THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

The Earth’s resources are dwindling. The solution is The Sleep: periods of hibernation imposed on those who remain with only a Janitor to watch over the sleepers.In the sleeping city, elderly Ben struggles with his limited waking time and the disease which is stealing his wife from him. Outside, lonely Janitor Peruzzi craves the family he never knew. Around them both, dissatisfaction is growing.The city is about to wake.

The Lake District may be one of our busiest national parks and contested landscapes, yet within its boundaries, it’s still possible to escape the crowds and find habitats and wildlife relatively undisturbed by our ever-encroaching presence. In Lakeland Wild, Jim Crumley seeks out these hidden places and waits, still, alert, noting his impressions as he turns his long-experienced nature-writer’s eye to these surroundings. The result is an intimate account of peregrines, eagles, swans, swallows and the wrens that shelter in the crevices of ancient stone walls. He writes of badgers and otters, of foxes prowling between stands of oak, rowan, yew, hawthorn and larch. He finds himself in Ullswater, at Angle Tarn, High Rigg and Brother’s Water, following in the footsteps of the Romantics. Seeing how human activity has shaped and often scarred the Cumbrian fells and lakes, he nevertheless finds much that is beautiful, and he celebrates it in his most sublime writing yet.

Sunday Times bestselling author offers up a delightful menu of Cornish sun, heartwarming friendship and a little taste of Italy in her heart-stopping new novel.

When she is given the opportunity to move to a remote tidal island off the Cornish Coast, Marisa Rossi decides some peace and quiet might be just what she needs.

Since the death of her beloved grandfather back in Italy, she’s been struggling to find a way out of her grief. Perhaps this will be the perfect place for her to recuperate.

But Mount Polbearne is a far cry from the sleepy little place she was imagining. Between her noisy piano-teaching Russian neighbour and the hustle and bustle of a busy community, Marisa finds solitude is not so easy to come by. Especially when she finds herself somehow involved with a tiny local bakery desperately in need of some new zest to save it . . .

Who killed Lord Inverkillen? Lockdown meets Downton Abbey in this playful, humorous mystery set in 1930s Scotland.No one in. No one out.Family can be murder . . .It’s the 1930s and a mysterious illness is spreading over Scotland. But the noble and ancient family of Inverkillen, residents of Loch Down Abbey, are much more concerned with dwindling toilet roll supplies and who will look after the children now that Nanny has regretfully (and most inconveniently) departed this life.Then Lord Inverkillen, Earl and head of the family, is found dead in mysterious circumstances. The inspector declares it an accident but Mrs MacBain, the head housekeeper, isn’t so convinced. As no one is allowed in or out because of the illness, the residents of the house – both upstairs and downstairs – are the only suspects. With the Earl’s own family too busy doing what can only be described as nothing, she decides to do some digging – in between chores, of course – and in doing so uncovers a whole host of long-hidden secrets, lies and betrayals that will alter the dynamics of the household for ever.Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, LOCH DOWN ABBEY is a playful, humorous mystery that will keep you glued to the page!(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

Five years for an adult, passes in five minutes. Five years for a kid is a lifetime. An attempted bike stealing incident in Glasgow when Raymond Moore was 13 led to him living in Linicro on the Isle of Skye with his Great Granny and Great Aunt. His family stayed in the city whilst his life changed on the island. Skye Stories tells the adventures he had growing up: the girls he fancied, the sheep he worried and the music he loved. The story of this time is told in Skye Stories Volume 1: The Linicro Years.Although the books are about Skye and his love for the island, the account of his experiences and emotions will strike a chord with people who have never been near there. Skye changed the author’s life forever and for the better. You could say the Isle of Skye saved his life. This book, Volume 2 tells the continuing story of the author’s years on Skye as he moved out of the family home and into Uig.

These poems reflect a journey from a past delineated by racism, trauma and violence towards a present life of peace and intense natural beauty. Permeated with nostalgia and loss; songs of an immigrant community alienated in their own land, but pierced with fierce hope, faith in redemption, and a determination that we should all belong.

THE DARKEST DEEDS ARE HIDDEN FROM SIGHT . . .Bob Skinner is back in the latest gritty mystery in Quintin Jardine’s bestselling series, not to be missed by readers of Ian Rankin and Peter May.New Year’s Day, and Edinburgh lies sleeping. But two men will never wake again . . .When struggling ex-copper Terry Coats was discovered in bed with an air hostess, his excuse that he was ‘going undercover’ cut no ice with the force – or his wife. But now he’s been brutally killed on Hogmanay night, it seems there may have been more to his plea.Dragged from the New Year celebrations, Special Constable Sir Bob Skinner is shocked to find Coats’ body alongside that of Griff Montell: his erstwhile protege, and former lover of Skinner’s own daughter, Alex. Could there be some dark truth under Coats’ cock-and-bull story, after all?As the secrets start unravelling, Skinner realises he has gravely underestimated someone close to him – and the effects will cost him, and those he loves, dear . . .Praise for Jardine’s gripping mysteries:’The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer’ Denzil Meyrick’Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality’ Sun’Another powerful tartan noir that packs a punch’ Peterborough Evening Telegraph’Incredibly difficult to put the book down . . . a guide through a world of tangled family politics, hostile takeovers, government-sanctioned killing, extortion and the seedier side of publishing . . . Quintin Jardine should be . . . your first choice!’ Scots magazine’Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine’s narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn’ Observer

‘Nobody does cosy, get-away-from-it-all romance like Jenny Colgan’ Sunday Express’An evocative, sweet treat’ Jojo Moyes___________________________________In a quaint seaside resort, a charming bakery holds the key to another world…Curl up and escape with Jenny Colgan’An evocative, sweet treat’ Jojo Moyes’This sweet romance will lift your spirits’ Sunday Mirror’Gorgeous, glorious, uplifting’ Marian Keyes’Irresistible’ Jill Mansell’Just lovely’ Katie Fforde’Naturally funny, warm-hearted’ Lisa Jewell’A gobble-it-all-up-in-one-sitting kind of book’ Mike Gayle’A sheer delight from start to finish’ Sophie Kinsella___________________________________Marisa Rosso is struggling. Since the death of her beloved grandfather back home in Italy, she can’t seem to find a way out of her grief.So when her flatmate offers her one of his uncle’s rentals on a tiny and remote tidal island off the Cornish Coast, Marisa jumps at the opportunity. Perhaps some solitude is just what she needs to combat her homesickness and rediscover her equilibrium.But Mount Polbearne is a far cry from the sleepy little place she was imagining. Between her noisy Russian piano-teaching neighbour and the hustle and bustle of a busy community, Marisa finds solitude is not so easy to come by. Especially when she finds herself somehow involved with a tiny local bakery desperately in need of some new zest to save it…___________________________________Why readers ADORE Jenny Colgan’Jenny Colgan has a way of writing that makes me melt inside”Her books are so good I want to start over as soon as I have finished”There’s something so engaging about her characters and plots”Her books are like a big, warm blanket”Her stories are just so fabulous”She brings her settings and characters so vividly to life”The woman is just magic’

An illustrated adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes mystery – at an easy-to-read level for readers of all ages! Also includes a QR code for the free audiobook!Dear Mr Holmes,It has happened again. The strange bearded man on the bicycle followed me this morning. I tried suddenly turning and racing towards him, but he was just as quick.When Violet Smith gets a new job, a new friend and a new home, life seems almost perfect … until the solitary cyclist appears. He follows her every week, along the same stretch of road. Why? That’s what Holmes and Watson need to work out, before this seemingly simple case turns into something far more sinister.

An illustrated adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes mystery – at an easy-to-read level for readers of all ages! Also includes a QR code for the free audiobook!I shall now reveal the truth of the legend behind the hound of the Baskervilles … No Baskerville should ever cross the moor at night.With a deadly phantom hound on the loose and a mysterious man living on the moor, Devon is a dangerous place to be. But Holmes and Watson must put their fears aside. The country’s favourite crime-fighting duo need to unravel the strange case of Sir Charles Baskerville’s murder before his nephew meets the same fate.

An illustrated adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes mystery – at an easy-to-read level for readers of all ages! Also includes a QR code for the free audiobook!Mr Robert Adair was killed last night at his mansion in Park Lane. He had spent the evening gambling and his winnings were still on the table. His door was locked from the inside and his window was left open …It has been three years since the death of Sherlock Holmes. Watson is now solving mysteries solo and he’s about to face his toughest one yet: the impossible murder of Mr Adair. What Watson doesn’t know is that this curious case will unearth secrets from beyond the grave …

An illustrated adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes mystery – at an easy-to-read level for readers of all ages! Also includes a QR code for the free audiobook!Holmes shook his head sadly. ‘You think that unless this document is found there will be war?”It’s very likely,’ said the prime minister.’Then, sir, we must prepare for war.’A secret government document has been stolen. It’s up to Holmes and Watson to find it and save the country from war! But with sly secret agents, mysterious murders and the question of a curious bloodstain to contend with, will Holmes and Watson be able to piece the puzzle together in time?

An illustrated adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes mystery – at an easy-to-read level for readers of all ages! Also includes a QR code for the free audiobook!’There are no other beryls like these in the world, and they would be impossible to replace. I leave it with you, Mr Holder, trusting that it shall stay safe and sound.’Mr Holder’s life is turned on its head when a piece of the priceless crown he’s been asked to guard goes missing. The police have no clues and only one suspect: Mr Holder’s own son. Everyone’s hopes lie with Sherlock Holmes. But can the genius detective find the missing treasure before time runs out?

An illustrated adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes mystery – at an easy-to-read level for readers of all ages! Also includes a QR code for the free audiobook!If convenient, come to Baker Street at once.If inconvenient, come anyway.HolmesWhen Watson rushes to Baker Street only to find it is for a case about a professor’s misbehaving dog, he is not pleased. What he doesn’t know is that Holmes is really investigating the professor’s seriously strange behaviour – crawling through the hallways, hiding secret letters and even climbing the side of his house. No one knows why or how it is happening, but one thing is for sure: there’s something creepy about Professor Presbury …

The Earth’s resources are dwindling. The solution is The Sleep: periods of hibernation imposed on those who remain with only a Janitor to watch over the sleepers.In the sleeping city, elderly Ben struggles with his limited waking time and the disease which is stealing his wife from him. Outside, lonely Janitor Peruzzi craves the family he never knew. Around them both, dissatisfaction is growing.The city is about to wake.

As the longest serving royal consort in British history, it is now time to celebrate Prince Philip’s remarkable contribution to the monarchy. A strong character full of vigour and verve, he found himself married to the most famous woman in the world, becoming the longest-serving royal consort in our history. They married for love and, although at times this man with strong opinions and enthusiasms of his own has found it hard to play a subordinate role, he has always been the Queen’s rock and support. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, grew famous for speaking his mind, but as his loyalty to his wife and country and his devotion to duty became apparent, he has become a national treasure and a figure of great respect to the British public.This lavishly illustrated book tells of Philip’s often troubled early life. Despite his unsettled childhood a strong and vital man emerged, helping his wife not only to carry out her duties at home and abroad, but also to bring up their own family and inculcate in them a love of sport, the countryside and the British way of life.His marriage, fatherhood, early and distinguished career as a 1st Lieutenant in the Royal Navy are all detailed, including the Duke of Edinburgh Awards that have changed the lives of many young people.Her Majesty has never hidden the extent of her reliance on Philip, the man she has called: ‘My strength and stay all these years.’

Taking classic stories from Asia and the West, Pop! Lit for Kids reimagines them into easy-to-read stories that provide the perfect introduction to classic tales. The most well-loved stories from around the world have been adapted into a form that will excite and entertain children everywhere. Readers can embark on new adventures with famous beloved storybook characters. In addition, the books come to life with augmented reality features, giving readers an enhanced experience that they’ll never forget!Follow the world’s most famous detective as he solves three of his greatest mysteries: The Adventure of the Speckled Band, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, and A Scandal in Bohemia. In their efforts to uncover the truth, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson encounter all kinds of mystery, murder, and impossible crimes.

From the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series comes the latest adventures of Bertie and his family and friends.The winds of change are blowing through Scotland Street. Though Bertie is getting older, he can’t resist an adventure to escape his domineering mother, and Bruce, ever the navel-gazer, will have to bring his best self to navigate the complexities of the pas de deux. While Alexander McCall Smith’s delightfully warm and witty comedy takes some surprising turns, the improbable adventures of this quirky cast of Scots will affirm the heart and joy in Edinburgh’s New Town.A Promise of Ankles is the fourteenth installment of this beloved series.

Childhood does not last long in the Argentine mountains of Cordoba, and adult lives fall apart quickly. In disarming, darkly humorous stories, Federico Falco explores themes of obsessive love, romantic attachment and the strategies we must find to cope with death and painful longing.In the middle of a blizzard a widow watches the ruin of her late-husband’s garden, until suddenly she sees a woman running naked in the falling snow. After telling her parents she is abandoning her Christian faith, a girl becomes infatuated with a Mormon missionary who reminds her of a boy killed in her village years before. When his family’s home is lost, a father desperately offers his daughter’s hand in marriage to anyone who will take them in. And a town’s mayor tries to fulfill his father’s dying wish – to design the perfect cemetery.

Anna’s anxious when she’s picked to befriend the new girl in her class. For a start, Ellie is ill and can’t come to school herself. So Anna has to communicate with her through a new kind of robot. But Anna is also worried that her life’s too small and boring to be of interest to her new friend. Compared to the other girls, she doesn’t have anything exciting to talk about and so when Ellie asks her a question, a little white lie pops out. Then another and another. When Ellie finds out the truth, can their friendship survive …?Inspired by a true story, a groundbreaking robot helps friendship blossom in this poignant and uplifting novella from bestseller Lisa Thompson.