The Wager by David Grann book review

Brian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, reviews The Wager by David Grann Just out in paperback The Wager is the latest book by the author of Killers of the Flower Moon, recently filmed by Martin Scorsese with Leonardo DiCaprio. That pair is reputedly circling this one and no wonder... Read More

Inquiry into the Sinking of the Titanic

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at the Inquiry into the Sinking of the Titanic which came into the shop recently Every now and then something turns up at the bookshop that simply takes your breath away. The John Byrne notebook was one such item. This is another. It dates... Read More

SS Adriatic White Star Line memorabilia at Abbey Books in Paisley

Brian Hannan of Abbey Books talks about a rare piece of memorabilia from the White Star Line’s SS Adriatic Every now and then something fascinating falls out of a book or is lodged at the bottom of a box that finds its way into our secondhand bookshop. This time round it’s a brochure for... Read More

Glasgow, The Clyde and Slavery by D. Pettigrew book review

Brian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, reviews Glasgow, The Clyde and Slavery by D. Pettigrew Britain was officially involved in the slave trade for 170 years, from Charles II granting a charter in 1663 until the Slave Abolition Act of 1833. It’s estimated that during that period British ships... Read More

The Thief Takers by Patrick Pringle

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at a new crime novel, The Thief Takers by Patrick Pringle Notions of freedom proved an almost insuperable barrier to Britain having a competent police force for hundreds of years. In Europe, the land-based armies required to be maintained in case of war with a... Read More

A Thief’s Justice by Douglas Skelton

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at a new crime novel, A Thief’s Justice by Douglas Skelton Every now and then a crime novel hits the bulls-eye. Until now Glasgow writer Douglas Skelton has been better known for non-fiction and his contemporary crime series featuring journalist Rebecca Connolly. That’s going to... Read More

Steven Veerapen – Q&A with Paisley’s historical crime novelist

Ahead of the Abbey Books Summer Book Festival, organiser Brian Hannan interviews historical crime novelist Steven Veerapen What attracted you to the period of Henry VIII – the setting for Of Judgement Fallen? I’ve loved reading about this period since childhood – from Horrible Histories to the old 70s drama series on Henry and his... Read More

Abbey Books Summer Book Festival launches next month

Abbey Books, celebrating its 40th birthday next year, is running a four-day Summer Book Festival from Thursday 8th to Sun 11th June The event, aimed at promoting local talent, has a packed programme of five book launches/signings, three talks and two creative writing workshops. Kicking off the event, shop owner and author Brian Hannan... Read More

16 Incle Street by Jeff Holmes – book review

Brian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, reviews 16 Incle Street by Jeff Holmes Few Paisley addresses are as notorious as 16 Incle Street. For it was there in 1924 that Joe Gallacher. Aged 29, slashed his wife’s throat with a razor. Ordinarily, he would have been an automatic candidate... Read More

The Renfrewshire Victoria Crosses by Graham Fulton

Brian Hannan from Abbey Books in Paisley takes a look at a new book, The Renfrewshire Victoria Crosses by Graham Fulton Paisley poet Graham Fulton has commemorated the actions of the five Paisley men awarded the country’s highest wartime honour – the Victoria Cross – in battles from the Crimean War to World Two. These... Read More