A Gallimaufry of Links

First of all, my copy of the wonderful RUT by Scott Phillips goes to Bernadette in Oz, whose name I pulled from one of my favourite pairs of boots. Bernadette - e-mail me with your address and RUT will be winging its way to Australia.

Lots of reviews. First of all, Milo's Rambles on Ken McClure's WHITE DEATH. Next, three for Stuart MacBride, as I Meant To Read That blog reviews BROKEN SKIN, Lovereading loves DARK BLOOD, and Eurocrime reviews SHATTER THE BONES. Gormless Idiot reviews Philip Kerr's THE ONE FROM THE OTHER, and Blethers with a mini review of Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG. An in-depth review of Graham Moore's THE SHERLOCKIAN, and the lovely Jen Forbus reviews Val McDermid's REPORT FOR MURDER.

An interview with Neil Forsyth in The Miami Herald reminds me that I have LET THEM COME THROUGH on Mt TBR and need to read it soon. I think I might designate February as Scottish month.

It's a wrap on the film version of Irvine Welsh's ECSTACY, a much lighter proposition than TRAINSPOTTING, apparently.

The top selling 100 books of all time (well, since 1998, anyway) has a couple of Scots on it.

And The Scotsman looks forward to the arts in 2011.

A review of the New Year's Day conversation with Ian Rankin and Lin Anderson in Edinburgh.In other Ian Rankin news he reveals his addiction to The Archers, and the last part of a Rebus story in the Daily Mail.

An interesting review of a book called THE INVENTION OF MURDER about the origins of our fascination with tales of murder and mayhem.

And, finally, Mulholland Books have some great guest blog posts. This one, from Michael Robotham on the question authors fear the most, is no exception. I have to say, however, that there are many more questions I fear more... you know, such questions as..."Why have you just eaten my dinner?", "What the hell's wrong with you, you weirdo?" and "Why are you in my bedroom?"

Book Launches and Big Lunches

Iain Banks and Neil Forsyth at the Dundee Literary Festival this week, while Chris Ewan is at the Lowdham Book Festival on July 1st. And I've mentioned this event before but here's another reminder for the launch of Tony Black's new Gus Dury book on Thursday 1st July. I just received this book and am itching to get stuck into it.

A report from Fife Council on their ladykillers events last week.

Alexander McCall Smith opens a cancer service in the Scottish Highlands.

STB's Weekly Blog looks at Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels, and a transcript of the NPR audio review of IF THE DEAD RISE NOT.

A review of Alice Thompson's THE EXISTENTIAL DETECTIVE. This one sounds fascinating. And she'll be at Blackwells in Edinburgh on June 29th.

A long-missing painting of ghostly soldiers, once owned by Arthur Conan Doyle goes on sale this week.

Caroline Dunford will be appearing at Edinburgh's Portobello Library on June 30th.

And, finally, anyone for some f-f-f-f-fava beans? (Thanks (I think) to @stevemosby for the link).