Posts Tagged ‘stories’
The general who led an incredibly military career
General Sir Ralph Abercromby led an extraordinary life – he twice served as an MP, was appointed governor of Trinidad, Commander-in-Chief of Ireland. He was highly respected by his troops and this in-depth, absorbing read covers the French Revolutionary Wars, a critical time in Europe’s tumultuous political history. Though it requires intense concentration, and with…
Read MoreMonsters and more in a book for the wee ones
For a child, there’s nothing scarier than a story with monsters – but they always lose in the end. Lea Taylor has tapped into traditional Scots stories of our beasties, and written some new tales which will terrify and entertain children in equal measure. With stories like The Greedy Trows of Orkney and Kelpie Capers,…
Read MoreSome exciting adventures set in the 1930s
The Gamekeeper’s Son is a real boys’ own adventure book from the heart of 1930s Morayshire. This delightful set of mini stories recounts the upbringing of author Ron Stewart, the son of a gamekeeper, and his adventures with his father, friends and local wildlife. With short, episodic chapters, we get an often comic account of…
Read MoreRural Scotland celebrated with history and tales
Dr Fiona-Jane Brown’s love of Aberdeenshire has been re-affirmed with the third instalment in a series of local history books. Hidden Aberdeenshire: The Land provides the history and folk tales from across the region in superb detail. A fun book of short stories, this collection links the historic sights of Aberdeenshire with its folklore, a…
Read MoreShipshape memoir of Scotland’s maritime industry
Stories of the shipbuilding industry are brought to life in Alexander M M Stephen’s book. Covering industrial relations, shipyard modernisation, ship design and contract negotiations, this fascinating memoir introduces readers to some of the most interesting yet barely known facts on industrial history. A seventh-generation shipbuilder, the author has extensive knowledge on the subject and…
Read MoreRemembering the lives of brave military Scots
The Daily Telegraph’s collection of 100 military obituaries from the past 16 years, edited by David Twiston Davies, is both informative and moving. The obituaries have been featured in the broadsheet newspaper over the years, and include those celebrated for their great heroism and their involvement in major operations. Others have extraordinary stories to tell,…
Read MoreGripping novel begins with a body on a beach
From the writer of the The Lewis Trilogy and The China Thrillers, comes Peter May’s crime novel Coffin Road. A gripping page turner, Coffin Road follows the stories of a mystery man who washed up on a Hebridean beach; a detective hunting a killer; and a teenage girl desperate to discover the truth about her…
Read MoreA mystery as the Clearances take hold on Skye
Anna Mazzola sets a dark and gothic scene in The Story Keeper, a period novel which explores multiple plot lines that weave together to form a story about a broken community, death and folklore. Mazzola’s careful attention to detail reveals the extent of the research that has gone into the writing of this book, which…
Read MoreThe mystery of a missing child in Portugal
Focused on the mystery of a missing child who was presumed dead after a family holiday in Portugal, Fallen Angel is set in two dimensions, thereby taking the reader on a journey which flashes back and forth from present day to 2002. This is cleverly done by Brookmyre, revealing the answer readers are dying for…
Read MoreThe Reiver Rat is a good Scots read for children
If The Reiver Rat sounds familiar, then the chances are you may well have either read it, or heard of it before. Translated by James Robertson and featuring Axel Scheffler’s engaging illustrations, this brilliant Scots version of The Highway Rat serves as a great, entertaining introduction to the ‘mither’ tongue for youngsters. With the flow…
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