Laidlaw
A Laidlaw Investigation, Book 1
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.99/mo for first 3 months
Buy Now for £16.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
William McIlvanney
About this listen
Meet Jack Laidlaw, the original damaged detective.
When a young woman is found brutally murdered on Glasgow Green, only Laidlaw stands a chance of finding her murderer from among the hard men, gangland villains and self-made moneymen who lurk in the city's shadows.
Winner of the CWA Silver Dagger.
©1977 William McIlvanney (P)2013 Canongate Books LtdCritic reviews
What listeners say about Laidlaw
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- graham
- 28-07-14
Glaswegian..
It took me a little while to work out it was set in the early 70's-this was because there was a lack of mobile phones, and a David Essex reference confirmed it..
Great accents, good story...if you like tough, and maverick detectives with a touch of strong Glaswegian thrown in..take a chance on this.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cathy King
- 11-11-23
My 2nd time. Probably not my last.
It’s the depth of characters. Feel like I’m there among them and their cigarette smoke
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- c
- 05-07-14
McIlvaney- Scotland's Raymond Chandler
Would you listen to Laidlaw again? Why?
Most definitely! This Glaswegian detective is a combination of 'troubled man' , scholar, social worker, psychologist and is as consummately clever and tough as they come. A hugely compelling and appealing character.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Laidlaw?
The author uses what I think are immense literary and observational skills each time he analyses the leading characters in this novel. Impossible to point to just one example in a novel that is so rich with these examples. Even the toughies have their finer points.
What aspect of William McIlvanney’s performance might you have changed?
I enjoyed his reading because he wrote this excellent novel and knows exactly how to deliver it to its best BUT, it was often very off-putting to hear so distinctly whenever he needed to swallow or moisten his lips. This is where technically the pro's are best.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
LOVED the whole narrative and scene-setting around the interview Laidlaw has with the mother of the victim's friend!
Any additional comments?
I just so admired the author's ability to combine poetic and insightful descriptions of Glasgow and the various characters with the hard-hitting and more violent aspects of life and crime in this city. This is NOT a who-dun-it nor is it just a hard-hitting tartan-noir. It's almost a social commentary on modern day Glasgow and its damaging inequalities and ever-present dangers. Some really great one-liners that will make you smile though.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lindsay
- 28-01-14
Great storytelling
Where does Laidlaw rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
The author's take on the style of the story is rather soporific and great for going to sleep to. You have to really listen and often revisit earlier parts to get the full sadness and intertwining of the lives and the characters. There is no hero in this book just people with interrelated lives.It is like being in a noisy pub with a great raconteur and hating every distraction that is interrupting your enjoyment of the tales you are being told.I have different books for different times and different moods so this is one for solitary times when you want to meet an old friend and have a chat. I am sure on my next listen through i will find that i have missed a lot it is very richly layered.
What other book might you compare Laidlaw to, and why?
Probably something done in a stream of consciousness style as you drift through the unravelling of time and place and symbiosis.
What do you think the narrator could have done better?
He could have set his characters as from different parts of scotland it was hard to tell who was speaking a lot of the time there was very little light and shade or change of pace in the voices
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
There were several character revelations of our antihero Laidlaw where he let his mask slip and we saw glimpses of the man underneath. I won't spoil these for other listeners.
Any additional comments?
Despite the difficulty listening to the narrator the book gained from having the author give his own feelings and pace so i will definitely buy the next written and read by William McIlvanney.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Liz
- 06-04-22
Mixed feelings
Some of the language in this story was beautiful, but I found it quite difficult to identify the characters. I think this was because the narration was in one 'voice' and each character talked in the same style as the others if you understand me. Also, between chapters there was no pause in order for the listener to absorb the narrative, so I ended up feeling rushed.
The story itself had a start, middle and end, but now looking back I can't separate them.
Perhaps the author could consider another narrator, maybe someone like Angus King, who could have brought each character to life.
However, all in all, worth a listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lilian Crossley
- 30-12-22
Great story, awful narrator noises
Sadly the narrator made loud noises whilst speaking - very distracting. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and met a new author.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lynne Nicholson
- 19-06-24
Maverick Scots “polis”
In some ways this reminded me of Taggart the tv series I loved crossed with Rebus a book series I love.
I love that mix of hard men versus maverick “polis” narrated in an authentic Scot’s accent.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Brian
- 02-05-16
No ma cup a tea.
The author reads the book and I feel does not do it justice. The story is straight forward but the writing is full of tangents in the descriptions of things. for me this was distracting .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- oliver
- 06-10-18
One of the great crime novels
William McIlvanney is simply the greatest of the Scottish crime writers, a tour de force. So much more than a detective novel more a meditation on the human condition.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- anna
- 05-06-21
Good read
Liked this book but do find the pessimistic turn of phrase a little off putting.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!