Books

Debbie McGee's autobiography, A Magical Life, opens up about her years with legendary magician Paul Daniels, their shared sense of fun and starry adventures, and how to cope with the darker times.

Interview: The 'lovely Debbie McGee' reveals her Magical Life

Here are just some of the launch events happening in Scotland for Sarah J Maas' newest ACOTAR novel.

30 events in Scotland where fans can celebrate new ACOTAR book release

James Yorkston

Callum, Reine, Sylvie and Sparrow by James Yorkston review

Jackie Kay

Selected Poems by Jackie Kay review: 'direct without being unsubtle'

Auther Lindsey Fitzharris. Picture: Allen Lane

Sleuth-Hound by Lindsey Fitzharris review: 'masterful'

James Hunter

Working People by James Hunter review: 'fresh, precise, immersive'

Yoto Mini 4th Gen review: I tried the £89.99 screen-free player for kids

Yoto Mini 4th Gen review: Is it worth £89.99?

Joseph Bell was a renowned surgeon and lecturer, but remains best known for inspiring his student, Arthur Conan Doyle. Picture: Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Exclusive A light shone on Edinburgh's 'real' Sherlock Holmes

Esther Rose McGregor will play Violet Sorrengail in Fourth Wing. Here's everything you need to know about the actress.

Explainer Everything you need to know about Fourth Wing star Esther McGregor

Esther McGregor has been cast as Violet Sorrengail,, with Emilio Sakraya to play Xaden Riorson in Prime Video's Fourth Wing series.

Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya to star in Fourth Wing TV series

David Byrne

Sleeping Beauties, by David Byrne review: 'a rattle-bag project'

Queens of the Crypt

The best new YA fiction for the autumn holidays

Meltdown! by Cara Matheson and Mike Byrne

Children's books: the best new releases for autumn 2026

David O'Donnell

The Heydrich Legacy by David O'Donnell: 'moments of genuine tension'

Alastair Moffat

Assassins and Secret Listeners by Alistair Moffat: 'fascinating'

Jeffrey Archer was never short of something interesting to say.

Jeffrey Archer in his own words: 22 quotes from the late author

Shaun Bythell

Return of the Bookseller Diarist by Shaun Bythell review

Bestselling author and former politician Jeffrey Archer dies at 86

Former First Minister Humza Yousaf

Under Fire by Humza Yousaf review: 'gripping'

Mary Beard takes her More Secret Histories of Ancient Rome to Glasgow this month.

TV historian Dame Mary Beard goes on the road with the Romans

Nicholas Walker

Wigtown Poetry Prizes: empathy and experience keys to poetry's future

Ian Rankin

The Heights by Ian Rankin review: 'ingenious'

Brigid Lowe

Shiver by Brigid Lowe review: 'immersive'

Marlon James is favourite to win this year's Booker Prize, having previously won the award in 2015 for 'A Brief History of Seven Killings'.

Booker Prize latest odds 2026: All six books' chances of winning

Scottish books publishing in October

Insider's Choice: New Scottish books to look out for in October

Colin Bramwell

Poetry reviews: Colin Bramwell | Edwin Morgan | Kristján Norge & more

Zhang Pu arrived in the UK in the early 1990s and obtained a master’s degree

Ad Feature Chinese-language novel 'A Tibetan Girl Called Ata' released in English

Jimmy Reid, convenor of shop stewards during the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders dispute in 1971

Walking with History by Jimmy Reid review: 'a remarkable life'

The cast of Dept. Q season 2 includes Jamie Sives as DI James Hardy, Leah Byrne as Rose, Matthew Goode as Carl Morrk, Alexej Manvelov as Akram Salim.

What we know about Dept. Q season 2 - cast, filming, release date

Guest programmer Denise Mina and Frances Crawford, winner of Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and The McIlvanney Prize 2026.

Bloody Scotland festival diary: 'Wrong' book scores interest

Catherine Heymans, Scotland’s Astronomer Royal and Edinburgh University Professor of Astrophysics

What happens if you're sucked into a black hole? Ask Catherine Heymans

Divine Surf by Jeff Divine: 'a sun-kissed trip through surf history'

Allan Gaw photographed for The Scotsman by Lisa Ferguson

The Last Gifts to the Dead by Allan Gaw: 'cleverly put together'

Larry Lamb

Larry Lamb on becoming a poet at 79: 'It comes right from your soul'

James Crawford

The Vanishing Earth by James Crawford review: 'challenging'

Modern housing under construction beside old tenements in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, c. 1960

Deep into the Sixties by David Kynaston review

Three of the richest authors in the world.

Richest Authors 2026: The 12 wealthiest novelists in the world today

Ken Liu

The Passing of the Dragon and Other Stories by Ken Liu review

Gordon Brown (Photo by Duncan McGlynn/Getty Images)

The Future Starts With Us by Gordon Brown review: 'Impassioned'

Marjorie Lotfi

Marjorie Lotfi on the refugee experience: 'my past is always present'

Kate Atkinson

Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson review: 'dry, quirky and clever'

Omar Musa

Author Omar Musa on his environmentally conscious epic Fierceland

Martin Stewart

Loose Threads by Martin Stewart review

Sarah Perry

Edinburgh Book Festival round-up: Sarah Perry | Lorraine Kelly + more

Tom Holland

Edinburgh Book Festival round-up: Tom Holland | John Kampfner + more

Illustration: Lesley-Anne Barnes Macfarlane

Festival of Murder by Ross Macfarlane KC, Chapter 8

Dame Margaret Drabble

Edinburgh Book Festival round-up: Dame Margaret Drabble + more

The Scotsman Top Stories

Scotland has failed to meet its latest target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the latest official figures show. Picture: John Giles/PA Wire

Fail: Scotland misses climate target

Pro-independence protesters with Scottish Saltire flags (top) march for Scottish independence. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Yousaf: Growing popular support for Yes the only way to Scottish independence

Nadine Dorries. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

SNP MP cleared of bullying Nadine Dorries