THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

A ruthless killer is stalking Glasgow’s streets in The Reborn, the seventh novel in Lin Anderson’s forensic crime series featuring Rhona MacLeod.When the body of a pregnant teenager is found at a Glasgow funfair, her unborn baby surgically removed, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is called in to assist the police. Suspecting the baby may still be alive, finding the killer becomes paramount.Delving deeper into the twisted case shines suspicion on Jeff Coulter, a psychotic inmate at a nearby hospital whose hobby is making Reborns – chillingly realistic baby dolls intended for bereaved parents. But how could he have orchestrated the murder from a secure psychiatric facility?With time running out, the investigation soon leads to four of the girl’s friends, who have mysteriously all fallen pregnant at the same time, calling themselves the Daisy Chain. It becomes clear that something much more sinister is at play than Rhona could ever have imagined. A killer is out there, watching, waiting and ready to strike again . . .

The famous classic Scottish tale based on the true story of a dog’s lifetime devotion to his master, first published in 1912, loved and widely read the world over.Bobby, a sparky silver-haired Skye terrier, adopts lonely shepherd Auld Jock, for his master and the two become inseparable. When Jock is dismissed by the farmer he tries to find work in the city, but sinks into poverty and dies, having suffered one cold winter too many.The farmer tries to reclaim Bobby as a pet for his daughter but the little dog remains faithful only to Auld Jock, guarding his master’s grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town.By day, he plays with the local orphans and eats at a nearby tavern but, in spite of anything even the Lord Provost himself can do, Bobby returns each night to sleep by his master.Bobby’s devotion changes the lives of those around him and ultimately the conditions of the poor in Edinburgh. And as the years go by, the little dog’s loyalty is rewarded in a very special way.

A ship adrift, all hands dead. A lighthouse keeper murdered in the night. The Crown needs man to find the truth. Doctor Mungo Lyon, his reputation tarnished by the Burke & Hare scandal, and forbidden to practise as a surgeon, is the wrong man.That’s exactly why the Crown chose him.

Rabbit was hopping home one day when he heard a loud voice coming from inside his burrow.”I’M THE GIANT JUMPEREEAND I’M SCARY AS CAN BE!”When Rabbit’s friends Cat, Bear and Elephant come to help they are each scared away in turn by the mysterious voice.He can squash you like a fleaHe will sting you like a beeAnd he’s taller than a tree!But who is the Giant Jumperee?Inspired by a traditional African tale, this read-aloud classic from internationally bestselling author Julia Donaldson, beautifully brought to life by award-winning illustrator Helen Oxenbury, is now available as a board book for little hands.

Bitterhall is a story of obsession told between three unreliable narrators. Daniel, O rla and Tom share a flat and narrate the intersections of their lives, from future-world 3D printing technology to the history of the book, to a stolen nineteenth-century diary written by a dashing gentleman who may not be entirely dead. A Hallowe’en party leads to a series of entanglements, variously a longed-for sexual encounter clouded by madness, a betrayal, and a reality-destroying moment of possession.

In 1995 the National Trust for Scotland acquired Mar Lodge Estate in the heart of the Cairngorms. Home to over 5,000 species, this vast expanse of Caledonian woodlands, subarctic mountains, bogs, moors, roaring burns and frozen lochs could be a place where environmental conservation and Highland field sports would exist in harmony. The only problem was that due to centuries of abuse by human hands, the ancient Caledonian pinewoods were dying, and it would take radical measures to save them.After 25 years of extremely hard work, the pinewoods, bogs, moors and mountains are returning to their former glory. Regeneration is the story of this success, featuring not only the people who are protecting the land and quietly working to undo the wrongs of the past, but also the myriad creatures which inspire them to do so.In addition, it also tackles current controversies such as raptor persecution, deer management and rewilding and asks bigger questions about the nature of conservation itself: what do we see when we look at our wild places? What should we see?

Vibrating with endeavours for Britain’s effort against the might of Nazi Germany, Clydebank was – in hindsight – an obvious target for the attentions of the Luftwaffe. When, on the evening of 13 March 1941, the authorities first detected that Clydebank was ‘on beam’ – targeted by the primitive radio-guidance system of the German bombers – no effort was made to raise the alarm or to direct the residents to shelter or flight. Within the hour, a vast timber-yard, three oil-stores, and two distilleries were ablaze, one pouring flaming whisky into a burn that ran blazing into the Clyde itself in vivid ribbons of fire. And still the Germans came; and Clydebank, now an inferno, lay illuminated and defenceless as heavy bombs of high-explosive, as land-mines and parachute blasters began to fall …With reference to written sources and the memories of those who survived the experience, John MacLeod tells the story of the Clydebank Blitz and the terrible scale of death and devastation, speculating on why its incineration has been so widely forgotten and its ordeal denied any place in national honour.

The second book in Alexander McCall Smith’s new DETECTIVE VARG series . . .’Reading the novel feels like a form of meditation . . . There is much to enjoy’ ScotsmanSpring is coming slowly to Sweden – though not quite as slowly as Detective Ulf Varg’s promised promotion at the Department of Sensitive Crimes. For Varg, referred by his psychoanalyst to group therapy at Malmoe’s Wholeness Centre, life now seems mostly a circle of self-examination, something which may or may not be useful when it comes to the nature of his profession and the particularly sensitive cases that have recently come to light.All in a day’s work for Detective Varg, except that one of his new investigations involves fellow detective Anna; it will require every ounce of self-discipline he has in order to remain professional. The other, more curious case is centred around internationally successful novelist Nils Personn-Cederstroem. According to his girlfriend, Cederstroem is being blackmailed – but by whom and for what reason?Accompanied by his irritating but kindly colleague Blomquist, Varg begins his enquiries and soon the answers fall neatly into place. Nothing and no one is ever that simple, however, and not for the first time he learns as much about his own emotional and moral landscape as he does about the motives of others. Now Varg must make a possibly life-changing decision. Will he choose his own happiness over that of his heart’s desire?

Join everyone’s favourite ladybird in this fantastically funny farmyard caper from the stellar picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, creators of What the Ladybird Heard.Those crafty robbers Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are out of jail, and they’re heading back to the farm with another cunning plan to cause trouble. They’ve been stealing eggs from the fat red hen, but now they’re setting their sights higher and are planning to steal the fat red hen herself! Fortunately the quiet, clever ladybird is on their trail, and she and her farm animal friends have a plan of their own. With slapstick action, animal noises and a mysterious Snuggly Snerd bird, What the Ladybird Heard Next is a story you’ll be reading over and over again.Enjoy more adventures with the clever little ladybird in What the Ladybird Heard, What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday and What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside.

With a whole host of noisy zoo-animal characters to meet and even a cameo from the Queen, What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday is a fantastic rhyming adventure from stellar picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks.Those two bad men, Lanky Len and Hefty Hugh, are back! They may be in the city instead of the farm, but they haven’t changed their thieving ways. In fact, they’re even more ambitious. They’re planning to steal a monkey from the zoo and use him to pinch the Queen’s crown. Unfortunately for them, they don’t know that a certain crime-busting ladybird is holidaying in the very same city . . . and she’s got a good idea that will ensure the dastardly pair won’t get away with it!Enjoy more adventures with the clever little ladybird in What the Ladybird Heard, What the Ladybird Heard Next and What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside.

With a cast of everyone’s favourite farm animals, What the Ladybird Heard is a brilliant rhyming adventure from the stellar picture-book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks.Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are two crafty robbers with a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow. But little do they know that the tiniest, quietest creature of all has overhead their plot, and she has a plan of her own . . . With brilliant rhyming verse from Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, and bright, distinctive illustrations from award-winning illustrator, Lydia Monks, this much-loved modern classic is perfect for reading aloud.Enjoy more adventures with the clever little ladybird in What the Ladybird Heard Next, What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday and What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside.

With a cast of wonderful sea creatures, including a magical mermaid, and plenty of seaside fun, What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside is a brilliant rhyming adventure from the bestselling picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks.The clever little ladybird is off on a trip to the seaside, but those two bad men, Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len, are up to their wicked ways again. This time they’re planning to steal the mermaid’s hair and sell it to a famous star. Luckily, the crime-busting ladybird has a clever plan to stop the thieves …The fourth title in the Number One bestselling series from the award-winning team of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks.Enjoy other stories from Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks: The Singing Mermaid, Sugarlump and the Unicorn, The Girl, the Bear and the Magic Shoes, The Rhyming Rabbit, Sharing a Shell, What the Ladybird Heard, What the Ladybird Heard Next and What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday.

Grab your wellies and head outdoors with this fun-filled activity book packed full of outdoor activities for children, based on four bestselling picture books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.Based on much-loved picture books including The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, and created by nature play specialists Little Wild Things, The Gruffalo and Friends Outdoor Activity Book is packed full of fun outdoor activities to encourage children and families to explore nature together. With easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions and lots of hints and tips, the whole family can get involved!Includes activities based on: The Gruffalo, Monkey Puzzle, Room on the Broom and Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book.

A tantalising trail of footprints will lead children past touch-and-feel animals in the search for the shiny dinosaur. With bright, appealing illustrations and a surprise flap ending, this series is perfect for young children.

‘Compulsive reading. As readable as any Sherlock Holmes story, this is punctiliously researched history. The bizarre story of Conan Doyle as detective and champion of justice has all the hallmarks of Shrabani Basu’s genius – her eye for the telling detail, her gentle wit combined with the killer instinct of a great journalist’ A.N. Wilson

In the village of Great Wyrley near Birmingham, someone is mutilating horses. Someone is also sending threatening letters to the vicarage, where the vicar, Shahpur Edalji, is a Parsi convert to Christianity and the first Indian to have a parish in England. His son George – quiet, socially awkward and the only boy at school with distinctly Indian features – grows up into a successful barrister, till he is improbably linked to and then prosecuted for the above crimes in a case that left many convinced that justice hadn’t been served.

When he is released early, his conviction still hangs over him. Having lost faith in the police and the legal system, George Edalji turns to the one man he believes can clear his name – the one whose novels he spent his time reading in prison, the creator of the world’s greatest detective. When he writes to Arthur Conan Doyle asking him to meet, Conan Doyle agrees.

From the author of Victoria and Abdul comes an eye-opening look at race and an unexpected friendship in the early days of the twentieth century, and the perils of being foreign in a country built on empire.

‘Thrillingly original’ Naoise Dolan’Exquisite’ Daily TelegraphTwenty years ago, Oona left the island of Inis for the very first time. A wind-blasted rock of fishing boats and turf fires, where girls stayed in their homes until they became mothers themselves, the island was a gift for some, a prison for others.The Island Child tells two stories: of the girl who grew up watching births and betrayals, storms and secrets, and of the adult Oona, desperate to find a second chance, only to discover she can never completely escape. As the strands of Oona’s life come together, in blood and marriage and motherhood, she must accept the price we pay when we love what is never truly ours . . .

Five years for an adult passes in five minutes. Five years for a kid is a lifetime. An attempted bike stealing incident inGlasgow 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.Although the book is about 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 1, tells the story of the first two years on Skye – the Linicro years.

Comedian Susan Morrison zips through the centuries to explore Scottish history in this brilliant BBC radio seriesGlaswegian comedian and history enthusiast Susan Morrison mines the rich, sometimes murky, depths of Scotland’s past in this thrilling radio series. Aided by producer/historian Louise Yeoman and a host of ‘history detectives’, the amazing stories she uncovers are sometimes dark, sometimes funny – but always fascinating.From Roman emperors to Black Flag pirates, from Jacobite minstrels to accused witches, and from princess nuns to Far East POWS, Susan travels back in time to examine the lives of ordinary and extraordinary people. Mary Queen of Scots and King Robert Bruce rub shoulders with Highland nurses; and First World War miners mingle with Enlightenment bankers in these 40 enthralling episodes.We meet a female slave owner, a dashing privateer, a revolutionary socialist and a family planning pioneer; visit a Pictish monastery and the lost village of Lassodie; find out about some of the bloodiest, most destructive campaigns on Scottish soil – the 16th Century wars of the ‘Rough Wooing’ – and dig deep into the intriguing world of Victorian true crime and the grisly world of 18th Century dissection.Plus, there’s a wealth of special shows themed around topics including the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry, Suffragettes, the Scottish Women’s Institute and World War One.Bin your Outlander box set and wave bye-bye to Braveheart – this is Scotland like you’ve never seen it before.Presented by Susan MorrisonResident historian and producer: Dr Louise YeomanFirst broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland, 16 May 2017- 6 December 2018.

Despite seven out of ten people in Scotland choosing cremation, in many ways crematoria are ‘invisible’ buildings, visited only by necessity, and they have not received the attention they deserve. Crematoria present a real challenge for architects. They are paradoxical buildings: religious and secular, functional and symbolic, required to satisfy the practical and emotional needs of all faiths and none.This book provides architectural ‘biographies’ of Scotland’s thirty-one crematoria, explaining their increasing relevance in contemporary Scottish society and pointing to Scotland’s distinctive contribution to the progress of cremation and the architecture of crematoria. Many leading architects and craftsmen, including Sir Robert Lorimer and Sir Basil Spence, produced designs of great architectural merit, and Scottish local authorities led the way in designing some of the most progressive crematoria in the UK. These singular, often contested buildings, many in magnificent natural landscape settings, reveal a great deal about the complex, changing and distinctive attitudes to death and funeral rituals in Scotland.

For most of recorded history, women have been sidelined, if not silenced, by men who named the built environment after themselves. Now is the time to look unflinchingly at Scotland’s heritage and bring those women who have been ignored to light.Can you imagine a different Scotland, a Scotland where women are commemorated in statues and streets and buildings – even in the hills and valleys? This is a guidebook to that alternative nation, where the cave on Staffa is named after Malvina rather than Fingal, and Arthur’s Seat isn’t Arthur’s, it belongs to St Triduana. You arrive into Dundee at Slessor Station and the Victorian monument on Stirling’s Abbey Hill interprets national identity through the women who ran hospitals during the First World War. The West Highland Way ends at Fort Mary. The Old Lady of Hoy is a prominent Orkney landmark. And the plinths in central Glasgow proudly display statues of the suffragettes who fought until they won.In this guide, streets, buildings, statues and monuments are dedicated to real women, telling their often unknown stories.