The first Scots serial killer

I remember Manuel as the bogey man of my early childhood. Scotland is a wee count and these particularly gruesome crimes preoccupied the press and public. Not a straightforward novel but then the murders weren’t either. Well written and well narrated. The ending is well known but official documents of the trial are still unavailable, though it was widely reported at the time.

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Bleak time

Very well narrated but this was a bleak time in Glasgow. It is an interesting story but I wasn't a big fan of the flashback nature of the telling.

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3 people found this helpful

Confused

Some good moments of character insight but failed to connect to a meaningful storyline. I kept wondering how the detailed thought processes that were explained were relevant to the narrative. In the end I couldn’t really follow the plot development and gave up. The narration was excellent though.

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3 people found this helpful

Sleazy dangerous moron

This individual actually got what he deserved which countless similar people have escaped because of the very real and possible chance of killing the wrong person. The narration was excellent and really took you back to those times in the city and the depths of what folk will do for gain. I guess anything's better than getting a job. Heard this book being reviewed in the BBC Book club and heard the author talk about it and I followed it up in Audible. No regrets.

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2 people found this helpful

Hard going

Interesting topic and based on true story, but made for difficult audiobook. How many ways can you tell the same very short story leading up to the crime? The backwards and forwards in the timeline were difficult to follow in the audiobook - might have been easier in hard copy as you could flick back a few pages - but I found it exhausting.
I like the narration - David Monteath did a super job and some of the phrases and colloquialisms were fabulous - but the actual story didn't merit a 7 hour narration.
Denise Mina has many better books - I struggled through to the end, but have to ask if some books just aren't suitable to be audiobooks.
Disappointed overall, but not surprised by the long winded ending to the court case.

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Heavy going

Although beautifully written this goes on and on. Having to give up as life is too short and I just don't care enough about the characters to find out what happens.
Such a shame as I loved the Alex Morrow stories.

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Superb Book.

Great narration, Great writing. Will listen to more of her books. Thoroughly enjoyed. Definitely Recommend !!!

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2 people found this helpful

Brilliant Audible Recording!

Amazing novel and brilliantly narrated by David Monteath.
This novel chilled me. Manuel was always just the bogey man to me and he’s been portrayed here in a way that aptly characterises him, and Watt. Mina focuses in on the Watt Murders and the relationship between Watt & Manuel, but cleverly uses the court scenes to fill the reader in on the other abhorrent crimes. There’s some horrible details, because the things he did were horrible; but there has been incredible care given to the difficult balance of conveying the horror and not sensationalising the violence.

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2 people found this helpful

repetitive and muddlled

The narration was excellent, you felt the malevolence of Manuel, the sheepishness of his mother, the threat of violence from many of the men. However I struggled with all the flashbacks and repetition. I kept thinking I had skipped back to earlier chapters as so much of the narrative was almost identical. not up to Minas usual standard. but with a listen for the excellent performance.

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Not what I expected

This is the only Denise Mina book I’ve not particularly enjoyed and that’s because it’s more of a documentary than a novel. Clearly based on historical facts it’s difficult to know how much poetic license has been employed in the detail.
Won’t put me off Denise Mina novels but this particular book was not for me.

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