Strange Loyalties

If you like a multi-dimensional police-protagonist and a beautifully written layered plot, seek out McIlvanney. Hard to find but worth every second.

If you haven't yet read McIlvanney, get on it! This man is brilliant. His detective, Jack Laidlaw, remains one of the most intriguing characters in fiction. "Strange Loyalties" charts Laidlaw's quest to discover meaning after his brother is killed. The characters that we encounter, as well as the questions that are raised, help shed light on so many aspects of our own lives. The depth present in this particular novel made me want to weep at the conclusion. The truth McIlvanney expounds in both his characters and their dealings in life, makes the beauty of this book complete. This is one of those stories that long after you've put it down, you feel its presence and its insight growing inside of you. I just hope that McIlvanney one day gets the credit he so much deserves.