(reviewed by JD Jung)
October 1972, Glasgow –Detective constable Jack Laidlaw is reassigned to the Glasgow crime squad. Though he has a sixth sense on what is happening on the streets, the higher ups feel he needs “handling”, as he carries a reputation of going rogue. Hence, he is assigned to Detective Sergeant Bob Lilley.
When commercial attorney Bobby Carter is found stabbed to death, and his body is found on enemy turf, they realize that they can utilize Laidlaw’s instincts. Carter was known for unscrupulous practices, such as laundering money and keeping compromising secrets. More importantly he was the right-hand man of crime boss Cal Colvin.
Yes, the police must find the killer, but worse, this could lead to an all-out gang war. Colvin could be out for revenge, but then again could it be just to cover up his own actions? Did he have a thing for Bobby’s beautiful wife, Monica?
As Laidlaw and Lilley get deeper into this, more potential suspects come to light as we learn more history. Fidelity wasn’t one of Bobby’s strong suits and so a jealous wife, a girlfriend, or even an angry ex-footballer could be suspect.
Though Laidlaw and Lilley work well together, they are opposites. Whereas Laidlaw prefers to sleep at a hotel closer to work than to be at home with his wife and young children, Lilley is a loyal family man.
The Dark Remains is the prequel to William McIlvanney’s popular Laidlaw book series. When he died in 2015, he left an incomplete manuscript of this prequel. Best-selling crime author Ian Rankin then finished what McIlvanney, who is considered the father of Tartan Noir, had started.
I admit that this is the only book that I have read in the series. Though the feel and structure of this novel is like other Scottish and Irish crime thrillers that I have read, this still kept me totally engaged. We get a feel of working-class Glasgow, complete with the slang in this gritty thriller.
The supporting characters are quirky and intriguing, while we learn just enough about Laidlaw’s personal life to entice us to read more from the series. Now I want to discover more about his character and what makes him tick.
That and the fact that I enjoyed this particular prequel is what is tempting me to read more novels with Jack Laidlaw.
