Some secrets are best left buried ...Knee-deep in the mud of an ancient burial ground, a winter storm raging around him, and at least one person intent on his death: how did Murray Watson end up here?
Naming the Bones
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Review
Welsh is adept at keeping you reading till the end. --The Daily Mail
Saturated with dark imagery... enjoyable and exciting. --Times Literary Supplement
Naming the Bones combines a whip-cracking plot with a sure literary touch. --Anna Burnside, Sunday Times
Top-notch tartan noir . . . Welsh is the best of the current crop of clever crime writers returning some conspicuous craft to the genre. --Independent on Sunday
It's not magic that takes us to another world - it's storytelling. And Louise Welsh is mistress of that dark art. --Val McDermid
Saturated with dark imagery... enjoyable and exciting. --Times Literary Supplement
Naming the Bones combines a whip-cracking plot with a sure literary touch. --Anna Burnside, Sunday Times
Top-notch tartan noir . . . Welsh is the best of the current crop of clever crime writers returning some conspicuous craft to the genre. --Independent on Sunday
It's not magic that takes us to another world - it's storytelling. And Louise Welsh is mistress of that dark art. --Val McDermid
About the Author
Louise Welsh is the bestselling author of The Cutting Room, Tamburlaine Must Die and The Bullet Trick. She was chosen as one of Britain's Best First Novelists of 2002 by the Guardian. Her awards include the Crime Writers' Association Creasey Dagger and the Saltire First Book Award. She lives in Glasgow.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this, her fourth novel, Louise Welsh approaches the notion of crime from a different angle. The standard interpretation, that of the perpetration of an unlawful act, is laid to one side in favour of creating a story that hinges on an act (a series of acts, even) of serious moral wrongdoing. This has the effect of blurring the boundary between the crime-writing genre and literary fiction and, it must be said, the author pulls it off admirably.
Naming the Bones is set in the competitive world of Scottish academia; in particular, the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Doctor Murray Watson, a Glasgow professor of English literature, sets himself the task, by way of writing a book, of restoring the image of Archie Lunan, a promising poet whose early death 30 years previously had consigned him to obscurity.
Lunan had died in mysterious circumstances on the remote Scottish island of Lismore and was buried there. Murray bases his research on a close reading of a slim volume of Lunan's poetry, a box of barely decipherable papers and word-of-mouth testimony of those among his academic peers who claimed to have known Lunan.
However what started as research soon becomes a quest to seek out the truths, not only about Lunan's life and death but also about what lies behind the climate of intrigue, deviancy and betrayal he discovers to be prevalent in the universities.
Thus the reader is presented with the trope of a writer/critic cast in the role of an amateur detective. A role that, incidentally, also serves to send Murray on a journey of self-discovery in which parallels in the lives of his subject and himself become more and more evident.... Read more ›
Naming the Bones is set in the competitive world of Scottish academia; in particular, the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Doctor Murray Watson, a Glasgow professor of English literature, sets himself the task, by way of writing a book, of restoring the image of Archie Lunan, a promising poet whose early death 30 years previously had consigned him to obscurity.
Lunan had died in mysterious circumstances on the remote Scottish island of Lismore and was buried there. Murray bases his research on a close reading of a slim volume of Lunan's poetry, a box of barely decipherable papers and word-of-mouth testimony of those among his academic peers who claimed to have known Lunan.
However what started as research soon becomes a quest to seek out the truths, not only about Lunan's life and death but also about what lies behind the climate of intrigue, deviancy and betrayal he discovers to be prevalent in the universities.
Thus the reader is presented with the trope of a writer/critic cast in the role of an amateur detective. A role that, incidentally, also serves to send Murray on a journey of self-discovery in which parallels in the lives of his subject and himself become more and more evident.... Read more ›
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By J. Mclennan
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Louise Welsh's fourth book does not disappoint.
In Naming the Bones her characters are three dimensional. Even the nastiest of them has some redeeming feature. The locations, particularly, but not only, the rain soaked island where the denouement is set, are so well drawn you feel the rain running down the back of your neck - or is that the hairs standing on end? Dark, edgy writing draws you in to her well crafted plot.
And you know that her erudition that is hinted at with classical and other references is the tip of an iceberg. She's a clever lass.
I am so looking forward to her next book.
What world are you taking us to then, Louise?
In Naming the Bones her characters are three dimensional. Even the nastiest of them has some redeeming feature. The locations, particularly, but not only, the rain soaked island where the denouement is set, are so well drawn you feel the rain running down the back of your neck - or is that the hairs standing on end? Dark, edgy writing draws you in to her well crafted plot.
And you know that her erudition that is hinted at with classical and other references is the tip of an iceberg. She's a clever lass.
I am so looking forward to her next book.
What world are you taking us to then, Louise?
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By H. meiehofer
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Young academic sets off on research into long dead poet, whom nobody else rates. Doesn't really sound like the basis for a good story.
Thankfully in Louise Welsh we have one of the finest writers of our age who turns this seemingly unpromising material into an intriguing dark tale of mystery and betrayal.
The story does start in a rather mundane way, with our hero Murray Watson setting off on his research about the poet Archie Luhan. However, although the subject does not appear inspiring the writing does draw one in and Welsh's skill lies in planting the idea in the reader's mind,
"There's something not quite right here".
This sense of unease is what makes this tale so intriguing and also makes the story so convincing. Yes there are twists and surprises, but these are like events in real life rather than the contrivances of so much fiction. Like the hero the reader feels as if something is going to happen, but doesn't know exactly what.
This is a masterful tale beautifully told. I find it impossible to fault Louise Welsh at all. The plot is intriguing, the characters are interesting, the writing is just so beautiful and the evocation of place is right on the button.
This is one of the best novels to emerge from Scotland (or anywhere else for that matter) in many years.
Fans of Louise Welsh will enjoy this new treat and it is a great place to start for those who have not yet discovered this great writer.
Thankfully in Louise Welsh we have one of the finest writers of our age who turns this seemingly unpromising material into an intriguing dark tale of mystery and betrayal.
The story does start in a rather mundane way, with our hero Murray Watson setting off on his research about the poet Archie Luhan. However, although the subject does not appear inspiring the writing does draw one in and Welsh's skill lies in planting the idea in the reader's mind,
"There's something not quite right here".
This sense of unease is what makes this tale so intriguing and also makes the story so convincing. Yes there are twists and surprises, but these are like events in real life rather than the contrivances of so much fiction. Like the hero the reader feels as if something is going to happen, but doesn't know exactly what.
This is a masterful tale beautifully told. I find it impossible to fault Louise Welsh at all. The plot is intriguing, the characters are interesting, the writing is just so beautiful and the evocation of place is right on the button.
This is one of the best novels to emerge from Scotland (or anywhere else for that matter) in many years.
Fans of Louise Welsh will enjoy this new treat and it is a great place to start for those who have not yet discovered this great writer.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ever since "The Cutting Room", you can rely on Louise Welsh to produce a good story. The story is built up slowly but steadily and also has all the usual sightings of familiar places in Glasgow and Edinburgh. During the closing sequence it did lose a bit as it tried to tie up absolutely all of the loose ends. Overall top class.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The previous reviewer has nailed the essence of this story. I also think Welsh has created some good characters especially the female charcters. The form of a quest, the underworld setting of Glasgow and the insular mysteriousness of the island also worked for me. The protagonist - Dr Murray Watson - (why do I keep thinking of Sherlock Holmes?)doesn't have that pyschological edge that Rilke (The Cutting Room)has; but then again isn't it good to leave the reader wanting more? There are some similarites to A.S. Byatt's Possession but also many differences. Those looking for an intellectual read will be disappointed - a good lay in the sun (irony not intended) and forget about life read. I am an admirer of Welsh and I wasn't disappointed. I look forward to the next novel.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Freckles
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book immensely. Not having read any of Louise Welsh's novels before, it has left me wanting more.
The story was slightly slow to get going, but that did not detract me and I was up until the wee hours finishing it. The story moves between Glasgow, Scotland and the isle of Lismore. It was the story on the island which I found the most interesting, with fascinating characters and an intriguing plot.
Well worth a read and I will be searching for more of Ms Welsh's novels.
The story was slightly slow to get going, but that did not detract me and I was up until the wee hours finishing it. The story moves between Glasgow, Scotland and the isle of Lismore. It was the story on the island which I found the most interesting, with fascinating characters and an intriguing plot.
Well worth a read and I will be searching for more of Ms Welsh's novels.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
book club
not what I thought from reading prev, not as griping, easy to put down and forget about if not for book club and having to read it by certain time. Read more
Published 6 months ago by S J HUNTER
4.0 out of 5 stars
Armchair Scottish holiday
Naming the Bones by Louise Welsh is a well-written mystery/thriller concerning a Glaswegian literary academic Murray Watson on a fact-finding trail of a long-forgotten poet called... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Callmerick
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
I'm a bit hazy as to how Louise Welsh's Naming the Bones came to be in the pile of books-yet-to-be-read that sits by my bedside, but I am glad that it landed there as it was a most... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jimbo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Darkly different....
I've long been a fan of the darkly different books of Louise Welsh. This slightly unusual thriller really grabs your attention from the opening page, it quickly becomes one of... Read more
Published 17 months ago by jaffareadstoo
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dreadful turgid rubbish.....
I have read all the previous Welsh novels and enjoyed them.
Something has gone wrong here though. It has taken me over 2 months to read this turgid rubbish. Read more
Something has gone wrong here though. It has taken me over 2 months to read this turgid rubbish. Read more
Published 23 months ago by York8500
4.0 out of 5 stars
a sad and dark story
I really liked this novel. It was fascinating to follow Murray Watsons's detective work trying to get to know the dead poet Archie Lunan. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Ann-Marie
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not quite up to scratch
I greatly enjoyed Louise Welsh's previous novels. Unfortunately, this most recent one is not as good as the others. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2011 by bmordue
1.0 out of 5 stars
judith
Sorry - thought this was a really-poorly constructed book. Very unsatisfying read. All I can think of is to say that the second part is better than the first.
Published on 3 Jun 2011 by judith
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very well-written story
This is the story of a brief time in Dr Murray Watson's life. He's a professor of English Literature at Glasgow University, and has been obsessed with poet, Archie Lunan, since he... Read more
Published on 14 May 2011 by Nicola
4.0 out of 5 stars
A slow beginning but got better and better
In Naming the Bones, the first book I've read by Louise Welsh, university lecturer Dr Murray Watson takes a sabbatical from work in order to research a new book on the life of... Read more
Published on 30 April 2011 by Helen
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