#12booksof2024 @Andrew65
March saw me finishing the very good Laidlaw trilogy. Laidlaw is a curious detective who makes few friends within the Glasgow police force where he works. I am curious to read the Ian Rankin book in which he reimagines Laidlaws early days.
Scottish noir, and this one is definitely noir. Very grim but still the black humor is there front and center. I do enjoy the personal stories and admittedly inappropriate humor and byplay between the officers as they struggle to find answers and hold back their own horror.
#Roll100 @PuddleJumper Last Roll100 of the year!
pickI read a lot of crime novels, + it is rare to read a genre bk in which the themes + quality of writing stand out, but this 3rd in the Laidlaw series was remarkable. Several scenes stood out, including laidlaw holding the hand of the dying mother of a criminal because she reflects a generation of Glasgow women. The story is about the death of the detective's brother + is fused with reflections on family and the fragility of life. Definitely 5*
pickNot the tagged book, but by the same author of the Rebus series.
I'm trying to read some shortish books to complete 2023 challenges - this leaves me with one prompt to fill for #popsugar23. This does #publishedinthesecondhalfof2023.
Dark, even for this series. Scotland in winter, and the world of DS McRae is even darker. Although there were laugh out loud moments with the black humor of people doing thier best to survive horrible situations.
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pickI don‘t recall where I got this rec but i enjoyed this detective novel! Might read more of the series. It‘s set in Scotland and the narration was great, rly brought the plot to life. If you ignore the detective bit (there‘s some backstory and info on his life and such) it‘s as good as any modern domestic thriller out there. Solid read.
pickSecond of the Laidlaw series finds the aloof, intellectual detective following the trail of a missing student who is also being sought by two local gangsters. Pre dating the emergence of tartan noir this book from the early 1980s definitely seems the template for much of the future genre. I'm looking forward to book 3.
pickThis continues to be a good trilogy and I look forward to reading the third book!
