Books we’re loving

Literary news andreviews with alocal flavour

HELEN PERCY is a shepherdess in the Perthshire farming community. She finds herself in this peaceful line of work after a tough past as a Church of Scotland minister, but this drastic change of scener

by Harriet Lane (£20, HB, Orion) What lies beneath the image we construct of ourselves? Ruth, newly divorced and drifting as her daughter leaves home, feels invisible – until Sookie, her dazzling form

In a world where image is everything, the quiet streets of suburbia hide deadly truths. Ambitious psychiatrist Dr Geddes is rising fast at a respected practice – until a troubling young patient threat

Zoe West shares her favourite picks for the week

Do you daydream about swapping the rat race for an outdoor-centric existence The trailblazers here have all taken dramatic steps to change their lives their stories might just inspire you to do the same