Reviews
Celebrating Caithness in the eyes of a poet
Described as a poet’s journey to the far north of Scotland, The Province of the Cat explores the wilderness of Caithness through the eyes of poet and playwright George Gunn. Looking at its landscape, people, culture and history, as well as the myths, folklore and fusion of Norse and Gaelic cultures, Gunn describes the truly…
Read MoreMagic and mystery await in The Shadow Keeper
With the rise of the Shadow Masks and their dark magic imminent, Moll Pecksniff must find the Amulet of Truth to stop the evil takeover. Accompanied by pet wildcat Gryff and best friends Alfie and Sid, Moll faces monsters, smugglers and ancient codes in her quest to save the Old Magic. Abi Elphinstone’s second instalment…
Read MoreA mix of storytelling, mystery and building
Ann Craig awaits her mill owner husband’s return on the dark and stormy night of 29 December 1879, in The Night He Left by Sue Lawrence. As she looks out from her window across to the River Tay, she sees the newly built iron rail bridge buckle and collapse, throwing the train he is travelling…
Read MoreThe ideal read when you’re going on holiday
When writer Paul Stewart heads to the Italian town of Montalcino to finish his book, it seems like the perfect escape in My Italian Bulldozer. On landing, however, things take a turn for the worse when he discovers his hired car is nowhere to be found. With no other cars available, it looks like Paul…
Read MoreEvocative portrait of life in the 21st century
Johnny’s return from London to stay with best friend Stevie in rural Fife is the final admission that his dreams of being an artist are over, in Three Craws by James Yorkston. On the bus home he meets Mikey, a low-level dealer from the area. As Johnny tries to get his life on track, Mikey…
Read MoreArgyll celebrated in geography and biography
Author Ian Bradley’s love of Argyll shines through as he takes both a geographical and biographical approach. He looks at the interplay of landscape and Christian belief through figures such as Columba, Carswell, sundry Campbells, George Matheson, George MacLeod and others. Drawing on original research and interviews, this is an enthralling and fascinating read for…
Read MoreCar boot find leads to a new case for sleuth
Private Investigations, an instalment in the Bob Skinner mysteries, sees the Edinburgh sleuth plunged into a gruelling new case. The former Chief Constable has seen his fair share of crime scenes, but few affected him as much as the horrifying sight he finds stowed in the back of a stolen car that collides with his.…
Read MoreA novel take on turbulent marriage of Robert Burns
The Jewel is a historical novel which follows the dramatic years of Jean Armour and Robert Burns’ courtship, and their turbulent, passionate married life. Bringing 18th-century Scotland to life, The Jewel is the story of a romantic and tragic relationship, with the death of six children and the early demise of Rab, aged 37. How…
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 MoreA beautiful photographic guide to the Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is a photographic evocation of one of the best-known and most-iconic parts of Scotland. Iain Kirk Campbell’s large landscape-format book beautifully captures Skye’s many different moods, from the darker, more brooding side of the island’s character, to its bright lights and cheerful flora and fauna. Divided into sections, the book looks…
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