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The Hydegild
On December 4th, the Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice was released. At the same time I was speaking to an interesting group at the Bristol Central Library in England and shortly afterwards was on a Zoom call with the Tregolls Book Club in Cornwall, England - a lively and engaging discussion. My latest book is the next adventure in my Major Gask series and it is perhaps the most intriguing so far. I'd guess that most people are aware that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by an
David Cairns of Finavon
2 days ago3 min read


Incorporating Real Events into Mystery Novels
When I first began writing, I quickly realised that grounding my narratives in real historical events added a compelling layer of authenticity - for example, placing my character in London during the 'Great Stink' in 1858 provided a rich palette to build sensory depth. The delicate balance between fact and fiction invites readers to immerse themselves in a world that feels both familiar and thrillingly unknown. Drawing from actual occurrences enriches the story’s texture, of
David Cairns of Finavon
Nov 104 min read


Neuroscience into the Future
We have seen it in the movies: In 1973, the Six Million Dollar man envisaged a man rebuilt with bionic limbs and sensors; in 1987, RoboCop sees a police officer 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 actually taking seed. Much of
David Cairns of Finavon
Nov 36 min read


The Valleyfield Pit Disaster — Fife’s Dark Autumn, 1939
A family story of courage, loss, and remembrance from Scotland’s coalfields. Wives and children waiting for news at the pit head A Morning of Fire and Grief On the morning of 28 October 1939 , as Europe was gripped by the opening months of the Second World War, a different kind of explosion rocked the quiet villages along the Firth of Forth. Deep underground at Valleyfield Colliery , near Newmills in Fife, a blast tore through the workings, killing thirty-five miners , injuri
David Cairns of Finavon
Oct 285 min read
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