First published 1984
Detective Jack Laidlaw faces a puzzling case when Tony Veitch, a young man from Glasgow's underworld, leaves behind cryptic papers before his death. Laidlaw must navigate the city's criminal networks and social divisions to understand what Veitch discovered and why it cost him his life. The investigation takes Laidlaw through Glasgow's streets, from wealthy neighborhoods to rough pubs, as he pieces together the connections between Veitch's writings and a web of violence and corruption. As Laidlaw digs deeper, he confronts not only dangerous criminals but also the moral complexities of a city divided by class and circumstance. The detective's pursuit of truth becomes a personal journey through the heart of urban Scotland, where justice and vengeance blur together.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: investigation, moral-complexity
Setting: Glasgow
Period: 20th-century
256 pages · Paperback · P/B