Crime fiction author Lin Anderson to unveil her latest novel in Carrbridge
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Tartan Noir crime novelist Lin Anderson has opted to launch her latest book in her home village of Carrbridge, having used the Highland settlement as the inspiration for the new story, titled The Party House.
Anderson is probably best known for her series of books about forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod – featuring many Highlands and Islands locations over the years, including Aviemore.
But The Party House is a stand along novel, set against the backdrop of a global pandemic, which has left the fictional village of Blackrig reeling from the death of several young residents and now a body has been discovered in very suspicious circumstances.
Anderson said: “When we went into lockdown, I was in my home village of Carrbridge. I had been thinking about a standalone novel for a while – one in which the crime and its investigation was viewed through the eyes of a suspect.
"I decided on my numerous walks through the woods of Carrbridge that I would set the novel in an imagined Highland village, somewhere west of Carrbridge, where you could see the sea from the surrounding hills.
"I called this village Blackrig and knew it would be an end of the road village. The Blackrig Arms, where the locals have their ceilidh after the village hall is taken over by the police, is modelled on the Cairn Hotel, previously known as the Rowanlea where I used to work as a student during the summer months.
“Readers who are familiar with Carrbridge will recognise the wood carvings and other features in the pages of this book – and one or two local place names that I have borrowed for The Party House.
"I take so much inspiration from the Scottish landscape when writing my books and many readers will know that Skye and Orkney are particularly well featured in my writing.
"This time it was definitely the turn of my much loved home village to be the star albeit it as the mythical village of Blackrig.
"As for the inhabitants of Blackrig… they are all of course, figments of my imagination!”
The Party House will be launched at the Carrbridge Village Hall on Saturday 30th July at 6.30pm where people can hear from Lin more about the inspiration behind her latest book while in conversation with local ladies and Rhona MacLeod fans, Karen Archer and Mary Grant.
This will be followed by a book signing with music from Monadh Rhuadh along with some refreshments.
