A review by reethu_ravi
Bloody Scotland by Val McDermid, Christopher Brookmyre

4.0

Twelve of Scotland's best crime writers come together under one roof in Bloody Scotland to weave stories centred around the country's iconic sites and buildings. Lin Anderson, Gordon Brown, Chris Brookmyre, Ann Cleeves, Doug Johnstone, Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid, Denise Mina, Craig Robertson, Sara Sheridan, E S Thomson and Louise Welsh brings forth tales that are at once gripping, stimulating and often bone-chilling. 

From intense psychological thrillers to gripping tales of revenge to murder and chicanery, Bloody Scotland offers stories to please lovers of crime thrillers of varied interests in the crime/thriller genre. A brilliantly crafted book, it provides readers with an insight into Scotland's built heritage.

Being someone who lacks an interest in reading short story collections, what prompted me to take up the book was the central theme of the book- stories of crime inspired from the prominent sites and buildings of Scotland. Though the first story was just average (raising my scepticism about picking up the book), I was hooked from the very second story and thereafter found it to be unputdownable. Except for two or three stories that failed to impress me and was a bit mundane (reason for the rating of 4/5 instead of a full-fledged 5), I extremely loved the short stories. A personal favourite would be Nemo Me Impune Lacessit by Denise Mina which was a dark psychological thriller set in Edinburgh Castle. I was also completely bowled over by the writing of Val McDermid in Ancient and Modern, which is a revenge story set in Hermit's Castle.

I loved how at the end the book had descriptions of all the sites and/or buildings described in the story (that too with details on visiting times!!!) This book just made me add Scotland to my list of countries to visit ASAP!!

I absolutely loved Bloody Scotland and would highly recommend it to everyone, especially fans of crime thrillers and those who are looking for a gripping quick read. I strongly feel that this book will even help you get out of a reading slump (though I may recommend skipping the first story if that is the case).