Liam McIlvanney

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Photograph: Michael McQueen

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Agent: James Gill

James Gill

jgill@unitedagents.co.uk

Assistant: Amber Garvey

agarvey@unitedagents.co.uk

Books

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Liam McIlvanney was born in Scotland and studied at the universities of Glasgow and Oxford. He has written for numerous publications, including the London Review of Books and the Times Literary Supplement. His first book, Burns the Radical, won the Saltire First Book Award. He has also won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel for Where the Dead Men Go and the Bloody Sunday McIlvanney Prize for The Quaker. He is Stuart Professor of Scottish Studies at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He splits his time between Dunedin and Scotland with his wife and four sons.

Latest publication THE HERETIC - HarperFiction / Europa - January/March 2022

Finalist for The McIlvanney Prize 2022

The eagerly awaited novel from the Scottish Crime Book Award-winner – again featuring DI Duncan McCormack; back in Glasgow, and back in trouble…

Glasgow 1975

A deadly fire
An arson attack on a Glasgow warehouse causes the deaths of a young mother and child.
Police suspect it’s the latest act in a brutal gang warfare that’s tearing the city apart – one that DI Duncan McCormack has been tasked with stopping.

A brutal murder
Five years ago he was walking on water as the cop who tracked down a notorious serial killer. But he made powerful enemies and when a mutilated body is found in a Tradeston slum,
McCormack is assigned a case that no one wants. The dead man is wearing a masonic ring, though, and Duncan realizes the victim is not the down-and-out his boss had first assumed.

A catastrophic explosion
As McCormack looks into both crimes, the investigations are disrupted by a shocking event.
A bomb rips through a pub packed with people – and a cop is killed in the blast. The cases are stacking up and with one of his own unit now dead, McCormack is in the firing line.

But he’s starting to see a thread – one that connects all three attacks…

Praise for THE HERETIC

'Liam McIlvanney’s The Heretic, sequel to his prize-winning The Quaker, is equally big, equally bold, even more impressive.' Mick Herron, Sydney Morning Herald

'An absolutely brilliant follow-up to THE QUAKER. McIlvanney is an enormous talent and his writing brims with compassion, lyricism and good old-fashioned thrills.' Adrian McKinty

'The Heretic is an outstanding example of Tartan Noir [..] McIlvanney is a fine craftsman who knows just what he is doing and how to do.' The Scotsman

'Gripping, twisted, and bristling with atmosphere and memorable characters, THE HERETIC cements Liam’s position as a crime write at the top of his game.' Stuart MacBride

'McIlvanney writes with graceful skill and the characters in THE HERETIC are wonderfully drawn. All in all an excellent read.' James Oswald

'Terrific stuff.' Shotsmag

'You can take the man out of Glasgow, but, thank goodness, you can’t take Glasgow out of the man. [The Heretic] crackles and zings with the life and spirit of Glasgow, good, bad and truly terrible.' Mary Picken, Live and Deadly

Praise for THE QUAKER

*Winner of the Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Prize, 2018*

*Shortlisted for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year 2019*
*Shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award 2019*

'A novel of considerable dexterity in narrative and style, in a story of brilliantly crafted shifts of plot and pace … It is pacy, inventive and completed with an extraordinary assurance by an author tackling only his third novel … The Quaker is a wonderful evocation of the death rattle of a shrinking Glasgow. McIlvanney is a writer with unfolding, developing and substantial gifts. The Quaker whets the appetite for the how and the why of what he says next.' Herald

'In the hands of an inspired writer like Liam McIlvanney, it’s the very familiarity of the hard-boiled mystery formula – burnished to perfection – that gives The Quaker its sinister sheen of greatness … Every aspect of The Quaker is superb … McIlvanney doesn’t so much update the classic hard-boiled formula as he reminds us of its enduring dark beauty.' Washington Post

'It's Glasgow 1969 and a serial killer is bringing terror to the winter streets. The cops are on the back foot, the city is scared and three women are dead. Another atmospheric, scary and utterly brilliant book from Liam McIlvanney. Superb.' Adrian McKinty

'Atmospheric and arresting, The Quaker reveals 1960s Glasgow in all its lurid shades.' Val McDermid

'Crime fiction of the highest quality.' Bookseller

'In a crowded market, McIlvanney has created a protagonist who is fresh and distinctive. He takes the familiar tropes and makes them extraordinary.' Judges’ Citation for the McIlvanney Prize

'This is a terrific novel, dark, powerful and beautifully written. I finished it a while ago, but I’m still haunted by the characters and the place.' Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of Shetland

'Skilfully dovetailed … atmospheric … a solidly crafted and satisfying detective story.' Guardian

'An absolute master of Tartan Noir, McIlvanney bases his latest novel around the true story of a serial killer that hypnotised Glasgow between 1968 and 1969 … The corruption of the late Sixties in Glasgow is splendidly evoked, as is DI Duncan McCormack, the detective who becomes obsessed with the killer.' Daily Mail

'It’s amazing how many Scottish crime writers are so talented at presenting murder in all its ghastly mysterious and convincing detail. Rankin, McDermid and Mina write novels that are beautiful and terrifying. Now comes Liam McIlvanney who turns out to be as gifted as his fellow Scots … a novel that’s intricately plotted, resourceful in its characterisation and gorgeously written.' Toronto Star

'The Quaker is a chilling suspense tale that reminds us why noir endures. Just when you think you have figured out the puzzle, suspects or motives dissolve into the Scottish dew.' Washington Post, Thrillers of the Year

Praise for Liam McIlvanney

'An authentic, atmospheric and ambitious debut.' Val McDermid

'McIlvanney is deft at weaving the language of politics, both of the hearth and of ethical reportage, and the jargon of journalism into a thriller that is bolted together by both ... The book’s real heft lies in delivering a gripping, unflinching meditation upon the suspicions that still twitch in the Northern Irish air like the proverbial net curtain. McIlvanney has flair and assurance and executes a powerful tale with all the dexterous sensitivity and ballsy swagger the subject is due.' Scotland on Sunday

'All the Colours of the Town is a distinctive and striking debut. One quality that makes the novel stand out is Liam McIlvanney’s portrait of the deep-rooted tribal tensions in Glasgow and Belfast.' Times Literary Supplement

'There’s nothing like a thriller done really well and All the Colours of the Town is a perfect example of why talented writers ought not to shy away from tackling genre novels. Noir doesn’t need to be pap; this is a smart and engrossing crime novel.' Observer

'This is a bold, impressive debut. Its best writing turns the conventions of noir fiction on the politics of devolution to find individuals compromised and nations wanting.' Daily Telegraph

'McIlvanney evokes the city’s dark underbelly with razor-like accuracy, and the novel roars off the page like a wild beast on the loose... Superb storytelling, a wonderful eye for character, and a passion for dialogue; it announces the arrival of a Scots poet of the thriller.' Daily Mail

'The gritty, mean streets of Glasgow are a very familiar stomping ground for fans of modern British crime fiction, so it takes something a bit special to stand out from the pack. Where the Dead Men Go is a terrific, ultra-modern crime novel ... Delivered in lyrical, emotive and often piercing prose, it’s an assured and classy addition to the ranks of Scotland’s crime-writing scene.' Independent on Sunday

'Is there no end to the procession of Scottish writers excelling at the crime genre? In his second novel, Where the Dead Men Go, Liam McIlvanney shows himself to be in the same league as his illustrious compatriots. He does so without gimmicks or frills ... McIlvanney tells the story with clarity, terrific dialogue and convincing characters.' The Times

'Distinctive, vivid and very well written, Where the Dead Men Go more than lives up to the promise of its excellent predecessor.' Guardian

Fiction

Publication Details	Notes
THE QUAKER 2018 HarperFiction	Glasgow, 1969. In the grip of the worst winter for years, the city is brought to its knees by a killer whose name fills the streets with fear: The Quaker. He’s taken his next victim – the third woman from the same nightclub – and dumped her in the street like rubbish. The police are left chasing a ghost, with no new leads and no hope of catching their prey. After six months, DI McCormack, a talented young detective from the Highlands, is ordered to join the investigation – with a view to shutting it down for good. But his arrival is met with anger from a group of officers on the brink of despair. Soon he learns just how difficult life can be for an outsider … for McCormack is an outcast in more ways than one. When another woman is found murdered in a tenement flat, it’s clear the case is by no means over. From ruined backstreets to the dark heart of Glasgow, McCormack follows a trail of secrets that will change the city – and his life – forever…
WHERE THE DEAD MEN GO 2013 Faber	After three years in the wilderness, hardboiled reporter Gerry Conway is back at his desk at the Glasgow Tribune. But three years is a long time on newspapers and things have changed - readers are dwindling, budgets are tightening, and the Trib's once rigorous standards are slipping. Once the paper's star reporter, Conway now plays second fiddle to his former protégé, crime reporter Martin Moir. But when Moir goes AWOL as a big story breaks, Conway is dispatched to cover a gangland shooting. And when Moir's body turns up in a flooded quarry, Conway is drawn deeper into the city's criminal underworld as he looks for the truth about his colleague's death. Braving the hostility of gangsters, ambitious politicians and his own newspaper bosses, Conway discovers he still has what it takes to break a big story. But this is a story not everyone wants to hear as the city prepares to host the Commonwealth Games and the country gears up for a make-or-break referendum on independence. In this, the second book in the Conway Trilogy, McIlvanney explores the murky interface of crime and politics in the new Scotland.
ALL THE COLOURS OF THE TOWN 2010 Faber	When Glasgow journalist Gerry Conway receives a phone call promising unsavoury information about Scottish Justice Minister Peter Lyons, his instinct is that this apparent scoop won't warrant space in The Tribune. But as Conway's curiosity grows and his leads proliferate, his investigation takes him from Scotland to Belfast. Shocked by the sectarian violence of the past, and by the prejudice and hatred he encounters even now, Conway soon grows obsessed with the story of Lyons and all he represents. And as he digs deeper, he comes to understand that there is indeed a story to be uncovered; and that there are people who will go to great lengths to ensure that it remains hidden. Compelling, vividly written and shocking, ALL THE COLOURS OF THE TOWN is not only the story of an individual and his community - it is also a complex and thrilling inquiry into loyalty, betrayal and duty.

Publication Details

Notes

THE QUAKER

2018

HarperFiction

Glasgow, 1969. In the grip of the worst winter for years, the city is brought to its knees by a killer whose name fills the streets with fear: The Quaker. He’s taken his next victim – the third woman from the same nightclub – and dumped her in the street like rubbish.

The police are left chasing a ghost, with no new leads and no hope of catching their prey. After six months, DI McCormack, a talented young detective from the Highlands, is ordered to join the investigation – with a view to shutting it down for good.

But his arrival is met with anger from a group of officers on the brink of despair. Soon he learns just how difficult life can be for an outsider … for McCormack is an outcast in more ways than one.

When another woman is found murdered in a tenement flat, it’s clear the case is by no means over. From ruined backstreets to the dark heart of Glasgow, McCormack follows a trail of secrets that will change the city – and his life – forever…

WHERE THE DEAD MEN GO

2013

Faber

After three years in the wilderness, hardboiled reporter Gerry Conway is back at his desk at the Glasgow Tribune. But three years is a long time on newspapers and things have changed - readers are dwindling, budgets are tightening, and the Trib's once rigorous standards are slipping. Once the paper's star reporter, Conway now plays second fiddle to his former protégé, crime reporter Martin Moir.

But when Moir goes AWOL as a big story breaks, Conway is dispatched to cover a gangland shooting. And when Moir's body turns up in a flooded quarry, Conway is drawn deeper into the city's criminal underworld as he looks for the truth about his colleague's death. Braving the hostility of gangsters, ambitious politicians and his own newspaper bosses, Conway discovers he still has what it takes to break a big story. But this is a story not everyone wants to hear as the city prepares to host the Commonwealth Games and the country gears up for a make-or-break referendum on independence.

In this, the second book in the Conway Trilogy, McIlvanney explores the murky interface of crime and politics in the new Scotland.

ALL THE COLOURS OF THE TOWN

2010

Faber

When Glasgow journalist Gerry Conway receives a phone call promising unsavoury information about Scottish Justice Minister Peter Lyons, his instinct is that this apparent scoop won't warrant space in The Tribune. But as Conway's curiosity grows and his leads proliferate, his investigation takes him from Scotland to Belfast. Shocked by the sectarian violence of the past, and by the prejudice and hatred he encounters even now, Conway soon grows obsessed with the story of Lyons and all he represents. And as he digs deeper, he comes to understand that there is indeed a story to be uncovered; and that there are people who will go to great lengths to ensure that it remains hidden.

Compelling, vividly written and shocking, ALL THE COLOURS OF THE TOWN is not only the story of an individual and his community - it is also a complex and thrilling inquiry into loyalty, betrayal and duty.