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The Dark Remains

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The Dark Remains

By: William McIlvanney, Ian Rankin
Narrated by: Brian Cox, William McIlvanney
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About this listen

In this scorching crime hook-up, number one best seller Ian Rankin and Scottish crime-writing legend William McIlvanney join forces for the first ever case of DI Laidlaw, Glasgow’s original gritty detective.

Lawyer Bobby Carter did a lot of work for the wrong type of people. Now he’s dead, and it was no accident. Besides a distraught family and a heap of powerful friends, Carter’s left behind his share of enemies. So, who dealt the fatal blow?

DC Jack Laidlaw’s reputation precedes him. He’s not a team player, but he’s got a sixth sense for what’s happening on the streets. His boss chalks the violence up to the usual rivalries, but is it that simple? As two Glasgow gangs go to war, Laidlaw needs to find out who got Carter before the whole city explodes.

William McIlvanney’s Laidlaw books changed the face of crime fiction. When he died in 2015, he left half a handwritten manuscript of Laidlaw’s first case. Now, Ian Rankin is back to finish what McIlvanney started. In The Dark Remains, these two iconic authors bring to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow and Laidlaw’s relentless quest for truth.

©2021 William McIlvanney and Ian Rankin (P)2021 Canongate Books Ltd Crime Crime Fiction Detective Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Private Investigators

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All stars
Most relevant
A good book, but it's not up to the excellence of either author. A little cumbersome.

A whole not as good as its parts.

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Loved previous Ian Rankin books, have read/listened to every one.
Love Brian Cox as as actor, but as a narrator….. no thanks!
Book is delivered in a monotone, and he sounded bored at times. I almost gave up, but persevered to the end, which I’m sad to say was a bit predictable.
Wouldn’t listen to another narration by him, will watch his movies however!

Boring narration

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I’ve sort of fallen in love with crime drama set in Glasgow (Denise Mina’s “Garnethill” anyone)? And I’ve tried Iain Rankin in the past (& been unimpressed) & William McIlvanney too (& enjoyed that, after a fashion). So when I heard Rankin had finished off the McIlvanney estate’s notes on an unfinished novel, I wanted very much to read the outcome - out of interest. It’s good: dramatic, readable, etc. It’s 1970’s Glasgow from the perspective of a ‘strong man’ figure. It fails the Beckdale test. More than that: when Laidlaw might be picking up clues from men he can’t be bothered with - his boss, a drunk, a taxi driver - he’s instead rude & dismissive. The fairground procession of gangland bosses fronting up to each other in the end begin to resembles the point at a children’s party when tears break out. On the plus side: it’s great, and an excellent introduction to the Laidlaw character.

A Period Piece. Great if you like the period

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So enjoyed this.
What
at a great idea this was and was glued to it
from day one. Keep listening after it finishes
for a real treat!

Superb!

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So disappointed in the Narration by Brian Cox. Difficult to follow a conversation since there was little to differentiate who was talking. Little change in voice or intonation. Also be barely drew a breath from the end of one Chapter to the start of the next. It affected my enjoyment of the book to the extent I nearly gave up. The story itself is the start of a series so was important to get it right.

Interesting but hard work!

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