A review by iainkelly_writing
The Dark Remains by William McIlvanney, Ian Rankin

3.0

Definitely, and unsurprisingly, more Rankin than McIlvanney. It lacks the weight of the original Laidlaw books, and the feel and atmosphere of Glasgow that McIlvanney captured is completely missing. Still, Rankin, of course, knows how to write a crime novel, and this is perfectly serviceable, if light and completely forgettable, fair and it's nice to revisit many of the original characters.
Sidenote: the hardback sleeve bills this as 'Laidlaw's First Case', but it isn't, in any way, his first case. Odd.