THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

The shadows hide a deadly story . . .1979. It is the winter of discontent, and reporter Allie Burns is chasing her first big scoop. There are few women in the newsroom and she needs something explosive for the boys’ club to take her seriously.Soon Allie and fellow journalist Danny Sullivan are exposing the criminal underbelly of respectable Scotland. They risk making powerful enemies – and Allie won’t stop there.When she discovers a home-grown terrorist threat, Allie comes up with a plan to infiltrate the group and make her name. But she’s a woman in a man’s world . . . and putting a foot wrong could be fatal.This is the atmospheric, heart-pounding first novel in a gripping new series by the Queen of Crime Val McDermid.__________Praise for Val McDermid:’Brilliant . . . Sensational . . . Unforgettable’ Guardian’No one can plot or tell a story like she can’ Daily Express’Compulsively readable’ Irish Times’One of today’s most accomplished crime writers’ Literary Review’As good a psychological thriller as it is possible to get’ Sunday Express’It grabs the reader by the throat and never lets go’ Daily Mail

Something scared Nuala Flaherty to death. When her body is found in the centre of a pentagram on a lonely moor, Rebecca is determined to find out what. Was she killed by supernatural means, or is there a more down-to-earth explanation?Rebecca’s investigation leads her to a mysterious cult and local drug dealings. But what she doesn’t know is that crime matriarch Mo Burke still has her in her crosshairs. Mo wants payback for the death of her son, and after one failed attempt to hurt Rebecca, she is upping the ante. And this time, it could be lethal.

For many people, Tyninghame on the beautiful East Lothian coast means beaches, sea birds and salt marshes. But this place on the southern boundary of the Firth of Forth was once an important monastic site, the burial place of St Baldred and later a bishop’s palace that eventually became the seat of the earls of Haddington. In the early eighteenth century, its landscape was dramatically changed by a young woman, Lady Helen Hope and her husband, Thomas Hamilton, 6th Earl of Haddington. The church, the house, the gardens and surroundings have undergone many transformations since they lived here, but somehow their vision has remained intact and unspoiled.Judy Riley reveals a fascinating story, weaving together the different threads – archaeological, historical, religious and horticultural – which make up this special place in a corner of East Lothian.

Three hundred years ago Scotland entered into an extraordinary bargain with its English neighbour. Like all the best deals it involved giving away little – the tokens of sovereignty – in exchange for major gains: economic, political and cultural. Control over key domestic matters was retained. Today that Bargain, updated for the democratic era, is better than ever.In this incisive book, Tom Miers – a Conservative councillor for the Scottish Borders – sets out his stall in the debate over Independence and calls for Unionists to equip themselves with a full understanding of this Bargain and how it applies in today’s world. The Union is not just about money, or even sentiment about a shared past, but a canny and sophisticated arrangement that benefits all nations of the UK and is the foundation of Scotland’s success and unique place in the world.Cutting through the rhetoric, the author lays out the information required to counter the Scottish Nationalist argument.

Malachy Tallack has been passionate about fishing since he was young.Growing up in Shetland, with its myriad lochs, he and his brother would roam the island in search of trout, and in so doing discovered a sense of freedom, of wonder, and an abiding passion.But why is it that catching a fish – or simply contemplating catching a fish – can be so thrilling, so captivating?Why is it that time spent beside water can be imprinted so sharply in the memory?Why is it that what seems such a simple act – that of casting a line and hoping – can feel so rich in mystery?Illuminated by Water is Malachy’s personal attempt to understand that freedom, and to trace the origins and sources of that sense of wonder. He shares the appeal of fishing, its intense joys and frustrations, the steadying effect it has both at water’s edge and in the memory, and the contemplation of nature and landscape that comes with being an angler. He writes about fishing expeditions, from English canals and Scottish lochs to lakes in Canada and New Zealand, and he reflects on other aspects of angling, from its cultural significance and the emerging moral complexities to the intricacies of tying a fly.Beautifully written and hugely engaging, this book both articulates the inexplicable lure of the river and the endless desire to return to it, and illuminates a passion that has shaped the way so many see and think about the natural world.

Brought to you by Penguin.Travel-writer, novelist and singer-songwriter Malachy Tallack has been passionate about fishing since he was young.Growing up in Shetland, with its myriad lochs, he and his brother would roam the island in search of trout, and in so doing discovered a sense of freedom, of wonder, and an abiding passion.But why is it that catching a fish – or simply contemplating catching a fish – can be so thrilling, so captivating?Why is it that time spent beside water can be imprinted so sharply in the memory?Why is it that what seems such a simple act – that of casting a line and hoping – can feel so rich in mystery?Illuminated by Water is Malachy’s personal attempt to understand that freedom, and to trace the origins and sources of that sense of wonder. He shares the appeal of fishing, its intense joys and frustrations, the steadying effect it has both at water’s edge and in the memory, and the contemplation of nature and landscape that comes with being an angler. He writes about fishing expeditions, from English canals and Scottish lochs to lakes in Canada and New Zealand, and he reflects on other aspects of angling, from its cultural significance and the emerging moral complexities to the intricacies of tying a fly.Beautifully written and hugely engaging, this book both articulates the inexplicable lure of the river and the endless desire to return to it, and illuminates a passion that has shaped the way so many see and think about the natural world.(c) Malachy Tallack 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Brought to you by Penguin.Anna is back. Confidence reunites the reader with Anna and Finn – the stars of Denise Mina’s critically acclaimed thriller Conviction (A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick).Anna and Finn investigate a young girl’s disappearance which seems to be connected to an art heist years ago. Beginning in a tumble-down chateau in rural France and taking the reader on a thrilling chase across Europe, Confidence, is another stellar novel from one of crime writing’s most accomplished authors.PRAISE FOR CONVICTION:If you loved Killing Eve, you’ll devour Conviction’ Erin Kelly’Such a delight: playful, fast-paced, and entirely compulsive’ Ann Cleeves’A dark star of a novel, blazingly intense, up-to-the-minute fresh, and exciting as all hell’ A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window(c) Denise Mina 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

In dark, wintry Lochdubh, Christmas Cheer is about as welcome as a flat tyre on a deserted road. The Calvinist element in town has always resisted what they view as secular frivolity, so for most of the townsfolk there’ll be no carols, feasting, gifts – or even whisky on Christmas Day!And for PC Hamish Macbeth there’s no holiday from crime – he finds himself hunting for a missing cat belonging to a lonely spinster. Curt and unfriendly, the woman is convinced her pet has been stolen but once behind her heavily-bolted door, Hamish can spot her true problem – she lives in fear, though of who or what he cannot guess.Then someone steals a Christmas tree and lights from the nearby village of Cnothan. So it is up to Hamish to sort all these problems out – and he had better do it quickly, for the church bells will soon peal on the eve of Christmas.This one-off standalone story is a special Christmas treat for all fans of Hamish Macbeth and can be read at any point in the ongoing series.Also features the first UK publication of a Hamish Macbeth short story, Knock, Knock, You’re Dead!Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series:’First rate … deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.’ Booklist’It’s always a treat to return to Lochdubh.’ New York Times’Readers will enjoy the quirks and unique qualities of the cast … Beaton catches the beauty of the area’s natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour.’ Library Journal’Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying.’ Publishers Weekly

Bessie Quinn was an early 20th century New Woman, a mother living her love story in the enchanted world of the Garden City. When she died in the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918-19, her shattered husband abandoned her memory, belongings and life history. Her disappearance reverberated down generations.Starting with only an Arts and Crafts kettle, one photo and a linen smock, Ursula has restored her grandmother to life. After long searches she found Bessie in the Scottish Borders, eighth child of working-class Irish parents who’d fled hunger after the Great Famine of the 1840s.This biography of a poor family unearths hard journeys of love, luck and loss, weaving historical fact with memory and imagination into a compelling story.

Grief is all around us. At the heart of the brightly coloured, vividly characterised, joyful films of Studio Ghibli, they are wracked with loss – of innocence, of love, of the connection to our world and of that world itself. Now Go enters these emotional waters to interrogate not only how Studio Ghibli navigates grief so well, but how that informs our own understanding of grief’s manifold faces.

Grief is all around us. At the heart of the brightly coloured, vividly characterised, joyful films of Studio Ghibli, they are wracked with loss – of innocence, of love, of the connection to our world and of that world itself. Now Go enters these emotional waters to interrogate not only how Studio Ghibli navigates grief so well, but how that informs our own understanding of grief’s manifold faces.

A launch title in 404 Ink’s new non-fiction series, Arusa Qureshi’s FLIP THE SCRIPT showcases some of the best rappers currently making music in the UK. It has taken a significant amount of time for women to get recognition in the genre, even though there have been phenomenal women in hip hop since its beginnings in the Bronx in the 1970s – but why did we take so long in the UK? FLIP THE SCRIPT gets to know the women who have paved the way, the successes and experiences of those that shape the thriving scene we have today. Arusa goes in depth with a number of female rappers who are making waves right now to fi nd out about their relationships with hip hop, why they were attracted to the scene, what their thoughts are on the future of the genre and whether or not they feel a sense of belonging. Using her own research, and with reference to pioneers and critical theory, she explores hip hop’s history of misogyny and how women have traditionally been looked over by their peers, and celebrates the brilliant icons who have made this one of the most exciting genres to be part of. A must read for fans of music, feminism, and culture.

Our favorite moral philosopher is caught up in a delicate dispute between members of a prominent family as her husband, Jamie, is dragged into his own internecine rivalry.Isabel accepts an invitation to serve on the advisory committee of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, but soon finds herself swept up in an all-too-familiar dilemma. David is the grandson of a Scottish clan chief and is supportive of Scottish nationalism. But his fervent beliefs are threatening family harmony, especially because his sister Catriona’s socialist views put her at odds with her brother. When their mother, Laura, a fellow committee member, asks Isabel to intervene, she tries to demur. But always one for courteous resolutions to philosophical disagreements, Isabel can’t help but intercede.In the meantime, Jamie, having criticized Isabel for getting involved in the affairs of others, does precisely that himself. Jamie is helping to select a new cellist for his ensemble, but he suspects that the conductor may be focused on something other than his favored candidate’s cello skills.With so many factors complicating matters, Isabel and Jamie will have to muster all their tact and charm to ensure that comity is reached between all these fractious parties.

Brought to you by Penguin.From the strange case of ‘The Red-Headed League’ to the extraordinary tale of ‘The Engineer’s Thumb’, Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr Watson grapple with treachery, murder, and ingenious crimes of all kinds. But no case is too challenging for the immortal detective’s unique power of deduction.(c) Puffin Books 1988 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

After the huge success of her debut picture book, The Girl Who Stole The Stars, Corrina Campbell brings this beautiful story about the meaning of being strong, brave and fearless. A gentle and timely picture book helping children engage and talk about feelings of love and loss. Corrina is a highly talented new author/ illustrator with a wonderfully quirky style, bringing to life her colourful world. What does it mean to be strong, brave and fearless? When a little boy finds a broken rainbow lying on the ground he decides to take it home and look after it. The little boy loves the rainbow but when it eventually disappears he finds out what it really means to be strong, brave and fearless. A magical story exploring one boy’s journey through love and loss.

The curious Arthur’s Seat miniature coffins and William Burke’s skeleton are just two of the objects that will be on display in the exhibition Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life, the National Museum of Scotland, 2 July-30 October 2022. Like the exhibition, the accompanying book will explore the history of anatomical study, from the artistry of Leonard da Vinci to the Burke and Hare grave-robbing and murders in Edinburgh in the 19th century.It also looks at the modern approach to body donation at universities in Scotland and contrasts the ethics, practices and beliefs today with those of two centuries ago.

Andreea is thirteen and looking forward to taking part in a Romanian dance performance on a trip to Paris with her friends. However she skips school one day and gets in a car with a boy she doesn’t know. They have a terrible crash which leaves her paralysed from the neck down. At thirteen she is forced to confront the feeling of losing her entire reality in just one moment. This is the story of the operations, the hospitals, the friendships, the long long waits, the pain, the horror at her new appearance, and the discovery of what it means to be courageous. She shares her inner journey, which led her to re-evaluate what really matters and which is bound to make us reflect on how much we do take for granted in our own lives.

Rebel, Princess, Suffragette: this is the incredible true story of the life of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, a forgotten heroine of the early twentieth century.

Born in 1876, Princess Sophia Duleep Singh was the daughter of the last Sikh ruler of the Punjab, and goddaughter of Queen Victoria. After her father lost control of his empire and was exiled to England, Sophia had a privileged but troubled upbringing that left her unsure about where she belonged – in India or England. Sensitive to injustice, she became an suffragette and fought hard to win the vote for women. This is the extraordinary story of her life.

The Nearly Man is the true, yet almost unbelievable, story of one man’s incredible life, beginning in rural Scotland in the reign of Queen Victoria, and ending on the west coast of Canada in the 1970s. In one of the 20th century’s great untold stories we travel with Francis Metcalfe on an amazing journey from the great estates of Scotland to the battlefields of Flanders, and the trenches of the Somme. His associations with the soon-to-be famous and his brushes with death were followed by his heroics in the ice fields of Arctic Russia, wasted years in post-war London, and a narrow escape from being murdered by Sinn Féin in Ireland.

After a spell in prison for fraud, Metcalfe became a fugitive from Scottish Law as he engineered a daring escape to France, while the attention of the police was diverted. After hiding in Paris during the 1920s, among the ‘Lost Generation’ of writers, Metcalfe was arrested at gunpoint and thrown in France’s most notorious jail. In his own words, Metcalfe tells the astounding story of his flight from justice, his subsequent trial, imprisonment, followed by release, his second escape from the police, his capture and his decision to start a new life in Canada. . . . only to become embroiled in Communist riots, the hardship of the depression, the infamous ‘Ottawa Trek’, and the impending war.

The Nearly Man tells the story of one man’s adventures through some of the last century’s lesser-known conflicts, and his encounters with the famous thinkers, writers and soldiers of his time. But it also shows how his exploits impacted the people around him. Francis Metcalfe almost became one of Britain’s notable war heroes, poets, writers, adventurers, businessmen and criminals. If Metcalfe had succeeded, he would doubtless be immortalised in history. Instead, his incredible adventures through some of history’s forgotten events had become lost in time, until his story was painstakingly unearthed for this book.

Joseph Crawhall was a remarkable and innovative animal watercolourist, who made decorative, sensitively observed and humorous studies of animals and birds. William Burrell developed a passion for his works, and the Burrell Collection now holds the largest and most significant collection of artworks by Crawhall in the world.

With colour reproductions of nearly 60 Crawhall artworks from the Collection – including dynamic and colourful mature works, technically experimental compositions, watercolours from his travels and delightful comic sketches – this book gives readers an overview of Crawhall’s career and artistic output. It considers his friendship with the Glasgow Boys, the influence of French art, Whistler and Japanese prints, his flair for decorative design and, above all, his unique skill in poetically distilling the essence of an animal or bird’s character.