Birlinn Books

Birlinn Books Birlinn is an independent publisher based in Edinburgh.

Today is our August publication day! In celebration of this month of festivities in Edinburgh, we have decorated the pil...
07/08/2025

Today is our August publication day! In celebration of this month of festivities in Edinburgh, we have decorated the pillars outside our office with some of our recent books. 🌻📚

All of these brilliant books are available from your local bookshop or online wherever you buy books.

Find out more about all of them, and see many of our authors at forthcoming events by checking out our website!

Last Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of The Miami Showband Massacre, one of the darkest moments of The Troubles. Su...
06/08/2025

Last Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of The Miami Showband Massacre, one of the darkest moments of The Troubles. Survivor Stephen Travers, the bass player in the band, lost three of his fellow musicians – Fran O’Toole, Tony Geraghty and Brian McCoy – when they were shot dead after the band’s minibus stopped at a bogus army checkpoint.

After the attack, Stephen went on to become an international speaker on peace and reconciliation. Over the past decades he has worked to support other survivors, challenged suspected state collusion, and sought justice in a landmark case against the British Ministry of Defence. We are proud to be publishing his forthcoming book, The Bass Player: Surviving the Miami Showband Massacre, which offers an insight into this journey, as well as a love letter and eulogy to his younger self – available to pre-order now.

🚘 Cover Reveal 🚘 We are so excited to share the cover for this darkly comic debut novel from Abigail Abbas (), The Drivi...
01/08/2025

🚘 Cover Reveal 🚘

We are so excited to share the cover for this darkly comic debut novel from Abigail Abbas (), The Driving Seat, out in April 2026. Set in London and the Scottish Highlands, The Driving Seat is a literary domestic thriller, full of blistering black humour, compulsive plotting and an electrifying final showdown.

The Driving Seat follows the story of Emma Propeller, a charismatic protagonist on the run from her abusive husband James. Emma secures a new job as a chauffeur to a mysterious marchioness in the Highlands, as far away from James as possible. At first, Emma celebrates her newfound independence, but soon, working for the marchioness becomes even more chaotic than the life she has just fled...

This brilliantly plotted novel from an exciting new literary talent is available for pre-order now!

We have two brilliant writers lined up for an event at Book Fringe this year -  & ! We hope you will join us at Lighthou...
30/07/2025

We have two brilliant writers lined up for an event at Book Fringe this year - & ! We hope you will join us at Lighthouse Bookshop here in Edinburgh on 9 August at 1 pm to hear these talented debut thriller authors in conversation. 🎟️ Be sure to get your tickets at the link in our bio!

Benbecula, the haunting new novel from Booker-shortlisted author , is coming on 2nd October and available for pre-order ...
25/07/2025

Benbecula, the haunting new novel from Booker-shortlisted author , is coming on 2nd October and available for pre-order now!

This is the latest in our Darkland Tales series of novels, which sees Scottish authors reimagine key moments from Scottish history, myth and legend.

On 9 July 1857, Angus MacPhee, a labourer from Liniclate on the island of Benbecula, murdered his father, mother and aunt. At trial in Inverness he was found to be criminally insane and confined in the Criminal Lunatic Department of Perth Prison.

Some years later, Angus’s older brother Malcolm recounts the events leading up to the murders while trying to keep a grip on his own sanity. Malcolm is living in isolation, ostracised by the community and haunted by this gruesome episode in his past.

From Graeme Macrae Burnet, the Booker-shortlisted author of His Bloody Project, comes a dark, psychological thriller, leavened by moments of black humour and absurdity.

We are so proud to share the news that Night Train to Odesa: Covering the Human Cost of Russia’s War by  has won the 202...
22/07/2025

We are so proud to share the news that Night Train to Odesa: Covering the Human Cost of Russia’s War by has won the 2024 !

Night Train to Odesa is the first-hand account of Shetland journalist Jen Stout’s experience of reporting from Ukraine at the onset of Russian war. Presented by the Highland Society of London and facilitated by Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre, with support from the William Grant Foundation for public engagement, this annual award celebrates the finest published work that is created in or about the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The prize aims to recognise the literary talent of the region, and the rich and diverse work inspired by its culture, heritage, and landscape.

A huge congratulations to Jen for this recognition. It has been a pleasure seeing this book soar!

Do you love nothing more than sharing your passion for books online? 💕Make sure to sign up for our Birlinn Creator Commu...
18/07/2025

Do you love nothing more than sharing your passion for books online? 💕

Make sure to sign up for our Birlinn Creator Community, our programme for content creators to access advance review copies and receive exciting updates.

Check out the link in our bio for more information about how to sign up.

Mrs Burke and Mrs Hare, the brand new historical fiction novel by , is published today! ☠️In the shadowy closes of Edinb...
17/07/2025

Mrs Burke and Mrs Hare, the brand new historical fiction novel by , is published today! ☠️

In the shadowy closes of Edinburgh’s Old Town, sixteen people are murdered to feed surgeon Dr Robert Knox’s insatiable need for his anatomy classes. Burke and Hare and their wives, Lucky and Nelly, are all complicit, but only Burke swings for their crimes.

Delve into the crime and cobbles of Edinburgh’s history with this brilliant new offering from the author of bestselling The Edinburgh Skating Club.

‘Standing beside Alan McGee, he was excited, practically going nuts, animated watching one of the support bands, a Manch...
11/07/2025

‘Standing beside Alan McGee, he was excited, practically going nuts, animated watching one of the support bands, a Manchester band called Oasis. They were loud, a bit aggressive, and angry’.

So wrote Andy Bollen in his diary following his attendance of Oasis’s gig at King Tuts in May 1993. Little did he know then what Oasis were to become.

As Oasis kick off their tour this month, their first live show together in 16 years, what better time to learn more about this iconic band?

Find out all about Oasis’s early days, with insider stories and lesser known anecdotes in Definitely Maybe: The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Oasis by Andy Bollen, which the Telegraph applauded as ‘gritty eyewitness stuff’.

A fabulous time was had all round last night at , where we enjoyed a live recording of Nicola Meighan’s  podcast with th...
10/07/2025

A fabulous time was had all round last night at , where we enjoyed a live recording of Nicola Meighan’s podcast with the one and only .

They discussed Val’s book Queen Macbeth which is just out in paperback, as well as her writing life and some great Scottish arts recommendations for us all. Make sure to check out Nicola’s podcast for more great conversations with Scotland’s most exciting writers, musicians, actors and more!

Today is our July publication day! Whether you’re a crime fiction fan, a keen surfer, a nature writing enthusiast or a h...
03/07/2025

Today is our July publication day! Whether you’re a crime fiction fan, a keen surfer, a nature writing enthusiast or a history lover, we have a brilliant range of books for you this month. ☀️

Check out your local bookshop or online retailer to pick up your next summer read.

Address

10 Newington Road
Edinburgh
EH91QS

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441316684371

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