Top 10 Scottish Books

December 2004

'Content and style are key factors in distinguishing a good book from the rest. The incomparable achievements of Hearts, Spurs and Derby County legend Dave Mackay has guaranteed a subject matter, so rich in passion, leadership and success, to render this book deserving of the phrase 'unputdownable.'

This is a book which Dave Mackay's contempories will enjoy as much as subsequent generations keen on understanding a little more about the heartbeat behind their respective club's halycon days...Just as the press always mentioned 'square-jawed', 'barrel-chested', 'hard-tackling', and 'fearsome' when penning reports about Dave Mackay, THE REAL MACKAY will become inseparable from comments such as "that's a cracking book!"
Spurs Monthly

'Now, after 12 years of exacting historical detective work, Jack Alexander has reclaimed the 16th Royal Scots for posterity... the truth proves more remarkable than legend. McCRAE'S BATTALION is the definitive account of the best-kept secret of the First World War.'
Football Trader

'What Jack Alexander gives us is an intriguing and often moving history...Alexander's book is full of absorbing stories. He claims that it was 16 years in the writing and I believe him. Judging by the footnotes, appendices, bibliographies and acknowledgements his research was extraordinary.'
Scottish Sunday Herald

'John Updike - among others - likened him to a saint. Whether it is possible to amass a fortune of $400 million, thread oneself through the eye of a needle and enter the kingdom of heaven with one's halo undimmed is a moot point. However in the opinion of James Mackay, the latest biographer of Andrew Carnegie, the diminutive Dunfermline-born entrepreneur, the answer is a resounding negative... Mackay's title, LITTLE BOSS, was the affectionate nickname given to Carnegie by the men in his Pittsburgh foundry. Mackay applies it pejoratively and patronisingly...But even Mackay must admit that Carnegie 'successfully divested himself of the bulk of his wealth'. It is a rare economium, Mackay, whose biographies - Burns, Pinkerton, Robert Service, William Wallace, Michael Collins, etc - roll off the production line like Model T's at Ford, can barely bring himself to say a good word about his subject.'
The Observer, Alan Taylor

'..it's a must for all Leeds fans, and a good read for the rest of us.'
Four Four Two

Number 9 in The Independent Top 10 Sports Books
The Independent 18 Nov

'His story, taking us from a Scottish fishing town to the Leeds hostelry he now helps run, is a fascinating one. In fact it's a steamy shower that touches glory, failure, humour, sex, match-fixing, bribery and corruption.'
Winger

'The joys, the risks and the motivatations of mountain climbing are at the heart of this remarkable book.'
The Glasgow Herald

'joyfully recalls more than half a century of expeditions in every corner of the globe...This however is not simply a boastful account of Slesser's albeit impressive achievements. Nor is it an inventory of hardships withstood. Instead, it uses his ample stock of stories to question why climbers choose to face such enormous risks - of hypothermia, altitude sickness and fatal falls...This fine book could make even the most armchair-bound readers reach for their boots.'
Daily Mail

'will delight any movie buff.'
Greenock Telegraph

'This concise A-Z guide to Scotland in film is packed with intriguing information, little-known facts, maps and photographs.'
Scotland Magazine

'a wealth of fascinating info on locations, stars and directors..Brian Pendreigh has done a superbly entertaining job.'
Caledonia

As one of a handful of UK police officers trained in SAS deep-cover surveillance, David Corbett infiltrated the toughest communities, living among junkies, prostitutes, murderers and firearm dealers in order to gather evidence that would lead to dozens of convictions

The pinnacle of his career was an operation in the former pit town of Blyth, where there had been 15 drug-related deaths in 12 months. Leaving his wife and family, he spent five months undercover, wired up, winning the confidence of the dealers, and had to cope with having his life endangered by a corrupt officer.

Corbett's work led to 31 convictions and commendations from his superiors, but, without any form of counselling, the stress took its toll and he was forced into early retirement, feeling betrayed by the force that had sent him out on these dangerous missions.

THE HIGHLAND HIGH WAY is a magnificent high-level route through some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery and across its finest hills. Running for 105 miles from Loch Lomond to Fort William, the route includes Black Mount, one of the greatest hill walks in the country; an exhilarating ridge walk along the Aonah Eagach; and a Munro extravaganza in the Mamores.

The grand finale is Ben Nevis, approached along the spectacular Carn Mor Dearg arete. The eight-day route described in this book takes in at least 14 Munros, among them Ben Lomond, Ben Lui and Beinn Dorain.

In addition, four further excursions are suggested along the way, including Scotland's most spectacular hill, Buachaille Etive Mor, bringing the total to 23 - a real Munro-bagger's delight

ARMED CANDY is the true story of one woman's struggle for survival on Britain's meanest streets.
Kay has spent her whole life trying to escape. Sexually abused by her grandmother she pleaded to return to her mother's care. But instead of finding a safe haven, Kay entered a world of drug abuse, swinging and dabbling in the occult. Although still a small child, she was soon buying drugs for her mother and being moved out of her bed as orgies ensued in her home.

When she tried to escape she ended up in a violent marriage, from which she fled in fear of her life. Turning to her mother for help, she was tricked into prostitution, her own mother acting much like a pimp.

Kay became a high-class call girl, but then. through a chance meeting, she got involved with the most dangerous criminal gang in Glasgow.

'A must for any Andy fan.'
Greenock Telegraph

'I enjoyed the historical details of his early childhood growing up in Glasgow at the end of the war.'
Hebridean

 

 

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