THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

CAT WUMMAN, is Stevenson’s second short story collection – nine different stories presenting contemporary Scottish life inspired by folk tales from around the world, Scots ballads and the poetry of Coleridge and Hugh MacDiarmid. These dark tales (which include four weddings but no funeral!) will irresistibly draw the reader in.

An ancient grave. A modern evil. The Dead and the Dying is a pulse-pounding instalment in the Rhona MacLeod series, perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Martina Cole and Silent Witness.

In the dim morning light, Orkney’s Skaill Bay is the backdrop for a calamity of nature’s making. When forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod joins the rescue efforts as a volunteer, she uncovers more than she bargained for: a human skeleton entombed in a stone crypt.

The grave is believed to hail from the Viking Age, but Rhona’s analysis of the content points to more recent and sinister evil. And a shadow is thrown over the investigation when the skeleton is finally identified – and unsettling connections emerge between the victim and the very people trying to solve the case.

As forensic clues lead Rhona to a second, horrifying discovery, the question looms: how many more secrets are concealed in the sand?

When Aussie Dylan Bailey walks away from her tenth grand slam without a title, she decides to call in for early retirement. But after spending time with fellow pro and British player Oliver Anderson, he convinces her she still has one last title fight left in her.
Together, they embark on a journey of rediscovery and second chances, as Dylan and Oliver navigate the highs and lows of professional tennis while falling deeper in love with each passing match.

Jacobitism, the cause championed by the exiled Stuart royal house, endured from the Revolution of 1688–91 until 1807, fuelled by plots, propaganda and uprisings – especially in Scotland. As the movement shifted from exiled courts in France and Italy to a wider diaspora, Jacobites spread across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. From soldiers in European armies to settlers in British American colonies, Jacobites left a global impact: aiding Native American resistance yet also engaging in the enslavement of Black Africans. Their experiences abroad influenced European Enlightenment and Romanticism. This book offers a critical yet sympathetic view of Jacobitism, revealing its complex legacy across the world.

The enduring popularity of Nicola Sturgeon, the first female and longest-serving First Minister of Scotland, was a rare constant in an era marked by Brexit, Covid and five different UK prime ministers. Previously, as ‘Yes Minister’ and Deputy Leader of the SNP, she helped to bring Scotland to the brink of independence, overseeing the Yes campaign in the independence referendum of 2014.

In this deeply personal memoir, Sturgeon recounts her journey from working-class Ayrshire to the steps of Bute House. Revealing the person behind the politician, she explores the schism between her private and public personas: one painfully shy and self-critical, the other a consummate public performer. And yet, she pulls no punches, candidly recounting her interactions with figures including Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, and Alex Salmond – her mentor and, ultimately, her staunch adversary.

Full of the verve and wit that made Sturgeon one of the most high-profile politicians in the UK, this is a unique blend of personal insight and captivating vignettes. Infused throughout with a love of Scotland and its people, it discusses Sturgeon’s mistakes, her battles, and her triumphs with candid honesty. Frankly is the compelling story of no ordinary politician.

Sometimes a rabbit just wants to go for a swim! But is that the best idea when the sign says “No Swimming”?

Packed with Ross Collins’s characteristic humour, No Swimming is a hilarious cautionary tale – a perfect read-aloud picture book for children and adults to enjoy together, again and again!

When a rabbit meets a sneaky sea monkey trying to get him into the water, he has questions; lots of them! What are carrots doing in a lake? Why are there no fish? Is the water cold? And, most importantly, is the sea monkey really a sea monkey? He certainly is a strange-looking fellow . . .

Enjoy more adventures from this unwise but determined rabbit in No Climbing.

When the Faerie folk flee their world and come to ours, running from the nightmare of war, nobody in the everyday knows what to do. So they are locked away.

Thirteen-year-old Samm Wolfback lives in Glass Forest, a sprawling Faerae refugee camp in England. Life in Glass Forest is hard, poisoned by disease and crime and poverty. But Samm has a unique gift that lines his pockets – he can find lost things.
When Samm is thrust into the centre of a plot to escape Glass Forest and return home, he must use his gifts to unearth two treasures lost in the everyday: a relic that will end the war back in Faerae; and the only person with the power to reopen the door between worlds – the Locksmith. The task will take Samm to dark places filled with danger, from a grimly enchanted circus of nightmares to a museum housing a murderous exhibit, and he will have to use all of his skills to stay alive.
Meanwhile, in the human world, a kidnapped boy with a dark secret begins to realise that he might hold the key to the Faerae folks’ fate. Before all is said and done, destiny’s web will entangle him with Samm and send them spinning towards a showdown with the great evil that lurks in the world beyond the door.

When 16-year-old Adina accidentally destroys the biodome that she and over 14,000 other people live in, it’s down to her to lead a small group of survivors to safety in this explosive dystopian YA survival story.

It’s the year 2123, and 16-year-old Adina has just accidentally killed 14,756 people.

Raised in the eco-bubble of Eden Five, Adina has always believed that the Amonston Corporation’s giant greenhouse would keep her safe forever. But when her own careless mistake leads to an explosion that incinerates Eden Five, she and a small group of survivors must brave the barren wastelands outside the ruined Dome to reach the Sanctuary before their biofilters give out and their DNA threatens to mutate in the toxic air.

They soon discover that the outside isn’t as deserted as they were made to believe, and the truth is unearthed on their dangerous expedition. As time runs out, Adina must tackle her guilty conscience and find the courage to get everyone to safety. Will she make it alive, or will the Nomalies get to her first?

An internationally acclaimed writer, broadcaster and food anthropologist with fingers in several pies, Ghillie Başan is renowned for her work on Turkish, Middle Eastern and Moroccan food. She has travelled the world extensively to research and write over 50 books on different culinary cultures and has unparalleled expertise on the use of spices.

Inspired by Scotland’s fantastic produce, wild food and whisky, Food Whisky Life offers mouth-watering recipes that shine a new light on local ingredients and open up fantastic new worlds of flavour.
While each recipe is infused with her vast knowledge of spices and food pairings with whisky, Ghillie also writes honestly, from the heart, to paint an inspirational picture of family life and what it takes to grow a successful hospitality business in one of the wildest and most beautiful corners of Scotland, sharing her story of how whisky saved the life that she and her two children love.

“In the quiet attic of a large house lives a little ghost.
Alone.
Just as he likes it.”

The little ghost spends long nights swooping up and down, and round and round — having fun, all by himself. He has no need to leave his dark and dusty attic; in fact he’s actually rather worried about leaving.

Until one day his peace is disturbed by a curious girl. The little ghost sulks: why won’t the annoying and slightly scary child leave him alone? So, the grumpy ghoul decides to do what ghosts do best…

But this little girl isn’t easily frightened.

This wryly funny story about adapting to change, facing your fears and having the courage to open yourself up to others is brought to life by Japanese author-illustrator Mamiko Shiotani’s beautifully soft and textured artwork.

This book anthologises selected key works from the oeuvre of Colin McArthur, a pioneering figure within Anglophone Film and Scottish cultural studies since the 1960s.
Collecting together thirty-seven essays written between 1966 and 2022, twenty-one of which were hitherto out-of-print, the book identifies and illustrates the central strands of scholarly interest that have defined one of British Film Studies and Scottish Cultural Studies’ most influential careers: critical investigation and legitimisation of mid-twentieth-century Hollywood cinema and popular American film genres; the cinematic representation of Scotland and the gradual development of a Scottish film production sector; and Scotland’s status as a distinctive visual and material cultural signifier within a diverse range of international popular cultures from the eighteenth century to the present.

This historical biography of Chrystal Macmillan, one of Scotland’s most prominent campaigners for women’s equality, justice and peace in the early twentieth century, is the first account of her life and work. It describes her early life in a comfortable home in Edinburgh, her school and university years in Scotland, and her rise to prominence as the main appellant in the ‘Scottish Women Graduates’ Case’ when it went to appeal in the House of Lords. She was an important figure in the suffrage movement both in Scotland, and in England where she lived from 1913, becoming influential in several national and international women’s organisations. She used her legal skills and training to scrutinise, draft and suggest amendments to legislation that had direct impact on women’s lives, including their right to their own nationality, to become members of the legal profession and to be treated equally with men in the workplace. In 1915 she was an organiser of the International Women’s Congress at The Hague, which urged political leaders to use mediation to stop the war. In 1924, she qualified as a barrister in London and was active on the Western Circuit and London courts. Although she left no diary, the recollections of friends, obituaries and memorials provide a vivid image of a woman of considerable ability, commitment and courage.

Yee Ha! Hanna the Highland Cowgirl is all set for another adventure in this second fabulous picture book from Louise McDougall and Sarah Lovell. This time Hanna and her calf Calamity Jane find themselves in a real pickle at their local agricultural show. Hanna loves Highland Dancing but also loves showing her calf – and when she’s asked to do both she finds herself trying a little too hard as she rushes around the showground. Once again she asks “What would a real cowgirl do?” and discovers that it’s not always about winning but having huge fun as you do your best.

With the widest catchment area of any river in Britain, the Tay drains much of the lower Highlands of Scotland. A vast network of lochs and smaller bodies of water feed the Isla, Garry, Tummel, Almond and Earn, which all flow into this mighty river.

As Robin Crawford walks along the banks of the Tay, we delve into the history of this landscape and his personal connection with it, from hill walks with friends into the mountains of the Tay’s source to his student days in Dundee, where the Tay eventually spills out into the North Sea.

Along the route we dip into the river’s story: the gold-panners on the river Cononish, the Earthquake House outside Comrie, Beatrix Potter’s holiday home near Dunkeld. Throughout, the river is our constant companion, connecting the small moments on which events turn and lives are changed forever.

Unlock the potential of Scotland’s future withUnfinished Businessby Henry McLeish and James Mitchell. This compelling read is essential for political enthusiasts, policymakers and anyone passionate about the evolution of Scottish governance. McLeish and Mitchell dissect the legacy of the 1998 Scottish Parliament legislation, revisiting the core principles that shaped its foundation.

Reflecting on a quarter of a century of progress, the authors highlight past challenges and outline a vision for the next 25 years. Advocating for partnerships rooted in respect and accountability, they call for reforms that align with the original aspirations of the Scottish Parliament. This book not only scrutinises Scotland’s current political status but also illuminates pathways for a more equitable and engaged democracy.

Perfect for academics, students of political science and those interested in the future of Scotland,Unfinished Businessis a crucial addition to the conversation about Scotland’s political landscape and future direction.

Because this book is about films related to a place, rather than to a genre, person, year or era, the range covered is hugely diverse. There will be films discussed here you have not heard of which are worth digging out and I would be beyond astonished if any reader has seen every film I treat as Scottish.

What is a Scottish film?

Which are the best? And the worst?

BRAVEHEART • TRAINSPOTTING • THE WICKERMAN • SUNSET SONG • DOG SOLDIERS • ORPHANS • GREGORY’S GIRL • UNDER THE SKIN • YOUNG ADAM • SCHEME BIRDS • CALIBRE • AND VIOLET • DIRECT • THE ANGELS SHARE • THE 39 STEPS • THE ROAD DANCE • AXE RAIDERS • GOD HELP THE GIRL • NAE PARASAN • RED ROSE • PLAYHOUSE

This book offers a meticulously researched guide to over 400 films set predominantly in Scotland, spanning from silent cinema to modern day blockbusters. Each entry provides essential details, a concise plot summary, contextual insights and critical analysis.

All the opinions I offer in this book are mine, and mine alone. You’re free to disagree, and almost certainly will, and your opinion is equally valid.

Furse emphasises the connections to Scottish culture, highlight adaptations of literature and the real-life events inspiring these films.

Scottish Films is a thrilling treasure chest, packed with fresh insights and lesser known gems waiting to be discovered. It’s a vibrant celebration of Scotland’s cinematic artistry.

You may just discover your next watch!

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.

This far north, they say the dead are with us…

Hogmanay, the far north of Scotland. Alone on the shoreline, lobster fisherman Rob Sinclair pours a dram into the freezing waves of the North Sea. It’s a family tradition; an offering to the sea spirit, the Selkie.

That same night, a stranger arrives in Rob’s village. A young woman, Mairi, charged by her dead mother to carry out three acts of vengeance. Bitter revenge for deeds done before Mairi was born.

Lonely and damaged, Rob and Mairi are drawn to one another. Rob is beguiled by Mairi, but she is elusive, frustrating, her personality shapeshifting. The only certainty is that Mairi is not who she says she is…