Call of the Isles - A Scottish Anthology #calloftheisles @tantallon_2001 @tantallontir @randomthingstours #scottishanthology #shortstories

 

From St Kilda to Samoa, Call of the Isles sails into islands beset with grief, violence, hope, regret, and recovery. 

It is a stunning set of stories from the best Scottish and Scotland-based writers in the world.

The islands are calling.

The anthology features the work of: Donald Adamson, Rory Allison, Ricky Monahan Brown, Peter Burnett, Neil Cocker, Maggie Colquhoun, Morag Coyle, JS Daly, John Dean, JP Dolan, Scott Ferguson, Mirri Glasson-Darling, Stephanie Garcia, Stephen Kingston, Coinneach MacIntyre, Charles McGarry, Liam McLeod, Eilidh McIntosh, Jamie David McLean, David McVey, Ewan Morrison, Kate Peel, Roger David Smith, Rose Campbell-Smith, Robin Montgomery-Smith, Andrew Tagg, Dickson Telfer, Douglas Thompson, LG Thomson, and Les Wilson.

Call of the Isles - a Scottish anthology edited by John Gerard Fagan was published on 1 May 2026 by Tantallon Tir. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

I really enjoy collections of short stories, I should read them more often!  I was intrigued when I read the blurb for this one, I'm a fan of Scottish fiction and jumped at the chance to read it. It's just over 100 pages so the perfect size to snuggle down with and read in one go. 

This outstanding anthology from an exciting new Scottish publisher brings together some of Scotland’s finest contemporary writers, all exploring the unique character of island life with remarkable skill and imagination.

I really admire short story writers, it's an incredible skill to be able to create a vivid, compelling story in just a few pages. There are thirty-two tales in this anthology, in just 103 pages, that tells you just how short they are. 

Each story is really vividly told, they are filled with memorable characters, authentic dialogue, and rich and  atmospheric landscapes that took me to these remote settings. I was really interested in the use of Scots language, and felt that this adds warmth, and a really strong sense of place throughout.

What I really loved about this anthology is the way the stories seem to capture both the beauty and the isolation of island communities. There is a powerful feeling of separation, and isolation from the wider world, which felt quite intense. There's a darkness to some of the stories, which can be unsettling, yet others were  humorous and up lifting. Without at doubt, they are all so beautifully created. This is such an enjoyable little read.

** There are detailed biographies of all of the contributing authors, at the back of the book.

Call of the Isles is a Scottish anthology curated and published by Glasgow-based publisher Tantallon Tìr, founded by brothers John Gerard Fagan and Michael Anthony Fagan.

www.tantillontir.com

Happily Ever After by Mary Horlock #HappilyEverAfter @maryhorlock @baskervillejmp @randomthingstours #BookReview

 

Nobody told her that marriage would be murder . . .

Ned Wheeler was devoted to his family. He was also convicted and jailed for murder.

After spending three decades in prison, Ned's up for parole. But this is not his story. It's about Joan, the wife who was fooled by his good looks and charm; Cass, the daughter who wants nothing more to do with him; and Florence, the woman who wants the world to know she's saved him.

Moving seamlessly between contemporary London, the hedonistic hippy summer of 1970 and the small world of 1980s Isle of Wight, Mary Horlock has delivered an utterly gripping and moving thriller about love, loss and the lies we tell ourselves in order to survive.

Happily Ever After by Mary Horlock was published in paperback on 9 April 2026 by Baskerville, the hardback was published in July last year. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

There were three things that initially drew me to this book. That incredible cover - it has such a 1970s hippy vibe to it, I love it. Then there's the strapline; 'Nobody told her that marriage would be murder...' - I mean, who can resist that one?  And finally, Mary Horlock is a new author to me, whilst this is not her first book, I've not read her before and I love to discover new authors. 

I have not been disappointed. Whilst this novel is most definitely a mystery tale, it is, first and foremost, the story of a family. A family that is shattered into many pieces when Ned Wheeler; husband to Joan and father to Cass, is imprisoned for murder.

We are introduced to Joan, Cass, and Ned's fiancee Florence thirty years later. Ned is about to be released and the impact of that on each of these women is profound. 

Cleverly structured, the author takes her readers back to the hedonistic days of festivals and fun, when Ned and Joan met first, fell in love and married.  This is told though Joan's voice, in her writings to her daughter Cass.  Cass and Joan have been estranged for many years and Joan dearly wishes to see her again. 

Cass has had a life of therapy and unease. She's married to a man who adores her and she is determined that she will never see her mother, or her father again. She's finding it difficult to deal with the thought of him being free again. 

We come to know Florence through her podcasts. Deeply religious, she was drawn to Ned when he became 'born again'. She broadcasts her hopes about their future. Some listeners applaud and some scorn her. 

There are glorious twists that thrill, there's a hint of sardonic humour and there are links to the fairy tales that we are all familiar with.  The novel has the grip of a thriller and the emotional depth of a tragic family story. Recommended by me. 

Mary Horlock was born in Australia but brought up in Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
She was previously a curator in contemporary art at Tate Liverpool and Tate Britain, and she was for a time the curator of the Turner Prize, the Tate’s annual prize for contemporary art awarded to an artist under 50. 

Her novel, the Book of Lies, was long-listed for the Guardian First Book Award and described as a ‘sizzling debut’ by the Times. 

She lives with her family in London.

The Ossians by Doug Johnstone #TheOssians @writerdougj @orendabooks #20YearsofDougJohnstone #RocknRollFiction #Scotland

 

A last-chance winter road trip for a Scottish band spirals into wild chaos – seagull massacres, bomb tests, and darkly funny rock 'n' roll madness on the edge. A raw, darkly funny novel by one of Scotland's finest authors – newly reissued!

Connor is twenty-four, brilliant, broken, and out of control. He's the swaggering frontman of The Ossians, a Scottish indie band on the brink of signing a major record deal.

Desperate to make their mark, they head off on a two-week winter tour across the cities and hinterlands of Scotland – a last-ditch attempt to find fame, purpose, and themselves.

But the tour soon spirals into a surreal, chaotic odyssey. From seedy bars and snowbound towns to a final, defining Glasgow gig, the band hurtles through a whirlwind of seagull massacres, botched drug deals, a mysterious stalker, radioactive beaches, bomb-testing ranges, epileptic fits, riotous Russian submariners, deadly storms, epiphanies, regular beatings and random shootings.

Raw, darkly funny and wild with energy, The Ossians is a gloriously anarchic story of rock'n'roll obsession, national identity and self-destruction, and what it means to belong – in a band, in a country, in a life unravelling at speed.

The Ossians by Doug Johnstone was published by Orenda Books on 9 April 2026. It was originally published by Viking in 2008 and is part of the celebration of #20YearsofDougJohnstone. The forward is written by Val McDermid. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour 

I am thrilled that Orenda decided to re-publish Doug's early books. I am a huge fan of his novels published by Orenda, and it has been a treat to read his early works. I was a little anxious at first, wondering if the voice would be the same. I really had no need to worry, both Tombstoning and The Ossians have been a pleasure to read. 

I would have known this book was written by Doug Johnstone, even if I didn't know ... does that make sense?? 

Generally known for his crime fiction, The Ossians is more of a coming of age, road trip, hallucinatory novel, and whilst yet, crimes are committed, it is not a crime story.  I turned over corners of pages that contained phrases that I wanted to quote, however, I turned over so many that I would have almost quoted the entire book! 

The Ossians are a Scottish band made up of Connor, his best mate Danny, his girlfriend Hannah and his sister Kate. They are about to embark on a winter tour of Scotland - winter, Scotland - yes, that's just the start of some of the mystifying decisions that Connor takes, and actually, it's not by any means the worse. 

Connor is told in the book that it sounds like he doesn't like Scotland, due to his lyrics and his regular rants. This novel does really feel like a love letter to Scotland, written by a person who doesn't like Scotland!  However,  I know that Doug doesn't hate Scotland at all, but what he excels at is showing the country in it's real light. Stripping it of it's tartan covered shortbread biscuit tins and the bagpipes and describing the issues and reality that face the ordinary people - behind the tourist attractions. It is done so so well, and Scotland really is a massive character in itself. 

The story is gritty, and dark, with touches of poignancy and a lot swearing. Connor is a total fuck-up, his various addictions lead him into shit loads of trouble and he finds himself in the role of drug mule whilst touring, He has to pay his debts somehow.  Whilst he is totally and utterly flawed and would drive anyone crazy, the reader cannot help but back him for some reason. He's so well created, along with all of the band members, and the supporting cast. Another Johnstone skill; the creation of realistic character who you often hate but always want to know what happens to them. 

A gritty, drug-fuelled rock ’n’ roll journey through modern Scotland, blending seedy nightlife with clear and precise reflections on identity, myth, and culture. Dark yet compelling, it captures the nation with atmospheric beauty, raw energy, and an oddly joyful sense of chaos.

Highly recommended. 

Doug Johnstone is the author of nineteen novels, many of which have been bestsellers.

The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while six of his

But Grundleger has been working on something even more radical books have been shortlisted or longlisted for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year or the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. 

Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral directors. He’s also been an arts journalist for twenty-five years. He is a songwriter and musician with ten albums released, and drummer for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers.

He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club.

Better Off Dead by Sean Watkin #BetterOffDead @seanwatkinauth @seanwatkinauthor @canelo_co #BookReview #DCIDeSilva #CrimeThriller

 

The emotional fallout from their last case has left DCI de Silva and DS Barclay's lives in tatters. Barclay's marriage has failed and de Silva is still haunted by the loss of her husband and wondering whether she ever really knew him.

When the National Crime Agency takes over their investigation, the duo are reassigned to a cold case. A dismembered body found in Formby woods. Hidden for decades. And then, another body is discovered.

As they dig deeper into the identities of the victims, they uncover a tangled web of awful crimes. And they learn that they can't trust anyone even those closest to them.

A dark and gritty crime thriller, perfect for fans of Luca Veste, M. W. Craven and Russ Thomas.

Better Off Dead by Sean Watkin was published on 26 January 2026 by Canelo Crime. I bought my signed copy from the Stockport Noir Crime Fiction Festival earlier this year. 

I read and reviewed the first in this series; Black Water Rising in December of last year. I've been looking forward to finding out what the author had in store for this amazing detective duo and read this whilst I was away on holiday in Portugal.

I don't think there's a better feeling for a crime fiction fan than when you discover a new author, and when that author seems to improve, even though his first book was amazing, then it's even better. The first in this series was great, but oh my goodness, this one is out of this world. It ticks every single box for me.  The gritty Northern setting of Liverpool, with a pair of detectives who are both flawed, who both have their own demons, but who are both dedicated to catching the murderer that's putting fear into the streets. 

I would advise that readers find the first book if they haven't already. Whilst you could read this as a standalone, there are links to earlier events and having prior knowledge of these really adds to the story, in my view. 

I said it last time and I will repeat myself here, this is NOT COSY CRIME! If you love authors such as MW Craven, then this series is for you. The author doesn't spare his readers, we are privy to some dark and emotional themes here, yet they are handled with care and empathy, with compassion for the victims but also vitriol to the perpetrators. 

de Silva and Barclay are given a cold case; investigating the discovery of a dismembered body that has obviously been buried for years. It soon becomes clear that this may be connected to other similar cases in the area. There's lots to uncover here, and whilst the detectives are working on these cases, they are also dealing with their own problems and issues, and for both of them these two parts of their lives will clash. 

The writing is sublime, the character creation is top notch and the plotting is perfect. Fast becoming one of my favourite authors, and series and I highly recommend it. 

Sean Watkin was born and raised in Liverpool and studied a BA and MA in Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moores University. 

He has been shortlisted for Fresher Writing Award, Book a Break Prize, Bristol Short Story Prize and the McDermid Debut Award. 

His writing has been featured in The Gay UK magazine, and The Content Wolf e-zine, as well as other LGBT+ publications. 

Sean lives in Liverpool with his partner and two dogs.

A Far-Flung Life by M L Stedman BOOK TOUR #AFarFlungLife #MLStedman @DoubledayUK @RandomTTours #BookReview

 

One ordinary day, on a lonely road, under the unending blue sky, patriarch Phil MacBride swerves to avoid a kangaroo. In seconds the lives of the entire MacBride family are shattered.

Fate comes for them again, in a twist of consequences that will cause one of them to lose their life, and another to sacrifice theirs for the sake of an innocent child.

Matt, the youngest MacBride, is plunged into a moral and emotional journey, as he is forced to choose between love and duty, sacrifice and happiness.

A sweeping, heart-wrenching, warm-hearted novel of family and belonging, of compassion and hope, and a powerful testament to the enduring strength of love.

A Far-Flung Life by M L Stedman was published in hardback on 5 March 2026 by Doubleday. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

This is going to be such a difficult review to write, and it's times like this when I wonder how I ever thought that becoming a book reviewer was a good idea!   That is certainly not because this book is a bad book, it's because it's a book that has totally and utterly enthralled me, from beginning to end. 

Hands up, I am one of the few people that didn't read The Light Between The Oceans by this author. I have no idea why, I suspect that I have a copy on my shelf.  I'm cross that I've not read it, but also happy that I now have it to look forward to.

So, this novel!  What an absolutely heart wrenching and beautifully told story this it. It is an extraordinary novel that I will never forget, set in an isolated place that is a character in its own right. 

Readers should be aware that the author has tackled some emotionally draining and dark issues within her story, there are scenes that are difficult to read, yet she has done it with such skill and empathy that it doesn't jar the reader. I believe that we shouldn't hide away issues, and that fiction can deal with human affairs so very well. 

This is the story of a family.  They work a million-acre sheep station, Meredith Dawns,  in outback Western Australia. Phil, Lorna and their two sons and a daughter are carrying on the family business that generations before them have established. It is tough, yet it is a beautiful place. 

The family is torn apart by a tragic incident in 1958, and the novel looks at the fall out from that day. The author doesn't spare her characters; they suffer. The utter grief of Lorna mixed up with young Rosie's guilt and anguish is sometimes unbearable, yet the writing is so wonderful and the characters so expertly created that I was compelled to continue, turning the pages so quickly.  We see Matt take on the head of the family role despite his own scars, and it is his discovery of something so abhorrent to him that thrusts the plot on. There's a small cast of supporting characters who complement the story, adding their own narrative and struggles to the novel. 

This is a magnificent story. Yes, there are issues that are difficult to read about but it us an unforgettable story of love, loss, and the choices that shape our lives . . . and it's also a masterfully crafted.

I defy you not to be in tears by the end of this book. Highly recommended

M L Stedman was born and raised in Western Australia and now lives in London. 

Her first novel, The Light Between Oceans, was a Sunday Times, New York Times and international bestseller and won the Goodreads Choice Best Historical Novel Award and the HWA Goldsboro Crown Debut. 

It was also longlisted for the Women’s Prize and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin literary award and shortlisted as an Amazon Rising Star. 

In Australia, it won the Indie Best Debut and the Indie Best Book awards and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and the Literary Society Gold Medal. 

The Light Between Oceans has been published in around forty-five languages and has sold nearly five million copies worldwide. 

It was made into a Dreamworks film starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, produced by Heyday Films. 

A Far-flung Life is M L Stedman’s second novel, to be published worldwide.

Street Sweeper by Bren Gosling BOOK REVIEW #StreetSweeper @brengosling @RandomTTours #BookReview

 

London, 2002. When Almir, a twenty-one-year-old Kosovan ex-boy soldier, is relocated to London with a new identity, flashbacks undermine his ability to keep his job as a street sweeper. Then he meets Roland, a forty-year-old British Jamaican, a Council surveyor trying to escape his Pentecostal upbringing, and failed relationship with Shirl with whom he has a fifteen-year-old son.

Roland and Almir become closer as Roland offers first friendship, then sex, yet Almir remains secretive about his past, and struggles to identify as gay, forcing Roland to question their relationship. And who is Muzzafer, the name Almir repeatedly shouts out during frequent nightmares? As tension builds, Almir confronts his involvement in a war atrocity, which threatens to destabilise his sanity and his new UK life.

But, against all these powerful obstacles, Almir and Roland’s love for each other continues to grow. Is it strong enough to last?

Street Sweeper by Bren Gosling was published on 28 March 2026 by Troubador. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours virtual book tour. 

Set in a vividly rendered early-2000s London, the story moves between the grey streets that Almir sweeps and the more intimate, often tense domestic spaces that Roland inhabits. The city itself feels like a living presence and reflects the emotional isolation and quiet hope of these two men.

Almir is an unforgettable character. Still so young, yet carrying the unbearable weight of his past, his character is written with a tenderness that never slips into sentimentality. His trauma seeps into every part of his life, particularly through the haunting flashbacks and the mystery surrounding Muzzafer. There’s a fragility to him that makes his struggle with identity, most especially his difficulty in naming and accepting his sexuality, feel painfully real.

Roland is older, grounded, yet equally conflicted. His attempt to step away from his Pentecostal upbringing adds another layer to the narrative. His relationship with his son, his history with Shirl, and his own internalised struggles around sexuality make him far more than just a counterpoint to Almir. He is a man caught between worlds, just as much as Almir is.

The exploration of gay love here is handled with care and honesty. This is not a sweeping, romanticised love story; instead, it is complicated, and at times deeply frustrating. The imbalance in experience and self-acceptance between the two men creates a tension that runs throughout the novel. Roland offers connection and openness, while Almir retreats, guarded and uncertain. It’s this push and pull that gives their relationship its authenticity.

What stands out most is how the novel weaves together themes of identity, trauma, faith, and belonging without ever feeling over complicated. Almir’s past as a child soldier is never sensationalised, yet its impact is profound and always there. The question of whether love can survive such weight is at the heart of the story, and it is handled confidently.

It’s a book that makes you stop to consider things  and I found myself thinking about Almir and Roland often when I wasn’t reading.

A powerful, affecting novel that explores the complexities of love and identity with sensitivity and depth.

Bren Gosling, an alumnus of City University’s Novel Studio, is published in numerous
anthologies, and was a finalist of the London, Brighton and Exeter Short Story Prizes. Street Sweeper won the Novel London Literary Prize in 2021, and the inaugural Book Edit Writer’s Prize for under-represented writers.

The novel was shortlisted for the New Anglia Manuscript Prize in 2023. Bren’s plays have garnered two Offies nominations, and an ONComm Commendation. His latest play, Invisible Me starring Tessa Peake Jones will be at the Southwark Playhouse April 8th - May 2nd. 

Find out more about Bren’s work at www.brengosling.com

Bren explains: “My writing explores the narratives of quiet lives, extraordinarily lived, marginalised voices of overlooked people and places. A member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have researched the experiences of being a gay first generation British Jamaican man, through interviews; I spent time in a Pentecostal church. I interviewed Kosovan immigrants to the U.K as well as the head of department of Albanian

Studies at University of London to better understand Albanian culture and recent history. I shadowed a street sweeper at Walthamstow Cleansing Depot. What interests me is bringing untold stories to life by creating fictional narratives. This has been my focus in writing STREET SWEEPER.

It's Not What You Think by Clare MacKintosh #ItsNotWhatYouThink @claremackint0sh @HarperCollinsUK #BookReview #CrimeFiction #Thriller

 

YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs.

She’s been here before.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST

When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS

But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can't explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…

Jamie is dead.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

It's Not What You Think by Clare MacKintosh was published on 26 March 2026 by HarperCollins. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

I have read everything that Clare MacKintosh has written. From her amazing stand alone novels, to her fabulous police procedural series and also her non-fiction. She's a hugely talented writer and I was so excited to read this new one, especially as I'd seen on social media that this one has the best twist ever. 

This is a hefty book but I flew through it. Recently I've been struggling with concentration due to many issues but my nose was glued firmly into this one, never hesitating to pick it up and loathe to put it down when my eyes were closing. 

The blurb tells you that Nadeeka is convinced that her partner Jamie is having an affair. She's convinced and determined to catch him out. She's on her way home, with no doubt that she's going to catch him in the act. When she arrives, she finds a crime scene and Jamie is dead. That's not a spoiler, it's clearly written in the blurb .... so that's not the twist. 

This is not a straightforward tale of love, loss, and consequences. Not even close. Just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening, the ground shifts beneath your feet. The author plays brilliantly with perception, and constantly challenges what you think you know. Nothing should be taken at face value, and a sense of uncertainty lingers throughout.

The novel unfolds in multiple parts, beginning firmly with Nadeeka. She is a compelling character, she is resilient, complex, and easy to like. As her story develops, there is a creeping sense that there is far more going on beneath the surface. And just when you feel settled, the first major twist arrives and it is sharp, satisfying, and impossible to ignore. Believe me, you will gasp. I did. In fact, I went back and read the paragraph again. It's clever, really really clever. 

From there, the story expands a little with other voices begin to emerge, offering new perspectives and adding layers to an already intricate plot. The timeline shifts, the tension builds, and each new revelation brings with it fresh intrigue. With a strong supporting cast which includes family, colleagues, and investigators, the narrative becomes richer and more immersive with every turn of the page.

This is a cleverly constructed thriller that keeps you guessing throughout. It’s tense, engaging, and full of surprises, exactly the kind of book that reminds you why 'trust no one' is advice that keeps being given! 

Clare Mackintosh is a former police officer and a bestselling crime author. 

Her books have sold more than three million copies, been optioned for television and translated into forty languages. 

She appears regularly at literary festivals and bookshop events across the UK and beyond.