The Long Knives

By: Irvine Welsh

Narrated by: Tam Dean Burn Burn

Brought to you by Penguin.

Justice can be a blunt instrument

"Men like him usually tell the story.
In business.
Politics.
Media.
But not this time: I repeat, he is not writing this story."

Ritchie Gulliver MP is dead. Castrated and left to bleed in an empty Leith warehouse.

Vicious, racist and corrupt, many thought he had it coming. But nobody could have predicted this.

After the life Gulliver has led, the suspects are many: corporate rivals, political opponents, the countless groups he's offended. And the vulnerable and marginalised, who bore the brunt of his cruelty - those without a voice, without a choice, without a chance.

As Detective Ray Lennox unravels the truth, and the list of brutal attacks grows, he must put his personal feelings aside. But one question refuses to go away...

Who are the real victims here?

© Irvine Welsh 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Critic reviews

An ingeniously plotted and propulsive thriller... bristling with risky satire and moral disgust.

If you like your crime dramas Scottish and sweary, this one's for you. (Jessie Thompson)

A triumph... A great, redemptive book... It leaves you wanting more, much more

Powerful, passionate writing... Welsh gets it just right

Powerful... A bracing and engaging read

Sharp, fearless, passionate, and brilliant.

Intelligent, propulsive, passionate

loved it and loved to see one of my favorite cops

Was a very nice touch to wrap up DI Ray Lennoxs story loved him in Filth, even though he's not the main character, lived Crime and this was very good but doesn't have everything that I come to expect from one of my favorite writers, didn't feel forced or phoned in but just seemed to miss that edge or maybe it was me but you can't go wrong with this book, tragic and gut wrenching at times but mostly about a "bad,good guy" stratles the line but not really. he's human and has his many vices but at the end of the day he wants to put the people away that hurt kids, or people who can't protect themselves so yes he drinks like a fish and snorts loads of ching but he also cares about missing children and putting away the scum that could hurt someone as innocent as a child. so his reason is just ,but the way he goes about it while not necessarily legal still gets it done. also loved to see him in this from who and how he was in Filth and again in Crime, this almost seems to complete the character arc. but great performance and really enjoyed the book.