THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

A drag queen becomes obsessed with her mysterious young rival who might be an occultist, or a murderer . . . or the greatest star of all

‘If Sontag’s notion of camp became a religion this would be a seminal text. A glorious exploration of the borderlands of identity, gender and lippy.’ Denise Mina

Luci LaBang is a star: for decades this flamboyant drag artist has cast a spell over screen and stage. Now she’s the leading lady in a smash hit pantomime.

When Luci’s co-star meets with a mysterious accident, a new ingenue shimmers onto the scene, and Luci is immediately smitten with the fantastically beautiful Luda and her sinister charm. Luda begs Luci to share the secrets of her stardom and to reveal the hidden tricks of her trade. For Luci LaBang is a mistress of the Glamour, an arcane discipline that draws on sex, drugs, and the occult for its trancelike, transformative effects. But as Luci tutors her young protégée, their fellow actors and crew members begin meeting with untimely ends. Now Luci wonders if Luda has mastered the Glamour all too well.

What follows is an intoxicating descent into the demimonde of Gasglow, a fantastical city of dreams, and into the nightmarish heart of Luda herself: a femme fatale, a phenomenon, a monster, and, perhaps, the brightest star of them all.

A drag queen becomes obsessed with her mysterious young rival who might be an occultist, or a murderer . . . or the greatest star of all?If Sontag?s notion of camp became a religion this would be a seminal text. A glorious exploration of the borderlands of identity, gender and lippy.? Denise MinaLuci LaBang is a star: for decades this flamboyant drag artist has cast a spell over screen and stage. Now she?s the leading lady in a smash hit pantomime.When Luci?s co-star meets with a mysterious accident, a new ingenue shimmers onto the scene, and Luci is immediately smitten with the fantastically beautiful Luda and her sinister charm. Luda begs Luci to share the secrets of her stardom and to reveal the hidden tricks of her trade. For Luci LaBang is a mistress of the Glamour, an arcane discipline that draws on sex, drugs, and the occult for its trancelike, transformative effects. But as Luci tutors her young protégée, their fellow actors and crew members begin meeting with untimely ends. Now Luci wonders if Luda has mastered the Glamour all too well.What follows is an intoxicating descent into the demimonde of Gasglow, a fantastical city of dreams, and into the nightmarish heart of Luda herself: a femme fatale, a phenomenon, a monster, and, perhaps, the brightest star of them all.

Con O’Neill is stuck in a world of brutal gang violence, sectarian vendettas and personal tragedy. The lack of opportunities for him and the rest of his gang is all too apparent. No money. No prospects. A social design that entraps inhabitants of Treacle Towns up and down the country.

Connor is desperate to get away, to find another life where he can experience happiness and fulfilment. When he stumbles upon the new world of slam poetry, Con senses a glimmer of hope – a hope that might just lead to his escape from Treacle Town.

But it won’t be easy.

Gripping full-cast BBC dramatisations and riveting readings of four ‘Shetland’ tales, plus a bonus short story and interviewAnn Cleeves is well known for her ‘Vera’, ‘Shetland’, and ‘Two Rivers’ crime series, all of which have been adapted into hit TV shows. She was presented with the CWA Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement in 2017, and was appointed an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours List for services to reading and libraries. This collection includes full-cast dramatisations of the first two ‘Shetland’ novels featuring Detective Jimmy Perez, as well as three short stories and a discussion with the bestselling author.

Raven Black – Midwinter in Shetland, and a young woman is found strangled in a snow-covered field. Suspicion falls on elderly loner Magnus Tait – but Detective Jimmy Perez has a hunch the solution is not that simple. Starring Grant O’Rourke.

White Nights – It is midsummer on the island, a time of white nights where the sun never quite leaves the sky. When a distressed stranger disrupts an art exhibition claiming amnesia, and is later found hanged, it seems a clear case of suicide. But Jimmy Perez has other ideas… Starring Steven Robertson.

‘The Soothmoothers’ – The tensions between three travellers on a business trip to Shetland spark a local woman’s interest. By dawn the next day, DI Jimmy Perez is on the scene, investigating a violent crime. Read by Marnie Baxter.’Secrets of Soil’ – Written in collaboration with forensic soil scientist Lorna Dawson, this specially-commissioned short story sees Shetland detective Willow Reeves returning to her childhood home on the Scottish island of North Uist to confront a dark secret from her past. Read by Lesley Hart.

‘The Queen of Mystery’ – Attending the Malice Domestic crime convention in Bethesda, Maryland, award-winning mystery writer Stella Monkhouse fears her star is starting to wane… Read by Joanna Tope.

Phil Williams – Ann Cleeves talks to the Radio 5 Live presenter about the inspiration for her work, and why she’s keen to encourage a national passion for reading.

Text copyright © Ann Cleeves 2006 (Raven Black), 2008 (White Nights), 2010 (‘The Soothmoothers’), 2013 (‘Secrets of Soil’), 2016 (‘The Queen of Mystery’)

All rights reserved

Raven Black

Jimmy Perez – Grant O’Rourke

Magnus – John Shedden

Fran – Rosalind Sydney

Sally – Clare Yuille

Robert – John Kielty

Duncan – Kenny Blyth

DI Taylor – Robin Laing

Euan – Greg Powrie

Annie Perez – Sandra Voe

Catherine – Melody Grove

Dramatised by Iain Finlay MacLeod

Produced and directed by Kirsteen Cameron

White Nights

DI Jimmy Perez – Steven Robertson

Kenny – Finlay Welsh

Edith – Anne Lacey

Bella – Eileen McCallum

Fran – Tracy Wiles

DI Taylor – Robin Laing

Peter – Steven McNicoll

Roddy – Finn den Hertog

Dramatised by Iain Finlay MacLeod

Produced by Kirsteen Cameron

‘The Soothmoothers’

Read by Marnie Baxter

Produced by Kirsteen Cameron

‘Secrets of Soil’

Read by Lesley Hart

Produced by Allegra McIlroy

‘The Queen of Mystery’

Read by Joanna Tope

Produced by Kirsteen Cameron

Phil Williams

With Phil Williams and Ann Cleeves

 

© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

One of the last criminal trials using the 1735 Witchcraft Act was, improbably, in London in 1944. The accused was Helen Duncan, a middle-aged Scotswoman. This is her extraordinary story.Helen Duncan – known since childhood as ‘Hellish Nell’, for her uncontainable nature – was one of the most popular mediums of the twentieth century, holding seances around the country where she was believed to manifest the spirits of the dead.

What happens when we die? It was the question of the age for a generation which had endured one world war and now was living through another. Mrs Duncan’s seances offered an answer. But when she started foretelling naval disasters, she also attracted the unwelcome attention of the secret service. And so just weeks before the Normandy landings, absurdly, anachronistically, she was prosecuted for witchcraft and jailed. Was Nell a conjurer, a martyr or a security risk?

Hellish Nell was first published in 2001 to widespread acclaim. It remains in this revised edition a fascinating window into the unsettled spiritual and psychological mood of the times: a sensational tale of spectacle, credulity and cruelty, and of Britain’s last witch.

A classic ghost story illustrated by acclaimed cartoonist, Seth.

Retired officer Colonel Mortimer takes a lease on the mansion of Brentwood, the grounds of which share the ruins of an older house, including a strange, vacant doorway, but eerie events begin to unfold and Mortimer’s son falls ill. As the supernatural takes hold, Mortimer resolves to do what he must to save his son even as he ventures further into an increasingly horrifying place.

A classic ghost story illustrated by acclaimed cartoonist, Seth.

The Pole-Star’s voyage comes to a halt after becoming trapped in the arctic ice, threatening the lives of its crew. Superstition soon takes hold as the frightened men claim to hear ghosts in the darkness, but it’s the captain’s increasingly strange behaviour that concerns the doctor most.

A stranger enters the Ashby family home posing as Patrick Ashby, the heir to the family’s sizeable fortune. The stranger, Brat Farrar, has been carefully coached on Patrick’s mannerisms, appearance and every significant detail of Patrick’s early life, up to his thirteenth year when he disappeared and was thought to have drowned himself.It seems as if Brat is going to pull off this most incredible deception – until old secrets emerge that threaten to jeopardise the imposter’s plan and his very life…

Con O’Neill is stuck in a world of brutal gang violence, sectarian vendettas and personal tragedy. The lack of opportunities for him and the rest of his gang is all too apparent. No money. No prospects. A social design that entraps inhabitants of Treacle Towns up and down the country.

Connor is desperate to get away, to find another life where he can experience happiness and fulfilment. When he stumbles upon the new world of slam poetry, Con senses a glimmer of hope – a hope that might just lead to his escape from Treacle Town.

But it won’t be easy.

A stranger enters the Ashby family home posing as Patrick Ashby, the heir to the family’s sizeable fortune. The stranger, Brat Farrar, has been carefully coached on Patrick’s mannerisms, appearance and every significant detail of Patrick’s early life, up to his thirteenth year when he disappeared and was thought to have drowned himself.

It seems as if Brat is going to pull off this most incredible deception – until old secrets emerge that threaten to jeopardise the imposter’s plan and his very life…

Unknown in Scotland upon his arrival and unheralded in the English game, Ange Postecoglou revels in his status as an outside agitator. After transforming a Celtic team in turmoil into serial winners, sweeping up five trophies over the course of two spectacular seasons, his appointment by Tottenham Hotspur made him the first Australian manager to take charge of a Premier League club.

Revolution charts the dramatic story of Postecoglou’s instant impact on British football with Celtic and explores his life and times in the sport, through the eyes of those who know him best. Could a track record in Australian, Japanese and Scottish football transfer to the unique landscape of the English game? Would a man without a playing track record in Europe command the respect of a dressing room packed with international stars?

Examining the traits that set him apart from his playing peers and the coaching education that has prepared him for his biggest challenge, Revolution provides an insight into the making of a man and the unique football philosophy that has reinvigorated teams and transformed playing styles at a succession of clubs across the globe.

Tales of suspense for the twilight hour…

Dark Encounters is a collection of classic and elegantly unsettling ghost stories. A spine-tingling collection, these tales are set in the brooding landscape of Scotland, with an air of historic authenticity – often referring to real events, objects and people. From a demonic text that leaves its readers strangled to the murderous spectre of a feudal baron, this is a crucial addition to the long and distinguished cannon of Scottish ghost stories.

For those who seek out the unnerving, the unknown and the unexplainable, Dark Encounters is guaranteed to raise the hair on the back of your neck.

This edition features a rare story – ‘The MacGregor Skull’ – which was the last story every written by the author and posthumously serialised in the Scotsman in 1963.

The Bone Cave is a vivid account of a month-long journey in the Scottish Highlands. Walking and occasionally hitching, Dougie Strang follows a series of folktales to the locations in which they’re set, encountering along the way a depth of meaning to them that allows him to engage with the landscape from a different perspective – one where the distinction between history and legend is supple, and where his own narrative becomes entangled with figures both real and mythic.

Central to the book is the tale of “The Cailleach and the Brown-eyed Hunter”, which illustrates most fully the ways that myths continue to dwell in the landscape, offering a different perspective on contemporary issues such as land ownership and ecological stewardship. Dougie sets out on his walk at the beginning of October, which also marks the start of the red deer rut. The bellowing of stags becomes the soundtrack to his journey and a vigorous reminder that, as well as mapping invisible landscapes of story, he is also exploring a real, living landscape.

From Ayreshire, into the Central Belt and up to the Stirlingshire hills, the Lowland regions of Scotland are within easy travel distance of its two main cities and the majority of its climbing population. Though perhaps lacking the grandeur of the Highlands, the Lowlands make up for this in variety and accessibility with dolerite quarries, adventurous greywacke sea-cliffs and basalt test-pieces. With over 1,900 trad, sport and bouldering routes, from esoteric gems to world-classics, the area holds something for everyone.

Compiled and updated by local activists, this new guide presents the best that the Lowlands have to offer. With colour photographic topos throughout, inspiring action shots, detailed maps, public transport and accessibility details, it’s designed for both seasoned climbers and those taking their first steps onto outdoor crags.

Coverage of the book includes Stirlingshire, Glasgow, Ayreshire, the Forth Valley, Berwickshire Coast and the Borders Hills.

Key features – Over 1,900 routes, with almost every route on a diagram; 224 high resolution crag diagrams; Inspiring action photos; Detailed access maps designed with accessibilty in mind; Essential crag information to aid planning; Details of accesible climbing venues

When Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2013 season he was the most successful football manager Britain had ever seen, having won twice as many trophies as his nearest rival. But that success had not come easily. Thirty-five years previously he had arrived at the rain-swept training ground at Aberdeen F.C. as the recently sacked manager of St Mirren. Already a divisive figure, this Alex Ferguson came with a reputation for trouble and a lot still to prove. Not for nothing, many thought he was a risky choice.

Fergie Rises returns to a time when Ferguson was lucky to get Aberdeen, not the other way around. It’s the story of an eight-year revolution that saw the Dons and their ambitious young manager knock the Old Firm off their perch, taste victory in Europe for the first time, and electrify Scottish football. When Ferguson finally left the club for Manchester United, in 1986, fans and rivals were unanimous in believing he had engineered one of the most astonishing upheavals in the game’s history.

The author also examines the personal tragedies Ferguson overcame – the deaths of his father and his mentor Jock Stein – and the rivalries, setbacks and triumphs that shaped a sporting genius.

This critical history of Doctor Who covers the series 60 years, from the creation of the show to its triumph as Britain’s number one TV drama.

Opening with an in-depth account of the creation of the series within the BBC of the early 1960s, each decade of the show is tackled through a unique political and pop cultural historical viewpoint, exploring the links between contemporary Britain and the stories Doctor Who told, and how such links kept the show popular with a mass television audience.

Timeless Adventures reveals how Doctor Who is at its strongest when it reflects the political and cultural concerns of a mass British audience (the 1960s, 1970s and 21st Century), and at its weakest when catering to a narrow fan-based audience (as in the 1980s). The book also addresses the cancellation of the show in the late 1980s (following the series becoming increasing self-obsessed) and the ways in which a narrowly-focused dedicated fandom contributed to the show’s demise and yet was also instrumental in its regeneration for the 21st Century under Russell T. Davies, and analyses the new series to reveal what has made it so popular, reflecting real world issues like consumerism and dieting.

Aberdeen have competed on the European stage since season 1967/68 and have enjoyed some epic encounters along the way, culminating in the club’s greatest ever victory – beating Real Madrid 2-1 in the 1983 Cup Winner’s Cup final. Ally Begg charts a path through Aberdeen’s storied history in Europe, vividly brining to life the most interesting, exciting, and unforgettable games by interviewing players from Aberdeen and their rivals and augmenting them with his own richly rendered memories.

Aberdeen European Nights takes the reader on a nostalgic romp around the continent, crossing beyond the Iron Curtain and building a fortress at home at Pittodrie. Humorous, quirky and insightful, it is the perfect book for Aberdeen fans, young and old.

The Isle of Iona, 825. In a bloody, brutal raid, Abbot Blathmac is slain on the steps of his monastery for refusing to give away the location of the sacred relics of St Columba, the missionary who first brought Christianity to Scotland. Following a night of rampage and mayhem, one Viking wakes up the next morning to find himself alone, hungover, and abandoned by his crew mates. He can’t swim, there are no boats, and the only surviving monk on the island has taken his sword. With only his wits, he must survive long enough not only to rejoin his Viking comrades, but also to find the location of the elusive relics that brought him here in the first place.

Rooted in the real history of Iona and its early monks, Columba’s Bones is an utterly unique and thrilling read, exploring the clash of early Christianity and paganism, and expanding into a sharp, witty meditation on philosophy, redemption, shame, violence, love, transcendence and reality.

This is a witch story unlike any other.

Lux has lost everything when Else finds her in the woods. Her family, her lover, her home – all burned. The world is suspicious of women like her. But Lux is cunning; she knows how to blend into the background. And she knows a lot about poisons.

Else needs Lux’s help to destroy the man who wronged her. But on their hunt they will uncover dark secrets that entangle them with dangerous adversaries.

From the snowy winter woods to the bright midnight sun; from lost and powerless to finding your path, Now She is Witch conjures a world where women grasp at power through witchcraft, sexuality and performance, and sometimes by throwing each other to the wolves.

‘A story that will hold you tight and not let go’ Stylist

‘Mesmerising and evocative…There are echoes of everything from the Brothers Grimm to Angela Carter’ Observer

Powerful, imaginative, compelling – myth-making at its best’ Val McDermid

‘An impassioned reclaiming of female desire…absorbingly atmospheric’ Daily Mail

‘Spooky, timeless, feminist, inventive, unsettling’ Viv Groksop

A classic ghost story illustrated by acclaimed cartoonist, Seth.

Retired officer Colonel Mortimer takes a lease on the mansion of Brentwood, the grounds of which share the ruins of an older house, including a strange, vacant doorway, but eerie events begin to unfold and Mortimer’s son falls ill. As the supernatural takes hold, Mortimer resolves to do what he must to save his son even as he ventures further into an increasingly horrifying place.