Books
When vampires came to Scotland in a great read
I have always been a fan of the vampire genre, but this is a first for me. This tale of blood sucking horror set in the Highlands of Scotland. Mark Campbell, historian and author, is desperate to finish his new book on the infamous Highland Clearances when his researcher mysteriously disappears. Abandoning his depressed wife…
Read MoreA new perspective on the Battle of Culloden
The Best of Enemies presents a new perspective on Culloden detailing The Hessians role in the battle. This book focuses on the interesting characters leading both sides, providing information on the men themselves as well as events on the run up to the battle and its aftermath. A refreshingly new take on a well documented…
Read MoreA wartime thriller with the action in Orkney
This is one of three fast-paced thrillers written by Ken Lussey and set in Scotland during wartime. Located in Orkney in 1942, it’s a story of war and deception, and centres around group captain Bob Sutherland and his MI11 team. Flown in to inspect the naval base in Orkney, they find that things are far…
Read MoreCelebrating Edinburgh’s literary history
For anyone looking for a quick snapshot of Edinburgh’s rich literary history, look no further. Henderson presents an instructive and illuminating look into the literary legacy of the great city of Edinburgh, featuring overlooked or untold stories accompanied by photographs of famous landmarks and statues. This book provides a new perspective on a grand and…
Read MoreFascinating insight into Scotland’s squirrels
A Scurry of Squirrels is truly fascinating. I particularly enjoyed reading about our changing attitudes towards red squirrels. Heavily hunted until the 1960s, they have now become one of the nation’s most beloved creatures. Despite immense efforts from conservationists, the red squirrel is still considered a rarity. Personally, I have only occasionally been lucky enough…
Read MorePrizewinners unveiled at Bloody Scotland
The Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival has revealed the winners of its major prizes. The event, which ran from 17-19 September in Stirling, saw the presentation of two prizes, with the debut prize, as well as the McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish crime writing novel of the year. BBC Radio Scotland presenter and debut…
Read MoreWigtown welcomes Mrs Death and hosts a Meeting of Spirits
This year’s Wigtown Book Festival meets death and then plunges on to discuss what happens afterwards. Author Salena Godden will be at the festival to discuss her book Mrs Death Misses Death in which a troubled young author named Wolf meets, and befriends, Death in the guise of an elderly working class black woman and…
Read MoreSunrise by the Sea will bring some smiles and joy
A fantastically quirky yet moving story, Sunrise by the Sea features introvert Marisa Rosso, a young girl bound by grief for her recently deceased Italian grandfather. Through the suggestion of her rather obnoxious flatmate, she moves to a tidal island off the Cornish coast to get some peace and clarity. But upon arrival she realises…
Read MoreThere’s a good reason to go wild about this stunning art
It has been a while since I opened a book showcasing such great works of wildlife art accompanied by humorous but informative writing. I would, however, expect nothing less from one of Britain’s leading sporting and wildlife artists. This latest book is a collection of McPhail’s most accomplished works from the last two decades, all…
Read MoreThere’s more to this tale than just Scottish romance
I was put off by the jacket of this book, but in this case the old adage rings true. What may at first glance appear to be a romantic novel is actually a tale full of crime, politics and intrigue, set against the backdrop of Edinburgh in the 1740s. Yes, there is a romantic element…
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