Highcrag

What this book is about ……
“Welcome to Highcrag” (I say as I shake your hand) ….. where Cate was given the job, of cataloguing books on computer, in a personal library, but not just any library, this is a library with a difference.
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Fresh from England Cate applied for a job at a private library on the East Coast of Scotland. Cate was drawn towards the area due to her ancestors being brought up there.
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When Cate was shown to her bedroom, she was intrigued by the four poster bed, luckily with no curtains otherwise she would feel closed in, but there was something else in this room, a painting of a man. Yes, the luring kind, Cate was certainly drawn to it …. turns out he was called “Rake” …an eighteenth-century ancestor to the man of the house.
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On a walk nearby, she discovered while at the cliff tops a little cove that she would like to visit one day, but as she turned by to go back “home” in the distance was a man on a black horse.
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Then she meets her employer, Lyall, the man of the house, who doesn’t live in the house.
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So what of this cove that Cate finds? Some tale tell signs has her more intrigued to find out more of what goes on. So what of Lyall, the man of the manor with his frequent vistings? So what of this old ancient place called Highcrag that Cate finds drawn to, doesn’t want to leave and then wants to leave? Will she find out what sinister deeds have taken place centuries ago. And Lyalls brother, that employed her, is he a genuine man? or is there something more about him than meets the eye.
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My thoughts on this book …….
There is one thing in reading Highcrag, that I wont forget … Cate with a C. Catriona. Cate for short. The book, Highcrag, is very entrancing, it lures you, but not like the Rake painting. Rosemary’s writing keeps you guessing what’s next, so, so facinating that I’m just so, so curious as to what’s going on.
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Yes, it takes alot to hold my entire attention to some books, but when it does, I know the author has done a good job and Rosemary Gemmell is one of those.
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To me this had a personal connection because it reminded me of going back to Dunedin, my own home town … rich and wrapped in Scottish Heritage (after all, Dunedins sister town, is Edinburgh).
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Back to the book though …. I was kept hungry with certain foods mentioned in the book, Mrs McClusky, the housekeeper and cook, cooked up some delicious meals, for example, Potato Leek Soup, Scones and Strawberry Jam.
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I had a walk down the alleyway of where the Outlander series was filmed (I haven’t seen the series, but I have the books).
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Considering Cate was cataloging a personal library, what more can you want then to read names of books and authors that you recognise maybe from your youth.
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During my whole read of the book I had my suspicions of Lyalls brother, and caught myself being so wrapped up in the book that I nodded with acknowledgement that I knew what this dirty little scoundrel was up to! …. Yes, I did say it out loud!! …. actually, I talked to this book alot, I was so invested in what Cate was seeing, what comes to mind, is a scene where Cates car breaks down,
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As they strolled along the firm part of the beach, Cate paused. She’d been looking at the calm sea ebbing and flowing when she saw a black blob on the surface. “Look, that’s not just a rock, is it?” she asked. Lyall followed her gaze. “I do believe it’s a seal popping up to have a look around.” “Oh, how adorable! I’ve never seen a real one, except at the zoo long ago.”
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And Mrs McClusky was delighted to have an excuse to make her delicious scones.
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Those who recommended mindfulness had it right. ‘Be in the moment’ made complete sense. No past, no future, no worries. Just the here and now, Lyall by her side.
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Recommendation
This book comes highly recommended by me and would suit anyone into Scottish Traditions, Scottish food, Gaelic folklore and anyone interested in Samhain (commonly known as Halloween).