Abbey Books Readers Club launches in Paisley

Brian Hannan talks us through what could be the start of a book revolution, introducing the Abbey Books Readers Club… Coming up with something quite new at a second-hand bookshop sounds like a contradiction in terms. But we may just have stumbled on something that could revolutionise the world of books. As you might imagine... Read More

The Devil Stone by Caro Ramsay book review

Brian Hannan, local author and manager at Abbey Books in Paisley reviews The Devil Stone by Caro Ramsay. After 13 novels headed by the crime-busting team of Anderson and Costello, Paisley novelist Caro Ramsay has abandoned her usual Glasgow beat and headed up the west coast and surpassed herself with the debut of DCI... Read More

Confidence by Denise Mina book review

Confidence by Denise Mina reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes. The multi-award winning Denise Mina has been heralded as crime writing royalty by Val McDermid and legions of readers, and with Confidence, she certainly keeps the title intact.  Lisa Lee, a young, urban explorer and vlogger disappears from North Berwick after posting a video from an... Read More

Black is the Colour by Seamus Connolly book review

Black is the Colour by Seamus Connolly reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes. In Black is the Colour, we meet lawyer Cal Lynch as he returns to Scotland, three decades after fleeing as a child in the wake of the brutal murder of his father by a gangster on the streets of Glasgow. Cal is back... Read More

Kerry Hudson – Paisley Book Festival 2023 Artist in Residence

Award-winning author, Kerry Hudson, will look to inspire people across Renfrewshire as part of her tenure as Artist in Residence at the Paisley Book Festival. Kerry, whose first novel won the Scottish First Book Award in 2012, will use the power of written and spoken word to make literature and a love for writing... Read More

Tracy Patrick: Braw Lads Are Marching Awa

Elderslie-born author Tracy Patrick launches a collection of poems from World War One penned by Renfrewshire soldiers next month at Abbey Books in Paisley. Titled Braw Lads Are Marching Awa, Brian Hannan from Abbey Books caught up with her to find out more… Can you tell me why you came to do this book?  The book... Read More

Hex by Jenni Fagan book review

Hex by Jenni Fagan reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes. Hex is visceral and poignant, depicting the final night of the life of Geillis Duncan. Convicted of witchcraft during the infamous North Berwick Witch Trials, it remains one of the darkest times in Scottish history, the echoes of which are felt here in Renfrewshire.... Read More

Duck Feet by Ely Percy – book review

Duck Feet by Ely Percy reviewed by local councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes  First released in February of last year, Ely Percy’s Saltire Society Scotland Scottish Book of the Year, Duck Feet, is the coming-of-age story of local teenager Kirsty Campbell as she navigates her way through her time at Renfrew Grammar. Having been a teenage girl just... Read More

Be guid tae yer Mammy by Emma Grae – book review

Be guid tae yer Mammy by Emma Grae, reviewed by Keira Brown, Renfrewshire Writers Forum Coordinator. From journalist and fiction writer, Emma Grae, comes this moral tale of legacy, family values, relationships and secrets that are intrinsic to many families. Be guid tae yer Mammy, published by Unbound, is a life-affirming tale set in Glasgow, and... Read More

Princey the dog wags his tale after author inspired by grandson

A toddler grandson has been the inspiration behind a new children’s book launched this week. Former newspaper editor, Norman Macdonald used to make up bedtime stories about his grandparents’ dog, called Princey that he would tell his children when they were young. And after his daughter, Layna became a mum almost two years ago,... Read More