Having read the original Laidlaw trilogy , I was thrilled to be able to read this prequel.
Warring gang bosses and mistrust and arguments in each of their camps follow the murder of a shady lawyer in a back street of Glasgow. Jack Laidlaw has his unique methods of investigation which are at odds with those of his police superiors. The novel gives us a mixture of the 70s Glasgow gangland scene and Laidlaw’s early career.
Ian Rankin has taken McIlvanney’s unfinished manuscript and created a perfect crime novel. He writes in McIlvanney’s style and gets to the heart of Laidlaw’s complex character. Snappy dialogue, brilliant characterisation and humour create a slick piece of writing.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC : it was very much appreciated.

As a fan of MacIvanney's Jack Laidlaw books and of Ian Rankin, I was worried my expectations of this book would be too high. I should not have feared - Rankin has penned a wonderful Laidlaw prequel, completing the original work so that there is no obvious change in tone or voice. The description of Glasgow in the early 70's was fascinating and showed how much it has changed since then, The younger Laidlaw clearly shows the roots of the character attributes that would mature in the later books. It was great!

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.

I've read plenty of tartan noir books,yet the father of them all,has somehow escaped me,until now.
I was drawn to this book because of Rankin,and I'm so glad he did that.
Laid law is a very interesting character,that I feel you might never really fully understand. The classic deep,dark and possibly dangerous to know.
He gets in there,and he gets results his own way.
Whilst others faff about around him,he's working out the hows and whys without really bothering to show up at all for briefings and tasks.
Cracking book.

Glasgow in the 1970s.

Bobby Carter is a lawyer who works for the wrong people. And when his body is found in a back alley, it look as though it will be the catalyst for gangland turf warfare.

DC Jack Laidlaw can smell trouble instinctively. But can his less than orthodox operational methods and his reputation for not being a team player get to the truth before the city explodes?

Just brilliant