The Long Glasgow Kiss

Lennox #2

by Craig Russell

Glasgow in the 1950s - not somewhere you'd choose to be unless you were born to it. Yet Lennox, a private investigator, finds it oddly congenial. Lennox is a man balanced between the law and those who break it - a dangerous place where only the toughest and most ruthless survive. Glasgow bookie and greyhound breeder, Jimmy 'Small Change' MacFarlane, runs one of the biggest operations at Glasgow's dog-racing track. When MacFarlane is bludgeoned to death with a bronze statue of Danny Boy, his best racer, Lennox has a solid gold alibi - he had spent the night with MacFarlane's daughter. Lennox is quickly drawn into hunting MacFarlane's killer, where he soon discovers that 'Small Change' was into a lot more than dog racing. Worse, crime boss Willie Sneddon, one of Glasgow's notorious Three Kings, is clearly involved and he's not a man Lennox wants to cross. But somewhere out there in the shadows lurks a really big player, an elusive villain who makes the Three Kings look like minnows. Lennox is the only man who can track him down.

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Scotland, Hard Boiled, Historical Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Award-winning, best-selling and critically-acclaimed author. His novels have been published in twenty-five languages around the world. The movie rights to the Devil Aspect have been bought by Columbia Pictures. Biblical, his science-fiction novel, has been acquired by Imaginarium Studios/Sonar Entertainment, four Jan Fabel novels have been made into movies (in one of which Craig Russell makes a cameo appearance as a detective) for ARD, the German national broadcaster, and the Lennox series has been optioned for TV development.

Craig Russell:
• won the 2015 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize) for 'The Ghosts of Altona', and is currently longlisted for the 2017 McIlvanney Prize for 'The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid', the latest in the Lennox series;
• was a finalist for the 2013 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2012 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize);
• won the 2008 CWA Dagger in the Library for the Fabel series;
• was a finalist for the 2007 CWA Duncan Lawrie Golden Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2007 SNCF Prix Polar in France;
• is the only non-German to be awarded the highly prestigious Polizeistern by the Polizei
Hamburg.

Official website: http://www.craigrussell.com
Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/craigrussell...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecraigrussell

Also writes under the pseudonym Christopher Galt

Reviews

[Andrew Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second episode of this series featuring a private investigator known simply as Lennox we find him drawn into investigating the murder of a local bookmaker, Jimmy ‘Small Change’ McFarlane. We’re back in 1950’s Glasgow and Lennox is once again in the employ of one of the city’s underworld bosses. Willie Sneddon is one of the so called Three Kings - so crooked you’ll have to dig his grave with a corkscrew - and McFarlane had been one of his minions. Lennox is the obvious choice to snoop around on this job as he’d had a passing acquaintance with McFarlane as the father of the girl he is currently seeing. You wouldn’t call it a particularly romantic association, based as it is on purely physical needs.

There’s a big boxing event in the offing with a local Glaswegian fighting for a European title. Is there some linkage between the fight and the murder of the bookmaker? Possibly, but readers of book one will know that this story is likely to be intricately plotted and therefore forewarned to take nothing for granted. Lennox is an interesting character, born in Scotland but brought up in Canada, he’d set aside a likely career in the Arts when Word War II rudely interrupted his life, just as it did for so many others. After the war he settled in Glasgow, but scarred by the violence of war his own tendency to step quickly into action with fists or a quickly drawn sap (a flat beaver tail-shaped impact weapon) is barely contained - in this bleak, intimidating city it pays to be ready and his bubbling aggression is as useful as his finely tuned survival instinct.

There are some brilliant support characters here: Sneddon is snarly, gruff and constantly threatening whilst his henchman Twinkletoes McBride (so called because of his predilection for lopping off the toes of anyone who displeases his boss) is a likeable buffoon. In fact, the interplay between McBride and Lennox provides some useful comic relief here. As expected, there are plenty of twists and turns as the story plays out but the real delight here is the superb writing. Russell uses a bag full of colourful metaphors and a decent dose of Glaswegian vernacular to ring event ounce of atmosphere out of this novel and there’s also a poignancy to one element of the story that I found very touching. All the boxes have been ticked here, I can’t wait to get stuck into book three.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Craig Russell novel, but it won’t be my last. I was fully immersed in the bleak underbelly of 1950’s Glasgow and absorbed with the cynical and sharp witted Lennox. The author also brings a great supporting cast of shady characters to the book. Great read.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable thriller set in Glasgow, where I worked for several years while living in a village within the beautiful countryside, beyond Blanefield mentioned in the text. The narrative is interspersed with much clever humour, some of which requires local experience to fully understand, so this increased my appreciation of the vernacular used.
For those who may not know ‘The Long Glasgow Kiss’ is not a romantic encounter, but rather the local euphemism for a head butt in the criminal world.
I had to continue reading until the end – and I laughed out loud lots of times at the humorous bits.
Highly recommended.

[Nick Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the setting (time and place) of the Lennox series is very appealing, with a witty and engaging narration by a central character who is likeable and witty despite bending the law, I do feel that there is a certain limitation to the series - this felt very similar to the other book in the series that I had read - gangsters and dodgy deals and missing people and violence, set in 1950s Glasgow, told in 1930s American style.

It was an entertaining and pacy read, a cut above many other Tartan Noir offerings, but it felt self-limiting and slightly predictable.. which is the only reason I give this four as opposed to five stars.

[John McDermott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another excellent instalment to the series .Tough and gritty, the setting of Glasgow in the fifties is vividly brought to life.
Lennox is a great character ; cynical, morally dubious and hardened by his experiences in the war he still manages to retain a sense of compassion.
Recommended.
3.5 stars.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book in an excellent series. Really detailed with a rich cast of characters. Draws the reader in and you don't want to put it down

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Bookpassion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sogar noch besser als der erste Teil! Mit einer spannenden Story, viel schottischem Flair und wahnsinnig tollen Nebencharakteren.

[Katy Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second outing for Lennox, the Canadian ex-soldier who never quite made it home to New Brunswick after the war. The wry observations of the Glasgow locals are funny of themselves, but even more so if you happen to be one of them, as they often come from a point of view that you never thought of before. The books work very well on their own as 50's noir, but it feels like a bit of an added bonus if you know the background of the areas and people mentioned in the series.

The only thing I had slight issue with in this book was the idea of popping up to Blanefield since even now it takes a good half hour to drive from the city centre (and that's with no other traffic), and I don't think there would ever have been a tram from there to Glasgow, although there is a regular bus service, but that's a minor quibble.

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bleak dark violent atmosphere of the eponymous first book,'Lennox',seeps it's way into this follow-up- and it's great! Grubby, earthy and once again peopled with a shady bunch of characters, Russell perfectly evokes the look and feel of Glasgow among it's seedier elements. The dry wit that ran through the first continues with perfectly placed examples of the Glasgow vernacular pitched against Lennox, our laconic wise-cracking Canadian hero- a series that will run and run and with an ending that will ensure that you will be swiftly seeking out the next in the series `The Deep Dark Sleep'...

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lennox ist Privatdetektiv in Glasgow. Früher war er Polizist, jetzt ermittelt er lieber privat. Zu weit hat er sich vom Gesetz entfernt, obwohl er das niemals wollte. Aber als er aus dem Krieg heimgekommen ist, schien es für ihn keinen anderen Weg zu geben. Jetzt bewegt er sich in der Grauzone zwischen Legal und Illegal.

Als er seine neue Freundin nach Hause bringt, steht die Polizei vor der Tür. Aber nicht wegen ihm, sondern wegen ihres Vaters. Er war einer der größten Gangsterbosse in Glasgow, jetzt ist liegt er mit eingeschlagenem Schädel in seiner Eingangshalle. Schnelle finden sich Geschäftspartner, die Lennox um seine Mithilfe bitten. Denn der Ermordete hatte ein kleines Notizbuch, das für die Glasgower Mafia mehr als wichtig war.

Lennox ist eigentlich ein guter Mensch, oder doch nicht? Es ist nicht seine Schuld, dass er sich auf die falsche Seite des Gesetzes zubewegt, aber er kann einfach nicht anders. Ich glaube eher, dass es für ihn der leichtere Weg war und er sich in der Rolle des einsamen Wolfs, der durch den Dschungel der schottischen Stadt sehr wohl fühlt.

Ich bin kein großer Fan von 50er-Jahre Filmen mit einem Privatdetektiv als Protagonist und bei diesem Buch geht es mir genauso. Vielleicht ist das Problem, dass der Krimi erst vor kurzer Zeit geschrieben worden ist. Auf mich wirkt es so, als ob ein Ermittler aus den 50ern ins Glasgow der heutigen Zeit versetzt worden ist. So, wie bei manchen Krimis das lokale Flair fehlt, fehlt hier das Zeitliche.

Lennox geht mir ein bisschen auf die Nerven. Ständig redet er davon, wie gerne er doch ein wirklich guter Mensch wäre, aber der Weg dorthin ist ihm offensichtlich zu schwer. Ich mache mir ein bisschen Sorgen um seinen neuesten Mitarbeiter, Davie. Der Junge (mit gerade mal 16 ist er nicht viel mehr) darf bei einer ungefährlichen Überwachung mitmachen. Hoffentlich bleibt sie das auch und Lennox bringt Davie nicht unnötig in Gefahr.

egen Ende gab es ein paar überraschende Wendungen, die mich mit dem Rest des Buchs versöhnt haben. Gerade in der Zeit vor Internet und Mobiltelefon hat Lennox bei den Ermittlungen gute Arbeit geleistet. Er ist mir immer noch nicht wirklich sympathisch und ich kann auch nicht verstehen, warum er sich gegen Ende ausgerechnet so verhalten hat.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read lennox a long time ago but that didn't matter as I quickly immersed myself in 1948 gangland Glasgow as lennox, the Canadian veteran private investigator has to work out who is sending hate mail to an local prize fighter on behalf of the local gang leader and find the missing brother of a film star. A real page turner and it won't be long until I read the next in the series.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second novel in the series takes a while to get going.. perhaps this is on purpose as it helps the reader share Lennox frustration at the lack of progress in his parallel investigations.
Fortunately the payoff in the second half of the book more than makes up for the slow start and the denouement is as satisfying as you could hope for.
Highly recommended.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read in the Lennox series. I can't wait to pick up the next one. The characters are always beautifully depicted and the story lines exciting with just the right mix of action, intrigue and especially humour.

[Jose Enrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo vuelvo a decir esta serie de libros es mejor que la de Hamburgo, es increible como te sumerge en la Escocia mas oscura con cada palabra y como te hace pensar que estas donde está cada personaje. Recomiendo esta serie de libros.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable second outing for Lennox. Love the fifties Glasgow setting, even if it doesn't paint too pretty a picture.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't know if it's just me or the books I am reading but again I found this hard work. It's a good story just found too many characters

[John M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This yin's a belter. Great plot, good characterisation and top drawer scene-setting. Ah'll be readin' mair fi' this Russell fella.

[Sophie Houston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackly funny and brilliant plotting. The only drawback is that I looked up Austin Atlantic on the web, and now I want to win the lottery and buy one!

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Tartan Noir!

[Graham Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gritty page turner

Just keep them coming as I have difficulty putting them down.Lennoxbis the ultimate rough diamond.Would make an excellent TV series.

[Shaun Deane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series with some laugh out loud lines. I read the first three out of order. Didn't matter a whole lot except for the relationship with his landlady. Fun snow storm reading.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second outing with Craig Russell’s Lennox. He’s tough and in gritty Glasgow he needs to be. Loving this series and luckily I have the next three standing by.

[Miss Dizzy Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another class act of a book.

[Nick Dorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple fun detective story set in the 1950s.

[Will Quarry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Number two in the Lennox series was another joyous read. The usual humour and banter fills the novel throughout. A great work!

[Jacqueline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lennox’s constant wisecracking grew old pretty quickly for me

[Alejandro Koppmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phillip Marlowe y Bernie Gunther respiran en estas páginas. Incluso Peaky Blinders se hace presente.

[Stuart Haining · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10 12% More great characters and a very atmospheric 1950’s Glasgow setting. Easy reader.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took some getting into but enjoyed once I did