Insider's Choice: Scottish debut novels to look out for in 2026

Two novels have already been creating a buzz in the book trade, with each the subject of heated bidding wars between multiple publishers. The first is A Bad, Bad Place by Frances Crawford (Bantam, 12 February, £16.99). It’s set in Glasgow in 1979, where young punk Janey discovers a dead body while taking her dog, Sid Vicious, for a walk. It already has fans in Val McDermid, Lin Anderson and Jennie Godfrey, and looks to be a unique and moving take on the crime fiction genre.

​The second novel is the first collaboration between authors VE Schwab and Cat Clarke, AKA Evelyn Clarke, announced with great fanfare at this year’s Bloody Scotland. The Ending Writes Itself (HQ, 7 April, £16.99) is a reimagining of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None set on a Scottish island where six struggling authors are asked to compete to finish the final book from the recently-deceased, world-famous author Arthur Fletch. All signs point to the novel being great fun and highly entertaining.

​Staying with crime fiction, I also want to mention We Know What You Did by Kirsty Strickland (Orion, 4 June, £16.99) which sees a murder take place on a livestream with two beloved online sensations, and the exciting psychological thriller, Original Sins by Linda Duncan McLaughlin (Into Books, 19 February, £11.99) where a troubled woman discovers her biological father is a serial killer.

READ MORE: 2026 Arts Preview: The year ahead in books

​2025 saw the best year for sales in fantasy novels since records began, and it looks like 2026 will be another stellar year for the genre with new authors in Scotland ready to bring their spin on its tropes and themes. Saltswept by Katalina Watt (Hodderscape, 26 February, £20) combines Southeast Asian mythology with fast-paced action on the high seas, while The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen (Del Ray Books, 7 July) offers a cosier world that brings a young, ambitious historian to the titular inn where its clientele will teach him more than he was anticipating.

​Historical witch trials have been a popular subject for writers over the last few years, and this continues in 2026 with the fantastical, Cornish-set The Salt Bind by Rebecca Ferrier (Renegade, 22 January, £18.99) and The Wise Witch of Orkney by Anna Craig (Black and White, 26 February, £16.99). Intriguingly, the latter novel takes place in the court of Anna of Denmark, wife of infamous witch hunter James VI and I.

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​To children’s books now, and normally a celebrity writing for kids has some people rolling their eyes, but when the story is as charming as Poochie Pete and his Very Big Feet (Little Door, 5 March, £7.99), the author, Dougie Payne – bass player from Travis – has chosen to work with an Oban-based independent publisher, and it comes with lively illustrations and original songs composed by Payne, then those same eyes will only be seeking this book out. Look out too for the middle-grade fantasy adventure The Nightkeeper’s Apprentice by Jude Reid (Floris, 19 March, £7.99), winner of the annual Kelpies Prize, awarded by Edinburgh’s Floris Books, dedicated to discovering brilliant new children’s writing talent since 2004.

Vikki Reilly has worked in Scottish books for over 20 years and now works for Publishing Scotland, the trade and networking body for Scotland’s book publishing sector. She also edits BooksfromScotland.com, a website that promotes the best in Scottish writing, contemporary and classic, and supports Scottish publishers and authors to find new audiences.

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