David Cairns, the Baron of Finavon (a Scottish title that goes back to the 13th century), has always been a student of history and enjoys creating emotional connections with his writing. Many readers have remarked on his ability to create an atmosphere and three–dimensional experiences with his writing style.
Until a few years ago, he was a technology entrepreneur with many successful (and – as he points out – one or two unsuccessful) ventures to his credit. He has lived and worked on four continents and as a result has sampled and been moulded by the history of London and Boston, the buzz of Chicago, Nashville and Silicon Valley, the pioneering atmosphere of the South African bush, the lazy lifestyle of the Bahamas, the cultural diversities of Europe and the laid-back lifestyle of Australia, which is where he makes his home these days. He has spoken at conferences on topics such as the Impact of Globalization and technology topics and keeps himself up to date with technology trends, currently reading about the impact of artificial intelligence in the decades to come.
Reviewers of his historical novels have commented:
★★★★★ Wonderfully descriptive narrative
★★★★★ Found myself transported back in time
★★★★★ Could not put the book down
★★★★★ Loved the characters and story
★★★★★ Suspenseful and engaging
★★★★★ Echoes of Dickens
He uses extensive research to build a richness and authenticity into each novel which also adds to the ability of the reader to place the story within the framework of their own experiences: a description of a pub that still stands, streets that still wind through old towns, half-forgotten memories
True to the adage that you can take the Scot out of Scotland but not Scotland out of the Scot, on St Andrew’s Day and at Hogmanay you will probably find him in his kilt, celebrating with a glass of uisge beatha - the 'water of life' - his favourite is a Linkwood single malt.
David Cairns, the Baron of Finavon (a Scottish title that goes back to the 13th century), has always been a student of history and enjoys creating emotional connections with his writing. Many readers have remarked on his ability to create an atmosphere and three–dimensional experiences with his writing style.
Until a few years ago, he was a technology entrepreneur with many successful (and – as he points out – one or two unsuccessful) ventures...
Uncover the secrets history tried to bury… The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice thrusts readers into the shadowy aftermath of one of America’s darkest moments—the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Perfect for fans of historical fiction, political thrillers, and courtroom drama, this gripping tale blends high-stakes intrigue with razor-sharp...
Is it really possible that you have stumbled across a secret lost for centuries? A secret that that could change the world order?
From the bustling gold rush and the streets of Melbourne in 1864 to the ancient city of Edinburgh in Scotland, three friends flee from a secret society out for revenge, only to find themselves at the centre of a...
Step back in time to 1863, when Melbourne was a melting pot of opportunity, ambition... and murder. The Gold Rush is in full swing, transforming Melbourne and the northern gold towns like Ballarat and Bendigo into a dazzling, yet dangerous, frontier. The promise of wealth lures prospectors from far and wide, but where there is gold, there is also...
Where to start? It’s almost an impossible task to limit yourself to just five books but, as my own scribblings focus on historical crime, mystery and adventure I suppose I should stay within this genre. So here goes with the subject matter in chronological order:
My first book is Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, a foundational work in historical fiction. It is set in 12th-century England, during the turbulent times of the Norman conquest and follows the noble knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe as he...
We have seen it in the movies: In 1973, the Six Million Dollar man envisages a man rebuilt with bionic limbs and sensors; in 1987, RoboCop, where a police officer is reborn as a cyborg. The pace increases as the years roll by: in 1995, the Ghost in the Shell, in 1999, the Matrix and so on.
As with all science fiction, the initial idea is a matter of thinking forwards until the impossible becomes possible. But today, these visions of the future are taking seed. Much of RoboCop’s mechanical...
My Major Gask mysteries series have been likened to Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories by some because of the atmospheric period detail and my Erroll Rait and Major Gask characters. Not surprising, given my affinity with the ace of detectives!
However, I am not the first nor will I be the last, I’m sure, to find such inspiration. Here are some ideas for those who enjoy mystery adventure and historical detective fiction bursting with atmosphere and mind-engaging puzzling…
In my research for The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice, the latest in my Major Gask Mysteries, I found an unexpected link to the legendary Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Few names in American detective history carry as much mystique as Allan Pinkerton and his remarkable operatives. The man who founded the agency in the mid-19th century was a Scot by birth, like my Major Gask character, an abolitionist by principle, and a relentless seeker of...
My theme is ‘Learn from History or you are doomed to repeat it’ and my latest book was sparked by my personal experiences of living in the USA and the increasing violence we are seeing in American politics today that, I think can trace its origins back in time. My latest book in the Major Gask Mysteries series, the Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice, explores the dark secrets and atmosphere surrounding perhaps the most notable manifestation of this culture; the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in...
A couple of items this time: I've received the first reviews for the Hydegild Sacrifice. I thought I'd share one from Reedsy:
LOVED IT!
A humorous and thrilling mix of historical fiction and classic mystery. Major Gask and Rait make a delightful team!
SYNOPSIS
A Dangerous Web: The next chapter in the adventures of Major Findo Gask and Erroll Rait begins not with a bang, but with a whisper - a whisper that draws them into the darkest corners of American history. Arriving in Washington DC, the two...
