Reviews
A book celebrating the Secret Life of Tartan
When we think of tartan, wedding finery and shortbread tins might first spring to mind. But in The Secret Life of Tartan, tailor and fashion designer Vixy Rae shows how our national cloth is worth so much more than a pastiche or parody of Scottishness. By exploring the origins of tartan and its deep connection…
Read MoreThe Scotsman who aided Lord Wellington
This is a long overdue account of a man who played a crucial role in Scotland’s military alongside Lord Wellington, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in 1827. George Murray’s life was one of intelligence, loyalty and unexpected scandal. Harding-Edgar carefully documents Murray’s life while depicting in great detail the complex historical tapestry which acts as…
Read MoreA stunning collection of photography from Skye
When visiting Skye or the West Coast of Scotland more generally, most of us cross our fingers and pray for sunshine. However, the same cannot be said for photographer Morten Hansen. Inspired by the Viking explorers who first christened Skye ‘cloud island’, Hansen sets out to present the island in all its rainy glory –…
Read MoreDesigns on success in creative Edinburgh
With its beautiful architecture, world heritage status, and world-class art galleries and museums, Edinburgh is a city which is truly steeped in creative history. Although a walk through the Georgian splendour of the New Town or the winding, medieval streets of the Old Town makes the city’s charm evident, what is not so obvious is…
Read MoreDark Suits and Sad Songs has humour and darkness
The third in the DCI Daley thriller series, Dark Suits and Sad Songs is simultaneously dark and funny. A senior civil servant has committed suicide and two local drug-dealers lie dead, so when strange lights start appearing in the sky over Kinloch it’s clear there are dark forces at work. Now the fate of the…
Read MoreThis gripping novel will hook you until the end
Psychologist Dr Angie Lawrence, director of the new Hazelnut Assessment Centre for difficult adolescents in Orkney, is known for her odd yet effective methods. As her husband becomes increasingly worried about these methods, Angie’s tragic past starts to come to light. This is a gripping novel that will keep your attention. The Crazy Psychologist, by…
Read MoreEdinburgh’s old town in prose, poetry and photos
Renowned storyteller John Fee offers a unique insight into Edinburgh’s Old Town. This is a book that blends prose, poetry and photography to bring to life this famous part of Edinburgh. A lot of effort has clearly gone into collecting the various stories, making this an enlightening read even for locals who’ve lived here all…
Read MoreThe perfect guide to Scotland’s various islands
The Scottish Islands is an incredibly detailed guide to all of the Scottish islands, large and small. The author has an extensive knowledge of the topic gained from a lifetime of sailing the waters of Scotland’s coasts, and he provides insights into everything from geology to history and how to get there. The Scottish Islands:…
Read MoreBringing seaweed into every day cooking
Most of us have eaten food containing seaweed, but few of us will have actually cooked with it, something that BBC Masterchef finalist Fiona Bird is looking to change. Living in the Hebrides, Bird sources the finest natural produce for all of her recipes. The book combines Bird’s foraging skills with her imaginative recipes to…
Read MoreA pagan icon is found in dramatic novel
The deeply unpopular Reverend Burnett gets hold of a pagan icon that has been unearthed in his village, in Silma Hill. When the person who discovered the icon is found dead, the local villagers, fuelled by their hatred of the minister, blame his daughter and accuse her of witchcraft. To save his daughter he’ll have…
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