About the Book: A heartbreaking novel of an extraordinary lifelong friendship. Everyone has a Tully Dawson: the friend who defines your life. In the summer of 1986, in a small Scottish town, James and Tully ignite a brilliant friendship based on music, films and the rebel spirit. With school over and the locked world of … Continue reading Book Review: Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagan
Scottish Fiction
The winner of the 2020 Booker Prize
Congratulations to Douglas Stuart for his debut novel Shuggie Bain, winner of the 2020 Booker Prize! Shuggie Bain Winner of the 2020 Booker Prize By Douglas Stuart 1981. Glasgow is dying and good families must grift to survive. Agnes Bain has always expected more from life. She dreams of greater things: a house with its … Continue reading The winner of the 2020 Booker Prize
New Release Book Review: The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry
The Way of All Flesh… About the Book: A vivid and gripping historical crime novel set in 19th century Edinburgh, from husband-and-wife writing team Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman. Edinburgh, 1847. City of Medicine, Money, Murder. Young women are being discovered dead across the Old Town, all having suffered similarly gruesome ends. In the New … Continue reading New Release Book Review: The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry
Behind the Pen with Julie Shackman
Today I warmly welcome Julie Shackman to Behind the Pen. Julie's latest novel, A Room at the Manor (which I loved, you can read my review here) was released this week. Over to you Julie! Thank you for inviting me onto your lovely blog Theresa and for interviewing me! How would you describe A Room … Continue reading Behind the Pen with Julie Shackman
New Release Book Review: A Room at the Manor by Julie Shackman
A Room at the Manor... About the Book: When her Maltese love affair turns sour, Lara McDonald returns to her quiet Scottish hometown of Fairview heartbroken, yet determined - instead of looking for another PR position, she decides to follow her dream of baking. She impulsively takes the first job offered and finds herself working … Continue reading New Release Book Review: A Room at the Manor by Julie Shackman
New Release Book Review: The Last Train by Sue Lawrence
The Last Train... About the Book: Sue Lawrence serves up a brilliant historical mystery, meticulously researched and densely plotted, with plenty of twists and a gripping climax. At 7 p.m. on 28 December 1879, a violent storm batters the newly built rail bridge across the River Tay, close to the city of Dundee. Ann Craig … Continue reading New Release Book Review: The Last Train by Sue Lawrence
Quick Shots Book Review: At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen
At the Water’s Edge… About: After embarrassing themselves at the social event of the year in high society Philadelphia on New Year’s Eve of 1942, Maddie and Ellis Hyde are cut off financially by Ellis’s father, a former army Colonel who is already embarrassed by his son’s inability to serve in WWII due to his … Continue reading Quick Shots Book Review: At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen
Release Day Book Review: The Good Sister by Maggie Christensen
The Good Sister... About: Two Isobels. A lifetime of regret. A love that spans the years In 1938, as the world hurtled towards war, twenty-year-old Isobel MacDonald fell madly in love. But fate and her own actions conspired to deny her the happiness she yearned for. Many years later, plagued with regrets and with a … Continue reading Release Day Book Review: The Good Sister by Maggie Christensen
Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine… About: Meet Eleanor Oliphant. She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully time-tabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. Then everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, … Continue reading Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Theresa Smith Writes 