1588: A Calendar of Crime: A Novel in Five Books

Set in the year of the Armada, 1588: A Calendar of Crime brings together five eBook exclusive short stories featuring Hew Cullan, together with Frances, Giles, Meg and other characters from the Hew Cullan series. From the gruesome murder of a candlemaker to Spanish ghosts on Hallowmas, Shirley McKay delivers five gripping tales of mystery that will keep you reading long into the night. The stories were released throughout the year as stand alone eBooks before being gathered into the Calendar of Crime anthology.Candlemas. ‘The Crackling House’Whitsunday. ‘Visitation’Lammas. ‘Golden Lads’Martinmas. ‘Dead Spaniard’Yule. ‘The Keeping of Christmas’

Reviews of 1588: A Calendar of Crime: A Novel in Five Books

'Shirley McKay's command of plot, place and character makes these 16th century St Andrews-set mysteries a delight … Like all the best historical novelists she paints a vivid picture of times past. In these absorbing and scholarly stories she shines a light into the darkness of 16th century Scotland' – Alan Massie, The Scotsman; 'A fascinating evocation of the everyday life of ordinary Scots in the 1500s as well as series of first-rate stories. Her use of language is a delight, the sinewy and expressive Scots words aiding the creation of Cullen's very realistic world. McKay is to be congratulated for the continued quality and inventiveness of her tales' – The National; 'If you're a fan of period drama but the prospect of reading a heavy tome puts you off, Shirley McKay's new book is ideal. It's five gripping tales, from the grotesque murder of a candlemaker to vanishing corpses and a story set around Christmas that makes it perfect for popping into someone's stocking this year' – Press & Journal