The Bookseller of Inverness: The Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2023
A GRIPPING HISTORICAL THRILLER SET IN INVERNESS IN THE WAKE OF THE 1746 BATTLE OF CULLODEN.
‘This slice of historical fiction takes you on a wild ride’ THE TIMES
After Culloden, Iain MacGillivray was left for dead on Drummossie Moor. Wounded, his face brutally slashed, he survived only by pretending to be dead as the Redcoats patrolled the corpses of his Jacobite comrades.
Six years later, with the clan chiefs routed and the Highlands subsumed into the British state, Iain lives a quiet life, working as a bookseller in Inverness. One day, after helping several of his regular customers, he notices a stranger lurking in the upper gallery of his shop, poring over his collection. But the man refuses to say what he’s searching for and only leaves when Iain closes for the night.
The next morning Iain opens up shop and finds the stranger dead, his throat cut, and the murder weapon laid out in front of him – a sword with a white cockade on its hilt, the emblem of the Jacobites. With no sign of the killer, Iain wonders whether the stranger discovered what he was looking for – and whether he paid for it with his life. He soon finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit and a series of old scores to be settled in the ashes of war.
******************
PRAISE FOR THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS
‘Fresh and intriguing . . . Her best yet’ ANDREW TAYLOR
‘Everything you could ask for from a historical thriller’ ANTONIA HODGSON
‘An intricately wrought, compulsively page-turning tale’ CRAIG RUSSELL
‘A first rate historical thriller’ 5* READER REVIEW
‘From the moment I began reading I was hooked’ 5* READER REVIEW
‘Hugely entertaining . . . fast paced, twisting and turning’ 5* READER REVIEW
ASIN : B0B9MHXJWB
Publisher : Quercus
Accessibility : Learn more
Publication date : August 4, 2022
Language : English
File size : 3.0 MB
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 331 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1529414196
Page Flip : Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #18,339 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) #29 in Historical Scottish Fiction #52 in Historical Thrillers (Kindle Store) #80 in Historical Mystery
Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (9,423) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Original price was: $17.99.$2.99Current price is: $2.99.
A GRIPPING HISTORICAL THRILLER SET IN INVERNESS IN THE WAKE OF THE 1746 BATTLE OF CULLODEN.
‘This slice of historical fiction takes you on a wild ride’ THE TIMES
After Culloden, Iain MacGillivray was left for dead on Drummossie Moor. Wounded, his face brutally slashed, he survived only by pretending to be dead as the Redcoats patrolled the corpses of his Jacobite comrades.
Six years later, with the clan chiefs routed and the Highlands subsumed into the British state, Iain lives a quiet life, working as a bookseller in Inverness. One day, after helping several of his regular customers, he notices a stranger lurking in the upper gallery of his shop, poring over his collection. But the man refuses to say what he’s searching for and only leaves when Iain closes for the night.
The next morning Iain opens up shop and finds the stranger dead, his throat cut, and the murder weapon laid out in front of him – a sword with a white cockade on its hilt, the emblem of the Jacobites. With no sign of the killer, Iain wonders whether the stranger discovered what he was looking for – and whether he paid for it with his life. He soon finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit and a series of old scores to be settled in the ashes of war.
******************
PRAISE FOR THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS
‘Fresh and intriguing . . . Her best yet’ ANDREW TAYLOR
‘Everything you could ask for from a historical thriller’ ANTONIA HODGSON
‘An intricately wrought, compulsively page-turning tale’ CRAIG RUSSELL
‘A first rate historical thriller’ 5* READER REVIEW
‘From the moment I began reading I was hooked’ 5* READER REVIEW
‘Hugely entertaining . . . fast paced, twisting and turning’ 5* READER REVIEW
ASIN : B0B9MHXJWB
Publisher : Quercus
Accessibility : Learn more
Publication date : August 4, 2022
Language : English
File size : 3.0 MB
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 331 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1529414196
Page Flip : Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #18,339 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) #29 in Historical Scottish Fiction #52 in Historical Thrillers (Kindle Store) #80 in Historical Mystery
Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (9,423) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
12 reviews for The Bookseller of Inverness: The Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2023
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Original price was: $17.99.$2.99Current price is: $2.99.
John A. Van Devender –
Well Done Lassie
This book has a riveting story line as its main strength. Close behind the story line in importance is the descriptive qualities and historical insights. MacLean’s plain prose fits well with her subject era and character and I delighted to learn, in her appendix that many of the relatively minor historical incidents she builds into her characters’ background are grounded in actual events.I would only add the minor criticisms that her characters remain somewhat two dimensional. It is a bit difficult to gain more than casual empathy with any of the main players. The more serious criticism is the abrupt gap in the story line that omits telling how the main character, Iain, is able to return home where he had been under house arrest after being absent for several days with his father. The story line picks up several months later to bring everything together in a somewhat predictable manner (for Iain anyway). It’s hard to believe his absence would have gone unnoticed by the British.Beyond those minor caveats, this was an entertaining and compelling narrative that fits well into the “Outlander” craze but absent the time travel.
Beth Deese –
loads of compelling history!
The Bookseller of Inverness transported me right into the heart of the Scottish Highlands where I got lost in the story of a traumatized soldier now turned bookseller. The stories of the Jacobite clans came to vibrant and detailed life as MacLean tells the story of the multigenerational war to put Bonnie Prince Charlie on the English throne!In the disappointing years after the infamous battle of Culloden, we meet Iain, marked externally with scars across his face and internally by the loss of his closest friends and relatives. Though he declares his war over, he soon finds out just how quickly he can be drawn right back in to the hope of seeing Prince Charlie stage another uprising in the Highlands when a mysterious murder takes place right in his own bookshop.Old and new friends alike are all suspect and Iain finds himself one step behind a killer seeking vengeance for Jacobites who were betrayed by their countrymen.I loved the book and the history is detailed and well written. The reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 is that the history dominates the story too much in my opinion. The plot is weak and I’m actually not fully sure what it was the murders aren’t really shamed since they are of betrayers. There’s plenty of tension and intrigue but it mostly surrounds another character who turns up and is on the run trying to gather information for the Prince. I’m not sure if that was to be the main plot or the murders. The dispersion of the double plot line weakened the book and confused me. There’s just too much focus on detailing lots of history that wasn’t fully integral to the story and complicated to follow.Overall though, it’s entertaining and educating and I am glad I got to read it!
G. Mansfield –
Beautifully written historical thriller and murder mystery
The depth and richness of the characters in this book were such a pleasure to read about. I loved the twists and turns and delving into the different aspects of each seemingly inconsequential character’s past and watching the threads of connection being revealed. The research and dedication to historical accuracy are on display throughout this book. Morag is my favorite character and you can’t change my mind!!
Glory G –
Disappointed
The title, the book cover, and the customer rating seemed promising to of a cool, sophisticated, historical mystery. Unfortunately, from the start, the reader is immediately barraged with too much dry information and too many character names without being given an emotional stake in the story. As I read on, I eventually found that there was actually a story that I could become invested in. However, I don’t feel it was worth the all effort incumbent upon me to find it. Ultimately, I think the author has significant potential, but they may require more assistance of editors in order to eliminate the dry details that detract from the overall narrative.
Amazon Customer –
History with a bit of mystery
This story is set in 1700’s Scotland. After the battles between the British and the Jacobite’s. Iain MacGillivray was left for dead after a battle at Culloden. A handsome man, his face was scared on one side from the battle.Iain returned home to Inverness and took over the bookshop. His grandmother on his mother’s side was one of a group of old Dames who had continued to do their part for the cause. Iain isn’t happy but is settling into his new life when he finds a dead man in his shop.Soon his father, Hector arrives in town disguised as a monk. Iain hadn’t seen his father in years. The Redcoats are searching for him. He hides at Iain’s grandmother’s home. Hector is working for the Jacobite’s King Charles. He has come to town because of the death at the bookshop.Hector and Iain with the help of friends they can trust are in search of a book that holds the names of traitors. The dead man was on that list. As they decipher the names, there are more deaths. Their search for the people in the book always leaves them too late.To make matters worse, a woman turns Hector in to the Redcoats.After a daring escape, Iain and his father go off on a quest to track down the murderer.I read this book for my Mystery Book Club. It is a good change from what we usually read. I enjoyed the connection to history. The author tells a good story. I loved the voice and the setting. The characters are well developed, and I did grow to care for them. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good historical with a murder mystery. I would read more from this author.First published June 23, 2022.
Skye-writer –
Great characters, settings that come alive and readers you could listen to forever.
A thoroughly fascinating look into the history of Scotland after the defeat of Prince Charlie and the brutal way the English army treated the Scots, but told as a very engaging novel with characters on both sides of the fight you could care about and cheer for.
janb –
Never give up
Good story with twist and turns.
Rebecca H –
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set in Inverness in the years following the Battle of Culloden it’s a gripping and atmospheric tale of treachery and deception. Iain McGillivray, a survivor of the battle is endeavouring to make a living as a bookseller. However when a stranger is found murdered in his shop, with the dagger and a white cockade, a Jacobite symbol,in front of him his life is thrown into turmoil. Although the clans have been crushed and the highlands viirtually under martial law, there are still those who support Prince Charles Edward Stuart and would assist him to return. Unwillingly Iain is drawn into a tangled web of plotting, revenge and danger.The characters were marvellous, some fictional and some drawn from history. I loved his Grandmother and her friends, the Grand Dames. Other favourites were Donal Mòr, the bookbinder, Ishbel and her son Tormod. I appreciated the huge amount research that must have gone into this book. I read this book while on holiday in Inverness and after a visit to Drummossie Moor and the Culloden Visitor centre. It made it all the more poignant for me. Brilliant stuff.
Anita Jack –
I read this book before and during a trip to Scotland, knowing I would be steeped in the atmosphere. It didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed making the connections between the events in the book and the places I visited, but I would have enjoyed it equally as much if I had never visited the country. I was drawn in by the characters and the plot, the history and the mystery, and the excellent writing. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
luc –
vond het prachtig aansluiten bij ‘Culloden’
Phillip –
Very well written and researched
MaryS –
Didn’t like this. Didn’t finish.