Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes. There’s something afoot you see. Talk about atmosphere and compelling foreshadowing. I knew something was up – someone is lurking in his bookshop and he confronts Iain, saying he will not leave until he’s found it. It’;s only when the shop shuts that he eventually leaves. Howver, the next morning, when Iain comes to open the door, he finds the stranger dead, his throat cut and a sword lying beside the body. The sword wuth the emblem of the Jacobites on it….. The mystery is centreed around a missing book of names, which is part of a greater collection. This book seems to hold the key as to why so many people are being killed. Now THAT is what you call a powerful read.

Leakey’s was said to be haunted by their ghosts, and I couldn’t quite shake off the idea that maybe the spirit of the Jacobites were retained there.” MacLean’s book is an excellent example of a well-written and researched historical fiction. My knowledge of the conflict between Stuart and Hanover supporters, especially from the point of view of the Scottish Highlanders, is limited, but the author created a believable, detailed and fascinating world. He also supplied an extensive reading list for those seeking biographical or historical knowledge. The importance of local politics for the novel’s plot made me worried that the book would become overwhelming, but that never happened. The necessary information is supplied in an accessible form, and the intrigue keeps the reader’s interest peaked. The initial plot itself is probably the weakest part of the book, although it’s just about strong enough to carry it. It soon becomes clear that someone is seeking revenge against people who betrayed the Jacobite cause in the earlier rising, in 1715. Although we follow Hector’s and Iain’s investigations into this aspect, much is withheld from the reader, and indeed Hector withholds important information from Iain till late in the story. Oddly, despite this, I had a good idea of who both the avenger and the last victim were going to be, and I put this down to the fact that there weren’t enough credible possibilities. However, there’s a secondary plot which grows in importance as the book wears on, and this is much more successful, involving a possible new uprising and the fear that a traitor is still at work.

The idea didn’t find favour with Shona’s publisher as it was non-fiction, therefore a change of genre for S G MacLean. What is to follow is a fantastic and intriguing 18th Century story about loyalty and betrayal, honour and cowardice between clans versus clans, where self-preservation for family and betrayal towards close friends are common, and retributions against traitors are necessary in certain situations, and all this in a bid to survive a time of turmoil and gruesome death during the Jacobite risings, and the subsequent brutal quelling of these risings by the Duke of Cumberland.

Not One Of Us, her latest Teifi Valley Coroner book, was published on 9 September, 2021. It was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger Award in 2022.In some ways it was very personal because I was writing about where I’d been born and where I lived, and I was concerned about what local people would think of it as well.” This vibrant tale of the residents of Inverness six years after the tragedy of the nearby Battle of Culloden, centres on former Jacobite, Iain MacGillivray, now running a popular bookshop. Hiding his scars behind his hair he endeavours to conduct a quiet life, after returning from exile in Virginia. Iain still lives with his grandmother Mairi Farqharson, one of the three Grande Dames who have been active in the cause of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Stewart family for over 30 years, since his mother ran away, and his father escaped to France.

I have been eyeing this arc, especially because I’m alway so intrigued about Scottish history since being a fan of Diana

gripping historical thriller set in Inverness in the wake of the 1746 battle of Culloden from twice CWA award-winning author S. G. MacLean. Perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom and Andrew Taylor. This marvellous book is an awesome retelling about the hope and determination of another Jacobite rising within the Highland clans in Scotland who're supporting this cause of action. S.G MacLean writing paints to life the story in front of you and does an exceptional job with weaving facts and fiction together creating a truly memorable story. There’s a couple of chapters set in Castle Leod at Strathpeffer which wasn’t yet open, so I had to write the chapters with what I could glean from the internet.