Uncover the secrets history tried to bury…

The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice thrusts readers into the shadowy aftermath of one of America’s darkest...

David Cairns of Finavon

David Cairns of Finavon

David Cairns, the Baron of Finavon, is a successful entrepreneur turned author who has long been fascinated by history – and what it teaches us about the world we live in and shape today. He has travelled extensively and has lived on four continents, drawing upon these experiences to colour his stories, bringing atmosphere and depth to each of his novels. He currently makes his home on the Gold Coast of Australia. 

Books

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The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice

The Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy
Book #4 from the series: Major Gask Mysteries

Uncover the secrets history tried to bury…
The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice thrusts readers into the shadowy aftermath of one of America’s darkest moments—the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
Perfect for fans of historical fiction, political thrillers, and courtroom drama, this gripping tale blends high-stakes intrigue with razor-sharp...

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The Case of the Beth-el Stone

The Cases of Findo Gask & Errol Rait
Book #3 from the series: Major Gask Mysteries

Is it really possible that you have stumbled across a secret lost for centuries? A secret that that could change the world order?

From the bustling gold rush and the streets of Melbourne in 1864 to the ancient city of Edinburgh in Scotland, three friends flee from a secret society out for revenge, only to find themselves at the centre of a...

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The Case of the Wandering Corpse (Major Gask Mysteries Book 2)

Book #2 from the series: Major Gask Mysteries

Step back in time to 1863, when Melbourne was a melting pot of opportunity, ambition... and murder.
The Gold Rush is in full swing, transforming Melbourne and the northern gold towns like Ballarat and Bendigo into a dazzling, yet dangerous, frontier. The promise of wealth lures prospectors from far and wide, but where there is gold, there is also...

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Other Writing

Five of the Best Books by Pre-Modern* Scottish Novelists    (*Authors born

Where to start? It’s almost an impossible task to limit yourself to just five books but, as my own scribblings focus on historical crime, mystery and adventure I suppose I should stay within this genre. So here goes with the subject matter in chronological order:

My first book is Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, a foundational work in historical fiction. It is set in 12th-century England, during the turbulent times of the Norman conquest and follows the noble knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe as he...

When Medicine Becomes Mind Control We have seen it in the movies: In 1973,

We have seen it in the movies: In 1973, the Six Million Dollar man envisages a man rebuilt with bionic limbs and sensors; in 1987, RoboCop, where a police officer is reborn as a cyborg. The pace increases as the years roll by: in 1995, the Ghost in the Shell, in 1999, the Matrix and so on.

As with all science fiction, the initial idea is a matter of thinking forwards until the impossible becomes possible. But today, these visions of the future are taking seed. Much of RoboCop’s mechanical...

A Voyage Around Sherlock Holmes My Major Gask mysteries series have been

My Major Gask mysteries series have been likened to Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories by some because of the atmospheric period detail and my Erroll Rait and Major Gask characters. Not surprising, given my affinity with the ace of detectives!

However, I am not the first nor will I be the last, I’m sure, to find such inspiration. Here are some ideas for those who enjoy mystery adventure and historical detective fiction bursting with atmosphere and mind-engaging puzzling…

Let’s start with...

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Blog

Allan Pinkerton, Kate Warne, and Hattie Lewis

In my research for The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice, the latest in my Major Gask Mysteries, I found an unexpected link to the legendary Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Few names in American detective history carry as much mystique as Allan Pinkerton and his remarkable operatives. The man who founded the agency in the mid-19th century was a Scot by birth, like my Major Gask character, an abolitionist by principle, and a relentless seeker of...

American Political Violence My theme is ‘Learn from History or you are

My theme is ‘Learn from History or you are doomed to repeat it’ and my latest book was sparked by my personal experiences of living in the USA and the increasing violence we are seeing in American politics today that, I think can trace its origins back in time. My latest book in the Major Gask Mysteries series, the Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice, explores the dark secrets and atmosphere surrounding perhaps the most notable manifestation of this culture; the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in...

New Year Ahead A couple of items this time: I've received the first reviews

A couple of items this time: I've received the first reviews for the Hydegild Sacrifice. I thought I'd share one from Reedsy:

LOVED IT!

A humorous and thrilling mix of historical fiction and classic mystery. Major Gask and Rait make a delightful team!

SYNOPSIS

A Dangerous Web:
The next chapter in the adventures of Major Findo Gask and Erroll Rait begins not with a bang, but with a whisper - a whisper that draws them into the darkest corners of American history. Arriving in Washington DC, the two...

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