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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  
glad to reach the end narration not as good as expected Brian Cox narrating McLevy books brilliant, but this book very dull.

Disappointing

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I enjoyed this introduction to Detective Laidlaw, a man of letters, alcohol, disrespect for authority, a troubled marriage (of course) and yet, a top notch detective to boot. He has enough about him that I will probably read the next novels in the series. I've never lived in Glasgow but the evocation of hard headed cops facing up to even harder men with spanners and razors is very convincing. What is even more impressive is the author's plotting and misdirection. Whether that was Mcllvanney or Rankin I liked it a lot.

Gritty Glasgow Noir

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I’m a big fan of Rebus books and was looking forward to discovering a new detective character from Rankin especially when narrated by BRIAN Cox. I’m sorry to say I was disappointed for as great as Cox’s voice may be when it comes to narration it lacked any change in tone or accent making it very difficult to distinguish between the characters. This made story and plot difficult to follow and you really had to pay attention to keep up with evolving plot

Spoilt by narration

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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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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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Im still mystified why Brian Cox is galloping thru this well written prose so fast! Even slowed to 0.7 & being Scots too Im struggling to enjoy it. I didn’t think he could do any wrong frankly. He should have listened to the authors laconic style & pace reading the first Laidlaw and brought some of that to the performance. Is there a Razzy for audiobooks?
Tale is a classic & Ian Rankin has made it complete with a delicate and skilful hand/pen

Brian Cox has done a speed reading course, hasnt he?

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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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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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The story is ok- but the narration is so bland. It’s impossible to differentiate between the characters . I got to the end but still didn’t know who was who

Brian cox reads a story

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My two favourite writers, with my one of favourite actors reading it - delighted.
This is a very Scottish piece of work, and I will be listening to it more than once, both for the detail of the story, and all the connections it has to the ideas behind the characters - set in a city that I am very fond of.

The Dark Remains

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