Reminiscent of Rebus stories.
Davie McCall is a hardened detective who has had enough of the underworld of Glasgow.
This is the final installment of a series of books about McCall and loose ends seem to be getting tied up.
Haven't read previous novels in this series, but I suppose the people in this story will feature in them.
Will have to catch up with them soon.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Luath via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review. ( )

The book opens with an odd assortment of people at a funeral. We're not privy to the identity of the narrator or who has died but it's clear they were both once familiar with what it means to be in "the Life".
Flashback 2 years & we meet Davie McCall, hard man & enforcer for Big Rab McClymont. Rab runs a criminal empire & they've known each other for decades. But lately Davie has begun to question his choices & wonder if it's possible to walk away before he loses what's left of his soul.
in short order he finds himself looking into an old armed robbery that's attracted the attention of a police task force. And then there's the lovely woman who has moved in upstairs.....

This is a tense & gritty tale of Glasgow gangsters that pulls you in from the opening pages. The cast includes criminals, victims, detectives & bent cops. Everyone has an agenda & with some playing both sides, it can be difficult to tell the good guys from the bad.
But the centre of it all is Davie. Despite his history, he's a sympathetic character. Yes, he's done terrible things but has a strict moral code that makes him seem more ethical than those plotting to put him away.
As tension builds & bodies pile up, the story explores themes of friendship & loyalty. After all, being in the life is a business & sometimes that has to trump any personal choices.

Although it's book #4, enough history is provided so this can be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. It's the harsh yet poignant story of a conflicted man & you'll find yourself rooting for the "hero" while dreading what may appear on the next page. The end is particularly effective, leaving a glimmer of hope among the carnage.
Engrossing, surprising & atmospheric...it combines the grit of Stuart MacBride with brutal prose reminiscent of Ken Bruen's "Jack Taylor" series. If you're a fan of tartan noir, you've found your next read. ( )