Stephen O’Rourke (1976-2021) was a QC at the Scottish Bar, appointed Principal Crown Counsel in February 2021. For some time he had a regular column in The Scotsman and also wrote for The Guardian, Caledonian Mercury and Think Scotland websites. He was a strong supporter of the Tumbling Lassie Committee’s anti-slavery campaign. His historical novel, The Crown Agent, was published by Sandstone Press in 2019. He died at home in December 2021.

An assured debut that unashamedly harks back to classic thrillers... reads like a knowing blend of James Buchan’s The 39 Steps and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.