Miss Blaine’s Prefect and the Golden Samovar
Written by Olga Wojtas — This time slip romp through imperial Russia has been published to coincide with the centenary of The Pride of Miss Jean Brodie author Muriel Spark’s birth. Spark’s bestselling book mined her own schooldays at James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh, which…
The Gathering Dark
Written by James Oswald — Ever since James Oswald published his first Tony McLean novel in 2013 he has been admired for his skill in capturing loyal readers with his police procedurals that have a sprinkle of the supernatural. Less adept writers would alienate those who…
The Photographer
Written by Craig Robertson — Some book titles are a little off-putting, some are even a trifle dull, while others may seem a bit cryptic. Craig Robertson’s The Photographer has an eye-catching cover that reminded me of movie posters of the 1960s and 70s. And,…
House of Spines
In House of Spines Michael Malone treats his readers to a spooky and at times disturbing psychological thriller. Ran McGhie, inherits a sprawling mansion and all its contents along with a monthly payment sufficient to cover his costs from a man called Fitzpatrick – someone…
I'll Keep You Safe
Written by Peter May — Fans of Peter May’s Lewis Trilogy will be delighted that he has returned to the windswept Hebridean islands for his latest murder mystery. The series has sold more than a million copies worldwide and this former screenwriter’s great skill is to evoke…
No Dominion
This compelling third installment of Louise Welsh’s The Plague Times Trilogy unites two of the survivors of the viral flu ‘the sweats’ – Stevie Flint and Magnus McFall. The pair are attempting to rebuild a democratic civilisation in Orkney after normal society has collapsed. When…