44 Scotland Street, by Alexander McCall Smith

Smith wrote this book to be published as a serial in the The Scotsman over a six-month period.  He introduces a moderate sized cast of characters who mostly live in an apartment building in a changing part of Edinburgh.  Pat is taking a second gap year after college to find herself and shares an apartment with Bruce, who can't quite get over how attractive he is, and works for hapless Matthew, who owns an art gallery. Dominica, older and worldly, is a neighbor full of good advice.  Bertie is a precocious 5 year old, being over parented by his mother Irene.  Angus Lordie, a portrait painter, and Big Lou, a coffee bar owner, also play important roles.  I think I could happily read more books in the series.

A Small Death in the Great Glen, by A. D. Scott

This book, set in the Highlands of Scotland in the 1950s, has a lot going for it: endearing characters, lovely relationships, interesting social commentary.  But the omipresent sense of pending violence makes it a difficult read.  The main characters are Joanne Ross, an abused wife who works for the local newspaper, and her co-workers on the paper, John McAllister, Rob McLean, and Don McLeod.  The main plotline follows the investigation into the death of a small boy.  But there are lots of secondary characters and twisty subplots.

Blood Road, by Caspar Walsh

I liked most about this book the interactions between the two brothers, Jake and Zeb, and maybe the gzillion contradictions with in the character of their criminal father, Nick.  After Nick robs a sadistic psychopath, the little family goes on the lam from London to Scotland.  On the down side, I could scarcely stomach the repeated scenes of torture and maiming as Vincent and his henchmen tracked Nick down.

Still Midnight, by Denise Mina

Denise Mina is extraordinary.  At one point her writing became uber-gritty, and I couldn't face the bleakness and brutality of her stories, but Still Midnight is lighter, a bit more hopeful, even a little funny a times.  DS Alex Morrow is assigned to a kidnapping case, but not in charge, though she uncovers all the important leads because of her knowledge of and connections to the rough Glasgow neighborhood in which the home invasion/kidnapping took place.  The clues are unveiled slowly and twistily as are the secrets of the characters, criminals, victims and police alike.  Jane Macfarlane did a fabulous job narrating.