The Quaker by Liam Mcilvanney

Skip to product information
1 of 1

Click to look inside

The Quaker by Liam Mcilvanney

Regular price
Checking stock...
Regular price
Checking stock...
World of Books

At World of Books, you’ll find millions of preloved reads at great prices, from bestsellers to hidden gems. Every book you buy saves money and helps reduce waste, so you can read more for less while giving stories a second life.

The feel-good place to buy books
  • Free US shipping over $15
  • Buying preloved emits 41% less CO2 than new
  • Millions of affordable books
  • Give your books a new home - sell them back to us!

The Quaker by Liam Mcilvanney

It is 1969 and Glasgow is in the grip of the worst winter in decades, yet it is something else that has Glaswegians on edge: a serial killer whose name alone is enough to make them tremble with fear. The Quaker has killed another victim, snatching a young woman from a nightclub and dumping her body like trash in the back of a cold-water tenement. He leaves no clues, and the investigation has led police down one blind alley after another. DI McCormack has few friends in his adopted city and a lot to prove. A talented young detective from the Highlands, an outsider with troubling secrets of his own, Duncan McCormack is brought into the investigation to identify where, exactly, it's gone wrong. His arrival is met with anger and distrust by cops who are desperate to nail a suspect. When they identify a petty thief as the man seen leaving the building where the Quaker's last victim was found, they decide they've found their serial killer. But McCormack isn't convinced. From ruined backstreets, to deserted public parks, and down into the dark heart of Glasgow, McCormack follows a trail of secrets that will change the city-and his life-forever.

’It's one of those novels that as soon as I finished it, I looked forward to reading it againNot only did I love the evocative recreation of Glasgow but the characters created were refreshing and surprising. It was such a pleasure to read’ Susan Calman

‘Every aspect of The Quaker is superb’ Washington Post

‘A vivid portrayal of a city’ Sun

‘A totally gripping murder mystery, thought provoking but thoroughly entertaining’ NB Magazine

‘Pacy, inventive, assured – and authentic … a story of brilliantly crafted shifts of plot and pace … McIlvanney is a writer with unfolding, developing and substantial gifts’ The Herald

‘Skilfully dovetailed … atmospheric … a solidly crafted and satisfying detective story’ Laura Wilson, Guardian

‘An absolute master of Tartan noir … the corruption of the late Sixties is splendidly evoked, as is DI Duncan McCormack’ Daily Mail

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

'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

‘The Quaker is one of my favourite reads of the year. A powerhouse of a book with Liam McIlvanney's full lyrical powers on display. Loved it’ Steve Cavanagh

‘Another atmospheric, scary and utterly brilliant book from Liam McIlvanney. Superb’ Adrian McKinty

Praise for Liam McIlvanney:

‘An authentic, atmospheric and ambitious debut’ Val McDermid

‘Gripping, unflinching … 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

‘This is a bold, impressive debut’ Daily Telegraph

‘Superb storytelling, a wonderful eye for character, and a passion for dialogue’ Daily Mail

‘McIlvanney tells the story with clarity, terrific dialogue and convincing characters’ The Times

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, the Times Literary Supplement and the Guardian. His debut, Burns the Radical, won the Saltire First Book Award, and his most recent book, Where the Dead Men Go, won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. The Quaker won the 2018 McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year.

He is Stuart Professor of Scottish Studies at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He lives in Dunedin with his wife and four sons.

SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780008259914
ISBN 10 0008259917
Title The Quaker
Author Liam Mcilvanney
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Hardback
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Year published 2018-06-28
Number of pages 400
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.