Laidlaw is the first novel of a series of crime books by William McIlvanney

William McIlvanney

William McIlvanney is a writer of crime stories, novels, and poetry. McIlvanney is a champion of gritty yet poetic literature; his works Laidlaw, The Papers of Tony Veitch, and Walking Wounded are all known for their portrayal of Glasgow in the 1970s.- Life and career :McIlvanney was born in the...

. It features DI Laidlaw and DC Harkness, his assigned assistant, in their attempts to find the brutal sex related murderer of a Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

 teenager. Laidlaw is marked by his unconventional methods in tracking the killer, immersing himself in a '70s Glasgow featuring violence and bigotry.

This novel is considered the first 'Tartan Noir

Tartan Noir

Tartan Noir is a form of crime fiction particular to Scotland and Scottish writers. It has its roots in Scottish literature but borrows elements from elsewhere, including from the work of American crime writers of the second half of the twentieth century, especially of the hard-boiled genre, and of...

' and is cited as being inspiration for the Rebus novels by Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin, OBE, DL , is a Scottish crime writer. His best known books are the Inspector Rebus novels. He has also written several pieces of literary criticism.-Background:He attended Beath High School, Cowdenbeath...

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