to ask for your Scotland/Scottish fiction recommendations?

[RobbieBurnsAteMyHamster]

I'm going to stay in the Highlands for a three weeks next month and would like to take some reading that is set in or related to Scotland in some way.

I'm looking for either classic fiction or something cosy & light - but good writing and good plot rather than standard airport blockbuster. Nothing too heavy going or depressing (none of that Irvine WelshTrainspotting stuff!)

I've already read most of Rosamunde Pilcher including September but that would have been ideal.

Any suggestions please?

OP, something like this might fill the bill. Not Nancy Mitford's but another Highland Fling.

www.amazon.co.uk/Highland-Fling-Katie-Fforde-ebook/dp/B004EYSY38/ref=sr_1_13?s=digital-text&crid=28DSYZ33JGH07&keywords=katie+fforde&sprefix=katie+fforde%2Caps%2C267&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1558547726&sr=1-13

How about the Shetland books by Ann Cleve? The wonderful DI Jimmy Perez, and lots of brooding Shetland scenery.

There is also a series of books, by Jenny Colgan, set on a fictional Scottish island called Mure - I like Rosamund , and like Jenny Colgan too. The first book in the series is called The Summer Seaside Kitchen.

There is another Rosamund Pilcher book based mainly in Scotland - Wild Mountain Thyme - but I guess you will have read that one.

Very old and probably out of print but Lillian Beckwith’s books on moving to a highland village are light and funny.

I love 'The Crow Road' by Iain Banks.
Might be a bit dark for what you're after, though.

Have you read any of Pat McIntosh's "Gil Cunningham" novels. He's a quaestor, sort of the medieval Glaswegian equivalent of a murder detective. Although he's based in Glasgow he does a fair bit of galavanting about the country.
I second "Whiskey Galore", its a wonderful book. Kidnapped is fabulous, too, and probably hits your brief right in tbe bullseye.

Witchlight is a beautiful story set in Glencoe.

Jenny Colgan has a series of books written on the fictional Island of Mure - VERY light reading but I grew up in the highlands and think she captures the essence really well.

George Mackay Brown's short stories are very good, based around Orkney.

How about an oldie but goodie: Silver Darlings by Neil M Gunn. Set in the far North of Scotland.

Ian Banks. The Crow Road or The Steep Approach to Garbadale. Both good reads.

Or Lewis Grassic Gibbon.

The classic Highlands adventure story is of course 'Kidnapped' by Robert Louis Stevenson. Excellent in evocation of place (Glencoe, Mull etc) and so stylishly written.

Old - and rather dated - but still interesting historical fiction is the trilogy by DK Broster, set during the 1745 Jacobite rebellion, also with a strong sense of place:
'The Flight of the Heron', 'The Gleam in the North' and 'The Dark Mile'.

Dorothy Dunnett writes highly-praised historical fiction, eg 'The Game of Kings'

Non-fiction, but very entertaining and ground-breaking, is a history of Scottish female Jacobite rebels and their dealings with Bonnie Prince Charlie: Maggie Craig, 'Damn' Rebel Bitches' Mainstream Publishing, 2000

Mary Queen of Scots is perennially fascinating, and there are readable paperback biographies of her by Antonia Fraser (old but still useful) and Jenny Wormald (more critical).

There is also this very, very useful list:
www.bookscrolling.com/best-scottish-fiction-time/

Can I put in a word for Margaret Kirk? Her first novel, Shadowman, was published in 2017 and her next one, What Lies Buried, is out on June 13th. If you are in Inverness at that time I imagine it won't be hard to find - Margaret lives there and the books are based in Inverness! Her books are well written (she won a Good Housekeeping short story award before writing Shadowman), and she has totally nailed the sense of place. They are crime, yes, but they also take in the Scottish independence debate, elderly parents, the Clearances, etc. Look out for her at a book signing!

Kirsty Wark has written a novel - no idea what it is like. Coincidentally, she also has a new one out on 13th June.

If you really want cosy and light, maybe try the People's Friend?

What do you feel about kidnapped for classic lighter, fun reading?

Absolutely second the Rhanna series by Christine Marion Fraser, such a well written set of books and describes Scotland beautifully! The characters are great and it made me laugh as much as it made me emotional. Also a bit of sex if that’s your bag...

Definitely Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. This is the first book of the trilogy A Scots Quair

For light reading I'd agree with the Rhanna series. You'll laugh and have a wee greet while you're reading them.

The Testament of Gideon Mack is my all time favourite book. It's a page turner but very thought provoking and can be read on all sorts of different levels.

A Seaside Practice is set in the South West but the sequels are partly in the Hebrides and are a sort of Scottish doctor "All Creatures Great and Small". A good holiday read.

Morvern Callar is good too.

I know I'm in a minority but I thought Outlander was tacky, a sort of Jacobean 50 Shades.

Another shout for Margaret Kirk I really enjoyed her book and looking out for her next one. Another new author set in the highlands is G R Halliday from the shadows tho maybe a bit dark for what your looking for.

Not a great deal of plot, but very cosy and light, and very Highlands - My Friends the Miss Boyds. It's classified as fiction, but AIUI, is strongly autobiographical - set about a century ago.

I love the Lillian Beckwith books. Old but so worth a read. I read them first time like 40 years ago. Its about an English school teacher who retires to Skye in the 50s I believe. They are soo funny and very entertaining. All about the locals and the difference in attitude, live etc.
Im not sure if I loved them so much because my granny was from that neck of the woods and I could see and hear her saying and doing very similar things
Theres The hill is Lonely, The sea for Breakfast ,Bruach Blend and Lightly poached. There are more but off the top of my head I dont remember

Oh I’m actually so excited to see people recommend some of my very favourite Scottish classics - A Scots Quair every single time! I remember coming out of the library at uni crying just thinking about the last section I had read. Neil M Gunn is another favourite and would recommend Butcher’s Broom. I love a lot of Robert Louis Stevenson’s writing - The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is written in such a way that although you know the ending you are still turning every page (quite a short story) and I also loved The Master of Ballantrae. This has got me all notalgic ☺️

It has to be LGG's A Scot's Quair - essential reading for all, can't be put down. Totally bawled!

Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell (and 2 sequels)

Para Handy by Neil Munro (and stop to visit the lovely Vital Spark if you pass through Inveraray)

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by M. Spark

Morven Caller by Alan Warner is good, Oban but a lot set in Spain too.

The Crow Road is wonderful (Banks writes novels as poetry, every sentence is pure craft).

Kidnapped and Catriona - classic R.L. Stevenson

Ten Tales Tall and True - or anything by Alasdair Gray (total polymath and lovely guy)

All Fun and Games until Somebody Loses an Eye is my favourite C. Brookmyre but it isn't set in the highlands.

The Sunshine Cruise Company by John Niven is hilarious but not set in highlands.

Consider the Lilies by Iain Crichton Smith is about the clearances so very sad but educational.

The Life and Death of St Kilda by Tom Steel also educational.

Listen to Scottish Fiction by Idlewild while you're adventuring bonus points for reading some of Edwin Morgan's poems.

There are loads of great folklore anthologies if you are really interested in hearing the tales of selkie, morrigan, kelpie, etc - might give you the heebie jeebs but...

Absolutely second the Rhanna series by Christine Marion Fraser, such a well written set of books and describes Scotland beautifully! The characters are great and it made me laugh as much as it made me emotional. Also a bit of sex if that’s your bag...wink

This
Loved her books

Oh thank you so much everyone. A lot to look at and some great ideas.

@cwg1 I came back to recommend Jane Duncan's "My friends..." series which are some of my favourite comfort reading. Beautifully written and centred firmly on the Black Isle area near Inverness (even the ones which aren't are firmly rooted there if that makes sense?)