Skip to 0 minutes and 15 secondsScotland has a long history of producing grim and gripping tales of crime and corruption, boasting All-Star authors like Ian Rankin and Val McDermid. Scots dominate bestseller lists with their suspenseful yarns and the number of fictional crime rates here grow year on year. So why has such a small nation inspired such a wealth of crime fiction? And what makes Scotland such an effective setting to explore humanity's dark side?
Skip to 0 minutes and 48 secondsJoin us at the University of Glasgow as we explore the best of Scotland's sleuths, P.I.s and Detective Inspectors to delve deep into this thrilling genre. You'll learn about the history of the genre, tracing contemporary Scottish crime back to its ancestors like Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Conan Doyle, before a book called Laid Law set the bar for what we now know as Tartan Noir.
Skip to 1 minute and 15 secondsYou'll explore the lowland cities and the rural islands, home to the darkest stories, as no acre of this country is safe from heists, corruption and murder. Most foul. From cosy mysteries, to unflinching police procedurals, all fans of crime will find something of interest. We'll tackle big ideas like how true crime shapes a story, and put a magnifying glass to smaller details, like how authors create tension on the page.
Skip to 1 minute and 47 secondsAcademic experts and authors including Lynn Anderson, Chris Brookmyre, Louise Welsh and Liam McIlvanney share their insights with us in exclusive interviews. Informative and interactive, we want to hear what you think, share your ideas and what you have learned with other crime fans in our discussion activities. Express your opinions in polls and test your skills in specially created quizzes.
Skip to 2 minutes and 14 secondsLearn more about your favourite books, find new novels for your reading list, and pick up tools to help you debate and celebrate Scotland's national literary export, Tartan noir.
