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For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to writer, and regular guest over the years, Louise Welsh to talk about her latest Rilke novel The Cut Up , which is published with Canongate Books . Louise begins with a brief introduction to the central character of Rilke, before talking about the first novel in which he featured, Louise's celebrated 2002 debut The Cutting Room, a book which has had a notable influence on a new generation of writers. The two then discuss The Cut Up (avoiding spoilers) and the wider cast of characters involved, the world of antiques against which the novel is set, writing violence, the importance of detail, moral ambiguity, representing the senses, the joys of writing about Glasgow, and more. They then go on to talk about Louise's work alongside Jude Barber with The Empire Cafe and the accompanying podcast Who Owns The Clyde? , with Louise hinting at plans for events to run alongside the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It's always a pleasure to talk with Louise, especially about Rilke, but this conversation offers a much wider discussion. We hope you get the same enjoyment from listening as we did recording it. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean , with Spotify , on MixCloud , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here to learn more about Louise Welsh and buy her books Click here to learn more about The Cut Up Click here to learn more about Canongate Books Click here to learn more about, and keep up to date with, The Empire Cafe Click here to listen to the Who Owns The Clyde? podcast In the meantime you can always check out our back catalogue of over 400 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in Scottish culture.

📸 credit - Ruari Barber-Fleming For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to composer and sound designer Oğuz Kaplangı to talk about his new album RESIST .   Oğuz talks about the inspirations behind the project, the themes of resistance, solidarity, and human connection, the narrative which runs through the album, and his future plans for RESIST , which are very exciting. The two also discuss the importance of collaboration and how he worked with a number of other artists from different genres and what they each brought to the recordings, before Oğuz sets out his own musical background, his work in theatre, TV and other areas (and what he likes to listen to when he cooks!).   It's a fascinating conversation about an inspirational and multi-faceted album, and it was such a pleasure to be able to discuss it in detail with Oğuz himself. Oğuz would like to acknowledge the funding and support of Creative Scotland and the National Lottery without whom RESIST would not have been possible. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean , with Spotify , on MixCloud , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ...or on YouTube … Click here to learn more about Oğuz Kaplangı Click here to learn more about RESIST Click here to listen to RESIST Click here to download the booklet of RESIST Click here to follow Oğuz Kaplangı on Instagram Here is a taste of RESIST: In the meantime you can always check out our back catalogue of over 400 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in Scottish culture.

Dawn Taylor - pic credit Andrew Perry For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up once again with Dawn Taylor, the Artistic Director & CEO at MANIPULATE Arts , to learn all about this year's MANIPULATE Festival  which runs from 4th - 10th February. Now in its 19th year the festival promises something for everyone, and Dawn gives us an overview of the programme, a bit of history, the significance in supporting non-text based theatre, film and other forms of performance, getting the balance between international and national right, the importance of building lasting relationships with audiences, and just what festival goers can expect. The two also discuss just a few of the potential highlights, the various workshops, the brand new competition strand, the community aspect, and how and where people can get tickets, and get involved. It's a great introduction to this year's MANIPULATE festival, and should whet the appetite for what's to come... If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean , with Spotify , on MixCloud , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here to learn more about MANIPULATE Festival 2026 Click here to learn more about MANIPULATE Arts Click here to follow MANIPULATE on Facebook Click here to follow MANIPULATE on Instagram Click here to follow MANIPULATE on Bluesky And here's the trailer for this year's festival: In the meantime you can always check out our back catalogue of over 400 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in Scottish culture.

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali spoke to Professor of History and Theory of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh (and former magician) Peter Lamont to talk about his latest book Radical Thinking: How To See The Bigger Picture , which is published by Swift Press . It's a continuation of a conversation the two had at last year's Aye Write Book Festival when an hour was nowhere hear enough time to discuss this fascinating and thought-provoking book, and the ideas it proffers. Peter sets out why he wanted to write this book and its academic roots, before talking about keeping it local, referencing well-kent figures (including Arthur Conan Doyle and Houdini), and using his immediate surroundings as a starting point for his investigations. He then talks about the central ideas examined, the importance of being curious, the nature of belief, critical thinking, his interest in magic, and so much more. It was such a pleasure to be able to talk in-depth to Peter about this accessible and stimulating book, one which uses engaging and often everyday scenarios to explore his theories of 'radical thinking', and which looks to the past to offer important lessons for the present. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean , with Spotify , on MixCloud , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ...or on YouTube … Click here to order a copy of Radical Thinking Click here to learn more about Peter Lamont Click here to learn more about Swift Press In the meantime you can always check out our back catalogue of over 400 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in Scottish culture.

It doesn't feel like the year has actually got going until Celtic Connections  begins. This year it's on between the 15th Jan and the 1st Feb, and it once again has a varied, vibrant, and eclectic line-up to suit most musical tastes. The festival is a joyous celebration of live music which is as precious and important as ever. To get involved further you can become a Celtic Rover  which supports Celtic Connections and its Education and Outreach Programmes. With so much going on, as always there are too many bands and artists to mention them all here, but go to Celtic Connections  to find out who is appearing,  where and when , and how to book , and you can receive all the up-to-date news by following the festival on Twitter,   Facebook , and Instagram . In case you’re not sure where to begin, we have put together our selection of SWH!’s 10 Highlights from this year’s programme, with videos from one of the acts involved. Click on the highlighted title  to learn more about, & buy tickets for, each one. Katie Gregson-MacLeod and Sophie May - The Barony Hall, 16th Jan 7.30pm M. John Henry + Gillian Fleetwood - The Glad Cafe, 17th Jan 8.00pm Kathryn Joseph & Lomond Campbell and SHHE - Òran Mór, 18th Jan 7.30pm James Michael Rodgers and Kim Oehme and BEE~EATER - Drygate Brewery, 20th Jan 7.30pm Michael McGovern and Rhona Macfarlane - Drygate Brewery, 22nd Jan 7.30pm Kim Richey and Carla J. Easton - Cottiers Theatre, 25th Jan 7.30pm Nimbus Sextet with Sefo Kanuteh and Russell Stewart - Òran Mór 27th Jan 7.30pm Mama Terra and Ariane Mamon - Saint Luke's, 29th Jan 7.30pm Hen Hoose and Lacunas Music Society - Tramway, 30th Jan 7.30pm Amy Laurenson - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, New Auditorium, 1st Feb 1.00pm

For the first Scots Whay Hae! podcast of 2026, Ali spoke to writer and musician Peter May to talk about his new album Towards The Light , but so much more. Peter admits that despite his fame as a writer of crime fiction (31 novels to date), music was always his first love and he goes on to talk about his early years playing in bands, running away to London to make their fame and fortune, and just what the musical landscape was like at the time. He then talks about the new album, the musicians he has collaborated with, why now was the time to make it, musical influences, and what the future holds. The two go on to discuss some of the themes of the album, the difference between writing songs and writing fiction, and how Peter came to the crime genre. Peter May is one of best known and celebrated crime writers around, but his musical side has remained mostly unknown until now, and it was fascinating to be able to talk to him about that aspect of his creative life. If you thought you knew about Peter May, think again. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean , with Spotify , on MixCloud , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ...or on YouTube … Click here to order a copy of Towards The Light Click here to learn more about Peter May Click here to read Peter May's blog In the meantime you can always check out our back catalogue of over 400 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in Scottish culture.

Once again Montgomery Scott raises a glass to see out the old year and ring in the new, and that means it’s time for Scots Whay Hae!’s annual selection of New Year’s Eve treats. It’s an alternative to the Hogmanay telly, so if there’s little you fancy on the box there might be something here to your liking. We kick things off with some music, and last month saw the publication of Grant McPhee's new book Caledonian Screaming (published with Into Books) which looks at Scotland's complicated yet influential Punk scene, and those who were there. I can tell you it's a terrific read, but below is a 9 minute teaser released for Grant's films which eventually became Big Gold Dream and Teenage Superstars , both of which are essential viewing if you have an interest in Scotland's musical history: For over ten years I was lucky enough to cook every summer on the VIC 32. Built in 1943 she is one of the last of the steam puffers. This film follows crew and passengers as they leave from Tarbert on Loch Fyne to the Isle of Bute, then head to the waters of the Kyles before arriving in Tighnabruaich. The very definition of slow TV, if you're looking to have a relaxing Hogmanay then this will do the trick: One of my highlights of the year was chairing at the Edinburgh Book Festival, including an event with writers and journalists Dylan Jones, Miranda Sawyer & Arusa Qureshi for Music Across the Decades. You can watch the full event by clicking here - Music Across the Decades - or the image below: Next year sees the directorial debut from James McAvoy arrive in our cinemas. It's called California Schemin' and this is the trailer: As the year comes to an end (and thoughts turn to Scotland's return to the World Cup stage), it's worth reminding ourselves of one of the most incredible nights of 2025. This is worth multiple views: We also like to offer up our very own Hootenanny to see you through the Bells, and there were lots of great songs released in 2025 which happened to have great videos as well. Here's just a select few, starting with someone who had an incredible 2025. Brooke Combe's album Dancing at the Edge of the World was one of the best of the year (shortlisted for the SAY Awards), but for me her best release was the single 'How Can I Tell You? (To Love Me More)': Way back in January, Beautiful Cosmos (Glasgow indie-pop legends Anna Miles & Matt Brennan) released their debut album Dance of the Atoms , which was launched at Celtic Connections, a memorable night at The Glad Cafe. It's a wonderful record, and this is the title track: Beautiful Cosmos were artist of the week on the Scots Whay Hae! Radio Show, as was Scott C. Park who spoke about his eagerly-awaited debut album Crossing The Line which came out in May. This is 'Day Job', one of the standout tracks: Someone else whose debut album came out in May was Oran Ra, a band who have long been favourites of SWH!. The album is called The Travellers , and it was among the best of the year. Below is Part One of their Big Tree Sessions, featuring 'The Island' & 'Den of Thieves': I'm going to leave you with something to chill out to as you enter the new year. We've featured Alex Tronic many times over the years on Scots Whay Hae!, but 'Strangers That Listen' from earlier this year - featuring the haunting vocals of Constance Pennycuick - is as good as anything he has released to date. See what you think: And if you're after more music then you'll find all the SWH! CamGlen Radio Shows here - The Scots Whay Hae! Radio Show  - and you can still catch up with our  Best Music Of 2025 podcast with Fiona Liddell and Ali talking about 20 of the best tracks of 2025, & discover the SWH! Best Albums of 2025 . Huge thanks to all of our podcast and radio show guests this year, and to all those people who have read, liked, listened to, supported, and shared what we do. It's appreciated more than you could ever know, and we hope to offer more of the same, yet completely different, in 2026. From everyone involved with Scots Whay Hae! , Happy New Year and we’ll see you on the other side… Ali x

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast, and the last of our Best of 2025 pods, Ali is joined once more by regulars Chris Ward and a returning Wesley Shearer to talk all things film, or at least to talk about their films of the year. Once again picking five each, they share their enthusiasm for the movies you may have missed first time around, and we’re sure you’ll find something to tickle your fancy. There are favourite directors, dazzling debuts, documentaries, legends on screen and off, laughs, tears, and some sensational swearing. The reason for our Best Of 2025 podcasts is the hope you'll hear about something you'd like to investigate yourself, and this movie chat offers plenty of choice. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean , with Spotify , on MixCloud , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ...or on YouTube … Click here for the SWH! Best Non-fiction Books of 2025 Click here for the SWH! Best of 2025 - Music podcast with Fiona Liddell Click here for the SWH! Best Albums of 2025 Click here for the SWH! Best of 2025 - Crime Fiction podcast with Callum McSorley Click here for the SWH! Best Crime Novels Of 2025 Click here for the SWH! Best of 2025 - Books podcast with Vikki Reilly Click here for the SWH! Ten Best Fiction Books of 2025 In the meantime you can always check out our back catalogue of over 400 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in Scottish culture.

There were some fascinating non-fiction books published over the last 12 months, and it was a tricky job to whittle a list down to a handy top ten, but we just about managed it. The list below features, music and song, memoir, travel, film, sport, philosophy, sociopolitics, religion, faith, food, and so much more. I was lucky enough to talk to some of the writers whose books feature, and you'll find links to those interviews below, along with links to the books themselves and where to buy them. Click on the highlighted book titles to learn more & grab yourself a copy Alison Stroak, Fiona Shepherd & Jonathan Trew - Glasgow's Greatest Hits: Tales from the City of Music Written by the three founders of Glasgow City Music Tours (and with a foreword from Del Amitri's Justin Currie) this book offers an excellent overview of Glasgow's musical history, right up to the present day, and even a glimpse into the future. With chapters covering legends, venues, cult heroes, global superstars, indie idols, folk, funk, dance, punk, rock, roll, and so much more, most bases are covered. Even if you think you know the full story, there will be tales (some possibly apocryphal) which have passed you by, and new music to discover. If you were there, you know. If you weren't, then read all about it! Glasgow's Greatest Hits is published with Polygon Books Click here to learn more about Glasgow City Music Tours Click here to listen to Fiona Shepherd on the SWH! podcast Carrie Marshall - Small Town Joy As suggested by the full title, Small Town Joy: From Glam Rock to Hyperpop: How Queer Music Changed the Sound of Scotland this is a joyous celebration of the music, but also those who made and continue to make it. What could have been an exercise in nostalgia, identifying and honouring people who paved the way (often against severe prejudice and animosity) becomes something essential due to Carrie Marshall's interviews with some of the key queer figures involved in Scotland's music scene today. It's this balance between the old and new which makes this such a compelling, and even important, read. And any story which has Bronski Beat's classic 'Smalltown Boy' as an inspiration is always going to be a winner. If you love music, this is a book for you. Small Town Joy is published with 404 Ink Click here to listen to Carrie Marshall on the SWH! podcast Esa Aldegheri - There She Goes For There She Goes: New Travel Writing By Women editor Esa Aldegheri has brought together seventeen writers all of whom are perhaps better known as poets, novelists, nature writers, historians, academics, and journalists, and their different takes on the nature of travel make for intriguing, and often unexpected, reading. In the introduction there’s a quote concerning renowned travel writer (and author/historian) Jan Morris which perhaps explains the approach “[…] she preferred to consider herself as a writer who travels, rather than a travel writer” and that surely applies to everyone involved in this collection, and addresses the problem of any preconceptions that readers may bring to such a book. There She Goes is a fascinating, often moving, and at times magical collection of essays which will make readers reevaluate not just the nature of travel writing, but what it means to travel in itself. There She Goes: New Travel Writing By Women is published with Saraband Books Click here to listen to Esa Aldegheri on the SWH! podcast Mark Furse - Scottish Films I have read more than a few books on Scottish Film over the years, but none as complete and comprehensive as this one. The subtitle 'An Informed and Irreverent Guide for Movie Lovers' is a concise description of what is between the covers, but undersells it somewhat. Starting with a beautifully written introduction about the thorny subject of just what is or isn't a "Scottish" film (basically, it's Mark's book - his rules, and rightly so), he goes on to give all the relevant details and a brief synopsis on each film, from 1917's Kidnapped to Blair Young and Carla J. Easton's Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland's Girl Bands (2023). There is also an appendix which offers a list of the 100 best films in the book (and the 10 worst) for you to argue over long into the night. Scottish Films is published with Luath Press Tom Brogan - Dalglish: The Fifty Matches That Made the Player Kenny Dalglish has had quite the year of assessment and appreciation, with Asif Kapadia's documentary Kenny Dalglish on Amazon Prime at the moment, and Tom Brogan's book giving an overview of the man and his career through 50 games he was involved with as a player. But each chapter is so much more than a mere match report. Through thorough research - including screeds of interviews with managers, fellow players, and fans - a picture emerges of a footballer who made the most of his natural talent, determination, and hard-work ethic (and a solid and clear-headed morality) to become not only one of Scotland's best players, but an all-time legend known and respected throughout the world. Dalglish is published with Pitch Publishing Click here to listen to Tom Brogan on the SWH! podcast Richard Holloway - Last Words One of the great thinkers and public intellectuals of our times, Richard Holloway became one of what feels like an endangered species, a man of the cloth to whom people actually listened, which was in no small part due to his wise words and fair-mindedness. It was also the way he said it, always eloquent, thoughtful, and thought-provoking. Last Words sees Richard looking to his past and coming to terms with losing his religion, and it makes for some of the most beautiful and moving writing I have read all year. Concentrating on a childhood shaped by poverty in Dunbartonshire and early years in Glasgow, through to his life at the top of the church as Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, if these are to be Richard Holloway's last words (and let's pray they are not) they deserve to be read far and wide. A great book from a good man in the widest possible sense. Last Words is published with Swift Press Darren McGarvey - Trauma Industrial Complex Writer, broadcaster and rapper Darren McGarvey had an incredible year by any standards. His album Not Funded By Creative Scotland was critically praised (it's one of SWH!'s albums of the year ), and his show Darren McGarvey – Trauma Industrial Complex: The Live Show not only had a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe, it is going to tour in the UK and Ireland in 2026. And then there's Trauma Industrial Complex: How Oversharing Became a Product in a Digital World which is at the heart of everything. It's a personal and insightful investigation into trauma itself and its increasingly ubiquitous nature in the modern world. By using events from his own life Darren McGarvey attempts to discover what the cost, both on a personal and a wider sociopolitical level, may be. Always honest (painfully, at times), and deeply insightful, this is a book which deserves to be read, and discussed, widely. Trauma Industrial Complex is published with Ebury Press Click here to listen to Darren McGarvey on the SWH! podcast Peter Ross - Upon A White Horse: Journeys in Ancient Britain and Ireland The third in Peter Ross's 'fox trilogy' of books (look closely at their covers to find out why) after previous publications A Tomb With A View and Steeple Chasing , Upon A White Horse takes us to the prehistoric sites of Britain and Ireland to uncover not only the places but also the people drawn to them, and how they are inextricably linked. Ross has this rare ability to listen, learn and engage with those he encounters in a manner which manages to bring readers along on his journeys, which range from midsummer to midwinter, and reach all points north, south, east, and west. An unexpectedly emotional read (although regular readers will be less surprised) Upon A White Horse is the perfect conclusion to a wonderful trilogy, and like it's predecessors it will lift spirits and warm hearts. Upon A White Horse is published with Headline Click here to listen to Peter Ross on the SWH! podcast Julie Lin - SAMA SAMA There were some cracking cookbooks published this year, including the return of Ferrier Richardson's 'On A Plate' series, which includes the third Glasgow book, as well as an Edinburgh and Northern Ireland edition. But Julie Lin's SAMA SAMA is more than a cook book. It's as much biography as it is about the recipes, with musings on the relationship between cooking and sharing food with others, be they family, friends, or new acquaintances, often prompting conversations, evoking emotion, and making new memories (and bringing to mind some old ones). Julie also ponders what it means to be 'sama sama', that is 'same-same, but different', examining her own Malaysian-Scottish roots and just what that means. There's even some moving and relevant poetry. But at the end of the day a cookbook is primarily about the food, and this is one of the most useable and downright delicious I've read in some time. A book to get hands dirty and bellies full. SAMA SAMA is published with Ebury Press Gillian Shirreffs - elephant One of my highlights of this last year was chairing Gillian Shirreffs at the Wigtown Book Festival, and be able to talk in detail about her incredible memoir elephant . A book quite unlike any other, it's the story of Gillian's battle with cancer told through emails, texts, WhatsApp messages, Google docs, and tweets (and a large number of personal pictures), all from Gillian's point of view. It details a journey from initial diagnosis to the publication of her debut novel Brodie and to say it's one with highs and lows is my understatement of the year. All emotions are here, and for Gillian Shirreffs to share it in this profoundly generous and unique manner is humbling and inspirational. A book not just of this year, but for many years to come. elephant is published with Into Books Click here for the SWH! Best Music of 2025 podcast with Fiona Liddell Click here for the SWH! Best Albums of 2025 Click here for the SWH! Best of 2025 - Crime Fiction podcast with Callum McSorley Click here for the SWH! Best Crime Novels Of 2025 Click here for the SWH! Best of 2025 - Books podcast with Vikki Reilly Click here for the SWH! Ten Best Fiction Books of 2025

This year was another corker in terms of crime fiction, which continues to provide readers with some of the most exciting reads around. We have picked ten of the best published in 2025 to give you just a taste of what's happening in Scottish crime fiction right now. They touch on the historical, the supernatural, whisky, werewolves, Weekenders, familial relations, the corrupting nature of religion, politics, and class, with settings at home and abroad, and so much more. I was lucky enough to talk to some of the writers whose books feature, and you'll find links to those interviews below, along with links to the novels and where to buy them. Click on the highlighted book titles to learn more & grab yourself a copy David F. Ross - The Weekenders The darkest of David F. Ross's novels to date, The Weekenders jumps across time and narrators to examine how power, corruption, and lies are intrinsically interwoven. In Glasgow in 1966, former footballer Stevie 'Minto' Milloy is trying to make his mark as a newshound, looking not necessarily to thrive, just survive in an unfamiliar world, one where lines are blurred between heroes and villains. We get to know more about this world, and some of those who exist and profit from it, by going back to the Second World War in Italy where Jamsie Campbell and Michael McTavish realise that cash can come from chaos. Jumping forward to 1969, and Glaswegian court artist 'Doodle' Malpas uncovers a murder which is linked to one Minto investigated three years ago. David F. Ross weaves these three strands together skilfully to portray a Glasgow earning its reputation as 'No Mean City', and its people who are battling for its very soul. The Weekenders is published with Orenda Books Click here to listen to David F. Ross on the SWH! podcast Allan Gaw - To The Shades Descend Allan Gaw's Dr Jack Cuthbert series of novels have been a strong addition to Scottish crime fiction. This is in no small part down to Cuthbert himself, a complex and striking creation who will appeal to fans of Sherlock Holmes, but who is defiantly his own man. However, this is no one-man show. Gaw has created a coterie of characters around Cuthbert who make their own mark. To The Shades Descend is the third in the series and has Jack visiting Glasgow with the aim of interviewing for a job he is unsure he even wants. While there he gets involved with the local law enforcement in a professional capacity as potentially violent protests are held in the city, and that's before the bombs begin to explode. Add to that the rise of fascism, local razor gangs, and a police force who may have corruption at its heart, and near its head, and you have another thrilling case for Dr Jack Cuthbert. These novels may be set in the past, but few historical crime series speak as presciently to the present day. To The Shades Descend is published with Polygon Click here to listen to Allan Gaw on the SWH! podcast James Yorkston - Tommy The Bruce James Yorkston's Tommy The Bruce is one of the most distinctive and singular novels of the year. It can be described as crime, but it's more about the drama of everyday lives - you could say it's part James Kelman, part Chris Brookmyre. Tommy Bruce owns, and just about runs, a tumbledown hotel in the Perthshire countryside. His life is one of uneventful routine, managing to survive between opening and closing time, when he can then drink himself to sleep. It's an existence more than a life. Then Fiona McLean arrives from the past and into his present, giving Tommy hopes and even a dream for the first time in years. However, Fiona's motives have to be questioned. Is any of this for the good for Tommy, or simply for herself? As her appearance then brings unwelcome others into Tommy's life, and with them accompanying dangers, he has to confront his worst fears - although he couldn't envisage what is about to unfold. Darkly comic, tender, and thrilling, in Tommy The Bruce James Yorkston has created an anti-hero for our times. Tommy The Bruce is publshed with Oldcastle Books Click here to listen to James Yorkston on the SWH! podcast Natalie Jayne Clark - The Malt Whisky Murders The Malt Whisky Murders is reminiscent of the work of another writer with a love and knowledge of whisky, one Iain Banks (the book’s epigraphs include a quote from Banks’ own ode to the drink, Raw Spirit ). The comparison comes from the style and structure as much as the content, with two separate stories unfolding across the years and over alternating chapters - those of Eilidh and the mysterious and enigmatic ‘You’, and, although there is a fantastic cast of supporting characters, everything is driven by these two. As their stories move closer the tension builds to a conclusion which I can’t even hint at for fear of spoilers. But while the thrills and literal spills are ramped up, a love for the drink, and fascination with the industry, shines through. I’m really looking forward to what Natalie Jayne Clark does next in terms of writing, but can’t shake the feeling that there may also be a few drams with her name on it. The Malt Whisky Murders is published with Polygon Click here to listen to Natalie Jayne Clark on the SWH! podcast Michael J Malone - The Howling The Howling is the third in Michael J. Malone's Annie Jackson mysteries. Bringing together a number of genres, these are gothic horror thrillers which also look at institutional corruption and criminal activity. Annie Jackson foresees people's imminent deaths, leading her to retreat from the world in an attempt to keep her 'murmurs' quiet. But when a boy goes missing Annie is convinced to investigate once again which leads her, her brother Lewis, and their motley crew of associates into terrible danger. And that's before things get truly hairy. These books tap into Scottish folklore, fables, myths and legends, but brings them right up to date. The Howling takes what the previous Annie Jackson mysteries The Murmurs and The Torments began, and builds upon it beautifully. If there is a more thoroughly thrilling and wildly entertaining series on the go at the moment, I can't think of it. The Howling is published with Orenda Books Click here to listen to Michael J. Malone on the SWH! podcast Francine Toon - Bluff Francine Toon's debut Pine was a notable success, winning the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year in 2020. In 2025 the eagerly-awaited follow up Bluff arrived, and it was well worth the wait. The story unfolds with two narrators telling their tales ten years apart. In 2013 Joanie has her future set out, looking to leave the seaside town of St Rule for a life abroad, and head-over-heels in love. One night changes everything, and with her dreams shattered Joanie makes new, and troubling, alliances. In 2023 Cameron returns to St Rule, with one question he wants answered "whatever happened to Joanie?", but his enquiries are not only rebuffed, but actively thwarted by former friends and classmates. Should certain secrets remain intact? And can you, (and should you), ever go back? Bluff looks at loss of innocence, the tricks memory can play, the guilt at having left people behind, and is one of the most relatable novels of the year. Bluff is published with Doubleday Liam McIlvanney - The Good Father One of the most inventive and literary crime novels of the year, or in many a year, Liam McIlvanney's The Good Father is a triumph in almost every way you would care to consider. Clearly a personal undertaking (there are a number of parallels with the writer's own life), it's as much a treatise on grief and guilt as it is a thriller (although it is definitely that). Gordon and Sarah Rutherford's son disappears from the beach of their quiet and supposedly safe seaside town, and they are left to reflect and try and move on as time goes by with no answers or news, having to deal with their own thoughts and theories, and those of others. The Good Father asks readers to confront their own greatest fears in a manner which engenders great empathy. It is written beautifully, with heart and humanity. Is it the best book of the year? It's certainly in that conversation. The Good Father is published with Zaffre Click here to listen to Liam McIlvanney on the SWH! podcast Callum McSorley - Paperboy Following on from his acclaimed McIlvanney Prize winning debut novel Squeaky Clean, Calum McSorley’s Paperboy proves that it was no fluke. Paperboy is the most fun I’ve had with a book in a while. It takes the world of Squeaky Clean and builds on it to move everything to another level. It’s rare for a writer to make me laugh out loud, but McSorley manages to again and again. Every now and then you read a novel which you connect with on a personal level, and that was the case for me with Paperboy . I can’t guarantee you’ll have the same reaction, but I think you might. I could say ‘if you like Christopher Brookmyre/Denise Mina/Alan Parks/insert-your-favourite-crime-writer-here, then you’ll love Paperboy’ , and you will, but if you simply enjoy reading for sheer pleasure then this is a novel for you. Paperboy is published with Pushkin Vertigo Click here to listen to Callum McSorley on the SWH! podcast Denise Mina - The Good Liar A new novel from Denise Mina is always welcome, in no small part as you are never sure as to what form it will take, or substance it will have. Recent years have seen the publication of Rizzio (Mina's entry in Polygon Books' Darkland Tales Series), her Philip Marlowe novel The Second Murderer, and the historical investigation The Three Fires , among others. The Good Liar has two timelines, one set over days, weeks and months, the other over minutes and even seconds. In both we meet blood spatter expert Dr Claudia O'Sheil who is asked to give evidence in a infamous murder investigation. As she gets ready to make one of the most important speeches of her life she reflects on the past year, and details of that investigation and her part in it, to decide what action she should take. There are always layers to Denise Mina's writing, and The Good Liar is no different, this time looking at the hegemony of the ruling classes and the accompanying corruption, all the while keeping us hooked with a cracking whodunnit. Thoughtful and thrilling (with complex and carefully considered characters), you couldn't ask for much more. The Good Liar is published with Harvill Seeker Foday Mannah - The Search for Othella Savage When a writer introduces you to an aspect of Scottish life and culture you know little (or nothing) about, that is to be treasured, which is what Foday Mannah's The Search For Othella Savage does in terms of the Sierra Leonean community in Scotland. Student Hawa Barrie is on the fringes of this community in Edinburgh. At its centre is the Lion Mountain Church, led by the charismatic yet questionable Pastor Ranka whose hold over his flock is cult-like. Hawa's friend Othellla Savage (who is a church member) has gone missing and Hawa's investigation into her disappearance leads her back to Sierra Leone, and into increasing danger. Inspired by a real case, The Search For Othella Savage examines abuse of power - particularly religious and political - in a manner which is all too recognisable. This is a cracking debut from Foday Mannah, and it's exciting to consider what comes next. The Search For Othella Savage is published with Quercus Click here to listen to Foday Manah on the SWH! podcast Click here for the SWH! Best of 2025 - Crime Fiction podcast with Callum McSorley Click here for the SWH! Best of 2025 - Books podcast with Vikki Reilly Click here for the SWH! Ten Best Fiction Books of 2025

In what was another incredible year for Scottish music we have somehow managed to whittle our favourite releases down to a manageable Top Ten Albums of the year. Below are videos of tracks from each pick, and we hope you find something to pique your interest. If you do then please purchase directly from the artist or their record labels ( all the titles in orange should take you where you want to go ) because the world, which is difficult enough as it is, would be intolerable without music and those who make it. racecar - Pink Car Kathryn Joseph - We Were Made Prey Matt Carmichael - Dancing With Embers Constant Follower - The Smile You Send Out Returns To You Vagrant Real Estate - Neither Collar Nor Crown Miwa Nagato-Apthorp - Noren Darren McGarvey - Not Funded By Creative Scotland Morgan Szymanski & Tommy Perman - Songs for the Mist Forest Scarred Lip - the threshold Goodnight Louisa - Marathon And here is a Spotify playlist with further tracks if you want to hear more... Click here for SWH!'s Best Books of 2025 podcast Click here for SWH!'s Best Crime Fiction of 2025 podcast Click here for SWH!'s Best Fiction Books of 2025 Click here for SWH!'s Best Crime Novels of 2025

For our latest roundup of 2025 we look at the year in music, with Ali joined once again by musician and righteous supporter of Scottish music, Gefahrgeist 's Fiona Liddell . As is now customary, they  each pick 10 tracks to discuss which have left their mark over the last 12 months. As they make clear, they could easily have picked many, many, more examples from what was another incredible year for Scottish music, (and on another day possibly would), but we hope you enjoy their musical musings, meanderings, and memories. There's a Spotify playlist below where you can listen to all the songs Fiona and Ali talk about (with the exception of Kapil Seshasayee's 'Whose bright idea was this?' which Kapil asked to be left off for algorithmic reasons), and if you like what you hear then please explore further, follow, and support the bands, musicians, artists, and labels involved. What this podcast proves is how much we would all miss them if they were gone. Links to all the featured artists Amy Laurenson - Goodnight Louisa Day Sleeper & Annie Booth - Brooke Combe A. Wesley Chung Scarred Lip - Hen Hoose Collective The Gorgeous Pouting Mr AR Marcus Frame Russell Stewart - Jacob Alon - Indoor Foxes Kapil Seshasayee - Elsie MacDonald Maya's Radio Orchestra Ant Thomaz - Copper Lungs James Emmanuel - DM Arthur - KAIT The reason for our Best Of 2025 podcasts is the hope you'll hear about something you'd like to investigate yourself, and this music chat offers plenty of choice. If you aren’t yet a subscriber to the Scots Whay Hae! podcast  you can do so, (or simply listen) at iTunes , on Podbean , with Spotify , on MixCloud , or wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you want it right here, right now, you can listen on SoundCloud … ..or on YouTube … Click here for the SWH! Best Albums of 2025 Click here for the SWH! Best of 2025 - Crime Fiction podcast with Callum McSorley Click here for the SWH! Best Crime Novels Of 2025 Click here for the SWH! Best of 2025 - Books podcast with Vikki Reilly Click here for the SWH! Ten Best Fiction Books of 2025 In the meantime you can always check out our back catalogue of over 400 interviews  with some of the most interesting names in Scottish culture.