Cette série suit les affaires complexes d'un détective basé à Glasgow, explorant les réalités difficiles du travail de police et de la condition humaine. Les lecteurs sont entraînés dans des enquêtes complexes qui reflètent souvent les luttes intérieures du protagoniste. C'est une exploration captivante de la justice, de la moralité et du coût personnel de la lutte contre la criminalité dans un paysage urbain difficile.
"When a young woman is found brutally murdered on Glasgow Green, only Laidlaw stands a chance of finding her murderer from amongst the hard men, gangland villains and self-made moneymen who lurk in the city's shadows"--Publisher's description.
McIlvanney once again sets out on the dark side of Glasgow with Detective Jack Laidlaw. "The wine he gave me winsy wine" were the final words of Eck Adamson to Laidlaw, his only friend. Laidlaw is convinced the Eck was murdered and that an elusive young student, Tony Veitch, holds the key to the mystery.
Detective Inspector Jack Laidlaw blunders his way through ruined lives and frustrated relationships investigating his brother's murder and a drug pusher in Glasgow.