Reviews
Sandra Ireland
The Unmaking of Ellie Rook
A deceptively simple book based on Scottish Folklore which is both multi-layered and twists smoothly.
Charlie Laidlaw
The Space Between Time
A philosophical untangling of who we are which takes a little time to get going.
Chiang Yee – The Silent Traveller in Edinburgh
Charming but dated travel book about our capital city.
Moira Forsyth – Tell Me Where You Are
Moira Forsyth’s simple story leads the reader into the complex world of one family’s complicated life.
Gillian Galbraith – The End of the Line
A well-crafted ‘whodunnit’ with an intriguing storyline but just one too many coincidences.
Willy Slavin – Life is Not a Long Quiet River
A memoir in three parts which doesn’t quite match its description.
Mary Miller – Jane Haining: A Life of Love and Courage
Miller’s biography of Jane Haining leaves the reader with a role model rather than a lost life to mourn.
Elizabeth Macneal
The Doll Factory
Sumptuous, engrossing depiction of obsession and ambition in the Victorian era.
Ian McEwan
Machines Like Me
Set in a fictional eighties’ London, McEwan’s often torturous tale winds its tedious way around the moral dilemmas surrounding artificial intelligence.
Mandy Haggith
The Amber Seeker
There is much to enjoy in the second of Haggith’s trilogy despite a lack of momentum or excitement.
Sofie Hagen
Happy Fat
Hagen is on a pilgrimage against the fatphobes and wants to educate society on the way
Jess Kidd
The Costa Short Story Award winner in conversation at the Aberdeen Performing Arts Big Sky, Big Horizons series.
Kenneth Macaulay
The History of St Kilda
The history of the island on the edge of the world as explored by clergyman, Kenneth Macaulay.
Alexander McCall Smith – The Second Worst Restaurant in France
A delightful read, rich in narrative and French cuisine from popular author, Alexander McCall Smith.
Dina Nayeri – The Ungrateful Refugee
An unflinchingly honest perspective of Dina Nayeri’s own refugee journey.
Lindsay Littleson – Guardians of the Wild Unicorns
Littleson captures the imagination with her characters and fresh take on the unicorn.
Dan Richards – Outpost
Richards offers a door into secret worlds while educating the reader to respect them.