Have you noticed how the setting of a novel can affect your enjoyment of the story?  A few weeks ago I realized that I love stories set in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Edinburgh is steeped in both the present and the past.  Princes Street literally divides the medieval Old Town from the elegant Georgian New Town, an 18th century planned development.  Scotland’s rich political, literary, and art history provide intriguing material for fascinating plot themes, especially to mystery and crime novels.

I invite you to get a feeling for Edinburgh by reading the mystery novels of Ian Rankin or the Isabel Dalhousie series of Alexander McCall-Smith.  My next Edinburgh read will be McCall-Smith's delightful 44 Scotland Series.   You'll get a feeling for Gaelic names, the pub scene, and even the heather on the moors.  If you decide you also love Edinburgh, check out the library’s travel collection and plan a wonderful vacation to Edinburgh.