THE BEST OF SCOTTISH BOOKS

Having the wrong client can be murder…The voice was smooth, cultured, almost tender as it oozed from the phone into Connor Fraser’s ear. “I’ve heard about you, Mr Fraser, and I’m very impressed by your work. So I’ve decided to employ you. I am going to kill Father John Donnelly sometime in the next seven days. And you are going to stop me – or die trying. If you check your account, you’ll see I’ve deposited GBP70,000. And, just to be fair, I’ll give you an hour, starting now, to find Father Donnelly before the games begin. Refuse my offer, and someone you love will die. Good hunting, to both of us.”The thought it’s a sick joke lasts for as long as it takes Connor to find that GBP70,000 has been deposited into his PayPal account, and for him to receive an email with a picture of his grandmother. With no choice but to make a deal with the devil, Connor races to unmask a killer before he strikes and uncovers a mystery that stretches back decades, threatening the people closest to him.Praise for Neil Broadfoot:’Tense, fast-moving and bloody. Broadfoot’s best yet’ Mason Cross’A true rising star of crime fiction’ Ian Rankin’Beautifully crafted . . . There’s no filler, no exposition, just action, dialogue and layering of tension that’ll hold you breathless until the very end’ Helen Fields’Wonderfully grisly and grim, and a cracking pace’ James Oswald’A frantic, pacy read with a compelling hero’ Steve Cavanagh

One hundred years ago, Winston Churchill prepared to defend his parliamentary seat of Dundee in the 1922 General Election. He had represented the industrial town since 1908, enjoyed a majority of more than 15,000 votes and confidently described it as ‘a life seat’. The cabinet minister had fought and won five previous elections in the city, and confidently expected to win a sixth – but one man had other ideas. Churchill was in for the fight of his life.Cheers, Mr Churchill tells the incredible true story of how the god-fearing teetotaller Edwin Scrymgeour fought and won an election against Britain’s most famous politician. The story begins with their first electoral contest in 1908 and follows their political rivalry over the next five elections until Scrymgeour’s eventual victory in 1922.Using first-hand accounts and an array of fascinating characters, Andrew Liddle vividly brings to life an extraordinary personal and political rivalry – and tells the story of a rare defeat for Britain’s greatest fighter.

The nineteenth century has been regarded as an era of decline for Scottish literature. This INTERNATIONAL COMPANION shows that it was instead a transformational period. Through a lively and extensive publishing community, widely varied Scottish writers found expression. New voices and genres flourished. Alongside cultural giants such as Scott and Stevenson, women, working, immigrant, and emigrant authors – writing in English, Gaelic, and Scots – propelled Scotland onto the international literary stage. From Shetland to Tasmania, from Celtic Twilight to science fiction, this volume explores the many modes of Scottish expression that emerged from this complex and fertile age.

This rich selection from the writings of Priscilla Bawcutt, the major scholar of Older Scots literature, both honours her achievement and provides authoritative guidance to all involved in the pleasures and challenges of medieval and early modern Scottish studies.The first five chapters, including a hitherto unpublished paper, gather her insights into how to examine, contextualize, and edit early poetic texts. Among her discussions are those on the importance of explanatory notes, the usefulness of fragments, the demands of transcription, and the need for objectivity when identifying supposed influences, date, or author. Bawcutt draws on a variety of texts, including Dunbar’s “elrich fantasyis”, Rolland’s Court of Venus, and metrical Scottish charms to illustrate these aspects of editing. Two central chapters then give balance and coherence to the complex evidence of change in literary activities and tastes in early Scotland. First, an analytical survey of manuscript miscellanies, noting their diversity in size, condition, arrangement, copyists, owners, and purposes, offers many different ways to approach these compilations. Secondly, Bawcutt’s study of one particular miscellany, the great five-part Bannatyne Manuscript, provides new information on the sources and authors of the many texts it contains and the diversity of their literary and cultural connections. Five further chapters combine textual and bibliographical studies with contextual explorations, into personal libraries, habits of reading, annotators, and book circulation within family groups, across borders, or over time. Among these illuminating essays are those on Gavin Douglas’s imaginary library, and the influential first printed edition of his Eneados, both of increasing interest alongside the new edition of his translation.A full bibliography of Priscilla Bawcutt’s publications is also included.

The Scottish Liberal Party was the dominant party of Victorian Scotland. While its electoral fortunes declined with the rise of the Labour and (Scottish) Unionist parties during the 1920s, it remained a significant ‘third’ force in an increasingly crowded ‘Scottish political system’, particularly during the latter half of the 20th century. This was especially true following its 1988 merger with the Social Democratic Party to form the Scottish Liberal Democrats, when it helped shape the modern devolution settlement via the Scottish Constitutional Convention. This book examines both parties via a chronological presentation of their histories. Each chapter includes themes such as organisation, relations between the Scottish and UK parties, the deployment of ‘nationalist’ arguments and rhetoric, and strategic approaches (after 1922) to recover electorally and pursue certain constitutional aims including devolution for Scotland. It also presents a detailed examination of the party’s record in devolved and Westminster government after 1999.

The Scottish Liberal Party was the dominant party of Victorian Scotland. While its electoral fortunes declined with the rise of the Labour and (Scottish) Unionist parties during the 1920s, it remained a significant ‘third’ force in an increasingly crowded ‘Scottish political system’, particularly during the latter half of the 20th century. This was especially true following its 1988 merger with the Social Democratic Party to form the Scottish Liberal Democrats, when it helped shape the modern devolution settlement via the Scottish Constitutional Convention. This book examines both parties via a chronological presentation of their histories. Each chapter includes themes such as organisation, relations between the Scottish and UK parties, the deployment of ‘nationalist’ arguments and rhetoric, and strategic approaches (after 1922) to recover electorally and pursue certain constitutional aims including devolution for Scotland. It also presents a detailed examination of the party’s record in devolved and Westminster government after 1999.

Avizandum Statutes are designed specifically to provide undergraduates at Scottish universities with legislation and, where appropriate, other core materials in a readily accessible format. All materials have been selected on the basis of their relevance to university courses and appear in updated form. The lack of annotation and commentary means that the volumes are ideal for use in examinations.Avizandum Statutes on Scots Commercial and Consumer Law contain the main statutory provisions relating to commercial and consumer law in Scotland.

Avizandum Statutes are designed specifically to provide undergraduates at Scottish universities with legislation and, where appropriate, other core materials in a readily accessible format. All materials have been selected on the basis of their relevance to university courses and appear in updated form. The lack of annotation and commentary means that the volumes are ideal for use in examinations.Avizandum Statutes on Scots Property, Trusts and Succession Law contain the main statutory provisions relating to both heritable and moveable property, as well as to trusts and succession law, in Scotland. All important provisions regulating post-feudal land law in Scotland are present.

The Church of Scotland Year Book is an essential handbook and directory on which many ministers, elders and lay leaders rely for information of all kinds. Including contact information for every minister, it also lists contact details for all church offices – local and central, the clerks, and generalpersonnel.Many users claim not to be able to manage without it and, while churches are closed and social distancing is obligatory, it is more valuable than ever as a means of staying in touch.In addition it provides the most up to date figures for church membership, numbers of communicants, parish income and key updates from the General Assembly. This portable compendium of vital information includes every key contact within the Church and pointers to further information as well as information on procedures and protocols.Careful updates are made throughout to the many useful statistics and there is an extensive index.

At one time, Scotland was home to more than 4,000 castles. It’s an extraordinary number for such a small country and today, around 3,000 still stand.Some are world famous, others have inspired great works of literature, while others have lit up the silver screen.There are grand, ticketed visitor attractions but there are others which are unassuming structures so tucked away that only the locals seem to know about them.From the triangular-shaped Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and Galloway to the imposing New Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire, and from the magnificent fortress that dominates the Edinburgh skyline to the haunting battlements that stand on the banks of Loch Ness, each tower tells a story, every turret holds a secret and, together, they span centuries of fascinating Scottish history.A History and Guide to Scottish Castles explores the history, architecture, and legends of some of these fascinating fortresses and looks at why they are so appealing to visitors today.Sharing amazing facts and her own unique experiences, author Jenna Maxwell takes readers on an unforgettable tour of some of Scotland’s most amazing castles which, if you haven’t visited them already, you’ll soon want to. Jenna has documented her journey on her Instagram page @queenofthecastles

*Preorder the brand new book in the globally bestselling series*Unwrap this gorgeous gift of a book for an escape to the snow-peaked caps of the Scottish Highlands and a romance that will melt your heart…Izzy McBride had never in a million years expected to inherit an actual castle from her great uncle Bill but here she was, in the run up to Christmas, Monarch of her own Glen – a very rundown glen in need of a lot of TLC if her dream of turning it into a boutique bed and breakfast was to come true.But when Izzy’s eccentric mother rents a room to enigmatic thriller author Ross Adair and the Scottish snow starts to settle like the frosting on a Christmas cake, it’s a race to get the castle ready before they’re all snowed in for the holidays.Praise for Julie Caplin:’One unputdownable story’ Katie Fforde’An irresistible slice of escapism’ Phillipa Ashley’Five big fat stars’ Sue Moorcroft

Black Rood tells the fascinating story of one of Scotland’s oldest and most significant crown jewels. Once as famous as the Stone of Scone, the Black Rood was a gold and jewel-studded reliquary for a piece of the True Cross. This profound and holy treasure was smuggled into Scotland after the Norman invasion by the sister of the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. On her marriage to King Malcolm III, the Black Rood passed into the Scottish royal family, and so became a symbol of the authority and legitimacy of Scotland’s kingship. Giving its name to the abbey and then the palace and now the parliament of Holyrood, the Black Rood was to help define Scotland as a kingdom which was at least the equal of England in the eyes of God, and in some ways superior to it.David Willem tells the story of the Black Rood though the lives of the kings and queens of Scotland and England who honoured it, treasured it, enacted themselves through it, fought over it, and who sometimes died clutching it, so creating a history in vivid human detail that ranges over a thousand years of Scottish and English history.At the same time, the author tells the story of two other similar reliquaries of the True Cross – the Croes Gneth of Wales and Ireland’s Cross of Cong. Like the Black Rood, these Irish and Welsh crown jewels helped define the autonomy and independence of their nations, and both were to follow similar trajectories through time. The book ends with the mystery of what happened to the Black Rood, and explores the possibility that, like the Cross of Cong, it might still exist and be waiting to be found.Together these stories create a new and compelling perspective on the relationships between Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland, just when those relationships are changing again for the first time in hundreds of years.

A mysterious murder near Esher, a gruesome delivery of two human ears packed in coarse salt, the disappearance of secret submarine plans, the sudden descent into madness of two brothers – these are only some of the apparently unsolvable cases contained in this volume, which the great sleuth, assisted by his trusted friend Doctor Watson, is challenged to clear up with the aid of his sagacity and unrivalled analytical skills.Published a quarter of a century after the first book of Holmes adventures, and including the famous titular story ‘His Last Bow: The War Service of Sherlock Holmes’, this collection shows the detective’s powers of deduction at their most dazzling, proving that Conan Doyle’s ability to entertain and surprise remain undiminished.

Murder Squad, a group of award-winning crime and mystery writers, celebrate their twenty-first birthday with a bang in this criminally good collection of short stories.A dawn swim turns deadly in a brand-new short story starring DCI Vera Stanhope . . . Two bored cell-mates play a game with chilling results . . . A hen night in an isolated cottage brings new meaning to ‘I will survive’ . . . A train traveller teaches a valuable lesson in reading labels . . . A day at the seaside turns stormy for a woman who doesn’t care for foreigners . . . A wealthy retiree makes a new friend who connects her to the Other Side . . . and much much more. Short, sharp and packed with twists, these 21 unputdownable tales showcase Murder Squad’s range and talent throughout the years. So why not treat yourself to a slice of murderously moreish fiction, and join us in wishing the squad ‘Many Deadly Returns’. With stories by Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Margaret Murphy, Chris Simms and Cath Staincliffe, as well as John Baker, Chaz Brenchley and Stuart Pawson.

A vicar nailed to a tree in Yorkshire.The theft of a priceless artefact during a fire.A detective forced to tell the truth for 24 hours.A body hidden in a basement.From the restless streets of London to the wilds of the Lake District, displaying all his trademark humour, playfulness and clever plotting, this landmark collection brings together the very best of Reginald Hill’s short stories for the first time, complete with a foreword from Val McDermid.’One of Britain’s most consistently excellent crime novelists’The Times’A real treat. The characters are deftly drawn, the plot constantly delivers, surprises and the assured narrative demonstrates again what a terrific writer he is’Observer’Reginald Hill’s novels are really dances to the music of time, his heroes and villains interconnecting, their stories intertwining’Ian Rankin’The finest male English contemporary crime writer’Val McDermid

In 1976, a heatwave hot enough to melt concrete punishes Scotland. While everything burns, a woman arrives in Little Denny Road with a set of keys for her new council flat. She isn’t alone. Her two daughters are always by her side, except at night when they watch their mother drive off in a stranger’s car.Sadie, the youngest of the two daughters, thinks nothing of this until she’s asked a question at school. The answer will unleash consequences that echo through the decades. At the root of Sadie’s life is a disturbing secret that must be confronted.Evil, she’ll discover, is waiting seven miles south in a nice house…Sadie, Call The Polis is an offbeat story about a Scottish family as seen through the eyes of the indomitable Sadie Relish, whose journey from childhood to adulthood is rendered in hilarious, crushing detail. Her disastrous first date, the late nights at the bus stop with a bottle or two, running away from home, the many hangovers, her first and last job, grief, Covid, and all the drama and darkness squeezed in between.

‘I just need someone to hear these words to know what it’s like for me and people like me.’Unmute is an arresting and essential collection of contemporary monologues written by young people, for young people.In the wake of the pandemic the theatre company LUNG, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Salamander Street launched a call out for 11-18 year olds in order to find the next generation of socially engaged playwrights. This anthology features fresh and original young writing talent from across the UK.Investigating mental health, sexuality, racism, culture, class, unrequited love and so much more, these remarkable voices unflinchingly tackle some of the most pressing issues young people face today.Packed with fury, honesty and playfulness, this is a collection from a generation that won’t be silenced and will be heard.

A vicar nailed to a tree in Yorkshire.The theft of a priceless artefact during a fire.A detective forced to tell the truth for 24 hours.A body hidden in a basement.From the restless streets of London to the wilds of the Lake District, displaying all his trademark humour, playfulness and clever plotting, this landmark collection brings together the very best of Reginald Hill’s short stories for the first time, complete with a foreword from Val McDermid.’One of Britain’s most consistently excellent crime novelists’The Times’A real treat. The characters are deftly drawn, the plot constantly delivers, surprises and the assured narrative demonstrates again what a terrific writer he is’Observer’Reginald Hill’s novels are really dances to the music of time, his heroes and villains interconnecting, their stories intertwining’Ian Rankin’The finest male English contemporary crime writer’Val McDermid

‘A portfolio of sheer excellence.’ -Chris Packham.In this breathtaking new book, internationally renowned photographer Kevin Morgans celebrates the iconic Atlantic puffin and its place in the ecology of the British Isles.With their brightly coloured beaks, quirky personalities and comical movements, the ‘clowns of the sea’ are the best loved of all Britain’s seabirds. In a series of stunning images from his award-winning portfolio, Kevin Morgans documents their lives and their relationship with our windswept coast.

On 13 October 1939, HMS Royal Oak, one of the British navy’s top battleships, was destroyed at the Royal Navy’s main anchorage at Scapa Flow, Orkney. The audacious attack, by a German U-boat, was the first major blow against Britain of the Second World War. Over 800 lives were lost, including sailors as young as 14.This book is a revealing account of the tragedy. Told through declassified photographs and naval records, as well as statements from survivors, it is a dramatic and moving reassessment of one of the most shattering events in British naval history.