February 17th 2025.
Lynne McEwan, a Scottish author, recently shared her experiences and thoughts on books. She reminisced about her first book, a beautiful hardback of fairy tales with some terrifying illustrations. It was translated from Czech and had a more traditional and less sugar-coated feel to it. The Three Bears were not visited by Goldilocks, but by a witch who was later punished for her actions. Lynne wonders if this book influenced her passion for crime writing, as it was all murder and mayhem from an early age for her.
When asked about a book she recommends to everyone, Lynne immediately mentioned All The Colours of the Dark by Chris Whittaker. She described it as a page-turning epic, a love story, thriller, and coming-of-age tale all rolled into one. The story revolves around a young boy, Patch, who intervenes in a girl's abduction and is taken instead. The consequences of this event affect not only his life but also that of his best friend, Saint, as they both go on separate quests to find lost girls. Lynne couldn't put this book down and highly encourages others to read it.
Lynne also shared the best book she has read this year, My Heart is a Chainsaw by Blackfeet Native American author Stephen Graham Jones. Although horror is not her usual genre, she was recommended this book by a writer friend and ended up loving it. She praised the kick-ass female lead and the dark humor in the book. Lynne believes that crime fiction is a great way to experience different cultures and encourages readers to step out of their comfort zones.
When asked about the book she is most looking forward to, Lynne mentioned Hang On St Christopher by Adrian McKinty. It features the character of Sean Duffy, an outsider cop in Northern Ireland during the 80s and 90s. Lynne loves crime series where she gets to follow a character's journey through various cases and their personal struggles. She believes that these books bring the setting and time period to life with their clever plots and humor.
However, not all books can capture our attention. Lynne admitted that she couldn't finish Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, despite it being a classic. She believes that if a book doesn't grab your attention within the first fifty pages, it's okay to stop reading it. She couldn't connect with the style or humor of the book and decided not to give it a second try. But she appreciates the fact that the title has become a common phrase to describe a situation with contradictory rules.
Lynne also talked about an author who has inspired her, Tom Benn, who was one of her tutors at the University of East Anglia. His book, Oxblood, features three strong working-class women from Manchester, a theme that Lynne has also incorporated in her DI Shona Oliver series, which is set in Glasgow, reflecting her own upbringing. She believes that writing can be a solitary business and finds inspiration in her fellow authors, both published and unpublished.
Currently, Lynne is reading Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson, an homage to Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries. She described it as a gripping and highly entertaining read, with a grand country house, a snowstorm, and a cast of intriguing characters. Lynne, along with many other fans, hopes for more books in the series, despite rumors of this being the last one.
Lynne McEwan is a former newspaper photographer who has covered major events like the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the first Gulf War. Her DI Shona Oliver series is set on the Solway Firth, where she is also a lifeboat volunteer. Her book, A Troubled Tide, will be released on March 27th. To read more about books, subscribe to The Good Books and read the latest issue of Scottish Field.
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