Reviews
Fascinating look at the 14th Duke of Hamilton
Scottish amateur boxing champion, Unionist MP, participant in the first flight over Mount Everest, the 14th Duke of Hamilton was an adventurous and popular man. But when World War II loomed, Hamilton was embroiled in an escalating rumour that he was a crypto-Facist. Mark Peel rectifies these slanders in this fascinating and detailed biography. The…
Read MoreA novel take on the five sisters of Robert the Bruce
Sisters of Bruce is a hefty novel, giving novel gives voice to the five sisters of Robert the Bruce, highlighting the challenges they faced as sisters of Scotland’s great hero. It is certainly refreshing to hear the female voice within history’s discourse of wars and battles that is so often dominated by men. The story…
Read MoreMary Queen of Scots put under the spotlight
Donald Smith’s third historical novel readdresses the conventional, biased readings of the enigmatic Mary Queen of Scots as either: a deceitful adultress or a pious martyr. The chronicler of the story is the personable character James Maitland, son of the Secretary of Scotland and the principal lady in waiting to Mary Queen of Scots. In…
Read MoreA very human story – in English and Gaelic
From the very first page of this poetic novel the reader can witness the story shimmer into life. Writing simultaneously in Gaelic and English, Campbell evokes the haunting beauty of the Western Highlands in this romantic tale of chance encounters and missed moments. When the narrator passes a girl on the staircase of a ferryboat,…
Read MoreHow the other half live in country houses
Country House Camera is a stunning glimpse into how the other half used to live. This collection of photographs taken at some of Britain’s grandest houses provides a fascinating insight into the advent of family photography. They are highly personal and revealing of a long gone but never to be forgotten way of life. Country…
Read MoreFantastic fourth in Edinburgh crime series
Nor Will He Sleep is the fourth instalment of the Inspector McLevy series, adapted from the BBC Radio 4 series. This is an accomplished murder mystery which effortlessly paints a vivid picture of the dark and often savage streets of Edinburgh in 1887. This story buzzes with a fascinating array of dastardly and heroic characters.…
Read MoreA look at the Great War – from those who lived it
Portobello and the Great War is a charming book packed with letters, photographs and first-hand diary accounts of the residents of Portobello during the First World War. The area is most famous for being the capital’s seaside resort and this new perspective on the town is sure to be of interest to anyone who enjoyed…
Read MoreRomance, politics intrigue and crime in Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Yuletide 1743, and Redcoat officer Robert Catto would rather be anywhere else on earth than Scotland. Seconded back from the wars in Europe to captain the city’s Town Guard, he fears his covert mission to assess the strength of the Jacobite threat will force him to confront the past he tries so hard to…
Read MoreWhen vampires came to the Scottish Highlands
I have always been a fan of the vampire genre, but this is a first for me: a tale of blood sucking horror set in the Highlands of Scotland. Despite the odd juxtaposition of genres, this is an enjoyable tale that I found difficult to put down. The lead character, Mark Campbell is well developed…
Read MoreFinding great Scottish wildlife experiences
A family-friendly book, 100 Great Wildlife Experiences delivers exactly what it promises. Counting down 100 of the UK’s majestic fauna and flora, he takes his readers on a nationwide wildlife tour, recommending the best places to spot lapwings, willow warblers, pine martens and more in Scotland. While the simple ‘countdown’ structure does not allow for…
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