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Laidlaw
- A Laidlaw Investigation, Book 1
- Narrated by: William McIlvanney
- Series: Jack Laidlaw, Book 1
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Crime Fiction
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Publisher's Summary
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.
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What listeners say about Laidlaw
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Dr. William J. Kass
- 01-12-14
forerunner of good noir
Would you consider the audio edition of Laidlaw to be better than the print version?
For me audio is always better than print.
What other book might you compare Laidlaw to and why?
Girl With The Dragon Tattoo--both are first in their respective parts of the country.
Which character – as performed by William McIlvanney – was your favorite?
Laidlaw
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, but it was a book I immediately listened to a second time.
Any additional comments?
I am desperate for the other two of this trilogy to be put on Audio....hopefully with the author reading them.
5 people found this helpful
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- Kiki
- 09-30-15
Such a pleasure to read a classic
I just discovered McIlvanney. I loved this book and am now on a mission to read more of Laidlaw series and other McIlvanney books. I wish more of them were on Audible. Meanwhile I'll get the book versions at my San Francisco public library where most of them are available.
3 people found this helpful
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- Susan
- 01-18-19
I just discovered this writer – so happy he has written more.
A classic detective novel. And a wonderful narration by the author. You’d better be comfortable with Glasgow argot and the Scottish accent in general to listen to it but if you can understand it, it’s great.
2 people found this helpful
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- L. O. Pardue
- 01-02-15
Hard to Understand the Narration
I had to listen to each chapter multiple times as I found the thick Scottish diction / accent hard to understand. The author, William McIlvanney, narrated his book. I wish someone had told him the accent is fine, but more enunciation is required for the average listener. I love books with strong accents, but this one was too difficult for me no matter how hard I focused.
I like the character Laidlaw a great deal, but the story was mediocre. There is a twist or two, but you know who the murderer is early in the book. It is more of a story how multiple people looking for the same person come together in the end.
I will definitely try another McIlvanney book in the future, but may have to read it on my Kindle instead of listen on Audible.
1 person found this helpful
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- sandee moss
- 11-10-21
Treasure
So much more than a police procedural, which it is at its heart. It is a magnificent piece of writing in so many, many respects. The exposition on the role of doubt is transcendent. True treasure, yours to find for yourselves.
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- David
- 08-21-21
Only OK
It was hard to understand the narrator and therefore hard to follow the story line.
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- Joshua
- 06-18-21
Convoluted snd Brilliant
Laidlaw is not your typical detective story by a long shot. The hard (mostly male) characters and byzantine plot are an interesting read, made all the more authentic by the narrator's Glaswegian brogue.
But as skilled as the writer is, he has no gift for narration. The characters all sound exactly the same and it is very difficult to keep track of who is whom. His brief foray into an East End accent is embarrassingly awful.
Still, this is a worthwhile book if for no other reason than to dive into 1970s Scotland.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-27-20
Reads like the Glasgow I grew up in.
the writing is tight and crisp redolent of the Glasgow patter which I heard every day of my life.
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- Scott
- 10-18-20
Well constructed and full of wonderful turns of phrase
With Rebus, Ian Rankin shows his love for the city and law enforcers of Edinburgh. This book is more about the people, outlook and language of the common people of Glasgow. Definitely worth a listen.
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- Whispera
- 08-17-20
A Good Read
Ive listened to so many bad books lately, i almost gave this one 5 stars because i never thought once about returning it. Pleasant to hear this in Scottish accented English. You can tell this book wasnt written in the last couple of years because it isnt chock full of filler. The protagonist is a tormented tough guy, but he doesnt whine all the time or drink himself into blackout. He is pretty interesting, actually, has a different attitude and is more thoughtful than your average tough guy. Im disappointed that Audible doesnt have the other books in this series.
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- Mrs
- 06-28-13
Magic!
I loved this gritty novel - read by the author himself which added to the atmosphere even his endearing little mistakes do not detract from the story.
I'd love to know when the rest of the Laidlaw books will be available on Audible as I'm eagerly awaiting them.
19 people found this helpful
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- c
- 07-05-14
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.
15 people found this helpful
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- Lindsay
- 01-28-14
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.
11 people found this helpful
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- Kay
- 02-10-14
Laidlaw is AMAZING
Would you listen to Laidlaw again? Why?
Would Listen again, it flowed like poetry in parts & gritty in others, Laidlaw is a cross between Taggart & Gene Hunt,
What did you like best about this story?
EVERYTHING! loved Laidlaw & would like to see it on the T.V or Big Screen
What does William McIlvanney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
His voice is hypnotic, its his timbre & rhythm of reading not forgetting his accent that can only do the words justice
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Where Laidlaw reads to his children & then again when he puts his son back to bed, shows a softer side to the character
6 people found this helpful
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- SnapWriter
- 03-31-15
Beautifully Read, utterly satisfying, more please?
This is read beautifully by the author with an accent as melodic as the prose are lyrical. A story to rival any of the best sellers, with a character to rival Rebus.
This is one of the most satisfying reads in my entire Audible membership (2007). I recommend it to fans of crime fiction and those who want to listen to the best fireside voice on the site.
I can't praise this highly enough, and the length of just over seven hours is a comfortable and manageable one.
Download now, not to be missed.
4 people found this helpful
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- Lynne
- 07-09-19
gave up boring narrator!
Oh dear story has potential even if set in 1977. But oh dear the narrator sounded like he was struggling with false teeth. Monotone and boring.
3 people found this helpful
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- Thewilsonman
- 07-06-19
Excellent listen
I got this book on a 2 for 1 deal (cheapskate!)
I was a little concerned by a review that was critical of the author narrating. However, Mr Mcilavanney’s narration really enhanced my listening experience. It was like a really good storyteller telling a story of a city and people that he fully understood and empathised with.
I could go on, however, suffice is to say it is a cracking story brought to life by a proper Scot!
3 people found this helpful
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- National Hunter
- 01-16-14
I really like this book, well written...
...full of characters who demand your respect in a city that exudes edginess.
However, narrating it yourself isn't the best move. It's read like a diatribe, just one loooonnnngggg sentence. I've had to go back a few times and rewind - a pause, a breath, maybe a slightly different voice, some punctuation would really help. I guess that's why there's so many professional narrators.
The story's great though, so worth persevering...
6 people found this helpful
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- T. Dickson
- 07-15-19
A well written and skillful story
I enjoyed the story especially as I am an ex-patriot Scot, McIvanney's use of vernacular West Coast terms made this real and interesting. He made the investigative team real and deep. HE avoided the stereotype of writing off the police as stupid, crass on violent.
2 people found this helpful
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- Stephen G Armstrong
- 01-30-22
Delightfully fearsome story
Great story but made better by cynicism and self examination of police in old Glasgow. Wonderful narration too. It puts later crime story telling in the shade.
1 person found this helpful
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- Andy
- 12-04-14
Superb Crime, incredible narration.
I was recommended this by a friend, and coming at a "Scottish Crime Noir" work I didn't really know what to expect. But as soon as I listened to the Sample I was hooked! Hearing the author (who is Scottish) reading in a thick Scottish accent was awesome for me. I could understand how some people might find it hard, so listed to the sample first.
I loved this book - it's so much deeper than I expected, the descriptions are intense and often funny. I especially liked the Scottish Summer descriptions. The author has been so careful that everything seems to have been well thought out, simple things get great attention which I liked a lot.
Overall I think this is a great read, for me, something really different and interesting. I hope the second book is narrated by Mr McIlvanney soon!!!
1 person found this helpful
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- apple
- 03-28-22
Strangely off putting but slightly addictive
I wanted to love this after reading the other reviews. Good plot and some beautiful evocative description but … I know the author is the narrator however, I found the breathy delivery at times, very annoying. Still, I suggest it is worth persisting because I still want to hear what happens to Laidlaw next.
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- Bill McPherson
- 05-17-21
Very very believable and darkly humorous
Brings Glasgow city to life, as it was in the 1970s
Reading this for the first time now in May 2021 is like a trip down memory lane with the toughest detective as a companion and guard of honour
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- Penelope Hood
- 08-22-20
Scalplesque presicion writing
Wonderfully economic use of language locates this tale in Glasgow simply by its vocabulary, imagery and tone. The talented actor amplifies the authors words with his accent and vocal rendition of a wide array of characters.
Descriptions of senses and feelings invoke the plot circumstance in the fewest words possible. The description of a migraine attack on its victim is perfect.
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- ELIZABETH
- 06-03-18
There's been a murrrrder
An entertaining listen that you just don't want to end. The destination doesn't quite live up to the journey but overall very enjoyable, enhanced by the narration of the author.