Reviews
Blood mystery at the heart of tense new thriller
The End of the Line comes from Gillian Galbraith, a former advocate at the Scottish Bar, specialising in medical negligence and author of the bestselling Alice Rice Mysteries comes a tense new thriller. When a 90-year-old man is found dead in his Edinburgh mansion, the bibliophile reviewing the old man’s documentation questions the circumstances surrounding…
Read MoreA gripping whodunnit – with laughs on the way
If you are looking to settle down with a gripping whodunnit – and a good measure of comedy – the latest crime novel from Angus McAllister, author of Close Quarters, is worth picking up. Set in Glasgow, Annette Somerville is a young single mother earning her living as an upmarket prostitute in a sauna parlour…
Read MoreWe try and test the Jack Wolfskin Vojo Hike II boots
Tried and tested – Jack Wolfskin Men’s Vojo Hike II Mid Hiking Boots (£69.99) What is it: A great lightweight, intermediate walking boot. Strong ankle support, breathable, waterproof and a comfy fit. What I liked: I tested these boots out on a three-day walk around the hills in the Scottish Borders, and having taken them…
Read MoreAn insightful guide to the secrets of Stirling
Stirling, while remaining a small settlement throughout the past, is not to be underestimated and holds huge significance in Scottish history. It has been associated with some of the most famous names in Scotland, including William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots, with Stirling Castle housing almost every Scottish monarch. Secret Stirling gives a vivid…
Read MoreA look at Scottish trains which is the rail deal
The Scottish Rail Scene gives a whistle-stop tour of the railway services throughout Scotland. From the bustling scenes of Edinburgh’s Waverley or Glasgow Queen Street, to the more remote Highland outposts such as Mallaig or Kyle: John Jackson has visited, photographed and documented them all. Since he first set foot in Scotland in 1968, Jackson…
Read MoreA look at what goes into making fine furniture
In this large but stunningly illustrated and compelling autobiographical tome, artist Rupert Williamson dissects the organic process which came to define his work as a fine furniture maker. The mildly dyslexic designer embraced futurism in the early 1970s with gawdy, bulbous, curved structures, desperate to topple the establishment – which for a designer at that…
Read MoreStory of the Scottish Wildcat brought to book
Tracking the Highland Tiger is an eye-opening account of the tormented lives of Scottish Wildcats. Taylor tells the story of how the beautiful animals used to live, in all their glory, compared to their lives now with numbers depleting rapidly. Many of Scotland’s wild animals, from bears to wolves, have been driven to extinction –…
Read MoreLiving in a lighthouse is a novel experience
The Lighthouse Keepers is an inspirational and light-hearted novel that follows Max, an aspiring young musician. The novel is set in the west coast of Scotland, making many of the places mentioned recognisable to local readers. Anderson is able to bring to life, with vivid descriptions, the enchanting music that Max creates drawing emotional responses…
Read MoreA love affair with wild life and the barn owl
Jim Crumley is one of the country’s premier wildlife writers and this small but perfectly formed book shows why. The writer looks back on his ethereal encounters with the barn owl and its aptly heart-shaped face, which he has always cherished as part of his life-long affiliation with nature. Even living in Dundee as a…
Read MoreA classic piece of writing from Sir Walter Scott
The Lady of the Lake is a vivid and gripping tale of deception, romance and mystery told with the backdrop of some of Scotland’s most breathtaking scenery. It emphasises the vivid language used by Sir Walter Scott. The Lady of the Lake signified the peak of Scott’s reputation as a poet and was a sensation…
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