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
Product Description
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?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 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.
Louise Welsh's strong points of vivid characterization and intricate plotting are at the forefront of this entertaining novel. Four stars.
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.
Louise Welsh's strong points of vivid characterization and intricate plotting are at the forefront of this entertaining novel. Four stars.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
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?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 4 months ago by jaffareadstoo
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 10 months ago by York8500
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 11 months ago by Ann-Marie
Intriguing plot
I enjoyed this book immensely. Not having read any of Louise Welsh's novels before, it has left me wanting more. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Freckles
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 11 months ago by bmordue
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 12 months ago by judith
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 12 months ago by Nicola
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 13 months ago by H. Skinner
A complex plott and strong characters make this a satisfying read
Louise Welsh made her name as an author of quality with a Gothic touch when her excellent first novel The Cutting Room was published back in 2002. Read more
Published 15 months ago by A Common Reader
Boring the Bones
What has happened to Louise Welsh? Her first novel, 'The Cutting Room', was an absolute joy. 'The Bullet Trick' was less impressive, but still exhibited a high level of skill. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Rose
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