Posts Tagged ‘reviews’
The hills are in this author’s blood
Born in Bonnybridge, author Ian McNeish is an unlikely climbing enthusiast, but the hills are in his blood. This endearing memoir details the lifelong love aff air with the mountains enjoyed by this self-confessed ‘dedicated amateur’, yet there is much to like about this book. While its production values are weak and it could do…
Read MoreMurder mystery in Inverness is a change
The Blood is Still is a crime thriller set in Inverness, a refreshing change from Glasgow or Edinburgh. After a body clothed in 18th-century Highland dress is found on Culloden battlefield, young reporter Rebecca Connolly begins following the story, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. The author’s background as a journalist/investigator adds a layer…
Read MoreA celebration of Scotland in photographs
Well-known Dundonian photographer Shahbaz Majeed has assembled a dizzyingly diverse range of 126 landscape images from every corner of Scotland. Presented in landscape format, they act as a lovely aide memoire for our wilder areas – whether it’s Portencross, Glencoe or Loch Awe, there were classic shots of places many of us will know and…
Read MoreNovel approach to a virus in Edinburgh
Set in an Edinburgh recovering from a virus which targets young healthy people, Murder at the Music Factory is a thriller which starts at a fast pace. Unfortunately the book is littered with typos, but I still found the writing easy to read and despite not having read any of the other books in the…
Read MoreSwapping London life for the Hebrides
When Tamsin and her husband Rab leave London and their busy careers behind, they hope a remote island on the Scottish Hebrides will provide exactly the kind of lifestyle change they’ve been looking for. Once the romantic shine of their new adventure wears off, it becomes clear that rescuing, maintaining and building a croft as…
Read MoreA terrific tale with a time travelling teacher
Working at an elite school in Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish history master Mr Petrie has the gift of eternal life. He embarks on time-travelling missions where he is often met by famous and ruthless characters from history. Mr Petrie seeks out an apprentice to help him but the young boy’s past holds its own secrets.…
Read MoreCelebrating the British Army’s oldest regiment
Anyone with a keen interest in the history of the British Army will enjoy this well-illustrated book, which focuses on its oldest regiment. The Highland battalion, the kilted 9th Royal Scots, became affectionately known as the Dandy Ninth. Gilhooley carefully documents the formation and mobilisation of the regiment and the campaigns they fought including the…
Read MoreA gripping tale with a murder mystery on Islay
A gripping, gruesome tale of five corpses that are dug up by a peatcutter on Islay. The pace of the first few chapters feels a little slow, owing to the characters’ extensive dialogue, and the flashbacks require some concentration, but stick with it – a grisly subplot surrounding the political landscape of Britain intertwines seamlessly…
Read MoreA gripping thriller in the Scottish Highlands
Fantastically eerie and atmospheric, this Gothic thriller set in the Highlands had me hooked from chapter one. Following the life of ten-year-old Lauren, who lives with her father in the Highlands, she struggles to cope with the disappearance of her mother; a woman she greatly admires but has little memory of. On Halloween, a gaunt,…
Read MoreEscape to the wilderness with 28 fantastic bothies
When out in the wilderness, there is no sight more welcome than a bothy on the horizon – a place to dry out your kit and toast a few marshmallows round the fire. With this in mind, Allan follows on from his award-winning Scottish Bothy Bible, this time guiding his readers through a mix of…
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