect the aroma! We are totally transported back to the 18th century - the outfits, the ale houses, style of dress, the way people carry themselves, speech, attitudes to and expectations of women, attitudes to people of colour, everything. It's marvellous and immersive. The backdrop to the story is the Jacobite rising following the unification of England and Scotland so politics gets a fair airing here. And, it would seem, that we haven't moved on much since 1715 - I certainly recognised a lot of the feelings and anger expressed, I see it around me every day. And politicians and governments haven't got any better since then either.

It's beautifully written, Skelton has a way with words. He talks of nights of 'sup and sin' and mists that swirl like 'sinuous creatures'. I want to visit The Black Bear 'prone to rowdiness, drunkenness and licentiousness' - sounds just my kind of place! And there are a few fantastic, colourful insults, my favourite coming from a brothel madam - I'll leave you the joy of discovering it.

The storyline itself has everything you could ask for - part crime story, part spy thriller and part epic adventure. There's politics and plenty of fighting, secrets, lies and betrayal. A public hanging and a visit to the battlefield at Sheriffmuir. And a man coming home, facing family and friends for the first time in years. It's not an easy homecoming and there were moments my heart ached for Jonas and one that brought tears to my eyes.

I don't know if this review even makes sense, I just wanted to share some of my love for the book. I haven't read all of Douglas's books but I think this is the eighth I have read and I'm pretty sure this is my favourite so far. Different from his other stuff, this has it all. Will easily be one of my books of this year.


The Author

Douglas Skelton has published 12 non fiction books and 12 crime thrillers. He has been a bank clerk, tax officer, shelf stacker, meat porter, taxi driver (for two days), wine waiter (for two hours), reporter, investigator and editor.

His first thriller Blood City was published in 2013. The gritty thriller was the first in a quartet set on the tough streets of Glasgow from 1980 onwards. It was followed by Crow Bait, Devil's Knock and finally Open Wounds, which was longlisted for the first McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year in 2016.

His two Dominic Queste thrillers, The Dead Don't Boogie and Tag - You're Dead lightened the tone but didn't skimp on thrills.

He followed these with his New York-set chase thriller The Janus Run in 2018.

Thunder Bay, a dark and atmospheric tale of secrets, lies and murder on a Scottish island, was published to great acclaim by Polygon in 2019. It was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for 2019. This was followed by The Blood is Still in 2020 and A Rattle of Bones in 2021, which was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for 2022. The fourth in the series, Where Demons Hide, was released earlier this year.

An Honourable Thief is his 12th novel and the first in the Company of Rogues series featuring Jonas Flynt. 

Douglas is often recruited by documentary makers to contribute to true crime shows on TV and radio and is a regular on the crime writing festival circuit.

He takes part in comedy shows with other crime writers. To date he has written three Carry on Sleuthing plays in which he also appears along with Caro Ramsay, Michael J. Malone, Theresa Talbot, Pat Young and Lucy Cameron, with occasional guests Alex Gray, Lin Anderson and Neil Broadfoot.

He is also one quarter of Four Blokes in search of a Plot, along with Gordon Brown, Mark Leggatt and Neil Broadfoot. This is a fun show in which they invited the audience to give them a murder weapon and a protagonist. They then take it in turns to create a crime story (usually developing into something wild and wacky) while also answering audience queries about the craft.

His one man event, You the Jury, invites audiences to deliver verdicts on real life but heavily disguised cases from around the world. In 2019 the format was extended into a court drama, thanks to the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland, within Stirling Sheriff Court played to three sell-out houses during the Bloody Scotland festival.

He is, with bestselling author Denzil Meyrick, a regular on the SBOOKS podcast.

Any Day Now by Gordon J Brown

I'm delighted to share my review today of Any Day Now by Gordon J Brown, aka Gordon Brown (no, not that one), aka Morgan Cry. Published on 8th September by Red Dog Press, this is a bit of a departure for Gordon, moving away from crime fiction. Big thanks to Sean at Red Dog for inviting me and for my review copy. Looking forward to buying my physical copy soon!

The Blurb

FATE HINGES ON THE CHOICES WE MAKE

It’s 1982 and sixteen-year-old Catherine Day has been abandoned for good by her mother in their Glasgow home. Alone, in trouble, and desperate for money, Catherine is quickly ensnared by local criminals. In an attempt to escape a life of crime, she joins a local rock band.

She battles hard to succeed in the fickle music world, aided by a mysterious, and ever-present guardian angel – a man who has connections to her missing mother, her unknown father, and who, it transpires, is hiding a secret about her family and the Cold War that could change Catherine’s life forever.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine meets Daisy Jones and The Six in this heart-warming, heart-breaking coming-of-age story filled with humour and pathos.

Purchase Link

https://www.reddogpress.co.uk/product-page/any-day-now


My Review

Regular readers will know I love my crime fiction, and I really enjoyed Gordon's previous two books, written as Morgan Cry, Thirty-One Bones and Six Wounds. But occasionally it's nice to step away from crime fiction which is what I (and Gordon, of course) have done here, stepping into the world of another of Brown 's passions - music. 

We're transported back to the 1980s where teenager Catherine has been abandoned by her unreliable mother. She comes home to an empty, dark house, no power, no food, no money and no idea where her mum has gone. Desperate for money, and falls in with the wrong types, but doesn't really have the heart for a life of crime. However it's not always easy to get away from it. She struggles for a while, finding solace in alcohol but finds that she can sing and joins a local band. After a personnel change, they have the possibility of making it big. As long as Catherine doesn't sabotage their chances before they begin. 

Catherine is easy to relate to - we were all young once. And if I think really, really hard, I can almost remember being sixteen! The trials and tribulations at school (and Catherine has plenty of these! One particular confrontation is described brilliantly), the waiting for exam results, the Saturday/after school job. Happily though I had a stable home life and enough money to get by, which poor Catherine doesn't. And when her mum leaves her, all Catherine wants to know is where she is. An understandable need that grows over the years. I loved the description of the hair salon she works in, so easy to picture, and the pecking order of the punters there. Brilliant. The description of the dole office brought back a few memories and The conversation between Isobel and Billy in the queue cracked me up. I changed my opinion of them as the book went on, right enough. 

There is a lot of waiting in the book and I love how Gordon describes all the waits. I think many of us can relate to The Sleep Wait: 'The wait that gets longer the less you want it to. The wait that provides all The time your head needs to think about all the things you don't want to think about.' He also sums up Glasgow in a sentence: 'Ask a question, get a tale.' Yup. Some beautiful descriptive writing such as when Catherine is having some negative thoughts '....unfurl in my head like cheap tablecloths.' Loved that. 

It was brilliant to read about a band trying to make it big in that era, which was The time I was growing up. Love the wee peek into the music world. And how easy it is not to make it. 

But this is a story about friends, strangers, strangers who become friends but ultimately about the decisions and choices we ourselves make. How easy it might be to change our lives, if only we could see it, if only we c an be brave, if only we can let go of the past, or whatever. And it's about having the right people around us, the ones who care, the ones who support us, the ones who lift us up, the ones who cheer for us. Any Day Now is a bittersweet coming of age story that is about all of these things but it's also a mystery with a guardian angel and a possible link to a Russian empress. There are laugh out loud moments, and moments of heartbreak on this journey of discovery. Really enjoyed it, great to read something a bit different. 

The Author

Gordon Brown has eight crime and thriller books published to date, along with a novella and a number of short stories.

Gordon also helped found Bloody Scotland, Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival (see www.bloodyscotland.com), is a DJ on local radio (www.pulseonair.co.uk) and runs a strategic planning consultancy. He lives in Scotland and is married with two children.

In a former life Gordon delivered pizzas in Toronto, sold non-alcoholic beer in the Middle East, launched a creativity training business, floated a high tech company on the London Stock Exchange, compered the main stage at a two-day music festival and was once booed by 49,000 people while on the pitch at a major football Cup Final.

An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton - Teaser Review

Hey folks, it's been a while, hasn't it? Over six weeks, I think. I'm so sorry if you've been waiting for a new post to drop in your inbox. I didn't intend to take such a long break but I hit a bit of a wall early in August and my body just said 'Nope. No more'. I needed to stop. So I did. It's been a strange few weeks - slept a lot, rested a lot, watched more TV than usual, crocheted and read just a little. And I'm only just, slowly, getting back into things. The blog will be quieter than usual until at least the end of the year - partly because of where I am mentally and emotionally and partly because of a big holiday in October and November. But I will be around.

Right, so that's housekeeping dealt with, let's get to the important stuff! In under two weeks, on 22nd September, the absolute beauty that is An Honourable Thief, the new historical crime thriller from Douglas Skelton, is published by Canelo. I was lucky enough to receive an early proof copy, it was one of the few books I read last month and the day after publication I'll be sharing my full review as part of the blog tour. But it's such a fabulous book and I'm so excited for it, I wanted to tell you a wee bit about it now. Because I'm a wee tease! And so you can get your pre-order sorted!

The Blurb

1715. Jonas Flynt, ex-soldier and reluctant member of the Company of Rogues, a shady intelligence group run by ruthless spymaster Nathaniel Charters, is ordered to recover a missing document. Its contents could prove devastating in the wrong hands.

On her deathbed, the late Queen Anne may have promised the nation to her half-brother James, the Old Pretender, rather than the new king, George I. But the will has been lost. It may decide the fate of the nation.

The crown must recover it at all costs.

The trail takes Jonas from the dark and dangerous streets of London to an Edinburgh in chaos. He soon realises there are others on the hunt, and becomes embroiled in a long overdue family reunion, a jail break and a brutal street riot.

When secrets finally come to light, about the crown and about his own past, Jonas will learn that some truths, once discovered, can never be untold…

An atmospheric and utterly compelling blend of crime, history and thriller, to delight fans of SJ Parris, Andrew Taylor and CJ Sansom.

My Mini (Teaser) Review

I always said historical crime wasn't my bag, but the more of it I read, the more I enjoy, and An Honourable Thief is up there amongst my favourites. My history knowledge generally is very poor and I knew nothing of UK history in the early eighteenth century. I'm happy to say, having read this book, I now know a good deal more. Yes, it's a work of fiction but it's rooted in real history.

Jonas Flynt is an interesting, intriguing character. Not afraid to do wrong to achieve his aim he also has a strong sense of what is right. He feels things deeply. And he's a tortured soul, something that Skelton explores to great effect over the course of the novel. Whilst generally controlled with his emotions, we sometimes see a glimpse of them escaping, but only in front of the right people. Oh, and he has the best names for his pistols!

The scene setting is incredible. The streets in both London and Edinburgh are vividly described. And the smells... oh my goodness! We are totally transported back to the 18th century - the outfits, the ale houses, style of dress, speech, attitudes, everything. It's marvellous and immersive.

The storyline itself has everything you could ask for - part crime story, part spy thriller and part epic adventure. There's politics and fighting, secrets and lies. And it's also the tale of a man coming home, facing family and friends for the first time in years, and there were moments my heart ached for him. Beautifully written, I loved it!

My full review will be on 23rd September together with a wee bit about author Douglas Skelton. In the meantime, if you are in the area he is appearing this coming Saturday afternoon as part of the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival (digital tickets are available) and in Aberdeen on 22nd September. Check his social media for details. And I'll see you back here on 23rd! Happy reading!

The Daves Next Door by Will Carver

Today is my last tour stop of what has been a busy reading and reviewing month, for me anyway. But I'm going out with a bang! Today it's the turn of The Daves Next Door by Will Carver. Now, having read a few of Will's previous books I knew it was probably going to be a mind blowing read and... it was! Big thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inviting me on the tour and to publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

A disillusioned nurse suddenly learns how to care.

An injured young sportsman wakes up to find that he can see only in black and white.

A desperate old widower takes too many pills and believes that two angels have arrived to usher him through purgatory.

Two agoraphobic men called Dave share the symptoms of a brain tumour, and frequently waken their neighbour with their ongoing rows.

Separate lives, running in parallel, destined to collide and then explode. Like the suicide bomber, riding the Circle Line, day after day, waiting for the right time to detonate, waiting for answers to his questions: Am I God? Am I dead? Will I blow up this train?

Shocking, intensely emotive and wildly original, Will Carver’s The Daves Next Door is an explosive existential thriller and a piercing examination of what it means to be human … or not. 

My Review

Having read four of Will Carver's previous books, beginning with the outstanding Nothing Important Happened Today at the end of 2019, as well as being mind blowing and unpredictable, as mentioned above, they have been nigh on impossible to review! Well, again, this one is no different. I honestly have no idea were to start. 

A summary, I'll start with a summary! A small group of strangers, with no connection, will find themselves inextricably linked. Saul, mourning a lost love and attempting suicide, the sportsman - we never know his name or his sport, Vashti, a jaded nurse who finds herself beginning to care again, the Daves of the title and our narrator, who might be God or a terrorist or just simply our narrator. Or all three. We meet each of them, and a small cast of supporting characters, over the course of a few days, culminating in life changing events for all of them. 

The chapters are short and sharp, keeping things rattling along. They are written in the present tense, giving a feeling of immediacy, and in the third person, except those from the point of view of Narrator/God/Terrorist, which are in the second person, addressing the reader directly. I've seen this in the author's earlier books too and it is very effective. Sometimes, it's quite aggressive. Here, our Narrator/God/Terrorist asks constant questions, forcing the reader to really think. About the small stuff - Diagnosis Murder gets a mention, the huge subjects and questions about the story so far. 

All the characters are interesting and incredibly well written. Standouts would be Saul, heartbroken after the death of his wife and confused by the angels he finds in his home and Vashti, tired and worn down by her work, as are many of her colleagues and, of course, as are so many of our actual NHS workers. And a shout out for the Daves, the most inspired, in my opinion, of this collection of creations. 

The Daves Next Door is brilliantly written - 'Time passes. Haemophilic seconds bleeding furiously into seconds that feel like weeks...', darkly 

comic in places and full of fascinating characters. It discusses big issues - racism, religion, radicalisation, apathy, addiction to social media, lack of engagement with the real world, what it is to feel, what it is to be human. It is not an easy, relaxing read. It questions, shocks, confronts and challenges. And it's absolutely worth the effort. 


The Author

Will Carver is the international bestselling author of the January David series. He spent his early years in Germany, but returned to the UK at age eleven, when his sporting career took off. He turned down a professional rugby contract to study theatre and television at King Alfred’s, Winchester, where he set up a successful theatre company. He currently runs his own fitness and nutrition company, and lives in Reading with his two children. Will’s most recent title, prior to this one, published by Orenda Books, The Beresford came out last July. His previous title, Hinton Hollow Death Trip, was longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize, while Nothing Important Happened Today was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Good Samaritans was book of the year in the Guardian, Telegraph and Daily Express, and hit number one on the ebook charts.

Dead Money by Keith Nixon

Today I'm shining my spotlight on Dead Money, the second book in the DI  Jonah Pennance, by Keith Nixon. You can read my review of the first in the series, Blood Sentence, here, and if you search under Keith's name on the blog you'll find reviews of many of his earlier books too. My thanks to Zoe at Zooloo's Book Tours for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

 

The Blurb

With a reputation for solving bizarre murders Detective Inspector Jonah Pennance, recently transferred to the National Crime Agency, is brought in to investigate the mysterious death of celebrity fund manager, Grady Carnegie – choked to death, then his body arranged and ready for a wake.

Then a second corpse turns up under identical circumstances – that of washed-up investigative reporter, Stan Thewlis. But how are the two men connected?

Soon, Pennance’s partner, Sergeant Simone Smithson, comes under suspicion for the deaths – the evidence seems overwhelming. To save her Pennance must determine what role the shadowy organisation Blackthorn plays and who is in the background, pulling all the strings…


Buy Link - https://geni.us/AIBnWQ

My Review

DI Jonah Pennance is new to the National Crime Agency and immediately sent to work with the City of London police force looking into a bizarre death. And he soon crosses paths with his old colleague Simone Smithson. As the investigation develops and evidence mounts against Simone for involvement in the crime, Pennance is determined to prove her innocence...  

Pennance is a good, stand up guy - one you can always see coming as he stands taller than everybody else! He's an imposing presence but the police teams he's working with soon learn he's worth keeping on their side. The investigation is deep and multi-layered and delves into the underside of the corporate world. Keith Nixon has clearly done his research for this book. It's packed with fascinating information about post mortems, religious practices, economics, NFTs and crypto currency. It's all really interesting stuff but I did feel at times there was a bit too much information as it took away from the pace of the story. But things really pick up towards the end and get very exciting and tense. 

Dead Money is a fascinating look at bizarre deaths and corporate crime. It's a little detail heavy but tense in the latter half and overall a good read. Looking forward to the next one.

The Author

Keith Nixon is the best-selling author of sixteen novels and one million words in print, including the Margate based Solomon Gray series of over 250,000 copies in circulation and reached no.1 on Amazon in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

Keith lived near the gritty seaside town of Margate, where many of his novels are based, for 17 years before relocating to the edge of the Peak District with his family where he lives today. Keith works in a senior sales role within a high-tech industry and has regularly travelled all over the globe.

His novels are published by Gladius Press and Bastei Lubbe (German)


Author Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keithnixonauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keith_nixon/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/knntom
Website: www.keithnixon.co.uk

Deep Water by Emma Bamford

We're heading for even warmer weather in today's blog tour stop but there are stormy times ahead. I'm pleased to share my book review of Deep Waters by Emma Bamford. Many thanks to Tracy Fenton on behalf of Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for my invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

The dark side of paradise is exposed when a terrified couple reveals their daunting experience on a remote island to their rescuers - only to realize they’re still in the grips of the island’s secrets - in this intense and startling debut. When a Navy vessel comes across a yacht in distress in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean, Captain Danial Tengku orders his ship to rush to its aid. On board the yacht is a British couple: a horribly injured man, Jake, and his traumatized wife, Virginie, who breathlessly confesses, ‘It’s all my fault. I killed them’.

Trembling with fear, she reveals their shocking story to Danial. Months earlier, the couple had spent all their savings on a yacht, full of excitement for exploring the high seas and exotic lands together. Jake and Virginie start at the busy harbours of Malaysia and, through word of mouth, they learn about a tiny, isolated island full of unspoiled beaches. When they arrive, they discover they are not the only visitors and quickly become entangled with a motley crew of expat sailors. Soon, Jake and Virginie’s adventurous dream turns into a terrifying nightmare.

Now, it’s up to Danial to determine just how much truth there is in Virginie’s alarming tale. But when his crew make a shocking discovery, he realizes that if he doesn’t act soon, they could all fall under the dark spell of the island.

My Review

Captain Daniel Tengku rescues Virginie and her badly injured husband Jake from their yacht. Except it's not their yacht. It is some time before Virginie begins to make sense and then we are taken back with her to the beginning of their adventure and all that happens to bring us to this point. And it's all because they decided to visit Amarante, a beautiful, deserted island they have heard about. When they arrive there they find two boats already moored there and another one soon arrives. Things are great for a wee while for this wee group. Until they're not. 

I don't have sea legs. I love the idea of selling up and buying a yacht, it all seems very glamorous, but it wouldn't be for me. I wouldn't like the isolation eother. But bravo to Virginie and Jake who do it. Virginie's recollections go back to them arriving in the Malaysian town of Port Brown full of excitement to collect, fix up and paint their new boat. I enjoyed learning a little about boats and sailing and a little about ocean going superstitions. Virginie and Jake are an engaging couple and I liked being a fly on the wall as they begin their new life. Most of the story happens on the yacht or on Amarante so it has a claustrophobic feel to it. And the folk they meet in the island are a motley crew, very different personalities, hailing from the US, Australia, Brazil and Mozambique. I have a wee soft spot for Roly. And our naval captain, Danial, is a lovely character. 

I can't really say much about the plot without spoilers but it's great. Tense too. I found myself dying to know what on earth has happened to the couple. And as we learn the course of events there are certainly some shocks on the way. I actually stayed up until 3.45am to finish this! And I'm not sure I can give a better recommendation than that. Deep Water is well written, atmospheric and suspenseful with engaging characters. Yup, enjoyed it. Now I'm away to catch up on lost sleep! 

The Author

Emma Bamford, a freelance journalist, is working on an MA in prose fiction at University of East Anglia, UK. She is the author of Deep Water and the memoirs Casting Off and Untie the Lines. Find out more at EmmaBamford.com.

The Dark Remains by William McIlvanney & Ian Rankin

I'm delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for this very special book on its paperback release. The Dark Remains was begun by William McIlvanney before his death and has now been finished by Ian Rankin. Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton on behalf of Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the invitation. I read from my own purchased copy.

The Blurb

Two crime-writing legends join forces for the first ever case of DI Laidlaw: the original gritty Glasgow detective who inspired an entire genre

William McIlvanney’s Laidlaw trilogy changed the face of crime fiction in the 1970s and 1980s, inspiring an entire generation of crime writers including Mark Billiangham, Val McDermid, Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre – and Ian Rankin.

When McIlvanney died in 2015, he left half a handwritten manuscript of Laidlaw’s first case – his first new novel in 25 years. Now, Ian Rankin is back to finish what McIlvanney started.

In The Dark Remains, these two iconic authors bring to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow, and the relentless quest for truth.

'[William McIlvanney] kicked the door open so the likes of Ian Rankin,
Denise Mina and me could sneak through behind him' - Val McDermid

With his iconic Laidlaw trilogy, McIlvanney launched a new genre – introducing to the world the original Glasgow detective with a knowledge of the streets, and an equal love of alcohol and philosophy.

McIlvanney’s books fell out of print in the 1990s, and he believed himself forgotten; it was only when they were republished in 2013 to huge acclaim, that he realised the esteem in which he was held by his fellow writers. He was inspired to start writing again and began The Dark Remains – left unfinished on his death in 2015, and which Ian Rankin has now completed.

My Review

This was quite a poignant read. I didn't come to the Scottish Crime scene until after the death of William McIlvanney and have only read the first of his Laidlaw trilogy. But I know what an inspiration he was to many successful Scottish crime writers today. I have heard Ian Rankin speak a couple of times about the writing of this book - the pages and pages of hand written notes forming the basis of The Dark Remains and the responsibility Rankin felt to keep the tone right, make sure that it was still a William McIlvanney book, as a long time fan and friend. 

It's 1972 Glasgow. A dodgy lawyer is found dead and the police need to solve the crime before a gang war breaks out across the city. The Dark Remains is the prequel to the Laidlaw trilogy and introduces us to the newest member of the Glasgow Crime Squad, DC Jack Laidlaw. A cop good at the job but definitely not a team player. Laidlaw likes to work the streets and has no time for playing nice with his colleagues. 

 

Jack Laidlaw is a strong character. He's married with kids but doesn't seem particularly suited to it. He feels older than he is to me, I think because of the way he speaks. He reads a lot of philosophy and the like and speaks accordingly - not someone who fits in. He's short with his colleagues, downright rude to some of them, particularly his superior, which is entertaining. As is watching DI Milligan take it. The investigation sees Laidlaw ignore commands he feels are a waste of time and follow his own inquiries. He understands people, I think. 

The story is well written and satisfying, focusing a lot on the personalities involved. We are fully immersed in the 70s, cigarette smoke and whisky. It's very atmospheric and evocative. But what is really magic is that half the book was written by one very talented writer and finished by another years later. Half written scenes and conversations completed, sections written from original notes. And it's impossible to tell who wrote what. In fact, at one of events I mentioned above, Ian Rankin read a section from the book and asked the audience to guess which bits he wrote and which were written by McIlvanney. The majority of us got them the wrong way round! I had my copy of Laidlaw to hand when I was ready this and referred to it several times while reading this one, and the tone in the new one is the same, just so. For me, The Last Remains is a triumph and in keeping with the original books.  

The Authors

William McIlvanney is the author of the award-winning Laidlaw trilogy, featuring Glasgow’s original maverick detective. He died in December 2015.

Both Laidlaw and The Papers of Tony Veitch gained Silver Daggers from the Crime Writers’ Association, while the third in the series, Strange Loyalties, won the Herald’s People’s Prize.

The McIlvanney Prize, named in his honour in 2016, is awarded annually for the best Scottish crime novel of the year.

Ian Rankin is the number one bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus series. The Rebus books have been translated into thirty-six languages and are bestsellers worldwide.

He is the recipient of four Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards, including the prestigious Diamond Dagger, and in 2002 he received an OBE for services to literature and in 2022 he was knighted. He lives in Edinburgh. You can find out more about Ian's work on his website ianrankin.net and he's also on Twitter @beathhigh.