The Bookseller of Inverness: Superb historical thriller from prizewinning author of the Seeker series

Reviews

Gi Dalor

If you’ve never read a SG Maclean novel; well, you should start with the Damien Seeker novels, but after that you should acquaint yourself with The Bookseller of Inverness. I loved the Damien Seeker novels. For me this is Crime without the cosiness, and all the better for it.

It’s refreshingly meaty. It’s set in a post-Culloden Scotland, which is interesting because we know, as with Damien Seeker, Iain MacGillivray is fighting for a lost cause and a flawed master, but as with Seeker, albeit on a more local scale, it’s the personal that’s political.

It’s Historical Crime with the emphasis on the Historical. and it’s tough starting again with a new cast, but I have to judge this novel on its merits, of which there are many, especially the depth of characterisation, historical detail and Literature quality of prose. The plot is driven by character, and the conflicts and drives of the characters are driven by their world, language and experiences.