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Dunlap's debut novel is dark, twisty, gothic, and it's set in 19th-century Scotland as fictionalized For Bossy reviews of more books set in Scotland, please check out the titles at this link .

Set in sixth century Scotland, The Forgotten Kingdom traces the story of Languoreth, a strong, imprisoned

Young Mungo offers a striking story of disappointment, abuse, Protestant-Catholic conflict, and a young, gay love forged in the intensely unforgiving climate of working-class Glasgow. In his second novel, Young Mungo, Douglas Stuart offers the story of a working-class Glasgow family and particularly the life of sensitive, kind, dreamy Mungo, who was named for a saint. Raised by a codependent, emotionally stunted alcoholic mother who frequently abandons the kids for days or weeks while on benders or with a new boyfriend, Mungo also lives with a tough, loving older sister who's desperate to escape to university but doesn't dare leave Mungo. His local gang leader brother consistently makes trouble, forces violence, and threatens those Mungo cares about if Mungo avoids participating in brutality such as the widespread beatings of Catholics in the area. The story of Young Mungo largely alternates between an intensely disturbing, extended situation involving abuse, neglect, and danger and the blossoming of a forbidden young love, the vulnerability of allowing one's self to be seen for the first time, overcoming lifelong Protestant-Catholic conflicts, and forging a meaningful connection. The timing of the story isn't explicitly stated, but it feels like a 1980s setting. Young Mungo explores ideas of masculinity and loyalty, a gay relationship forged in an intensely unforgiving social climate, brutality, revenge, and it offers surprises as well. Stuart uses an omniscient point of view that allows the reader to understand characters’ disparate contexts and pressures and motivations. The story is beautiful and tragic and never feels emotionally manipulative. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? Douglas Stuart is also the author of Shuggie Bain.

I was intrigued by the wolves, and I was interested in McConaghy's exploration of the tensions between wilderness and civilization, but I didn't feel a connection to the characters in Once There Were Wolves. "This is the fear they live with now. The children in us long for monsters to take forms we understand. They want to fear the wolves because they don’t want to fear each other.” From a young age Inti realized she had a particular affinity for animals; if she tuned in, she could feel their feelings and even their physical sensations. Inti and Aggie Flynn grew up spending time with their father living off the grid and become attuned to nature, focused on preservation, and respectful of wildlife. Later in life the sisters find themselves in the Scottish Highlands together as biologist Inti works to reintroduce gray wolves into the region. Inti has hardened her heart in the years since she was a child, but she begins opening up because of the magnificent creatures she's studying. When a crisis erupts, Inti must choose between her beloved wolves and the outside world and its pressures to leave the wild behind. Meanwhile, it's not clear whether some elements within McConaghy's story are real or are imagined by Inti. Inti's empathy and her taking on of others' physical sensations just by witnessing them only add to the off-kilter aspects of the book--what is real, is she a reliable narrator, what's really going on? And: Whose loyalty can be trusted? Whose memory is solid? Who are the villains and who are the heroes--or is everyone and is every creature a mix of both? McConaghy digs into the issues surrounding--and, sometimes, the seeming impossibility--of balancing ecological and agricultural health and populated areas and wilderness. I didn't feel an emotional connection to the characters, even during the several fraught, desperate, charged encounters between certain players. I felt far more of a bond with and had more interest in the wolves themselves. I was fascinated by the scientists' tracking abilities, the data they're able to gather, and especially the social structures and behaviors within and among the packs. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? McConaghy is also the author of Migrations, which my book club is reading this fall.

I'm reading The Forgotten Kingdom, the second in Signe Pike's fantastic series set in sixth century Scotland Set in sixth century Scotland, The Forgotten Kingdom traces the story of Languoreth, a strong, imprisoned

The Resurrectionist , focused on early medicine, serial killers, and a gothic setting in 19th-century Scotland Dunlap's debut novel is dark, twisty, gothic, and it's set in 19th-century Scotland as (real-life) serial

Morris's historical fiction novel, set in 11th century Scotland with events surrounding the imagined Morris All Our Yesterdays is set in 11th century Scotland a decade before the events of Shakespeare's

holds vivid memories of life in 1900s London--and he holds a postcard a century old, sent to him from Scotland -and try to find out more about his own life in the process--will lead him through rebel-controlled Scotland

When her husband disappears, Alexia tracks him to Scotland, where all manner of badly behaving creatures

The Skylark's Secret has a dual timeline; the story is set in rural Scotland during World War II and set in 1938 France with a second timeline decades later; and Sea of Memories, set in 1937 France and Scotland

When her husband disappears, Alexia tracks him to Scotland, where all manner of badly behaving creatures

Talented needleworker Isobel and her husband leave Scotland for America in the early 1800s.

that's nicknamed Rosie) are close to retrieving all of the samples their predecessors left throughout Scotland

In Hester, talented needleworker Isobel Gamble and her husband leave Scotland for America in the early

Skylark's Secret by Fiona Valpy The Skylark's Secret has a dual timeline; the story is set in rural Scotland

Skylark's Secret by Fiona Valpy The Skylark's Secret has a dual timeline; the story is set in rural Scotland

that's nicknamed Rosie) are close to retrieving all of the samples their predecessors left throughout Scotland

In Waypoints, Sam Heughan points out places along Scotland's ninety-six-mile West Highland Way that hold

Forgotten Kingdom, the second great book in Signe Pike's Lost Queen trilogy, which is set in sixth century Scotland Set in sixth century Scotland, The Forgotten Kingdom traces the story of Languoreth, a strong, imprisoned

that's nicknamed Rosie) are close to retrieving all of the samples their predecessors left throughout Scotland

When her husband disappears, Alexia tracks him to Scotland, where all manner of badly behaving creatures

When her husband disappears, Alexia tracks him to Scotland, where all manner of badly behaving creatures

Talented needleworker Isobel and her husband leave Scotland for America in the early 1800s.

that's nicknamed Rosie) are close to retrieving all of the samples their predecessors left throughout Scotland

Skylark's Secret by Fiona Valpy The Skylark's Secret has a dual timeline; the story is set in rural Scotland