Reviews
Two 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,…
Read MoreA light-hearted tale set in the Scottish Highlands
The Peacock is light-hearted read set in a dilapidated castle in the Highlands. Following a group of investment bankers who rent out a space for a weekend of team building, they find themselves at Lord and Lady McIntosh’s stately home. Slapstick humour reigns supreme as most of their plans go awry and new stumbling blocks…
Read MoreOne young man’s musical hopes and dreams
The Lighthouse Keepers is a moving story of a young man, Max Bruford, who, against his parents’ wishes, wants to have a career as a musician – aiming to become the best in the world. After a bad reaction to the news of his aspirations, Max comes across two lighthouse keepers, who are swallowed with…
Read MoreQuestions for humanity’s future through verse
Born in Ireland in 1970 and currently teaching at Aberdeen University, David Wheatley is a well-known Irish poet. His work has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry. With many prizes and awards under his name, The President of Planet Earth is no exception to his successful streak. Wheatley brings us…
Read MoreFirst love affair in the 1970s is remembered
The Way We Were entails the love affair of author Peter Hoffman in the early 1970s, from age 16 all the way to 20. Hoffman was educated at Hunter’s Tryst School in Oxgangs, Edinburgh, and spent secondary school at Boroughmuir (more or less) and graduated from Edinburgh University, twice, the second as a post-graduate. He…
Read MoreGrandfather’s notes make for a fascinating history
Historical discoveries are amazing things, especially if there’s a family connection. While canvassing for the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, MSP Neil Findlay made a discovery. Visiting the home that used to be his grandparents’, he was shown a plywood panel where John Jock Findlay, his grandfather, had written his life’s tale. Fascinated, Neil transcribed…
Read MoreA gripping Scottish time travel read for children
Over the past few years, Rennie McOwan has been crafting a series of adventures for children. The Clan series, which features the adventures of Gavin, Clare, Michael and Mot, has seen them feature in Light on Dumyat, The White Stag Adventure and The Day The Mountain Moved. Jewels on the Move is the fourth in…
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