This is a prequel to the Laidlaw trilogy of books which I haven’t read! The author died before finishing this book which was then completed by Ian Rankin. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it enough to reserve the other books at the library.

Off to earthcaroleanne next.

This arrived on Friday with another book but I got interrupted in the middle of journalling them. Thank you

This starts rather ploddingly with an emphasis on character building but I guess it’s because it’s a prequel and is setting the scene/history for the character. I could hear Ian Rankin’s voice in the short, sharp staccato conversational sentences so not sure how much McIlvanney is actually there. In a crime novel, I prefer to follow the investigation and not beat the detective to a finale with absolutely no suspense. The descriptions of the city started well but there was very little to make you feel it was 1972 other than the lack of mobiles phones and the occasional mention of a can of McEwan’s. He doesn’t quite pull it off.

Adding to the Scottish Book Buffet at the International Bookcrossing Convention held in Falkirk in 2023.

Taking to the book swap shelf.

ETA - book swap shelf not returned after convention so left in LFL.