McIlvanney once again sets out on the dark side of Glasgow with Detective Jack Laidlaw. "The wine he gave me winsy wine" were the final words of Eck Adamson to Laidlaw, his only friend. Laidlaw is convinced the Eck was murdered and that an elusive young student, Tony Veitch, holds the key to the mystery.
--This text refers to the
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It's been a long time since Laidlaw (1977), McIlvanney's memorable Glasgow-cop debut, with high expectations for a sequel. But, though much of the original grit and dialect and vivid portraiture is on display here, this is a largely disappointing follow-up - without the focus or taut pace of its predecessor. This time loner Jack Laidlaw starts out by investigating the death of a poisoned old tramp, whose deathbed clues are two names: Paddy Collins; Lynsey Farren. And Laidlaw soon identifies Collins as a recently killed underworld type, Fatten as a slumming rich girl who's been moving from lover to lover among Glasgow's top low-lifes, with sporadic returns to yet another lover: Tony Veitch, a Glasgow student with a rich father, radical leanings, dangerous pals. . . and unknown recent whereabouts. Laidlaw finds him dead, too, of course, and eventually nabs his killer (a particularly undramatic revelation). But while Laidlaw's sleuthings among high and low are generally absorbing, with a few riveting vignettes, much of the novel follows related subplots among the Glasgow mobsters: a revenge scheme by Paddy Collins' brother-in-law; the rovings of a thug who was planning to join the late Paddy in a blackmail plot against Veitch. And, especially since the Glaswegian argot is occasionally impenetrable, these non-Laidlaw sequences make things often slow, sometimes murky. Not on the Laidlaw level, then, though still rich in grim city backgrounds and roughly eloquent atmosphere. (Kirkus Reviews )
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
William McIlvanney (born in November 25, 1936¹ in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland) is a writer of crime stories, novels, and poetry. McIlvanney is a champion of gritty yet poetic literature; his works Laidlaw, The Papers of Tony Veitch, and Walking Wounded are all known for their portrayal of Glasgow in the 1970s.
Works (among others)
Works (among others)
- Remedy is None - 1967
- A Gift from Nessus - 1968
- The Longships in Harbour - 1970 (poetry)
- Docherty - 1975
- Laidlaw - 1977
- The Papers of Tony Veitch - 1983
- These Words: Weddings and After - 1984
- The Big Man - 1985
- In Through the Head - 1988
- Walking Wounded - 1989 (short stories)
- Shades of Grey – Glasgow 1956-1987 - 1990
- Strange Loyalties - 1991
- Surviving the Shipwreck - 1991
- The Kiln - 1996'
- Weekend - 2006'
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By G. Mcalear
Format:Paperback
In this, the second book featuring Detective Inspector Jack Laidlaw, he is summoned to the hospital bed of Eck Adamson, a dying alcoholic vagrant, and once again he is travelling the mean streets of Glasgow, Scotland. In this world, titled ladies, down-and-outs and middle class students mingle with the hard men of the Glasgow underworld. Alliances shift and change as Laidlaw tries to find Tony Veitch, a young student who may have killed the vagrant and a criminal. There don't seem to be any heroes in this story, not even Laidlaw himself, who is laid even more bare by the perceptions of Harkness, his partner, than in the first book. But a hero does emerge; in Laidlaw's view, and in McIlvanney's, the real heroes are working class middle aged to elderly women, the ones who hold family and home together, in the face of overwhelming change and outside pressures. John Steinbeck recognised these heroes and has Ma Joad in 'Grapes of Wrath.' McIlvanney's personification of these heroes is Jinty Adamson, grieving for her dead brother, but who had been his family, his rock on whom he could depend during his disparate life. In many ways a rehashing of 'Laidlaw' but an engrossing read, and it's literary subtleties transcend the police procedural plot.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Continuing travels
Mar 15 2001
By G. Mcalear
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
In this, the second book featuring Detective Inspector Jack Laidlaw, he is summoned to the hospital bed of Eck Adamson, a dying alcoholic vagrant, and once again he is travelling the mean streets of Glasgow, Scotland. In this world, titled ladies, down-and-outs and middle class students mingle with the hard men of the Glasgow underworld. Alliances shift and change as Laidlaw tries to find Tony Veitch, a young student who may have killed the vagrant and a criminal. There don't seem to be any heroes in this story, not even Laidlaw himself, who is laid even more bare by the perceptions of Harkness, his partner, than in the first book. But a hero does emerge; in Laidlaw's view, and in McIlvanney's, the real heroes are working class middle aged to elderly women, the ones who hold family and home together, in the face of overwhelming change and outside pressures. John Steinbeck recognised these heroes and has Ma Joad in 'Grapes of Wrath.' McIlvanney's personification of these heroes is Jinty Adamson, grieving for her dead brother, but who had been his family, his rock on whom he could depend during his disparate life. In many ways a rehashing of 'Laidlaw' but an engrossing read, and it's literary subtleties transcend the police procedural plot.
3.0 out of 5 stars
McIlvanney's Improving Effort.
Mar 31 2010
By Gregory J. Obrzut
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I decided to read the McIlvanney crime trilogy (Laidlaw, Veitch, Strange Loyalties) based on the very positive reviews I found on Amazon. By doing so, one can easily see the progression in McIlvanney's writing style and character development. With each novel the main character becomes more introspective and philosophical about his life as a Glasgow detective. The initial novel, Laidlaw, introduces us to the protagonist and sets the stage for his later development. The plot is almost incidental. (Usual whodunit, no big deal.) But the Scottish brogue dialogue is almost incomprehensible. Fortunately, this annoyance is greatly diminished in Veitch - and almost entirely disappears in Strange Loyalties. Thank goodness! Overall, a very good author with a different approach to the usual crime detective fare. Read all three novels for the full effect of McIvanney's style and character development, but you can easily skip the initial novel and start with Veitch without missing much. Strange Loyalties is easily the best of the three.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
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