In 1950s London, a literary agent finds fame when he secretly steals a young woman's brilliant novel manuscript and publishes it under his own name, Lewis Carson. Two days after their meeting, the woman is found strangled: did Lewis purloin the manuscript as an act of callous opportunism, or as the spoils of a calculated murder?
"e;A high-octane read."e; - Maxim JakubowskiMeet Jen. She works in a bookshop and likes the odd glass of Prosecco... oh, and she's about to be branded The Most Dangerous Woman in Scotland.Jen Carter is a failed writer with a rubbish boyfriend, Ed. That is, until she accidentally kills him one night. Now that Ed's dead, she has to decide what to do with his body, his drugs and a big pile of cash. And, more pressingly, how to escape the hitman who's been sent to recover Ed's stash. Soon Jen's on the run from criminals, corrupt police officers and the prying eyes of the media. Who can she trust? And how can she convince them that the trail of corpses left in her wake are just accidental deaths?A modern noir that proves, once and for all, the female of the species really is more deadly than the male."e;a quick, gritty read, from an author with a confident voice..."e; Crime Review"e;A really authentic and remarkable read! I loved it!"e; Martina Cole"e;Pitch black humour fascinatinggripping."e; Herald"e;A thoroughly contemporary crime thriller which has its tongue in its cheek while maintaining the suspense and tension that readers would expect Terrific fun to read."e; Alistair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae"e;Funny and fierce, and a heroine worth rooting for..."e; Brooke Magnanti"e;McLean has created an appealing protagonist, with a strong and consistent voice... It seems strange to say that a novel with so many bloody fatalities can be fun, but this one is!"e; Crime Fiction Lover"e;One of Scotland's most skilled noiristas a book which will appeal to booksellers everywhere, especially homicidal ones."e; Mike Ripley, Shots magazine"e;This book is fantastic! Fast paced and at times just utter nuts A beautiful masterpiece of modern Scottish Noir that leaves you unsure about whether you should laugh or cry."e; Amanda Gillies, Eurocrime"e;We're not sure when we last enjoyed a book quite this much The sheer pace of the story carries you along breathlessly Hugely entertaining."e; Undiscovered Scotland
Revealing the most fascinating stories of Earth's half a million islands, this book considers the unique geography, politics and economics of islands and their cultures. It traces their singular place in literature, religion and philosophy, and disentangles the myths and the facts to reveal why islands exert an insistent grip on the imagination.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2016.WINNER, Saltire Society Fiction Book of the Year 2016.The year is 1869. A brutal triple murder in a remote community in the Scottish Highlands leads to the arrest of a young man by the name of Roderick Macrae. A memoir written by the accused makes it clear that he is guilty, but it falls to the country's finest legal and psychiatric minds to uncover what drove him to commit such merciless acts of violence. Was he mad? Only the persuasive powers of his advocate stand between Macrae and the gallows.Graeme Macrae Burnet tells an irresistible and original story about the provisional nature of truth, even when the facts seem clear. His Bloody Project is a mesmerising literary thriller set in an unforgiving landscape where the exercise of power is arbitrary.
"e;A dark, fascinating exploration of man's nature."e; - The Lancet. A riveting thriller about greed, power, hormones, illicit sex, and women - and the monstrous megalomaniac who believes he can have it all. Vainglorious Mordechai de Paauw is ruthless: in the years before World War II, the Dutch pharmaceutical entrepreneur is on the cutting edge of science and determined to develop the contraceptive pill - no matter what the cost. Testing hormonal treatments on his female workers, and sexually exploiting them, Mordechai's secret immoral life and his successful company are threatened by the rise of Hitler and, years later, a shocking scandal involving his brash son. Will Mordechai ever find redemption, and will the women he manipulates regain control over their own bodies?
Introducing Dominic Queste. Glasgow's mean streets may be deadly, but Queste is a mean, wisecracking private investigator who won't be led a dance. Queste's is a vicious world of brutal gangsters, merciless hitmen, dark family secrets and an insatiable lust for power in the highest echelons of politics.
"e;Unsentimental and unsparing, Last Tour does for PTSD what Slaughterhouse 5 did for survivor guilt."e; - Robert Morace. Since returning from active service in Afghanistan, reservist Archie Forbes has been watching his life collapse. Suffering from severe PTSD, he sees his family being torn apart, his high-flying career hitting the rocks. Now he's on the streets, struggling to cope in Austerity Britain. He's dislocated, unravelling, and in desperate need of the basic necessities: food, shelter, human kindness. Nevertheless, he works hard to try to rebuild his life, until his therapist goes missing and it seems he's the prime suspect. The Last Tour of Archie Forbes offers an utterly convincing - often frightening, sometimes bleakly funny - take on contemporary life. A dazzling portrayal of a deeply troubled family, this novel takes us to the very margins of society, a place where compassion can be in short supply.
A novel sure to appeal to fans of Outlander. A modern love story in the Scottish islands runs parallel with the darker 18th-century tale of Henrietta Dalrymple, kidnapped by the formidable Manus McNeill and held against her will.
This inspirational guide is bursting with invaluable know-how on Scotland's wild harvest, covering what, where, when and how you can use your bounty in sustainable ways - from the most useful and widespread of species to the less well-known, and from leaves and berries to saps, seeds, seaweeds, mosses and wood.
Jean Armour's marriage to Robert Burns was extraordinary: passionate, tempestuous and enduring against all odds, and its rocky course reveals Jean's indomitable strength and character. How she lived with, and frequently without, Scotland's most famous son also tells us much about the life and times of Burns himself.
This comprehensive handbook, compiled with the expertise of Reforesting Scotland's editors, covers trees commonly found in Scotland. From seed provenance and propagation to the history and lore of each species, this single source contains all the information you need to select the right trees for your site and grow them successfully. Whether you are an owner of (or volunteer at) a small woodland, a gardener looking to incorporate the most appropriate trees into your space, or simply a lover of woodland walks and trees, this invaluable reference will be your one essential guide. Ebook edition includes colour photos.
"e;An utter delight"e; Jennifer Tetlow. Renowned nature writer Jim Crumley gets up close and personal with some of Britain's most iconic and loved animals - here, the fox. ?The Encounters in the Wild series not only offers insights into their extraordinary lives, but also considers the conservation efforts to protect them and how the future looks for these much loved animals.
Longisted for the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered prize 2015 "e;Powerful stories."e; - Marina Warner. Obsession, longing, deceit and even murder feature in this quartet of provocative novellas, which gives a modern twist to tales of women for whom all is not necessarily as it seems. Drawing on history, culture and lore, this is a riveting exploration of the complexities of motherhood: edgy and engrossing, moving, yet at times, disturbing.
"e;The best nature writer working in Britain today."e; - The Los Angeles Times. Eagles, more than any other bird, spark our imaginations. These magnificent creatures encapsulate the majesty and wildness of Scottish nature. But change is afoot for the eagles of Scotland: the golden eagles are now sharing the skies with sea eagles after a successful reintroduction programme. In 'The Eagle's Way', Jim Crumley exploits his years of observing these spectacular birds to paint an intimate portrait of their lives and how they interact with each other and the Scottish landscape. Combining passion, beautifully descriptive prose and the writer's 25 years of experience, 'The Eagle's Way' explores the ultimate question - what now for the eagles? - making it essential reading for wildlife lovers and eco-enthusiasts.
Moving, poetic and quietly provocative' - The Independent. City life in the early nineteenth century was never short of drama: poverty and pollution preyed on all but the lucky few, and 'resurrection men' prowled the streets to procure corpses for anatomists to experiment on. Life is improving, however, for young William Lang, who begins courting Jenny, a fine needlewoman, and forms an unlikely friendship with botanist Dr Thomas Brown while working in the physic garden for a leading professor of surgery. At first, William relishes the opportunity to extend his knowledge of plants and their healing properties while foraging in the countryside in the service of his new friend. The young couple's relationship blossoms, until seeds of trouble threaten to grow out of control.
Britain is home to some forty species of dragonfly, and public interest in their plight is high right now thanks to their primeval beauty, aerobatic grace and a growing realisation of their importance for water eco-systems. In 'The Dragonfly Diaries', Ruary Mackenzie Dodds shares his quirky fascination for these remarkable creatures over the 25 years he has been photographing and working with them. Combining fascinating description of the lives of dragonflies, with a diary chronicling the ups and downs of establishing Britain's first public dragonfly sanctuary, 'The Dragonfly Diaries' is a must for nature buffs and for anyone who wants to be inspired by the resolve and dedication of a man on a mission to save these critically important insects.
Fascinating and hugely enjoyable' -Sir Ranulph Fiennes. 'Heart of the Hero' gives a compelling insight into the lives of some of the world's most famous explorers, through the eyes of the women who inspired them to achieve great things. Author Kari Herbert explores the unpredictable, often heartbreaking stories of seven remarkable women who were indispensable companions, intrepid travellers and sometimes even the driving force behind our best-loved polar heroes, including Scott and Shackleton. Drawing on her own unique experience as the daughter of a pioneering polar explorer, and using extracts from previously unpublished historic journals and letters, Herbert blends deeply personal accounts of longing, betrayal and hope with tales of peril and adventure.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWN 2014. 'A remarkable debut ... an excellent novel, dramatic and engaging, with a Buchan thrills quality.' Alan Warner. Scotland, 1942. Seventeen year-old Agnes Thorne discovers that her new husband, Jeff, a campaigner for Home Rule, is determined to challenge Westminster over the issue of conscription. War is tightening its grip on the world as the young couple falls under the spell of the independence movement's charismatic new chairman, Douglas Grant. As the Scottish National Party splits, and a court hearing looms, Jeff abandons his work on a Scottish dictionary to fight to save himself and Douglas from prison. When Agnes is let in on a secret that challenges her own understanding of love, loyalty and national identity, boundaries become blurred. BLACKWELL'S BOOK OF THE MONTH
"e;A bright book and a brilliant book."e; - Robert Macfarlane. Peter MacAulay sits down to write his will. The process sets in motion a compulsive series of reflections: a history of his own lifetime and a subjective account of how key events in the post-war world filter through to his home, Stornoway. He reveals his passions for history, engines and fish, and witnesses changing times - and things that don't change - in the Hebrides. The novel is driven by its idiosyncratic narrator, but with counterpoints from people he engages with - his father, mother, wife, daughter, friends. It's all about stories, a litany of small histories witnessed during one very individual lifetime.
Working as an agent for one of the richest men in the world, Polish-Jewish immigrant Lev Sela is swept into a relationship with Celia Kahn, after stumbling upon an area of land that doesn't exist on any map. With passion, tension and conflicting ideals and populated with an extraordinary cast of characters, it evokes a troubled, yet beautiful land.
Presents the story of the author's year re-creating the lifestyle of her 1790s ancestor in a basic one-roomed cottage, eating home-grown produce and surviving on her own resources - making household items herself and dressing in period clothing. This illustrated title includes gardening info, menus, recipes and nature notes.
Bohemian Paris in the 1880s. Exotic, strange and exciting - especially to young English sculptress Jessie Lipscomb, who joins her friend Camille to become a protegee of the great Auguste Rodin. When Rodin and Camille embark on a scandalous affair, Jessie is cast as their unwilling go-between and their friendship unravels.
WINNER: 2011 PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE. Torpedoed by a German U-boat, adrift on the open ocean, gravely weakened and slowly dying of thirst - the odds of making shore are lengthening with each gruelling hour. Deliverance from the decaying lifeboat will take something far more remarkable than sheer endurance. And after survival at sea, yet more anguish lies in wait. Based on a true incident in 1942. aDignified yet compellinga packs an enormous emotional wallopa-Mark Thornton, Costa Award judge 2010. aA novel of raw intensity and startling emotional powera-Lancashire Evening Post. "e;A remarkable imaginative achievement"e;--Edward Stourton. "e;Destined to become a true maritime classic "e;--Angus Konstam. "e;A brilliantly conceived story of endurance and romance"e;--Lord Butler."e;A powerful and remarkable novel"e;--Army Children Archive. "e;Elevated to the realms of the truly memorable"e;--Simon Appleby, Bookgeeks.
Because Dark Secrets Don't Decompose. A black, brooding tale of matricide and the macabre.
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