Featured Author - September 2026 S.G. MacLean > Likes and Comments
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Lindsey suggested S.G. MacLean. She is a new to me author but I did pick up The Redemption of Alexander Seaton and will read that one. Thanks for the suggestion Lindsey.
A featured-author month works especially well when there is a clear starting point. Alice, choosing The Redemption of Alexander Seaton gives readers one shared doorway into MacLean’s work while still leaving room to explore the later series.
I seem to own the entire Seeker series, so I plan to start there.
I have read the first two in the Seeker series, so I'm planning on reading Destroying Angel. The first book was recommended to me in another group some years ago and I really enjoyed the first two and have been meaning to continue.
The Seeker series sounds interesting for the unusual historical perspective: I have the impression that historical (mystery) fiction more often takes a royalist viewpoint, maybe following the simpliifications of popular history which make Cromwell "a bad guy"? A new author for me, and I definitely will give both series a try.
I definitely enjoyed the different perspective and learning more about a historical period I wasn't very familiar with when I read the series before. I'll be getting to this a bit later in September.
That political angle makes the Seeker books an interesting test of viewpoint. Historical fiction often inherits the moral shorthand of later summaries; centering someone inside Cromwell’s machinery may complicate the familiar royalist-versus-parliamentarian frame before the mystery even begins.
I read The Redemption of Alexander Seaton and loved it. It was confusing at first trying to keep the characters straight and not being familiar with the history of Scotland. The characters are referred to sometimes by their names and sometimes by their titles, which are also unfamiliar to me. But once I got into the story, and figured out who was who, it was much easier to follow. There is a short glossary of Scottish words at the end. The book tells you this at the beginning, which is nice. You do not get to the end and wish you had known it was there the whole time. I will definitely be reading more of this series.
Great to hear Katy! I'll be continuing the Seeker series this month, but the first Alexander Seaton book is only 99 cents on Amazon Kindle US right now, so I picked it up to read in the future.
I have just started the 3rd Seeker book, more to come
The third book is often where a historical series proves whether its world can keep deepening rather than simply repeating the first mystery’s appeal. As you get further in, I would be curious whether the political setting becomes more complicated or merely more familiar.
I finished The Redemption of Alexander Seaton3 stars set in 1624 Scotland. Lots of talk of witches but of course the women were midwives or herbalist. The was a couple of murders. I wanted to hear more about the culture, location and history. Just okay for me.
Alice wrote: "I wanted more of the culture, location and history of 1624 Scotland. The witchcraft discussion centered on midwives and herbalists."That sounds like a missed promise in the setting. In 1624 Scotland, suspicion around midwives and herbalists could shape not only the atmosphere but also who is believed, accused, or protected. Did that social pressure affect the mystery at all, or did the historical material remain mostly background?
(Shona G MacLean)
Scotland (b.1968)
Niece of Alistair MacLean
Shona MacLean was born in Inverness and grew up in the Scottish highlands where her parents were hoteliers. She has an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Aberdeen. She lives on the Black Isle with
her husband and four children.
Alexander Seaton
The Redemption of Alexander Seaton
A Game of Sorrows
Crucible of Secrets
The Devil's Recruit
Damien Seeker
The Seeker
The Black Friar
Destroying Angel
The Bear Pit
The House of Lamentations
The Winter List