THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

Friendship is full of revolutionary potential in the face of a profoundly anti-social capitalist system. Friends in Common explores friendship as a radical practice, capable of upending hierarchies and producing social change.

Friendship can transcend social boundaries and political borders. It is vital in building communities and underpinning solidarity. But its transformative potency ensures that it is heavily policed and restrained by the state. Understanding the radical possibilities of friendship can help us rethink our approach to family, work and politics, and show us new routes to resistance and ways to open up spaces of solidarity and escape.

The dissonance created by comparing societal expectations around friendship and a lonely reality, especially in the wake of an isolating global pandemic, is deeply alienating. Friends in Common shows that friendship as a political practice is foundational to strengthening revolutionary ideas and projects, and is the antidote to capitalist despair.

He’d burn the world down for her . . . but she plans to burn his to the ground.

Ophelia Winters wants revenge.

Isolated in the Scottish Highlands, Sorrowsong University usually only welcomes students from the most powerful and corrupt families. Ophelia doesn’t belong, but a rare scholarship grants her the perfect opportunity to investigate her parents’ “accidental” death near the castle grounds. Her plan? Keep her head down to find out what truly happened and punish those responsible. The last thing she needs is to wind up in a mafia war or step on the toes of actual royalty.

Things get off to a rocky start when she runs afoul of the mysterious Alex Corbeau-Green―son of her prime suspect. As far as she’s concerned, he is just a younger version of his billionaire father. A monster hiding beneath a beautiful façade.

Loneliness has been Ophelia’s only dependable companion for years. But when an unknown tormentor begins to stalk her, she realizes she may not be able to survive Sorrowsong on her own. It’s Alex who becomes her unexpected ally―and alibi for murder. And as she begins to fall for the soft heart that hides beneath his hard exterior, her hunger for revenge wavers for the first time.

Can she really bring herself to destroy everything he’s ever known?

Mystery. Murder. Revenge. Welcome to Sorrowsong University . . .

A princess with a mostly useless magical talent takes on horrible monsters, a dozen identical masked heroes, and a talking lion in a quest to save a kingdom—and herself—in this affectionate satire of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale The Twelve Huntsmen.

Someone wants to murder Princess Melilot. This is sadly normal.

Melilot is sick of being ordered to go on dangerous quests by her domineering stepmother. Especially since she always winds up needing to be rescued by her more magically talented stepsisters. And now, she’s been commanded to marry a king she’s never met.

When hideous spider-wolves attack her on the journey to meet her husband-to-be, she is once again rescued—but this time, by twelve eerily similar-looking masked huntsmen. Soon, she has to contend with near-constant attempts on her life, a talking lion that sets bewildering gender tests, and a king who can’t recognize his true love when she puts on a pair of trousers. And all the while, she has to fight her growing attraction to not only one of the huntsmen, but also her fiancé’s extremely attractive sister.

If Melilot can’t unravel the mysteries and rescue herself from peril, kingdoms will fall. Worse, she could end up married to someone she doesn’t love.

From V. E. Schwab, the No. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: a new genre-defying, unforgettable novel to sink your teeth into . . .

This is a story about hunger.
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
A young girl grows up wild and wily―her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.

This is a story about love.
1827. London.
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow―but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.

This is a story about rage.
2019. Boston.
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.

This is a story about life―
how it ends, and how it starts.

Finding the one is just so hard…

Ella, Katy, and Zola are done with Glasgow’s dating scene. From ghosting to catfishing to cringe-worthy Tinder messages, navigating love in today’s society has become an absolute nightmare! But when one of them is dumped by a guy who saw her as nothing more than a quick swipe, the trio decide to fight back and take matters into their own hands. Creating The Dicktionary Club – an exclusive, women-only website dedicated to exposing Scotland’s worst serial swipers with brutally honest reviews.

Their mission is to help women spot the red flags, dodge heartbreakers, and take back control of the dating scene. But as the site goes viral, so does the drama in their own love lives. And when one of them starts falling for a guy she’s been warning others to avoid, things get even messier and more complicated than ever.

Pre-order the sexy, laugh-out-loud new novel about friendship, love, and surviving modern dating from the bestselling author of A Glasgow Kiss and Hot Girl Summer. Coming June 2025!

Have you ever wondered about all the people who lived in your house before you?

25 Library Terrace in Edinburgh is a house where lives are changed.

In 1911, new resident Ursula Black embraces women’s suffrage in the form of census protest, discovers vegetarianism, and learns just how difficult it can be to bring up someone else’s children.

In 1931, the house becomes part of a radical experiment in a different way of living, and a family secret from the past is uncovered.

In 2011, Tess Dutton needs somewhere to live in the wake of a failed relationship, and is introduced to a rather unusuallandlady.

In 2022, delayed by the pandemic, it’s another census year for Scotland, and as Edinburgh’s residents are able to gather once more, the strands of four generations at 25 Library Terrace are finally woven together.

An enchanting book club read, filled with history and human stories, for fans of Mary Paulson-Ellis’ Edinburgh novels, Evie Woods, Sally Page and Liz Trenow.

Three unusually gifted sisters in Georgian Scotland must protect their family fortress from those who would steal its rumored treasures—and their hearts—in this sweeping, adventure-filled, new historical romance series for readers of India Holton, Lex Crocher, Manda Collins, and Evie Dunmore.

In the months since their father, Rory, died, the MacLeod sisters have had to contend with bands of smugglers convinced he left a treasure buried within the walls of their home at Castle Cairncross. Only the most mystifying occurrences have foiled the thieves—stirring whispers that the sisters are sorceresses. Yet, they have no treasure, nor are they witches. However, each inexplicably possesses a unique ability. The eldest, Catriona, is a brilliant healer and alchemist—a skill she is about to put to unforeseen use . . .

Hamish Muir, the charismatic Marquess of Ballantyne and son of Rory’s business partner, has come to claim his share of the treasure. When he spies fiery-haired Cat in the village, he follows her. But the tables turn, and Hamish finds himself at Castle Cairncross—emerging from a daze . . .

Persuaded the castle harbors no treasure, Hamish remains certain Rory hid it somewhere. Cat offers a proposal: She will help Hamish decipher her father’s notes if he takes her on the treasure hunt with him—and her sisters are not left alone. Reluctantly, Hamish summons two Lairds to the castle. But as he and Cat set off to navigate a maze of maps and danger, a mutual respect—and attraction—ignites between them. Perhaps the real treasure isn’t gold after all . . .

I am the girl who wove the storm that shook the world.
And I’m coming for my crown.

When Blaze came into the world, she almost drowned it.

Blaze, a Rain Singer, is born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire. Her birth summoned a devastating storm that resulted in the deaths of thousands, and she has spent her life as an outsider, reviled and feared.

When Blaze and her twin brother, Flint, are selected to compete in the Choosing Rite, the trials which decide the future rulers of the empire, she’s suddenly thrust into the limelight – and into battle.

Threats abound at the Golden Palace, where intrigue and romance await with not one but two handsome suitors: the enchanting Crown Prince and a dangerously alluring newcomer at court.

As her powers strengthen and her fellow competitors fall, the throne is suddenly within her grasp. But in order to take the crown, she’ll have to leave behind the stories that others have told about her and find the courage to write her own.

Meet Cat Douglas—monster hunter. A historical fantasy adventure set in Scotland and the first in a series by award-winning author Jane Yolen.

With engaging graphic novel inserts, 8-11-year-olds will travel to historical 1880s Scotland, a land in desperate need of monster hunters in this new adventure.

Cat Douglas is a monster hunter, and in the 1880s, the Scottish countryside is filled with monsters. In Ansthruther, one of the oldest villages of Fife, you can see small sea dragons swimming by looking like small Viking ships, but never anything bigger. . . until now.

When Maggie McGonagal races up to the schoolhouse screaming she’s seen a dragon, everyone is sure it is a trick of her imagination. But what if it’s real? What if a sea dragon has gotten beyond the wall that protects the village? The local chapter of a Scottish monster-hunting society called the Royal and Ancient, must prepare for battle, including Cat, who is new to the society, and will be the bait for the sea dragon!

Join Cat and her friends as they adventure through a fantastical and historical Scotland in this first installment of the Sea Monsters series. Graphic novel panels are interspersed throughout the novel, making it an engaging read and the three books in the series have collectible posters meant to be pieced together to create one big poster.

In Love Goes North, Julie McNeill presents a heartfelt collection of poetry that serves as a love letter to trains, travel and the myriad experiences that shape our lives. Through her evocative verses, McNeill charts her journey north to Glasgow and beyond, capturing the essence of each moment along the way. Each poem is imbued with a sense of longing and joy, inviting readers to reflect on their own journeys and the people who have touched their hearts.

Love Goes North is ideal for poetry enthusiasts, lovers of travel, and anyone captivated by the stories that unfold on the road. It will resonate with those seeking inspiration from the journeys they undertake and the relationships they nurture. This collection is a perfect addition to any bookshelf, offering a comforting reminder of the power of love and connection in our lives.

Once common across most of the country, beavers were hunted to extinction in the sixteenth century, but returned to Scottish waters in the early 2000s both through authorised and accidental releases. The deadwood wetlands they create benefit a huge numbers of species, but their activities can also cause havoc with land management, and for this reason their reintroduction is a controversial topic.

In November 2021 a family of beavers was relocated to Argaty, Perthshire. Never before had beavers in conflict sites been relocated to new areas of Scotland instead of being culled. It paved the way for a new era in human/beaver relations.

In this deeply personal account, Argaty’s Tom Bowser tells of his attempts to save these incredible animals, of the support and opposition received and of the unimaginable gains that beavers ultimately brought to his family farm. Tom also traces the history of these animals and tells the stories of the people who brought them back and fought for their right to remain. In doing so he also explores the wider themes of rewilding and nature conservation in Scotland, meeting some of the leading lights of this exciting and movement, highlighting the work that they do and showing why ecological restoration is so important for the future of our planet.

From the moment Mary, Queen of Scots set foot on English soil in May 1568, she was the prisoner of her cousin, Elizabeth I of England. Her tumultuous years in Scotland, where she had returned after the death of her husband, Francis II of France, had ended in failure and abdication.

Exile tells the story of Mary’s English years – almost half her life – with reference to the latest research and the many locations where she was held captive. Unlike her years on the Scottish throne, the dramatic events during these years mainly took place beyond her sight. But while trouble was perpetually simmering beyond her prisons, within their walls Mary was anything but docile or resigned, and only towards the end did she lose hope of one day returning to her homeland as rightful ruler. No wonder she was viewed as a deadly threat by Elizabeth. Given her attitude and actions  and those of her estranged son James – was her tragic death all but inevitable? If more willing to compromise, might she have negotiated her release? Acclaimed author Rosemary Goring addresses these, and other, questions in this remarkably penetrating psychological portrait of one of history’s great queens.

In the early 1820s, Thomas Harvie, a newly rich, arrogant Glasgow distiller, bought Westthorn estate on the eastern edge of the city close to the north bank of the River Clyde. To establish the bounds of his property and keep out intruders, he erected two walls, the larger of which (‘Harvie’s Dyke’) was massive, fortified and blocked a long-established pathway alongside the river. Colliers and other workers from nearby villages (many of whom regularly used the walkway) were outraged. A large crowd gathered on midsummer’s evening in 1823 and set about demolishing the wall. After a cavalry charge put an end to the disturbance, dozens of the rioters were arrested and some imprisoned.

But Harvie rebuilt his walls, and a six-year struggle with the people of Glasgow ensued, which resulted in a House of Lords ruling in 1828 in favour of those who had campaigned for ‘the liberties of the banks of the Clyde’. The episode gripped the city and was heralded in poems, song and newspapers for many decades. It also inspired later protests against landowners who attempted to obstruct public rights of way. This book is testimony to a triumphant victory for ordinary Glaswegians over an uncompromising estate proprietor.

This monograph provides the first substantial analysis of the visual arts commissioned by Scots in France prior to Mary Queen of Scots. It examines how Scottish identity was represented and promoted through patronage of the visual arts. Tying together previously unpublished archival documents with under-researched visual and material culture, this monograph examines how Scots used patronage to establish their place in French society thus furthering the reputation of the royal house of Scotland, and progressing their own social, political, and diplomatic aims. Incorporating analysis of grand architectural projects, such as the foundation of the Sainte-Chapelle at Vic-le-Comte, and studies of extraordinary manuscripts such as the Monypenny Breviary and the military manuals of Berault Stuart, this work highlights recurring themes within architectural history, art history, and material culture studies. By addressing broader questions of Scotland’s historic relations with Europe, it makes a necessary contribution to modern day concerns.

It seemed like a dream to Waverley that these deeds of violence should be familiar to men’s minds and currently talked off as happening daily in the immediate neighbourhood, without his having crossed the seas.

Scotland, 1745: Edward Waverley is a naïve English soldier drawn into the heart of the Jacobite rebellion. Charmed by clan leader Fergus MacIvor and his sister Flora, he allies himself with the Jacobite cause – a bold and dangerous move. He finds himself caught between two women – feisty Flora and demure Rose – proving that love can be just as powerful as politics.

First published in 1814, Waverly is widely regarded as the first historical novel in the western tradition. This new edition celebrates the 200th anniversary of its publication, and has been expertly reworked for modern readers by Jenni Calder.

1854, Edinburgh.
Respectable faces hide private sins.

Apprentice Sarah Fisher is helping to fund Dr Will Raven’s emerging medical practice in exchange for being secretly trained as a medic, should the rules barring women ever change. Sarah needs no instruction in the inequalities that beset her gender, but even she has her eyes opened to a darker reality when a relative seeks her help in searching for her missing daughter. Annabel Banks was promised a situation in a prestigious household, but there has been no word from her since she left home, and the agency that arranged her position says she never appeared.

Sarah’s inquiries lead her to reforming campaigners trying to publicise the plight of the hundreds of girls ensnared in Edinburgh’s houses of assignation. Sarah learns how young women are lured, deceived, trafficked and raped, leaving them ruined in the eyes of a society obsessed with moral purity, and where virginity is prized as a lucrative commodity.

Drawing upon real historical events, The Death of Shame takes Raven and Sarah into a treacherous labyrinth of exploitation, corruption, and immorality.

Since 1945 the world has changed at breakneck speed, and life in post-war Scotland is now entirely different from what it was like when Alistair Moffat grew up in the quiet Border town of Kelso in the 1950s. At that time the rhythms and practicalities of daily life which had remained constant for many generations were about to change in the most unimaginable ways.

This is a book about these changes – many of which have been dizzying and disorientating – and how they have affected each and every one of us in all parts of the country. The main themes, such as housing, healthcare, sport, the media, the arts and entertainment, urban and country life, our relationship with the environment, politics, religion and education, are all viewed through the lens of personal experience. Alistair’s own recollections of big events and small, together with other eyewitness accounts, bring these decades alive in a way that no ordinary history can with a directness and poignancy that underlines how much has been gained – and how much lost.

Can one magical city change their destiny?

Welcome to Venice, the fairytale city, where canals flow into hidden shadows and forbidden secrets whisper behind the masks…

 

The masked stranger

When Gina Bellini meets an enigmatic figure at the Venice carnival, their chemistry is unforgettable, before he vanishes into the night.

 

The Hollywood legend

Personal assistant, Issy Roberts is on location with Tinseltown’s biggest star. Will he discover her shocking lies?

 

The ultimate diva

Opera sensation Lucia De Santis has the world at her feet. How far will she go to get what she wants?

 

As their fates collide in the most beautiful city on earth, will dangerous secrets destroy their dreams?

BOOK 15 IN THE MUCH-LOVED ISABEL DALHOUSIE SERIES

‘You can’t go out of the house without tripping over a philosophical question.’ That is a remark made by Isabel Dalhousie to Jamie, the bassoonist who is her handsome younger husband. Isabel’s own life, of course, points to the truth of this observation: she seems to attract philosophical problems in much the same way as a magnet attracts iron filings.

In this latest movement in the symphony of her life, Isabel is faced with novel challenges, each of which tests her resolution to do the right thing. Dawn, a nurse in an infectious diseases ward, is let down by her lover and needs a place to live. Not surprisingly, Isabel offers her a roof over her head. What do you do, though if your house-guest locks herself away and avoids all contact?

And then there is the pompous and slippery Professor Robert Lettuce. He is planning a prestigious conference, and involves Isabel in it. But look at the budget: why is there such a large payment for Lettuce himself and for a young female assistant? Isabel is suspicious.

Other intriguing problems abound, including Isabel’s involvement in a book group threatened by discord and bickering. Isabel remains calm. Of course she does. She knows the power of love, reason, and a clear head to resolve all of these issues, and more.

It’s the early 1990s in Glasgow, and Stephen – music loving romantic – has emerged from a lengthy hospital stay diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, a little-understood disease that has robbed him of any prospects of work, a social life or independent living. Meeting fellow strugglers, who the world seems to care less and less for, they form their own support group and try to get by as cheaply and as painlessly as possible.

Finding that he has the ability to write songs, albeit in a slow and fledgling way, Stephen wakes to the possibility of a spiritual life beyond the everyday. Leaving Glasgow in search of a cure in the mythic warmth of California, Stephen and his friend Richard float between hostels, sofas, and park benches. Could the trip really offer them both a new-world reinvention?