This is one of two books I received from our younger daughter when we visited her in her lovely new home in York this morning. Although she sometimes BookCrosses as tree-hugger, she hasn't registered either of these novels, so I'm doing the honours. Thank you - it looks like something I'll enjoy!

Amazon Editorial Review: "An atmospheric debut novel about a woman who discovers the century-old remains of a murder victim on her family’s Scottish estate, plunging her into an investigation of its mysterious former occupants.
Following the death of her last living relative, Hetty Deveraux leaves London and her strained relationship behind for Muirlan, her ancestral home in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. She intends to renovate the ruinous house into a hotel, but the shocking discovery of human remains brings her ambitious restoration plans to an abrupt halt before they even begin. Few physical clues are left to identify the body, but one thing is certain: this person did not die a natural death.
Hungry for answers, Hetty discovers that Muirlan was once the refuge of her distant relative Theo Blake, the acclaimed painter and naturalist who brought his new bride, Beatrice, there in 1910. Yet ancient gossip and a handful of leads reveal that their marriage was far from perfect; Beatrice eventually vanished from the island, never to return, and Theo withdrew from society, his paintings becoming increasingly dark and disturbing.
What happened between them has remained a mystery, but as Hetty listens to the locals and studies the masterful paintings produced by Theo during his short-lived marriage, she uncovers secrets that still reverberate through the small island community—and will lead her to the identity of the long-hidden body."

Sorry I didn't register this one Nu-Knees, that was remiss of me. I'll add my comments here.

The author Sarah Maine is from York and I won this signed copy of this book at a literature festival quiz here recently. I like a novel uncovering the skeletons in the family closet (or indeed under the conservatory), I like a dual time-frame, and I like a wild scottish setting, so this one ticks a lot of boxes for me. It was good. I enjoyed being there, I could feel the weather and see the birds. To be honest I don't think I'll remember much about it in a few weeks time, but I was certainly absorbed by it as I read it, and I'll keep my eye out for her second novel.

Thank you, tree-hugger - both for the book and for adding your interesting comments. It certainly sounds like my sort of book, thank you

Even before reading it, this novel seemed familiar but I didn't have another copy on my BookCrossing bookshelf and it didn't appear in my Kindle records. The prologue was very familiar and a couple of chapters in I was totally convinced I'd read it before, even the characters' names were ringing bells. But it was still elusive - until I checked the incredibly helpful Fantastic Fiction website! Apparently it has also been published as Bhalla Strand - and it was under that title that I read and enjoyed it on the Kindle in September 2014! Having got this far, I'll reread it anyway . . . . athough I do remember a lot about where the story's heading . . . .

It stood up to a reread and I thoroughly enjoyed it a second time! A good story in a superb setting with some strong characters and more than enough love and mystery to hold the attention . . . .

To my friend and neighbour, Blower!

Well over a million people around the world give their books a unique BookCrossing IDentity number (BCID) before sending them out to find new readers. Since the start of the scheme in April 2001 over twelve million such books have been put into circulation. This is one of them!

Our hope is that we can track the progress of our books once they've left our hands - and that's possible if finders like you visit the website, key in the BCID and leave a comment, however long or short. It's fun, it doesn't have to cost anything, although the site always appreciates donations towards running costs, and you can remain anonymous if you wish. You don't have to join but if you do you'll be able to number and track your own books!

From my friend and neighbour Nu-Knees a few days ago - and I've started it already.
Good so far

Left on the book swop shelf in the information room

Loved this book.
It is written in two time zone - 1910 and 2010 so you need to work out the family links and remember them.
It shows the bleakness and struggles of island life but also the interwoven family links.
A good read.