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Original poster

Historical fiction set in Scotland

70 replies

Gastropod · 07/01/2025 10:01

Love me a good historical novel, especially historical crime/murder mysteries. CJ Sansom, SJ Parris, etc. I've read loads set in medieval/Tudor England but am looking for good historical fiction set in Scotland, especially Edinburgh or Glasgow. Not Outlander, and preferably not written by Americans who appear to have never actually set foot in Scotland...

I just read a couple by Kaite Welsh - Sarah Gilchrist mysteries, which were OK, set in Victorian Edinburgh, not amazing though. I'd prefer something set a bit further back in time. I like a bit of grit and grime!

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
smooshraspberry · 07/01/2025 16:23

Following with interest

Mylovelygreendress · 07/01/2025 16:26

The Green Lady by Sue Lawrence . Set around the time of Mary, Queen of Scots .

OhBuggerandArse · 07/01/2025 16:34

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 07/01/2025 16:21

Robert Louis Stevenson - Kidnapped, Catriona, The Master of Ballantrae

Jekyll and Hyde was actually set in London but feels as if it should have been Edinburgh, so I'll mention it here too.

John Buchan's novels were not written as historical fiction but they are so old now that perhaps they count.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was published in 1961 but set in Edinburgh in the 1930s. Would that count?

The best of the Buchans (well, the ones I love best!) are historical - Midwinter is my favourite, also Witch Wood and The Blanket of the Dark. And along similar lines to Buchan's 'contemporary' writing I have a guilty love of Maurice Walsh's thriller/mystical Celtic romanticism, nearly all set in the between-the-wars Highlands (he was great pals with Neil Gunn and used to write them after they'd been on holidays together).

Thebusinesswilljuststealyoursoul · 07/01/2025 16:34

Witch light by Susan Fletcher. The story of a young healer called Corrag who was the only witness of the Glencoe Massacre of 1692.

She was subsequently tried as a witch and sentenced to death in a effort to silence her.

I have never read a more beautiful book in my life, written with such skill you can practically smell the chill wind as it blows through the heather!

nythbran2 · 07/01/2025 16:48

Second vote for SJ Maclean www.quercusbooks.co.uk/contributor/s-g-maclean/

CoubousAndTourmalet · 07/01/2025 19:15

Totally agree about Witch Light/Corrag. Beautifully written, a story that stays with you for a long time.

BlueFairyBugsBooks · 07/01/2025 19:17

Blackcountryexile · 07/01/2025 12:38

Sara Sheridan who lives in Scotland
The Fair Botanists. 19th century Edinburgh
The Secrets of Blythswood Square 19th century Glasgow
both currently 99p on Kindle

I was going to recommend The Secrets of Blythwood Square.

I definitely read some other Scottish fiction last year. I'll go and check my GR.

SutekhsEars · 07/01/2025 19:18

JaninaDuszejko · 07/01/2025 13:04

Completely agree with Dorothy Dunnett (from Caithness), King Hereafter is a retelling of Macbeth using the historical sources (although most historians don't agree Macbeth and Thorfinn the Mighty were the same person it's still a fabulous story).

Depends how historical accurate you want but Poor Things by Alasdair Gray is rooted in a very realistic 19th century Glasgow (unlike the film which moved it to a fantastical London) and for a mid 20th century Glasgow read his Lanark.

For Orkney read Beside the Ocean of Time by George Mackay Brown
For the north east in the early 20th century read A Scots Quair by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
For Caithness in the early 19th century read The Silver Darlings by Neil M Gunn

Love the Scots Quair!

Mozartinmyfanjo · 07/01/2025 19:24

Came here to say Witch Light by Susan Fletcher. Beautifully written and captivating. One of the best l read!

BlueFairyBugsBooks · 07/01/2025 19:32

Crime, but not history.
All Mine Enemies, CC Gilmartin.
JD Kirks books.

History but not crime (I don't think).
The Pictish Princess. Dolan Cummings
Hindsight. Mary Turner Thomson
The Real Mackay. Helen Graham.

Disclaimer. I am not Scottish so these may not be authentic!

SometimesMaybe · 07/01/2025 19:50

I am also enjoying S G Maclean - I really liked the Bookseller of Inverness and have just started the Alexander Seaton series.

WhitegreeNcandle · 07/01/2025 19:59

Fatal Majesty Reay Tannahil
lady Magdalen Robin Jenkins

currently readin Evie Wyld Bass Rick which is set across 3 time periods. Very good but rather dark

JaninaDuszejko · 07/01/2025 20:42

crumpet · 07/01/2025 15:57

Don’t forget Walter Scott!

How did I forget Walter Scott? He
basically invented historic fiction, and the Walter Scott Prize hasa useful definition, anything set over 60 years before writing counts as historic fiction.

Home -

Honouring the achievements of the founding father of the historical novel, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the world.

https://www.walterscottprize.co.uk/

SheilaFentiman · 07/01/2025 20:47
  1. Royal Road to Fotheringhay - Jean Plaidy
  2. The Captive Queen of Scots - Jean Plaidy

Both about Mary, Queen of Scots, the first one has more Scottish settings as she is held prisoner largely in England later.

CRE2024 · 07/01/2025 20:51

I second Sara Sheridan - The Secrets of Blytheswood Square is fabulous. She has also written a non fiction book called Where are the Women .

theotherfossilsister · 07/01/2025 20:51

Luckenbooth by Jenny Fagan

lynzmb · 07/01/2025 20:58

All We Cannot Leave behind - Iain Kelly, set in 1920s Edinburgh, really enjoyed it

Also Luckenbooth by Jenni Fagan.

Great thread!

lynzmb · 07/01/2025 21:00

WhitegreeNcandle · 07/01/2025 19:59

Fatal Majesty Reay Tannahil
lady Magdalen Robin Jenkins

currently readin Evie Wyld Bass Rick which is set across 3 time periods. Very good but rather dark

I'm reading this too! Not sure about it but will keep at it

Kneidlach · 07/01/2025 21:06

It’s a bit strange and probably a love it or hate it book, but I loved the Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, by James Hogg.

CatherineCawoodsbestie · 07/01/2025 21:09

Evelyn Hood if you want historical romance trash!

Original poster
Gastropod · 07/01/2025 21:40

So many amazing suggestions, thank you! Have already ordered a few. Happy to report back here.

OP posts:
inaptonym · 07/01/2025 22:39

I've just read Carys Davies' Clear which is a novella around the 1840s clearances and the schism leading to the Free Church of Scotland. Incorporates some old Norn words.

Also loved both of Andrew Greig's 16th C ones:
Rose Nicholson set in St Andrews, based on William Fowler
Fair Helen a retelling of the Border Ballad Fair Helen of Kirkconnel Lea

Tintackedsea · 07/01/2025 23:53

Donald S Murray has a few good ones

As the Women Lay Dreaming (about the iolaire disaster - little known but utterly tragic)
The Salt and the Flame (about economic migrants who leave the Hebrides for Canada)

highlandcoo · 08/01/2025 16:43

Lots of great ideas on this thread and many books I hadn't heard of before. Thanks OP.

I was going to have a very unstructured approach to what I read this year, just going for whatever caught my eye, however I'm now thinking that focusing on historical Scottish fiction could be really good. Maybe every second or third book .. that could work ..

Tarragon123 · 10/01/2025 18:25

SometimesMaybe · 07/01/2025 19:50

I am also enjoying S G Maclean - I really liked the Bookseller of Inverness and have just started the Alexander Seaton series.

The Bookseller of Inverness was one of my best books of 2024. It’s set around 1751 ish (I think) and deals with the aftermath of Culloden. I haven’t read the Alexander Seaton books, but if they are as good as the Seeker series, set in York, then they will be belters too.

I’d also second The Secrets of Blythwood Square and Where Are The Women by Sara Sheridan.