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Novels set in Scotland

53 replies

Sewrainbow · 28/04/2019 22:07

Can anyone recommend any novels set in the Scottish highlands?

I'd probably prefer historical over present day but am open to anything really. Had a lovely holiday there last week and want to prolong the feeling Smile

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Lessstressedhemum · 28/06/2019 08:23

Remember that only the first couple of Outlander books are set in Scotland, and even then much of Dragonfly takes place in France.

I like Janet Paisley. Her books are set in various historical periods and have female protagonists.
I also like the DS Logan McRae books by Stuart McBride. They are very modern crime fiction.

mamalovebird · 20/06/2019 15:30

A Scots Quair - trilogy by Lewis Grassic Gibbon - studied them at school as they were set where I lived. Consists of Sunset Song, Cloud Howe & Grey Granite.

TemporaryPermanent · 20/06/2019 15:26

Um to bring down the tone, Nine Red Herrings by Dorothy Sayers and The Singing Sands by Josephine Tey.

KirstyVal · 17/06/2019 12:27

Outlander! I know its an amazon series but I think they were a series of books first!

I love the TV series so I reckon the books must be pretty good too!

AdaColeman · 15/06/2019 00:14

Kidnapped and Catriona by R L Stevenson
Fire & Faith by Steven Veerapen
The Jewel by Catherine Czerkawska

SummerPlace · 14/06/2019 23:08

Stuart MacBride

Twiggywinkle13 · 14/06/2019 22:56

Crime fiction set in the Highlands - In the shadow of the Hill and the next instalment, Madness Lies by Helen Forbes.

doodlejump1980 · 14/06/2019 22:47

Another vote for the Ann Cleaves Shetland series of books. Especially as it was recently on tv too.

mrsdolittle · 14/06/2019 22:44

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley is a lovely book. Historical fiction (About Jacobite rebellion) set in Aberdeenshire.

bluebluezoo · 12/06/2019 00:21

Bear in mind outlander is the American title. The first book in the series is called Cross stitch in the UK.

Ursaminor · 12/06/2019 00:17

The Rhanna series by Christine Marion Fraser. Not great literature but very readable - about the lives of the inhabitants of Rhanna, a fictional Hebridean island and in particular the torrid love story of Shona and Niall. Haven't read these books for many years, but I do remember a time when I was absolutely hooked on them.

missdrummer · 05/06/2019 21:52

Willow and the Fairy Glen by Gillie Kerr is set in the Highlands

pisspawpatrol · 04/06/2019 16:18

That should say uninhabitable.

pisspawpatrol · 04/06/2019 16:15

Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg is set on a scottish island called St Kilda in the 19th century. It's quite a haunting story really, St Kilda is an island now abandoned due to how inhabitable it is.

PenCreed · 03/06/2019 22:23

I can second @SingingSands with The Way of All Flesh, and if you like medical historical crime novels, then Kaite Welsh's two feminist ones are also very good - The Wages of Sin and The Unquiet Heart. 1890s Edinburgh, with female medical students.

SingingSands · 03/06/2019 22:15

I second @PenCreed with The Crow Road. My favourite novel, and the tv adaptation was superb.

Not Highlands, but I've just finished "The Way of All Flesh" by Ambrose Parry, which was set in 1847 Edinburgh and I rattled through it.

PenCreed · 03/06/2019 22:06

And if you want Scotland generally, rather than just the Highlands, then the Lymond Chronicles kick off in the Borders. They're historical fiction by Dorothy Dunnett and the first one is The Game of Kings. Francis Crawford of Lymond is one of my big fictional crushes Wink.

PenCreed · 03/06/2019 22:03

A lot of stuff set in the Highlands is utter shite, unfortunately! Some of the recommendations up thread are great though - The Hunting Party and His Bloody Project are both good, especially His Bloody Project.

Iain Banks - The Crow Road and The Steep Approach to Garbadale are both set in the Highlands (ish, Th Crow Road is Argyllshire but is one of my absolute favourite books and it could be the Highlands...).

Elspeth Barker - O Caledonia

I actually hate Neil Gunn, but it's definitely Highland and I know several people who love him. Despite having done Sunset Song in school, I do love that and would recommend it (but not so much the rest of A Scots Quair).

SerenDippitty · 03/06/2019 13:39

If you like historical fiction the Jacobite Trilogy, DK Broster. Also second Peter May.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 19/05/2019 19:36

Christopher Brookmyre and Ian Rankin? Not Highlands either, but still Scotland.

Rob Roy, The Bride of Lammermuir etc?

marilynmonroe · 19/05/2019 19:31

Lillian beckwiths books are v funny and set on a fictional island.

Modern thrillers set in the islands are whilst you sleep by Stephanie Merritt and the ice twins. Can't remember the author.

Denise Mina is very good too.

Janice Galloway is an amazing writer.

Also Jackie Kay.

Alan spence.

Gillespie and I by jane Harris.

For light hearted read Isla dewar.

tomhazard · 14/05/2019 19:51

The Testament Of Gideon Mack by James Robertson. It's about a Scottish minister who doubts the existence of god and has some big themes, really good. It is set in Scotland and there are lots of descriptions of his walks and things.

ppwonar · 01/05/2019 20:53

Outlander definitely not filmed at Castle Fraser!

Lots of good suggestions upthread. Daniela Sacerdoti has a series set in the Highlands/Aberdeenshire. (Fiction)

Drochaid · 01/05/2019 20:48

House between the tides

Original poster
Sewrainbow · 01/05/2019 20:46

Ooh thank you everyone haven't been on here lately but am off to library tomorrow, I shall have to write all these down. Always up for trying new genres too. Thanks Smile

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