THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

Finlaggan on Islay has long been recognised as an important medieval site; the centre from which the MacDonald Lords of the Isles exercised control and patronage over large areas of Scotland. This major archaeological project undertaken from 1989 to 1998 led to a better understanding of how the Lords of the Isles created a Gaelic state and how Finlaggan contributed to the culture and heritage of Scotland. The excavations also uncovered evidence of prehistoric occupation and ritual, lead mining, and post-medieval settlement including a fort. In addition to the excavation results, this book reviews all available historical documentation to place Finlaggan in its local West Highland setting as well as a wider British and Irish context. Richly illustrated with photographs and plans of the excavation sites, the book discusses Finlaggan as a castle, palace and administrative hub. The volume is supplemented by an online catalogue of artefacts and environmental material that provides a wealth of information on the inhabitants, their pastimes, their activities and their quality of life.

The Great Mixed Climbs of Scotland is the definitive guidebook to the most iconic, challenging, and inspiring winter climbing routes across the Scottish mountains. Published by the Scottish Mountaineering Press, this beautifully produced volume brings together in-depth route descriptions, expert insight, and stunning photography to celebrate Scotland’s world-class winter climbing tradition.

Inside, climbers will discover legendary routes on Ben Nevis, Glencoe, the Cairngorms, Torridon, Creag Meagaidh, and the Northwest Highlands, making this book an essential companion for planning, training, and adventuring in Scotland’s dramatic winter landscapes. Each climb is carefully detailed to help mountaineers of all levels — from seasoned experts to ambitious newcomers — get the most out of their Scottish winter experience.

Includes routes on Ben Nevis, Glencoe, Cairngorms, Torridon, Creag Meagaidh, and the Northwest Highlands
Packed with detailed route descriptions, mapping, and expert advice
Illustrated with breathtaking Scottish mountain photography
Perfect for both experienced winter climbers and those new to Scottish mountaineering
A beautifully designed book — ideal for reference, inspiration, or as a gift for climbers

Whether you are planning your next ascent, reliving unforgettable climbs, or searching for the perfect gift for a mountain enthusiast, The Great Mixed Climbs of Scotland is a must-have addition to every mountaineer’s library.

Square Baw is a collection of football poems that not only covers personal experience, but takes a deep dive into the history of the Scottish game itself, and thereby goes to the heart of Scottish masculinity. The poems are mainly told through the experiences of Mac- Donald’s grandfather William McKenzie Grant (b. 1887). Grant played at Junior and amatuer level, including with Queens Park in 1917-18, before playing at top level in Scottish football, with their home being the legendary Hampden Park. MacDonald’s interest in Scottish football was rekindled in his grandfather’s story after a post- card from a distant relation was discovered, which had been sent from the Western Front in May 1915 by his grandfather to his nephew in Glasgow. It prompted MacDonald to re-ex- amine his grandfather’s life, through his 95 year old mother’s memories, books, records and war diaries.

A lyrical and personal account of Jim Crumley’s lifelong quest to find harmony in nature and to hold nature at the centre of his every thought and action as he celebrates our precious planet.

Renowned nature writer Jim Crumley draws on more than six decades of immersion in wild landscapes to explore the profound harmony at the heart of the natural world―and why it matters now more than ever.

With the lyrical clarity and passionate advocacy that have made him Scotland’s foremost nature commentator, Crumley weaves together close observation, personal encounters, and ecological insight to reveal nature as a vast, interconnected symphony. He argues that our survival depends on relearning how to listen to the land, to recognise our place within the great orchestration of life rather than apart from it. Through evocative prose built on his expertise and care, Crumley urges us to defend the beauty and balance of the living world, offering both a celebration and a clarion call.

Symphonic is a vital testament from a writer whose life’s work is a passionate defence and celebration of nature’s enduring―and endangered―harmony.

Young Billy Queen is angry. He’s going to find the English officer who bullied his dad in the army and probably kill him. What he doesn’t yet know is that his search will take him to deepest India and that it will become an intellectual journey from which there will be no turning back. Hunting Captain Henley tracks the progress of a tormented boy who turns into a subversive man hell-bent on vengeance for a covert military incident in Suez 1952.

Paris, 1968. In the heady youth culture of Summer 1968, students in Paris erupt into what becomes a national rebellion, nearly toppling the French economy and their august, king-like President Charles de Gaulle. Amid the turmoil, Blanche Lanyon is on her own mission to create a journalistic career in mid-life, struggling against a failing marriage, a controlling, aristocratic family and a devastating health diagnosis. And as her path crosses de Gaulle’s in his time of crisis, he unwittingly gives shape to her future.

Six friends. One city. The time of their lives.

It’s 1988, and on the verge of a reunion with friends she hasn’t seen since graduation, Julie recalls her halcyon student days of 1984 and the strange tumultuous time they lived through.

The friends – each from a very different background – are living in a gorgeous terraced flat in their Edinburgh idyll. As they navigate relationships and the unspoken rules of flat sharing, the troubled world all around them seems rather distant. But in the nearby hometown of one of the flatmates, the Miners’ Strike is bringing about a huge political shift.

Despite their differences, can these six strangers help each other see the world from a different perspective? Is there such a thing as being too close? And what are the limits of love between friends?

A Shona Sandison Mystery

Shona Sandison might be about to get her biggest scoop yet – if she can make it to the end of the investigation alive.

In a darkening, post-COVID world, fearless investigative reporter Shona Sandison is seeking meaning – and her next big story. A secret contact inside the government has promised her something huge, but she has no idea of the danger she is in. Meanwhile, her old friend Hector Stricken has taken on a position in communications for a new state agency, where he stumbles across a sinister, top-secret project codenamed ‘Grendel’. And on the Scottish coast, an ageing spy chief, living in seclusion, grieves his murdered son – and contemplates revenge.

Connecting them all is an insidious conspiracy within the UK’s most powerful institutions, a rot so deep that the only way to cure it may be to cut it out – or burn the whole thing down.

Set in the stunning landscape of Loch Broom during the late 1800s, An Taobh Dorcha immerses readers in a world of hardship, power and humanity. This compelling Gaelic historical fiction follows two newcomers: Gibson, who arrives from Glasgow seeking his roots, and Donald, who assumes the identity of a murdered minister after committing a heinous crime. Their arrival disrupts the quiet community, where the kindness of locals masks an undercurrent of tension. As the story unfolds, the stark contrasts between Both men, whilst different in their morals, are at pivotal crossroads, and their impulsive actions lead to tragic consequences.

Charity’s narrative captures the harsh realities faced by crofters under oppressive landlords and an unsympathetic clergy while celebrating the resilience of ordinary people. With lyrical prose, the author transports readers to enchanting moors and lochside, where beauty contrasts with struggle. An Taobh Dorcha is a poignant reflection on the human spirit, making it a must-read for those captivated by the complexities of life in a bygone era.

1957. Sonny is working on a whaling ship in the South Atlantic, reckoning with the most vicious storms he has ever seen. It’s a brutal way to make a living. When he finally returns to his Shetland home to build a life with his wife and young son, the legacy of his time at sea is felt by all of them.

In present day Shetland, Jack is an old man, living alone in the cottage where he grew up, in the shadow of a hill. And it is here, one evening, that something appears on his doorstep. Something that throws off the rhythm of his solitary existence in the most profound way.

This is a story of unlikely friendship, longing, the power of music and the pull of home. It is about a life revisited – and reimagined.

Scotland has given the world some of its most distinctive – and most lovable – dogs. In Tails of Scotland, dog-loving Scotsman Peter MacQueen journeys from the wild Highlands to the rolling Lowlands, meeting native breeds and the people who know them best.

From the regal Scottish Deerhound, the gentle giant of the glens, to the mischievous West Highland White Terrier stealing hearts (and socks!) across the country, Peter uncovers the history, quirks and enduring charm of fourteen remarkable breeds. Whether it’s a Border Collie commanding its flock or a Dandie Dinmont nosing through the undergrowth, these dogs are more than pets, they are part of Scotland’s spirit.

Packed with lively storytelling, stunning photography of dogs in breath-taking landscapes, and practical tips for current and future owners, this is a heartfelt celebration of our four-legged heritage.

Joy Chose You is a beautiful, colour-illustrated collection of Donna’s most-loved poems to bring more joy into our imperfect lives. When we allow joy to wrap her quiet warmth around us we find ourselves opening up to more life, love and light.

With poems such as ‘Joy Comes Back’, ‘Happy’ and ‘Unstoppable’, as well as 20 new poems, including ‘This Little Moment’, ‘Love Wins’ and ‘A Little Weird’, Donna’s wise words help us find hope in the dark, calm amid worry and greater joy in the beauty of living.

The Battle of George Square, a riot during the Forty Hours Strike in Glasgow, on 31 January 1919, is routinely claimed to be one of the most iconic events in Scottish working-class history. It is also the most mythologised. For a century, the narrative created for the defence of the strike leaders charged with incitement to riot – an ‘unprovoked attack on a peaceful crowd’ as an act of oppression – has been repeated uncritically by academic and popular writers. Mythology has almost completely replaced reality, most notably in the Scottish education system, where educational materials have been described by two prominent historians as, ‘arrant propaganda’ and a ‘perversion of history’.

Now, Gordon Barclay and Louise Heren have undertaken a meticulous examination of the contemporary evidence to tell a more complex story. In doing so they examine the ways writers have failed to subject the celebratory mythology of this iconic event to adequate scrutiny. They document the creation of the mythology, from the writings of the strike leaders to those who use the mythology of the Battle to promote their own politics. They also examine the legal basis and reality of the military deployment to Glasgow in the aftermath of the riot.

The American-born folklorist and musician Margaret Fay Shaw’s passion for the Hebrides led her to the island of South Uist in 1929 and then to Canna in 1935 as the wife of the eminent folklorist John Lorne Campbell.

Her extraordinary work in documenting and preserving traditional Gaelic songs and customs remains a vital resource for understanding Hebridean music, and the Campbells’ house on Canna is a unique collection of priceless material celebrating the Hebridean world. This vast archive also includes Margarets collection of still and film photography, which capture the essence of island life at a time when old traditions were vanishing.

This book celebrates the legacy and life of a remarkable woman, who herself wrote with such wit and flair of her travels and adventures and which took her from turn of-the-century Pennsylvania to 1920s New York, Paris, Nova Scotia and the Hebrides, where she lived until her death in 2004.

Feast is the perfect guide to effortless entertaining, offering nearly 100 recipes across 15 thoughtfully curated menus. Whether you’re planning a festive holiday celebration, a relaxed family gathering or an intimate dinner with friends, this book has you covered.

Drawing on the finest seasonal ingredients, the complete, ready-to-use menus span every kind of occasion, from Sunday brunches and summer lunches to unforgettable Hogmanay celebrations. But don’t feel constrained – feel free to mix and match to create your own unique feasts from the huge range of delicious recipes.

When Kenneth returns to the island after being away for years, he plans to make a good life for himself in his old house. But he soon realizes that things are not going to be as easy as he had hoped. There is no sign of the warm little community he remembers, and not everyone in Baile a’ Chamais is so fond of the stranger who has come among them. It is not long before strange things happen to him, which leave him frightened and confused. He is haunted by problems, and also by little Ella, who lives in a world of her own and spends her life running the moors in search of fairies. Is Kenneth losing his mind? Or is there a spark of truth in the supernatural legends he used to hear from his grandmother when he was little? Apparently, Ben Chianabhail holds many secrets.

Nuair a tha Coinneach a’ tilleadh chun an eilein às dèidh a bhith air falbh fad bhliadhnaichean, tha e an dùil beatha mhath a dhèanamh dha fhèin ann an seann taigh a sheanmhar. Ach chan fhada gus a bheil e a’ tuigsinn nach eil cùisean gu bhith cho furasta ’s a bha e an dùil. Chan eil sgeul air a’ choimhearsnachd bhig bhlàth air a bheil cuimhne aige, agus chan eil a h-uile duine ann am Baile a’ Chamais cho dèidheil air a’ choigreach a th’ air tighinn nam measg. Chan fhada cuideachd gus a bheil rudan neònach a’ tachairt dha, a tha ga fhàgail fo eagal is fo imcheist. Tha e air a bhuaireadh le trioblaidean, agus cuideachd le Ella bheag bhalbh, a tha beò ann an saoghal dhi fhèin is i a’ cur seachad a beatha a’ ruith nam monaidhean a’ lorg shìthichean. A bheil Coinneach a’ dol às a chiall, no a bheil sradag fìrinne anns na h-uirsgeulan os- nàdarrach a bhiodh e a’ cluinntinn aig a sheanmhair nuair a bha e beag? A rèir coltais, cha ghann na rùintean-dìomhair a tha Beinn Chianabhail a’ cleith.

From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller, Pine, comes a haunting and atmospheric new gothic thriller, set in the brooding Scottish landscape.

In this corner of Fife, summer nights meant parties on wind-blown beaches, wrapped in hoodies and denim jackets, pretending you weren’t cold in the stubborn evening light.

Joanie, 2013. Desperate to flee the claustrophobia of St Rule, Joanie has long been looking forward to her big escape. But on the night of her school graduation this dream slips through her hands.

Devastated, Joanie falls into the orbit of an enigmatic couple – Erin and David – who offer her a new kind of escape. Charismatic, older and intellectual, they make Joanie feel alive and important in a way she didn’t know was possible.

Cameron, 2023. When Cameron arrives back in St Rule for Christmas a question burns in his mind: what ever happened to Joanie? It’s been a decade since he saw his former friend, and in truth he hadn’t given it much thought – busily building a life.

But as he starts to look for answers, it becomes clear that someone wants to keep this secret buried at all costs. How far should he go to pursue the truth?

Set amongst the ancient cobblestone of a Scottish coastal town steeped in history, Francine Toon masterfully blends the tension of a mystery with the chill of a modern gothic. This is a story where every shadow holds a secret, and every revelation brings Cameron and Joanie closer to a truth that could shatter their worlds.

A sumptuous collection of magical stories retold for children, with breathtaking illustrations of creatures from folklore.

Travel to the magical Celtic lands to meet shapeshifting selkies, duelling dragons, a terrifying waterhorse, a cheeky changeling, a cunning fairy and a bloodthirsty giant…

In this sumptuously illustrated new collection, award-winning Scottish author and storyteller Lari Don retells classic tales of myth, magic and mischief.

Elise Carmichael’s exciting and luminous illustrations bring the rich shared folklore of the Celtic lands – Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany – to life in an outstanding collection that will enchant younger and older readers alike.

The worst monsters are the human kind . . .

Dundee, 1812. Isabel Baxter awaits the arrival of Mary Godwin, a girl of precocious intellect and grand passions, sent north to cure a mysterious ailment. Nestled in woodland on the banks of the Tay, the Baxter family home seems a perfect place for a troubled girl to recuperate. But The Cottage is a place of secrets, memories . . . and monsters.

We know Mary Shelley as the girl who wrote Frankenstein, but there are great holes in the fabric of her story.
Discover the fascinating tale of Mary Godwin: the mind which birthed Frankenstein’s monster.

Years before Frankenstein, this is a story of emerging womanhood and literary intrigue, exploring the many monsters in young Mary Shelley’s life. From the bestselling author of Waterstones Scottish Book of the month, the Specimens, Poor Creatures is perfect for fans of Stacey Halls, Sara Sheridan and Ambrose Parry.

From the bestselling author of Mayflies and Caledonian Road, a heart-enriching celebration of what makes us great: our friends.

If we are lucky in our lives, our friendships will be rich and varied. They will be shared with those with two legs, with four legs, with whiskers or clean faces; they will come dressed in the simplicity of childhood or the professional attire of adult life; some will span decades, and some will be only fleeting. But the thing they will all have in common is that life is not only unimaginable – but unimagined – without them.

In these gorgeous personal reflections, Andrew O’Hagan explores friendship through music and poetry, memory and history, illuminating the many ways and reasons that people come together, and how our lives are all the better because we do.

Andrew O’Hagan’s novel Caledonian Road was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 31/03/2024