On special offer at 99p/99c until Saturday, my full length Gothic suspense novel, Highcrag, is set completely in the east of Scotland, purposely vague as to exact location, but I mention a few real places in Fife, one of my favourite areas.
Culross is one of the most intact 16th century villages, used for some of the scenes in the film Outlander. It has a lot of significance for heroine Cate, as her grandmother came from around here and her ancestress was burned as a witch during the dreadful 16th and 17th century Scottish witch trials. Part of the town building has a dark history, as Cate discovers.
Books are very significant in Highcrag, as Cate’s new job is to catalogue the huge private library at the house owned by Lyall Kinnaird. But she soon discovers some of the books are not what she expected…
Although Highcrag is set in the present and is not about the witch hunts, it does mention some of the historical details within the story and in a separate note at the end. Her maternal ancestry and memories start to affect Cate as she tries to make sense of what is happening at the house.
Highcrag’s suspense builds towards Samhain as Cate’s nightmares get worse and the party at neighbour Iain Sinclair’s house draws near. Soon, she won’t know who to trust or even if she’ll survive.
Samhain itself is a Celtic festival situated between the Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice, a time for celebrating and remembering the loved ones who have passed on. It can also be a time of mischief and magic, when the veil is thinnest between this world and the next. Perfect for creating suspense.
This is a quote from Robert Louis Stevenson, which I use on one of the front pages of the book:
“In each of us two natures are at war – the good and the evil.
In our own hands lies the power to choose…”
You’ll have to read the book to see exactly who has to make that choice! This is the latest lovely review from a reader on Amazon: “I love Scottish themed novels and this one did not disappoint. Good page turning quality, this is not the first novel by this author which I have read. The plot, characterisation and dialogue demonstrate the mark of an excellent story weaver.”
Available in e-book from Amazon UK and Amazon USA and paperback from Amazon or to order in libraries and bookshops.
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