SHELF LIFE
The bestselling Scottish psychological thriller author picks fi ve books that have made an impact on her life
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
by Joan Aiken
‘One of my favourite books as a child was The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. It’s set in an alternative version of Britain in the early 19th century, under the rule of King James III, where wolves run wild, and follows two cousins, Bonnie and Sylvia, as they go on the run from a wicked governess, Miss Slighcarp. I loved everything about it, from the plucky heroine to the descriptions of landscape and the villainous way in which Miss Slighcarp wore a wig. Featuring secret passages, geese, snow, an orphanage, the best toy room known to humanity and a classic reversal of fortunes right at the last moment, it’s a classic that I’ve reread year after year. Most memorably, it contains descriptions of food that jumped off the page, from sandwiches made with the thinnest slivers of ham, to baked chestnut cakes, raw eggs, sliced cheese, and a roast partridge dinner that confirmed my love of bread sauce. It showed me that including details of food not only makes the reader’s mouth water, but brings the text to life.’