Scan barcode
A review by glorifiedloveletters
The Quaker by Liam McIlvanney
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really liked this noir. The ending risks being overcomplicated, but McIlvanney pulls off having so many moving parts. It feels somewhat unfair to compare him to his father's writing, but having so recently read LAIDLAW — and the fact that my edition of the book said 'Winner 2018 McIlvanney Prize' on the cover — I suppose it's inevitable. I will say I did not have the same "Damn, now that's a sentence" feelings here, but the writing is enjoyably direct, moody, and full of great details. I'll have to track down the next one in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Racism
I really liked this noir. The ending risks being overcomplicated, but McIlvanney pulls off having so many moving parts. It feels somewhat unfair to compare him to his father's writing, but having so recently read LAIDLAW — and the fact that my edition of the book said 'Winner 2018 McIlvanney Prize' on the cover — I suppose it's inevitable. I will say I did not have the same "Damn, now that's a sentence" feelings here, but the writing is enjoyably direct, moody, and full of great details. He also gives space to the lives of the women affected, which is not something one always sees in this genre, as low as that bar is. I'll have to track down the next one in the series.