Latest news with #BloodyScotland
The Herald Scotland
02-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Dive into Scotland's history, win a copy of Art Deco Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland's historic environment and is responsible for more than 300 properties including Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow Cathedral, Skara Brae and Elgin Cathedral. But did you know that we also publish books? From coffee table must haves celebrating Scotland's historic environment to visitor guides on heritage sites, conservation guidance for historic buildings and even children's books, there is something for everyone's bookshelf. Art Deco Scotland by Bruce Peter (Image: Historic Environment Scotland) What is the historic environment? After our people, it's one of Scotland's most precious assets. It's not just our wonderful castles and cathedrals - the historic environment is all around us in our towns and villages, tenements, factories, gardens, lighthouses, battlefields, railway stations and even skateparks! The places we live in, work at and visit remind us how people have shaped our society and landscape over time, right up to the present day. Our heritage is expanding, with buildings that have not yet been designed destined to one day become a part of our historic environment. History never stops. It's a lived, participative experience where new generations will decide what is valued. The stories our historic places tell connect us with our families, our friends and ourselves. They mean something to us as a nation, a community or as individuals and they belong to everyone. Without these local or national landmarks, Scotland just wouldn't be Scotland. Part of our mission is to tell Scotland's story, which we strive to do across the properties in our care, our events, outreach and learning programmes, and our publications. The Story of the Scottish Crown Jewels (Image: Historic Environment Scotland) Each year, we publish a varied range of books about Scotland's historic environment, working with top award-winning authors. Bloody Scotland, which is one of our best-sellers, is a collection of gripping short stories by 12 of the country's best crime writers including Val McDermid and Denise Mina. Other popular titles include Where Are the Women? by Sara Sheridan, which celebrates Scotland's forgotten heroines and entertainingly reimagines a history of what might have been, dedicating fictional streets, buildings and monuments to real women and sharing their true stories; and For the Safety of All, written by Donald S Murray, which explores Scotland's lighthouses through history, storytelling and the voices of the lightkeepers. Many of our books delve into stories of the heritage on our doorstep, showcasing how history has shaped Scotland, as well as featuring images from our extensive archives collection, including the Honours of Scotland, that we are entrusted to conserve. St Kilda the Last and Outmost Isle (Image: Historic Environment Scotland) St Kilda, The Last and Outmost Isle by George Geddes and Angela Gannon is a detailed account of Britain's most remote island; A History of Scotland's Landscapes by Fiona Watson and Piers Dixon brings the past to life with a new perspective on Scotland and the renowned Alexander McCall Smith takes readers on a unique tour of Scotland's capital with Edinburgh: A Work of Beauty telling the story of Edinburgh's famous landmarks and lost buildings, the people who made them and the people who lived in them. Stirling Castle for Kids book (Image: Historic Environment Scotland) Meanwhile, St Peter's: Birth Death and Renewal by Dianne Watters, explores the history of the 1960s Modernist seminary, featuring an insightful photographic essay by the artist Angus Farquhar. A number of our works have been shortlisted for and won prestigious literary awards including Bloody Scotland, which won the Crime Writers' Association's Silver Dagger award. From Mousa to Mackintosh: the Scottishness of Scottish Architecture by Professor Frank Walker was shortlisted in Scotland's National Book Awards 2023 for an exceptional study of the country's architecture over the millennia. We were also highly commended as runner-up for 'Publisher of the Year' at the Saltire Society Literary Awards 2018. You can enjoy our range of detailed pocket books, available at our sites, that visitors can conveniently carry around with them while exploring Scotland's historic places. Among these is Scotland's History written by one of the country's leading historians, Fiona Watson, as well as Above Scotland by the writer and broadcaster, James Crawford, which features striking archive and contemporary aerial photography to provide a unique insight into Scotland today. Our latest publication is one of the most exciting yet and one of our fastest selling books to date. Art Deco Scotland: Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age by Bruce Peter is the latest book from the HES publishing stable. Its publication ties in with the centenary of the Art Deco movement, which was born in 1920's Paris. The book has been two years in the making, working with Bruce Peter, Professor of Design at Glasgow School of Art, who had an idea for a book on the decorative style that encompassed not just architecture and buildings but furniture, textiles, ceramics and sculpture. Featuring over 400 photographs and illustrations, including more than 150 images from our archives, Art Deco Scotland shines a spotlight on a fascinating part of Scotland's 20th century heritage and is a beautiful reflection of the period. The combination of expert knowledge coupled with striking imagery and design has created a compelling new book which has been flying off the shelves. Art Deco Scotland: Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age by Bruce Peter is available on for £30. To celebrate its release, we are delighted to offer readers of The Herald the chance to purchase a signed copy of Art Deco Scotland, where the first 25 copies sold will be signed by the author Bruce Peter. Visit to claim your copy. We hope readers enjoy Art Deco Scotland, and do head to to explore our wide collection of books – with topics ranging from architecture and industry to landscapes and royal history, there truly is something for everyone!
Scotsman
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The Cost by Morgan Cry review: 'much that is ingenious, much that rings true'
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Morgan Cry is also Gordon Brown, a founder of Scotland's crime writing festival Bloody Scotland, and a prolific author under both names. The Cost, a mysterious title for more than half the novel, is set in Fraserburgh, once one of Scotland's great fishing ports, now notorious for drug abuse and violent crime. It is, however, still a town of character, and one where the author spent holidays as a boy. I knew the Broch too, and its beach with fine sand and cold winds, when we spent holidays with an aunt in Strichen and took the train there. So, even if The Cost hadn't been good, I would have read it with interest and a comfortable nostalgia. Happily it is good - a crime novel with an intricate plot, much that is ingenious, much that rings true - something not so often the case with crime fiction - and a persuasive energy. Admittedly, the plot is not always easy to follow, but this is usual enough and doesn't matter so long as one is interested to keep on reading. Gordon Brown, aka Morgan Cry | Paul Reich The first-person narrator - therefore the hero - has returned to his home town after a 30-year career as a policeman in Glasgow has ended discreditably, getting out indeed just before he would have been pushed, on account of his relations with a former colleague now doing time in Barlinie for a crime violent even by the common standards of Tartan Noir. Now back in Fraserbugh, where his much loved mother died mysteriously 30 years ago, he is working as a taxi driver for a very small firm, itself on the rocks with only one other driver, the proprietor, Doddy, being overweight and permanently pickled. Doddy's language is what is called "industrial"; Blake can speak that tongue too, but also correct English. It's a wonder any business survives. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Then Terry, a young girl, granddaughter of Blake's mother's best friend, comes to him for help. She works at a luxury hotel some miles out of tow and her friend, a Polish girl called Kristina , has disappeared without a word. Blake insists Terry must speak to the police. She is reluctant to do so and begs Blake to investigate the hotel. He agrees reluatantly, has a long talk with a young Polish barman, Tomas, their conversation being broken up by the housekeeper. The hotel is strange -a pot of tea hugely overpriced, no sign of other guests but some odd talk of a annexe. Then Tomas too disappears. It is very fishy business. That's enough of the plot, which also has Doddy and a disagreeable violent and drunken client being engaged in some disturbing business. This brief outline of what sets the story going may make it seem very much standard Tartan Noir; happily, however, it's much better than that. There is what the genre often lacks, a certain humanity and some genuine feeling. Blake is a more interesting character than the run-of-the-mill Cop with a somewhat unsavoury Past. Blake retains a general decency. He's a hard man when he needs to be, but he actually rings true, is a credible and convincing character. Consequently what seemed at first to be a typical Hard Man story with a somewhat bizarre plot becomes something more. Morgan Cry is a splendid storyteller. Over the years I have found that the second half of crime novels not only usually defies credibility but is, often, frankly boring. Not so this one. I read it with ever-deepening interest and enjoyment. Then the evocation of Fraserburgh is very pleasing and we are aware of the credible, if damaged, life beyond the conventional crime stuff. Moreover there is kindness and humour here too. Though much is bizarre, the strength of the main characters, notably Blake and Terry's grandmother rings pleasingly true. This is a novel which offers a picture of real life, not just conventional thrills or horror.
BBC News
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Scottish crime writer Denzil Meyrick dies aged 59
Bestselling Scottish crime writer Denzil Meyrick has died at the age of former police officer is best known for his series of 11 books about DCI Jim Daley, set in the fictional Scottish town of agent Bell Lomax Moreton said he died at his home near Loch Lomond on Friday. He had suffered from crippling arthritis for years. A spokesperson said: "It was a real honour to work with you, Denzil. Our thoughts are with Fiona and the family at this time." A statement from his publisher Birlinn described him as "one of the finest crime writers of his generation".It added: "Denzil was known for the skill with which he pinned to the page the reality of life on the streets of Glasgow along with the issues of the small rural communities of Scotland, a talent which caught the attention of a wide reading public across the UK and well beyond."With his characteristic humour, unwavering determination and his dry personality Denzil was west of Scotland through and through, and he created unforgettable detective and criminal characters." Crime writing festival Bloody Scotland said it was "sad" to hear the news of his death.A spokesperson wrote on social media: "He graced us with his wry humour and quick wit at the festival in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024. "Our thoughts go to his family and friends, especially his wife, Fiona."Meyrick was born in Glasgow on 28 November 1965 and brought up in Campbeltown, Argyll and studying politics, he worked as a police officer in Glasgow for nearly five years in the previously told BBC Scotland News that he owed much of his writing success to his early years with Strathclyde Police."It was a very interesting part of my life and, although I didn't know it at the time, it certainly helped me in terms of the books," he said."You had the full gamut of experience as a Glasgow cop and you did see the rather nastier side of human nature in all its forms."He left the force following a back injury and went on to develop a business career, working as a distillery manager and running a 2012, his first novel Whisky from Small Glasses was published, launching the career of DCI Daley - a cop forced to move from his Glasgow patch to a rural detective goes on to solve a series of gruesome murders with his deputy Brian Scott in the fictitious rural community of Kinloch, inspired by Denzil's home town of Campbeltown.A TV series based on the Daley books is currently in production.
