A review by jayneyh314
Crime by Irvine Welsh

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

DI Ray Lennox is on holiday in Miami with his fiancée, Trudi. He’s supposed to be recovering from a breakdown after leading a particularly harrowing investigation into the abuse and murder of a child but when he storms out after an argument he gets mixed up with Robyn and her daughter, Tianna, and it seems like his job has followed him after all.

My Dad gave me this book to read and couldn’t speak highly enough of it. I have read several of Irvine Welsh’s other novels so I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed but I actually couldn’t put this down.

“Crime” catches up with Ray Lennox, last seen in “Filth”. I love when Welsh’s books interconnect and I like being able to catch up with characters and see where their lives have taken them. At the same time, it isn’t massively important if you’ve not read “Filth” as there aren’t any major plot points discussed, which I also like as it keeps things simple for new comers to just pitch in where they want but gives a little nod to longer term fans.

I love the way Welsh writes in dialect, the mix of Scottish and American in this makes for an interesting read. The subject matter was quite hard hitting but Welsh manages to keep the tone lighter in places.

I liked that “Crime” took a character from a previous book and gave him a much more in depth back story as well as taking us on a whole new adventure with him as well. I really empathised with the characters and was rooting for Lennox to succeed. The book was quite fast paced and I couldn’t stop reading it once I started, which I always love in a book.

Another brilliant book from Irvine Welsh, which would appeal to fans and newcomers alike. If you’re a fan of gritty, true to life fiction and don’t mind some bad language, violence and sex then Irvine Welsh is definitely the author for you.