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From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Pep Revolution For three extraordinary seasons at Bayern Munich, Martin Perarnau was given total access around the German super club – to its players, its backroom staff, its board members and, above all, to its manager, Pep Guardiola. In the follow-up to his critically acclaimed account of Guardiola’s first full season at Bayern, Pep Confidential, Perarnau now lifts the lid on the Catalan’s whole tenure in Bavaria.Pep Guardiola: The Evolution takes the reader on a journey through three action packed seasons as Bayern smashed domestic records yet struggled to emulate that dominance in Europe, analysing Guardiola’s management style through key moments on and off the field. Perarnau reveals how Guardiola improved as a manager at Bayern despite failing to land the ultimate prize in European football, examines his decision to leave Germany to take up the challenge at Manchester City and how his managerial style will continue to evolve in the Premier League.This is more than the story of three seasons with one of the biggest clubs in the game. It is a portrait and analysis of a manager and the footballing philosophies that have beguiled the world.

What if you met the person you were destined to be with? And what if you never saw them again . . . ?There’s a new case for the Perfect Passion Company. After a serendipitous meeting in a supermarket, Clea meets the man of her dreams. But having left suddenly without his phone number, she can’t stop thinking about what might have been. Can apprentice matchmaker Katie, with the help of her enigmatic neighbour William, help orchestrate the forces of Kismet and choreograph another happy union?And now that the newly single William’s engagement is off, can Katie seize the moment to tell him how she feels before her chance has gone forever?

Large measures, dark hearts.When the body of a young woman is washed up on an idyllic beach on the west coast of Scotland, D.C.I. Jim Daley is despatched from Glasgow to lead the investigation.Far from home, and his troubled marriage, it seems that Daley’s biggest obstacle will be managing the difficult local police chief; but when the prime suspect is gruesomely murdered, the inquiry begins to stall. As the body count rises, Daley uncovers a network of secrets and corruption in the closeknit community of Kinloch, thrusting him and his loved ones into the centre of a case more deadly than he had ever imagined.Whisky from Small Glasses is a truly compelling crime novel, shot through with dry humour and menace, and is the first in the internationally bestselling D.C.I. Daley thriller series.'In high demand across the globe . . . readers instantly warm to Daley' – Daily Mail

'Access inside the changing room and behind the scenes that any journalist or writer would kill for - Perarnau's insights are astonishing' - Graham Hunter'Write about everything you see. Be as critical as you like' - Pep Guardiola to Marti Perarnau, summer 2013 Marti Perarnau was given total access to Bayern Munich during season 2013-14. This book represents the first time in the modern era that a writer has got this close to one of the elite teams of world football. At the invitation of Pep Guardiola, he shadowed the Catalan, his staff and his superstar players during training and on matchdays. Bayern smashed domestic records on their way to the double, but were humiliated by Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. Perarnau was with them every step of the way. Perarnau is with Guardiola as he is courted by the world's greatest clubs during his sabbatical in New York. We hear Guardiola explain in detail the radical tactical moves which transform Bayern's season and reprogramme the players who will win the World Cup with Germany.Perarnau talks exclusively and in fascinating detail with players such as Arjen Robben, Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Thiago Alcantara and Bastian Schweinsteiger.Pep Confidential is much more than the story of a season - it is also a lasting portrait of one of the greatest coaches in sport.

The global bestseller and winner of the Indies Choice Honor AwardA poignant and inspirational love story set in Burma, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats spans the decades between the 1950s and the present. When a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be - until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago, to a Burmese woman they have never heard of.Intent on solving the mystery and coming to terms with her father's past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and passion that will change her life once more.

The origins of many Scottish festivals, such as Beltane and Hallowe’en, lie deep in the pagan past, and although the significance of many festivals may now be long forgotten, they have continued to evolve and evolve to satisfy the needs of the time.Including extracts from prose, poetry and historical documents, this book is an enthralling journey through the year and the pageants, parades, festivals and fairs which have played a huge part in Scottish life. It introduces the customs, traditions, lore and crafts associated with them, making it the ideal companion for anyone interested in this fascinating and rich aspect of Scotland’s cultural story.

Customs play an important part in all societies and offer fascinating insights into a country’s history and culture. Scotland boasts a multitude of unique customs, many of which can be traced back to the times of the Druids, Celts and Romans.This book introduces hundreds of Scottish customs associated with a huge range of topics. As well as customs associated with key events of our lives, from birth to death, it also includes customs associated with the world of work, food and drink, health, animals and nature. Extracts from written works through the ages bring these customs to life and show how important they have been in the story of Scotland for thousands of years.

The ultimate guide to Scotch whisky.Why does Scotch whisky taste as it does? Where do the flavours come from? How might they have changed over the years? The flavour of Scotch whisky is as much influenced by history, craft and tradition as it is by science. Whiskypedia explores these influences. Introductory sections provide an historical overview, and an explanation of the contribution made by each stage of the production process.Each entry provides a brief account of the distillery's history and curiosities, lists the bottlings which are currently available, details how the whisky is made, and explores the flavour and character of each make.Fully revised and updated edition with new entries on the latest distilleries at Portintruan, Uile-beist, Port of Leith, Jackton, Cabrach, Dunphail and Kythe.

Around the year 1885, Alfred Barnard was secretary of Harper's Weekly Gazette, a journal which featured facets of the wine and spirit trade. In order to provide his readers with the history and detailed descriptions of the whisky-making process, Barnard was determined to visit all the distilleries in Scotland, England and Ireland. The results of his tour were written up in Harper's Weekly Gazette, and then published in this book, which includes entries on names which still inspire the whisky connoisseur to this day – Bowmore, Glenlivet, Highland Park, Macallan and Talisker – as well as others which, though popular at the end of the nineteenth century, have not stood the test of time. The appeal of Barnard's book lies not only in his descriptions of the technical properties of each distillery, comparing equipment and differences in the distillation procedure, but also in the colourful descriptions of his journeys. Filled with historical references and anecdotes as well as details of how Barnard and his companions actually got to distilleries in some of the remotest parts of Britain, the book is also a lively picture of life and travel in the Victorian age. This facsimile edition is a valuable companion to all those with an interest in Scotland's national drink, and is superbly illustrated with over 200 engravings which show both the distilleries themselves as well as key parts of the distillation process. Includes five additional publications by Alfred Barnard, as well as entries on distilleries which still inspire the whisky connoisseur today, including Bowmore, Glenlivet, Highland Park, Macallan and Talisker.

'A call to arms for a better society' – BBC Radio 4 Often a small and seemingly insignificant event can change the course of our lives.Not long after starting a new job, Neil meets Chrissie. Romance soon blossoms and together they move to a lavish flat in Edinburgh. Everything seems to be falling into place perfectly.But an innocuous, throw-away comment unintentionally causes Neil’s career to collapse, and, at the same time, a cruel betrayal shatters the life he thought he knew.His only option is to escape to the secluded, remote beauty of a breathtaking Hebridean island. Here, he finds a different way of life, and new friendships develop. But he can’t escape the past forever, and soon he must confront a life-changing decision once more.From the world's favourite author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, this novel is about chance encounters; it is richly atmospheric and packed with compassion and humour.  Praise for Alexander McCall Smith's writing: 'The author's prose has the merits of simplicity, euphony and precision. This is art that conceals art' – Sunday Telegraph'Bags of warmth and wisdom and easy, accomplished writing that begs for a comfy chair' – The Times'Charming, delightful, feel-good stuff' – Daily Express

To find out where we are going, we sometimes need to find out where we came from.Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori Montagna, who is suffering from an acute identity crisis, wants to know more about her own past, and after doing a DNA test, she discovers that she has a relative she didn’t know about. But her new-found family causes a rift between her and her flatmate, Antonia Collie. Can they work out their differences?For Bruce, it’s a case of history repeating itself. After getting all the attention he craves – landing a starring role in a new television series – the universe has one way of putting him in his place. Even in a modern Scotland, lurking Calvinist tendencies might still strike.And Bertie’s dream of getting to the promised land – the Dear Green Place – comes crashing down as he learns that he is to move to the far North East, leaving poor Ranald Braveheart Macpherson a little heartbroken and lost. But upon his return to Edinburgh, the boys take a trip to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Bertie’s kindness gets a very royal recognition.

They got away with murder once . . . 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. Lucky, Nelly and Hare go on the run from the angry mob, reinvention their only means of survival.Years later, journalist Duncan Fletcher hears rumours of sightings of the two women. Keen to impress his editor, Duncan investigates the aftermath of the murder trial. With cobbler Joseph Campbell in tow, Duncan’s quest leads him to the backstreets of London, where the horrors of the past collide with the present.The time for retribution has come.From the author of the critically acclaimed bestseller, The Edinburgh Skating Club.

The 2000-plus years of Scottish history have seen a huge variety of events, from great national moments to personal achievements, each one helping to make and mould the character of the nation. This compendium takes note of the milestones – historical as well as cultural, serious as well as entertaining – but also of the many steps between them.Carefully chosen and researched for their interest and variety, they make a fascinating record: 150 vignettes form a 'family album' of the Scottish people from the Romans in Scotland in the first century CE to climate change in the 2020s. And everything in between.

Death. Betrayal. Revenge. When a senior Edinburgh Civil Servant spectacularly takes his own life in Kinloch Harbour, D.C.I. Jim Daley comes face-to-face with the murky world of politics. To add to his woes, two local drug dealers lie dead, ritually assassinated. It's clear that dark forces are at work in the town. With his boss under investigation, his marriage hanging on by a thread, and his sidekick wrestling with his own demons, Daley's world is in meltdown. When strange lights appear in the sky over Kinloch, it becomes clear that the townsfolk are not the only people at risk. The fate of nations is at stake. Jim Daley must face his worst fears as tragedy strikes. This is not just about a successful investigation, it’s about survival.'Excellently paced' - Scotland on Sunday

When your worst nightmare returns, survival is all.Ruthless crime lord James Machie was assassinated in the back of a prison ambulance following his trial and conviction. But now, five years later, he appears to be back from the grave and hell-bent on wreaking vengeance on those who brought him down.Top of his list is fellow gangster Frank MacDougall who, unbeknownst to D.C.I. Jim Daley, is living under protection near Kinloch. Daley must work out how a dead man could commit murder, what's planning next and how to protect his friend and colleague D.S. Scott, who is also a target. And nothing, not even dead, has ever stood in James Machie's way . . . The Last Witness is the second in the internationally bestselling D.C.I. Daley thriller series.'A cracking tenacious thriller' – LoveReading

Rum, once the poor relation of the spirit world, has undergone a revival and is no longer seen just as the preferred tipple for tipsy pirates. The craft drinks movement has certainly stimulated the rum world, with high numbers of new artisan rum brands launching around the world in the last few years. The rise of the rum cocktails is another successful trend, with the popularity of mojitos and mai tai contributing greatly in the growth and development of the rum market.Ian Buxton, the UK’s No.1 bestselling author on spirits, takes us on a tour of the different colours, flavours, creation methods and characteristics, and makes his pick of the best rums in the world. Whether you like your rum in cocktails, or prefer to sip it neat, this is the only book on rum you will ever need.

Featured on BBC Radio 4's Take Four BooksSix friends. One city. The time of their lives.It’s 1988, and on the verge of a reunion with friends she hasn’t seen since graduation, Julie recalls her halcyon student days of 1984 and the strange tumultuous time they lived through.The friends – each from a very different background – are living in a gorgeous terraced flat in their Edinburgh idyll. As they navigate relationships and the unspoken rules of flat sharing, the troubled world all around them seems rather distant. But in the nearby hometown of one of the flatmates, the Miners' Strike is bringing about a huge political shift.Despite their differences, can these six strangers help each other see the world from a different perspective? Is there such a thing as being too close? And what are the limits of love between friends?

'It is dark now and my window onto the world is a small one. I do not know how much longer I will be here.' Shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical FictionOn 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 beguiling psychological novel set on a remote Scottish island. Based on a true story and drawing on the documentary evidence of the time, Burnet constructs a gripping narrative about madness, murder and the uncertain nature of the self.Longlisted for the Highland Book PrizeLonglisted for the CWA Historical Dagger'Dark, intense and utterly compelling' – Laura Wilson, The Guardian

The Scots have always had a reputation for clarity of thought and also for the vigour with which it is put into words.This collection spans the entire gamut of a nation's recorded thought and experience from Roman Scotland to the present day. It covers a vast range of subject matter and demonstrates a remarkable variety of moods and tones, from the literary to the colloquial and bawdy. Packed with sharp observation and humour, it sounds other notes too. Meditative, triumphant, tragic, accusing, tender - and often hilarious - it reveals the spirit of Scotland in a truly unique way.

The Bruces of fourteenth-century Scotland were formidable and enthusiastic warriors. Whilst much has been written about events as they happened in Scotland during the chaotic years of the first part of the fourteenth century, England’s war with Robert the Bruce profoundly affected the whole of the British Isles. Scottish raiders struck deep into the heartlands of Yorkshire and Lancashire; Robert’s younger brother, Edward Bruce, was proclaimed King of Ireland and came close to subduing the country; the Isle of Man was captured and a Welsh sea-port was raided; and in the North Sea Scots allied with German and  Flemish pirates to cripple England’s vital wool trade and disrupt its war effort.Packed with detail and written with a strong and involving narrative thread, this is the first book to link up the various theatres of war and discuss the effect of the wars of the Bruces outside Scotland.

'Brigid writes with warmth and appreciation of communities that she knows and loves, and she inspires us to explore them' – Rick Stein‘Whenever I am talking to customers about the NC500, I always recommend your book for the wonderful photographs and all the extra information it contains’ – David Duguid, Picaresque BooksThis is the essential guide to the north of Scotland, on a route which begins in Inverness, weaves westwards to Applecross and then northwards towards Torridon. From Ullapool it leads to the most northerly points in Britain, passing by Caithness and John o’ Groats before heading south again through Dingwall and to Inverness.In addition to stunning mountains, moors, lochs and beaches, the route also features exquisite towns and villages, castles, distilleries, breweries, natural wonders and wildlife.Brigid Benson, who knows the road intimately, divides the route into manageable chunks, suggesting where to discover history, observe wildlife, meet great local characters, shop at quirky stores, taste outstanding food, drink in friendly bars and cafes, stand in awe of amazing sights, and recommending places to picnic, swim, surf, walk and stargaze. And great places to camp and stay. She also draws attention to potential pitfalls, offering useful advice on single-track roads, fuel, car problems, planning realistic itineraries, and much more.Stunning, full-colour landscape photography features throughout, and a full list of photographs can be found on page 229 for your reference.

Shakespeare fed us the myth of the Macbeths as murderous conspirators. But now Val McDermid drags the truth out of the shadows . . . A thousand years ago in an ancient Scottish landscape, a woman is on the run with her three companions – a healer, a weaver and a seer. The men hunting her will kill her – because she is the only one who stands between them and their violent ambition. She is no lady: she is the first queen of Scotland, married to a king called Macbeth.As the net closes in, we discover a tale of passion, forced marriage, bloody massacre and the harsh realities of medieval Scotland. At the heart of it is one strong, charismatic woman, who survived loss and jeopardy to outwit the endless plotting of a string of ruthless and power-hungry men. Her struggle won her a country. But now it could cost her life.Part of Polygon's DARKLAND TALES series.

Rediscover what it means to fall in love.The Perfect Passion Dating Company at No. 24 Mouse Lane in Edinburgh's New Town is run by Katie Donald who has an innate instinct for bringing people together. She has developed a skill for finding out what it is that people really want. Along the way, Katie learns profound lessons about her own desires as she works at better understanding others. Although Katie has little in the way of direct experience, with the help of her amiable and handsome office neighbour William Kidd, she soon finds herself making matches for the lonely hearts tired of meeting online – and who want a more personal touch.For fans of Alexander McCall Smith's many beloved series and romantic standalone novels, The Perfect Passion Company shows him at his most perceptive, playful, and generous. In the way that only McCall Smith can, this novel offers a glimpse inside the psychology of matchmaking, the search for love and companionship, and the mysterious spark of attraction that can, at times, catch hold of us all.Two stories that wind their way into this wonderful novel were previously available in different forms as e-book only shorts.

The most famous living rock musician on the planet, Paul McCartney is now regarded as a slightly cosy figure, an (inter)national treasure. Back in the 1970s, however, McCartney cut a very different figure. He was, literally, a man on the run. Desperately trying to escape the shadow of the Beatles, he became an outlaw hippy millionaire, hiding out on his Scottish farmhouse in Kintyre before travelling the world with makeshift bands and barefoot children. It was a time of numerous drug busts and brilliant, banned and occasionally baffling records. For McCartney, it was an edgy, liberating and sometimes frightening period of his life that has largely been forgotten.Man on the Run paints an illuminating picture: from McCartney's nervous breakdown following the Beatles' split through his apparent victimisation by the authorities to the rude awakening of his imprisonment for marijuana possession in Japan in 1980 and the shocking wake-up call of John Lennon's murder. Ultimately, it poses the question: if you were one quarter of the Beatles, could you really outrun your past?

Being a doctor is a privilege; it is also very demanding and can be stressful, and to be able to look after others, we need to look after ourselves. We offer you this little book of poetry, Tools of the Trade, as a friend to provide inspiration, comfort and support as you begin work.Tools of the Trade includes poems by poet-doctors Iain Bamforth, Rafael Campo, Glenn Colquhoun, Martin MacIntryre and Gael Turnbull.

Celebrate 150 years of Hibs.Charting the highs, lows and many misadventures of Hibernian FC, and featuring countless characters, from George Best to John McGinn via the Famous Five and the side that became world champions, this is the ultimate celebration of the beloved Edinburgh sporting institution. It sweeps from the founding of the club in 1875 to the triumphs and tribulations of the 21st century.In 150 bitesize helpings, the story of Hibs is served up in delicious fashion. Who could forget the pass of the millennium or the swoon-inducing swagger of sixties heartthrob Peter Marinello? And who wouldn’t recoil at the memory of the wine bar empire entwined in the club’s darkest hour? Written by a lifelong Hibee, Hibs at 150 bridges the generations and peels back the layers of a century and half of Hibsteria.

New from bestselling illustrator Eilidh Muldoon.Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in the country. This book includes lots of garden-themed illustrations by bestselling artist Eilidh Muldoon to colour in.From gardening tools, ponds, greenhouses, allotments and herb gardens to beehives, walled gardens, hanging baskets, garden residents such as birds, insects and hedgehogs, as well as many native plants flowers, and vegetables, there’s something for everyone with green fingers in this superb and imaginative colouring book.

Scotland has one of the richest traditions of folklore in the world, and the nation’s greatest writers have been influenced by the country’s abundance of customs, superstitions, ghost stories and folktales. Robert Burns, Walter Scott, James Hogg and Robert Louis Stevenson all used Scottish folklore in their work.This book traces the roots and traditions of Scottish folklore and introduces all its key parts, combining a huge range of material from gypsy-lore and Arthurian legend to tales of magical beasts, demons and witches and lore associated with the natural world.

This book is the essential companion for those who wish to learn about and visit the Inner Hebridean islands of Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna, known collectively as the Small Isles.As well as focusing on history, archaeology and landscape change from earliest times to the present day, it is a fascinating account of the people who have lived there – their subsistence, legends and superstitions, interactions and the ways in which they exploited the land and the sea.It takes the reader through prehistoric landscapes and Iron Age forts into the Age of the Saints and the incoming Vikings. The islands are rich in monastic tradition and rife with the clan feuding of the Middle Ages. Contemporary descriptions help explore population change, townships, the boom and bust of the kelp industry and the devastation brought about by the Clearances before the late 19th century, when wealthy aristocrats created great sporting estates.