Reviews
A terrifying look into a fictional tomorrow
Lie of the Land, the debut novel from Michael F Russell, is set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian Scotland in the not-so-distant future. An authoritarian government is in place, with all that entails. Internet development has increased to such an extent as to allow the powers that be to be able to control minds – the…
Read MoreAn epic tale set during the time of Culloden
Surrey-born author Kimberley Jordan Reeman has created an epic 782-page book that is not for the faint hearted. Set in Scotland in 1746 during the bloody military occupation of the Highlands, gut-wrenching atrocities set a distinctly dark tone from the outset. But when English soldier Mordaunt saves an infant from the horrors of 18th-century rebellion,…
Read MoreThe tragic story of a Scots soldier – in his own words
So many Scottish families have their own stories from World Wars I and II. This is the biography of Charles Grant Tennant, a pacifist who joined the Army at the outbreak of the Great War and died in May 1915. Cumbrae-based Fergus Boyle has assembled a fascinating first-hand account of the life of his great-uncle,…
Read MoreDetective solving a murder crime back in time
Seventeenth-century detective duo MacKenzie and Scougall are asked by a Highland clan to solve a case, after a young lawyer’s body is found near Edinburgh. Their investigations are set against the political turmoil of the time, with Jacobite rebels and Bonnie Dundee, as they try to fi nd out just who wanted Aeneas MacLeod dead.…
Read MoreThe bravery and sacrifice of brave Scot Jane Haining
The true story of Scottish heroine Jane Haining is a truly harrowing one. As matron of a Hungarian residential school that housed Jewish orphans, Jane protected them with all her might, refusing to flee the country in 1944 – a decision that ultimately led to her death. Her story of self-sacrifice is portrayed by Miller…
Read MoreThe 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 MoreA fantastic book of living in the countryside
Never judge a book by its cover – but on this occasion we’re going to break the rules. This gorgeous front snap tells you everything you need to know about Johnny Scott’s remarkable publication. As reflected in his contented expression, Scott’s passion for rural life is deep-rooted. Explaining that ‘the seeds of [his] fascination with…
Read MoreThe essential viewpoints to see in Scotland
More than simply a catalogue of view indicators (which identify surrounding features in the landscape), 349 Views of Scotland is a celebration of the breath-taking sights across the country. It also tells the inspiring story of those who sought to make them understood. Following in the footsteps of 1938 mountaineer Ben Humble, David Squires has…
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