Overview

The Long Knives returns to Ray Lennox, now demoted and exiled to rural policing after the events of Crime. When corruption, old grudges, and unresolved violence resurface, Lennox is pulled back toward Edinburgh and into a confrontation with his own past and the institutions that shaped him.

Writing & Voice

We found the voice hard edged and relentless. Welsh writes with muscular energy, moving between interior rage and sharp observation. The language is confrontational and raw, matching Lennox’s fractured state of mind.

Content & Perspective

The novel follows Lennox as he navigates damaged relationships, police corruption, and cycles of violence. The story refuses comfort, showing how power protects itself and how brutality lingers long after official justice is claimed.

Themes

The Long Knives explores institutional rot, masculinity, punishment, and accountability. It looks closely at what happens when violent systems remain intact and individuals are left to absorb the damage.

What Worked

• Uncompromising continuation of Ray Lennox’s story.
• Anger with purpose directed at abuse of power.
• Clear moral fury without simplification.

Minor Quibbles

• The violence is sustained and often bleak.
• Some sections demand patience and stamina.

Final Thoughts

We found The Long Knives seething and unyielding, pressing Ray Lennox deeper into corruption’s aftermath and asking what accountability means when violent systems endure.

Rating: ★★★★☆ / 5