Solway Sleuth-Hounds: The First Recruit (Paperback)

Product Description
This is a mystery and adventure story set in South-west Scotland at the time of Robert Burns. It is fiction which has the added intention of illuminating the history of the region and making it easily accessible. It has been carefully researched and there is a reference section at the back including comprehensive notes on the background history as well as on the main sources. There are also sketch maps - including one of Dumfries in 1793. Also included are several modern photographs of historic buildings in Dumfries such as the Old Bridge House. The age range given is 12 to adult and it may be classified as young adult but it is actually for anyone interested in the history of south west Scotland. Here are some details of the actual story. With her husband in jail, young Gretna Marshall, one of the Galloway travelling people, is feeling alone and vulnerable. So, she is delighted when she is asked to become the first recruit to the Solway Sleuth-Hounds, the Laird of Longcrags' band of private investigators. She is relieved to have found the protection of a powerful patron but all too soon she finds that the service of the Laird means danger. But with the help of the remarkable Sawney, the young lawyer of the future, stern Michael the leader of a tribe of tinklers, and Rooskie her little dog who brings his own individual talents to the pack, Gretna struggles on. The story moves between the Solway shore, Dumfries and the notorious village of the Bridgend with its underground labyrinth of cellars, that hiding place for refugees and felons. These were turbulent times and the Sleuth-Hounds find themselves involved with Solway smugglers, Robert Burns, the effects of the French Revolution, even the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 although it happened fifty years earlier. There are also enough dogs and horses to keep any animal lover happy. The historical background of 18th century Dumfries and Galloway has been carefully researched and there are detailed historical notes and sketch maps. "Solway Sleuth-Hounds" is more than just an exciting story. It is also a fun way of learning history.

From the Publisher
Solway Sleuth-Hounds is the first book to be published under the Rooskie Press imprint. It is fiction -- historical mystery and adventure -- but it has the added intention of illuminating the history of south west Scotland. In fact this is one of the aims of the Rooskie Press -- to make the history of the region easily accessible.

The Rooskie Press is the imprint of author/publisher Mary S Moffat. It will be specialising in the local history of the Solway region.It will be doing this in two ways.

Firstly by the publication of Mary's own books. These will be fiction -- historical adventure stories -- but with a detailed and carefully researched historical background. There will also be comprehensive historical notes, maps and photographs. Officially the age range for these books will be 12+ but actually they will be for anyone interested in the history of Dumfries and Galloway. In short it is hoped that these books will be a fun way of learning history.The second way in which the Rooskie Press hopes to further the history of south west Scotland is by publishing a limited number of out-of-print, out-of-copyright books which provide valuable source material for students and researchers.

How the Rooskie Press got its name. The Rooskie Press got its name from Rooskie the little Papillon with the dancing paws. The distinctive Rooskie Press logo is from a photograph of Rooskie in the Heelwork to Music pose -- the play bow. The little dog in Solway Sleuth-Hounds is modelled on Mary's own Rooskie. Incidentally her books also include enough dogs and horses to keep any animal lover happy.

Rooskie is the Galloway tinkler-gypsy word for basket and he is called that because he is small enough to go into a gypsy basket.

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First Sentence
I have decided that it is finally time for me to organise a permanent record of the startling events of my childhood, events in which I myself played a small part. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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