Reviews
A gripping read that will hook in the young adults
As a young reader, few things gripped me more than a good mystery. I devoured the Enid Blyton books, especially Island of Adventure, as well as the Swallows and Amazon series, then moved on to the Hardy Boys and the odd Nancy Drew, and especially loved those that had a hint of the supernatural about…
Read MoreThe Whisky Muse II leaves the reader with a warm glow
Whisky is, quite probably, Scotland’s greatest contribution to the world in terms of food and drink. The power of whisky is a curious thing, as it can make one person weep, and another one sing. Robin Laing, who is a songwriter, poet and performer takes the reader on a lyrical tour of the history and…
Read MoreSwapping Glasgow to Skye in the formative years
One of the most fascinating aspects of reading autobiographical books about Scotland is learning the life experiences of others in their formative years. Whether you’ve grown up in pleasant suburbia, on a country estate, or even a council house, people from all walks of life have different stories to tell. Raymond Moore’s Skye Stories –…
Read MoreA moving novel with a forgotten Scottish shame
In 1950s Scotland, thousands of children were removed from their families for a ‘better life’ in the rural idyll of the Scottish Highlands as ‘boarded-out’ children. In Mick, by Willie Orr, he has crafted the moving story of Mick Crossan, removed by social services from his widowed mother and slum home in the Gorbals and…
Read MoreThe mystery of the missing Roman legion
The disappearance of Lego IX Hispana has long been a mystery, sparking debate and theories for decades. In this fascinating book, Missing Legion, Simon Elliott sets out in great detail the evidence for some of these theories. Elliott’s writing style makes the book easy to follow and understand even if you are not familiar with…
Read MoreA fascinating tale based on true-life events
In a Veil of Mist is based on the true life but little-known event of Operation Cauldron. In 1952, during the Cold War, germ warfare experiments were taking place on a ship off the coast of the Isle of Lewis. The book delves into the lives of two locals who begin to suspect something is…
Read MoreTwo cases in a thrilling read set in 1970s Glasgow
The April Dead, the newest novel following detective Harry McCoy, takes place after a homemade bomb explodes in a Glasgow flat. With little evidence at his disposal, McCoy must unearth who is to blame before the situation worsens. At the same time McCoy has to deal with a missing American who vanished from the nearby…
Read MoreRegenerating a beautiful Scottish estate
Mar Lodge Estate is nestled in Royal Deeside and provides the backdrop of this beautiful book. In 1995 the National Trust for Scotland took over the estate in a bid to improve and conserve its landscape. Painting, the assistant ecologist at Mar Lodge Estate, details the work that has occurred over the last 25 years…
Read MoreComing to terms with a family past of slavery
Blood Legacy: Reckoning With A Family’s Story Of Slavery is a highly reflective book about how, by coming to terms with one’s past, we can advocate for a better future. Author Alex Renton explains how, rather than disinterested bystanders, the Scots were enthusiastic participants who were up to their oxters in slavery. Through tracking his…
Read MoreA fascinating look at the life of the shearwater
A beautiful mix of memoir and natural history, Roger Morgan-Grenville explores the life of the majestic shearwater. He follows it as it travels solo from the British Isles to the waters of the South Atlantic at the tender age of just two weeks old. Morgan-Greenville paints an extraordinary picture of one of nature’s most remarkable,…
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