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Turn of the Tide (Munro) Paperback – Illustrated, April 8, 2020

by Margaret Skea (Author)

609 ratings

Book 1 of 3: Munro Scottish Saga

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'The quality of the writing and the research is outstanding.' Jeffrey Archer

Scotland 1586. A land in turmoil, a family torn apart. An ancient feud threatens Munro's home, his family, even his life.

Munro owes allegiance to the Cunninghames and to the Earl of Glencairn. He escapes the bloody aftermath of a massacre, but cannot escape the disdain of the wife he sought to protect, nor inner conflict, as he wrestles with his conscience, with divided loyalties and, most dangerous of all, a growing friendship with the rival Montgomerie clan.

Set against the backdrop of the turmoil of the closing years of the sixteenth century, Turn of the Tide follows the fortunes of a fictional family trapped at the centre of a notorious historic feud. Known as the Ayrshire Vendetta, it began in the 15th century and wasn't finally resolved until the latter part of the 17th, the Cunninghames and Montgomeries dubbed the 'Montagues and Capulets' of Ayrshire.

Book 1 of the Munro Scottish Saga trilogy

Praise for Margaret Skea - Beryl Bainbridge Best First Time Novelist 2014

'I have read some wonderful debut novels this year - Turn of the Tide is one of them. I loved it ... a tale of love, loyalty, tragedy and betrayal.' BooksPlease

'Munro frames the book, in at the initial kill, and centre stage in the brilliant climax, all the more shocking as the conclusion of an otherwise measured tale ... a fascinating and engaging read with great visual effect.' Between the Lines

'It is hard to know where to begin, there were so many things I liked about Turn of the Tide...an emotionally gripping story about a man caught between duty and conscience at a time in history when a man's livelihood depended upon his loyalty to family and clan.' The History Lady

'Margaret Skea brings sixteenth century Scotland to vivid life in Turn of the Tide. I enjoyed travelling back in time with her.' Sharon K Penman

Editorial Reviews

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'The quality of the writing and the research is outstanding.' Jeffrey Archer

'The sheer villainy of some characters will take your breath away.' Historical Novels Review. -

'Set against the backdrop of a 16th century Scottish clan feud, a wonderful novel of blood, dirt, political manipulation and the cost to a family when one man struggles against the tide. As meticulously researched as Philippa Gregory, it's touching, fierce and surprising, with a sprinkling of humour. The Bookbag.

'Captivating and fast-paced... you'll find yourself reading far into the night.' Ann Weisgarber (Shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction)

'I can almost smell the moors and fish harbours, feel the chill and rain, smell the rain as it comes. An emotional roller-coaster, a gripping story with action and romance in equal amounts.' Bookworm

'This is an excellent re-creation of what life would have been like for the middle ranking nobility of 16th century Scotland. Rich prose, clever characterisation and convincing descriptions of mood and scene such that the weaving of the narrative is interesting all the way along. A very good read.' Prof David Galloway

'Based on the true, and it must be said, violent feud between the Cunninghame's and the Montgomeries, the story literally abounds with skulduggery, political conflict and a real sense of rivalry between two stubbornly fierce adversaries.' JaffaReadsToo

'A fabulous read from cover to cover - apart from it should carry a health warning *laugh* something like "readers are advised to remember to BREATH during the more exciting scenes.' Helen Hollick - Vine Voice

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sanderling Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 8, 2020
Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0993333117
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0993333118
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.06 x 0.89 x 7.81 inches
Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Munro Scottish Saga

Best Sellers Rank: #1,926,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #54,254 in Literary Fiction (Books)
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609 ratings

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Margaret Skea

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Margaret Skea grew up in Ulster at the height of the 'Troubles', but now lives with her husband in the Scottish Borders.

You can find more details, including why chocolate is vital to her creative process, on her website https://www.margaretskea.com

Katharina: Fortitude - shortlisted for the BookBrunch Award

Katharina :Deliverance - 2nd in the (international) Historical Novel Society New Novel Award.

Judged 'Assured, evocative, compelling, a fascinating read.' by Lead judge Catharina Cho.

Together they chronicle the life of Katharina von Bora, the escaped nun who married Martin Luther.

"Behind even a great (sometimes, noisy, fractious) man, there is often a quietly strong woman.

Margaret Skea's deep research and empathy brings alive one such. If you like your historical fiction truthful and complex, then this novel about Katharina Luther is for you.” Sarah Dunant

"Beautifully written and meticulously researched.' BooksPlease

Previous Prizes:

Turn of the Tide: Beryl Bainbridge Award for Best First Time Author, Historical Fiction Winner - Harper Collins / Alan Titchmarsh People's Novelist Competition; a House Divided: longlisted for the Historical Novel Society New Novel Award.

Margaret is passionate about well-researched, authentic historical fiction and providing a 'you are there' experience for the reader.

An Hawthornden Fellow and award winning short story writer - wins include, Neil Gunn, Chrysalis, and Winchester. Placings and listings include Rubery Short Story, Historical Novel Society Short Story, Mslexia, Fish - Short Story and One Page Prize and the Matthew Pritchard Award. She has been published in a range of magazines and anthologies in Britain and the USA.

A collection of short stories - Dust Blowing and Other Stories - including some of those from competitions mentioned above, is also available.

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609 global ratings

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Customers find this historical fiction book well-written and engaging, with one review noting its vivid landscape descriptions. They appreciate the character development, with one customer highlighting how the protagonist evolves throughout the story. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with several customers noting that the ending feels rushed.

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29 customers mention "Readability"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and enjoyable to read, with one customer noting that the story flows smoothly.

"...This is a book to re-read, recommend to friends, libraries, bookstores, and re-read again. Highly recommended." Read more

"...I found it well researched, well written, informative, entertaining and thoroughly worth reading...." Read more

"It kept my interest but it was hard to follow sometimes...." Read more

"...This book engaged me emotionally, and I found it deeply satisfying. Highly recommended." Read more

29 customers mention "Writing quality"26 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it well told and easy to read, with one customer highlighting the vivid descriptions and another noting the author's knowledge of Gaelic words.

"...Margaret Skea provides a richly researched, evocatively described, story of the feud between two Scottish clans, the Cunninghams and the Montgomeries..." Read more

"...We get wonderful glimpses into daily life in 16th century Scotland—what they ate, clothes they wore, even the children are portrayed in a way that..." Read more

"Turn of the Tide has it all - a rich sense of time and place, characters worth caring about, plot surprises, evocative language, and a pace that..." Read more

"This historical novel is quite well written...." Read more

26 customers mention "Historical fiction"26 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this historical fiction novel, praising its well-written narrative and good overview of the time period, with one customer highlighting the authentic feel of the story.

"...Margaret Skea provides a richly researched, evocatively described, story of the feud between two Scottish clans, the Cunninghams and the Montgomeries..." Read more

"...It was perfect! This novel is historical fiction at its best and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre." Read more

"...- a rich sense of time and place, characters worth caring about, plot surprises, evocative language, and a pace that never lags...." Read more

"...Most important, it was a good story with a protagonist both imperfect and likeable." Read more

19 customers mention "Character development"14 positive5 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, with one customer noting how they grow and change throughout the story.

"...I was grateful for the area map, the main character descriptions, and the short glossary of Scottish words, and used them all repeatedly...." Read more

"...of the Tide has it all - a rich sense of time and place, characters worth caring about, plot surprises, evocative language, and a pace that never..." Read more

"...Most important, it was a good story with a protagonist both imperfect and likeable." Read more

"...Sadly, there are so many characters with different last names that I had great difficulty keeping track of who was aligned with whom..." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some enjoying the story of the feud between Scottish clans while others find the ending rushed and abrupt.

"...The ending was a bit of a fizzle, I was hoping for some shedding of guilty blood, to no avail...." Read more

"...a richly researched, evocatively described, story of the feud between two Scottish clans, the Cunninghams and the Montgomeries, in the time of King..." Read more

"...My only complaint is that the book seemed to end a bit precipitously." Read more

"...Gave flavor (flavour) without punishing the reader. It took a real Scottish feud during the time of James VI of Scotland, and made the impact of..." Read more

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Marie A. Parsons
Scotland Clans and a history not so well known--Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2013
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History and historical fiction set in Scotland does not often get attention in the literary world. Turn of the Tide is a magnificently rewarding tale, that puts the reader smack into this less familiar world.

Margaret Skea provides a richly researched, evocatively described, story of the feud between two Scottish clans, the Cunninghams and the Montgomeries, in the time of King James.

In a time when people deemed honor, loyalty, and pledges of both, higher and deeper at times more than life and family, Munro must decide where his allegiance and his heart really truly lie. This is not a story about the kings and who rules the nation. It is the story of other folk, for whom family is sometimes subsumed in the need to recover and keep honor intact. And sometimes family--spouse and child--is worth more.

The language of the glens, the hills and forests of the land, the descriptions of the great houses, barns, taverns--the sounds and smells of food, sweat, or blood, the fear of being discovered--all make this story worth the reading. The reader will feel a part of the events, and will come to know the characters closely.

This is a book to re-read, recommend to friends, libraries, bookstores, and re-read again.

Highly recommended.

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S. H. Semsch
A Taste of Scotland's Feudal Past
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2013
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Knowing little of Scottish history, I wasn’t sure what to expect of this novel. I found it well researched, well written, informative, entertaining and thoroughly worth reading. Based on a long lasting bloody feud between two clans, the Cunninghames and the Montgomeries, the story begins with a surprise horrific mass killing, one side lying in wait to slaughter the other. This event actually occurred in Ayrshire, Scotland in 1586. The author, by introducing the fictional Munro family in this first chapter, is able to present the incidents that follow through the adventures of Munro, a minor laird, whose connections to both factions move the narrative along. We get wonderful glimpses into daily life in 16th century Scotland—what they ate, clothes they wore, even the children are portrayed in a way that creates a picture in the mind; their antics and worries adding interest and sparkle. The dreadful plight of the poor is made clear when a starving child is caught in the act of stealing a rabbit from the family warren, “... she could see his shoulder blades and hips protruding sharp and angular, his legs stick-thin.” I was grateful for the area map, the main character descriptions, and the short glossary of Scottish words, and used them all repeatedly. I was totally unprepared for the ending. It was perfect! This novel is historical fiction at its best and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre.

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Alan A. Schneider
Mixed feelings
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2015
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It kept my interest but it was hard to follow sometimes. Also, it's hard to get into the mindset that hurting your enemy is worth whatever the cost is. And in these cases, the revenge is for hurt pride. But the story moved fairly quickly and I was interested to find out what happens next.

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Tinney S. Heath
Compelling and evocative
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2013
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Turn of the Tide has it all - a rich sense of time and place, characters worth caring about, plot surprises, evocative language, and a pace that never lags. It raises some complex ethical questions that human beings of any time might have to face, and it doesn't insult the reader's intelligence by pretending there are easy answers. Decisions carry a cost (and often a reward as well). The long-running family feud that motivates the plot makes a simple happy ending elusive, but main character Munro's qualities of courage, intelligence, resourcefulness, and resilience shine through. Compassion and steadfast love also have a role. This book engaged me emotionally, and I found it deeply satisfying. Highly recommended.

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ysing
A good historical read.
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2022
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This historical novel is quite well written. Sadly, there are so many characters with different last names that I had great difficulty keeping track of who was aligned with whom (and “why”…familial or politically).

There was a lot of violence…but, that was what was happening in this time period and place. Thankfully, the author did not go into great graphic detail of it.

I can’t say I am “looking forward” to the next book….but, it will be on my “to be read” list. I do recommend this book.

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Cary
Good Scottish Historical novel.
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014
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I liked a number of things about this book. First, it used word order rather than hard-to-decipher spellings to indicate early Scottish speech. Gave flavor (flavour) without punishing the reader. It took a real Scottish feud during the time of James VI of Scotland, and made the impact of James' behavior and attitudes on both the nobility and gentry of Scotland. There is a lot of fiction about Elizabeth and England during this time, I've seen less about Scotland.

Most important, it was a good story with a protagonist both imperfect and likeable.

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Kindle Customer
What it means to be forced to take sides.
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2014
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Well constructed it kept the various political motifs clear and interesting. It makes one look for a sequal.

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Amazon Customer
good read
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2013
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Thanks to Amazon for sending this book my way. The story is set in 16th century Scotland involving a true blood feud between two noble families, the Montgomeries and the Cunning hames. The story is told through Munro, a fictitious character. I likened the story to the Hat fields and the McCoys of United States fame.

The first hundred pages were difficult to read. Thereafter, the story flowed making for good reading. Each family practiced horrible acts upon the other. The collateral damage to innocent people caused by the feud is the gist of the story. Lesser nobles walked a fine line trying to stay out of the crosshairs of the feud. The line proved too fine for Munro.

I don't give many four stars to a read, but this book had that inexplicable quality that made it more than a good book.

Thank you, Ms. Skea, for an exceptional read.

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An Avid Reader
A Superbly Written, Highly Engaging Novel
Reviewed in Australia on November 14, 2014
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Scots historical fiction is not a genre I seek generally, and I was very agreeably surprised with this book. From the opening lines, with their vividly evocative prose, the elegant writing does not falter. Having Munro with a foot in both camps is a masterly device to give insight into the scheming of both feuding clans, the Montgomeries and the Cunninghames. The switching of sides, the constant jockeying for position, the hatreds and vengeance, the doubt and sorrow, the self-questioning and ultimately the decisions that have to be made on an individual, human level, are eloquently brought to life in the story, from the initial ambush to the consequences that ripple outward and overtake so many members of both families. This opening episode and subsequent events become an archetype of every blood feud that ever foiled any possibility of peace in Scotland.
Ms Skea has a good ear for easy dialogue and has found an excellent balance between the modern and archaic forms. By judicious use of minor idiom that in no way detracts from immediate comprehension by the reader, she has managed to suggest dialogue in a Scots accent - no mean feat! The characters are three dimensional, believable, and many of them are of considerable charm. To one who can claim no great knowledge of Scots history but with some historical knowledge of the England of that time, the evocation of day to day life is certainly authentic feeling and flows naturally. There is a most appealing warmth and humanity in the affectionate and earthy family scenes, and the romance elements are delicately drawn.
The list of characters at the front and the glossary at the end are both useful additions, though I found that contextual understanding was easily gained for any unfamiliar Scots expressions. The characters quickly sorted themselves out in my mind. It could almost be argued that any difficulty in working out who was who and what side they belonged to is part and parcel of the real situation, a metaphor for the actual quandary of several of the characters.
The descriptions of the countryside and the vignettes of farm life are just beautiful, economically yet fully drawn and wonderfully integrated, so that everything moves the story along, and I found no wasted words, padding or history for history's sake anywhere. The author is to be congratulated on a tightly plotted, superbly written, highly engaging novel. I will be looking out for more from Ms Skea.

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A. G. Lockhart
Family Feuds!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2014
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The story is set in Scotland during the final years of the sixteenth century.
The Montgomeries and Cunninghames were real families who vied with one another for the ear of King James VI (later James I of Great Britain). In an age and society when the demands of family outrank the bonds of friendship, the earls of Eglintoun and Glencairn, patriarchs (respectively) of the warring factions, are quite willing to go to despicable and bloody lengths to achieve their ends. Here, the word of the head of the clan is law and only a very brave – and maybe foolhardy – man will challenge it.
The novel begins with the senseless massacre of a party of the Montgomerie faction which leads on to King James’s attempt to resolve the feud.
The chief protagonists are Munro, a minor laird owing fealty to the Cunninghames, and his wife Kate, and Hugh Montgomerie, a cousin of Eglintoun, and his wife Elizabeth, whose mother is a Cunninghame. Munro is sickened by his part in the massacre, and returns home to face Kate’s cold disapproval. When the king calls a halt to the bloodshed and makes the two earls swear to end it, Munro and Hugh form an unlikely friendship which threatens rather than cements the fragile peace.
King James decides to sail to Norway to bring home his bride, Princess Anne of Denmark, and chooses the Montgomeries to accompany him, to the resentment of the Cunninghame clan. His arrival in Edinburgh to the riotous welcome of his subjects then becomes the occasion for a reunion between Munro, Hugh and their respective families. However, during the pageant, the peace is threatened when the rivals are thrown together as members of the king’s retinue. A subsequent encounter between Hugh and an unpleasant, boastful relative of the Cunninghames, Patrick Maxwell, is broken up by Munro before it can lead to another bout of internecine bloodletting.
However, the Munro family, because of its friendship with the Montgomeries, has already fallen foul of William Cunninghame, heir to the Glencairn earldom. And when Sybilla, Munro’s sister-in-law-to-be, spurns William’s unwelcome advances, the scene is set for an exciting and far from happy climax on the treacherous sands of the Solway.
The author, with some historical justification, casts William as the villain of her story. She paints Hugh more attractively as a peace-loving aristocrat, though he is quickly driven to anger when Elizabeth is insulted. Munro, who more than any is the real “hero” of the novel, is Margaret Skea’s own creation. As readers, we want William to get his come-uppance, but unfortunately that is not how history works, and in a novelistic sense we are left with question marks.
Turn of the Tide, though billed as genre fiction, is literary in style and tone. The family lives of the main characters, with their ups and downs, are described in fond detail. Some of the most enjoyable episodes in the book concern the everyday events of farming an estate, coping with children and their whims, and dealing with family tragedy. Margaret Skea’s handling of two events in particular drew my attention, the colourful portrayal of a momentous occasion in Old Edinburgh, the street scenes and the pageant attending King James’s arrival in Edinburgh, and also the atmospheric and joyous celebration of winter at a frost fair on the frozen River Clyde.
The language of the novel is unusual. Margaret Skea recreates the lowland Scotland of Stuart times, in part, by an extensive use of Old Scots. For the most part, this does not create a problem, because the context gives the clue to the meaning, but it does slow down reading. Although my early life was spent in Scotland, I had to turn frequently to the glossary for a translation. The odd unfamiliar word or turn of phrase does not really detract from such a well-written story, yet I cannot help feeling that the action would have moved forward more speedily if the author had confined her use of the Scots language to dialogue and left it out of narrative passages.
I read Turn of the Tide on my Kindle and noted, as I have done in several other cases, some mistakes of syntax, grammar and punctuation. My suspicion (as I have already discovered in works seen in both printed and electronic form) is that these are not the fault of the writer but of sloppy conversions. Publishers really must take care that their e-books are up to the same standard as the more traditional versions.
I enjoyed reading the book very much. While all the world knows the tragedy of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Great Britain at least celebrates the later Gunpowder Plot with gusto, writers generally seem to pass over the early years of James Stuart’s reign in Scotland, before his accession to the English throne. And that is a pity.

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susana pliego
Thrilling, griping read!
Reviewed in Mexico on May 12, 2015
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Margaret Skea has made a thrilling, griping read! I loved this story and can't wait for more of it.
As I see it Munro is more than tangled beetwen his Cunninghame loyalty and his Montgomery affinity; he is troubled for the happenings at Annock, as for the part he took in it. Which is making him feel guilty and that guilt is following him for many months,also marring all aspects in his live. Till the point is reached where he is to loose all, his wife and family due to that event. Thankfully that does not come to pass and the relationship with his wife, the feelings they share are only strengthen with time.
Hard times come with hard things happening almost one after the other. The loss of the beloved daughter, also enhances the feeling of powerlessness that seems to follow Munro lately, then his mother is ailing and dying, his brother is becoming an estranger, unknown, there seems to be no clear path to reach him. Then Archie comes around and we find a lovely setting in his development as a close, affectionate brother and uncle and the sweetness of his liaison with Sybilla, whom is a likable lass, strong. In general, the rol of the women in this book is strong, both Elizabeth and Kate are powerful women, witty and clear of mind, able to lead their families into safety and to share with their partners joy and risks. They're the safe shore to which turn in the trouble tide that envelopes the plot.
William Cunninghame is a loathsome weasel. Weak leader and villain in the mix. He inspires hatred. I'm glad of Hugh and Patrick Montgomerie who are exactly the opposite to William and Glencairn. Munro, as John Cunninghame often tells him, just has to pray that no harm comes to Glencairn so William, besides loosing the only one able to put a break on his instincts, doesn't rise to the position of laird.
From the start to the end, this book is a page turner. The vast descriptions on each scene are the strokes of an artful painter; trough the pen of Margaret, one can picture each detail and actually be in the place of the scene.

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LB
Enjoyable historical novel, true to life and accurate
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2018
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I really enjoyed reading this book. The author did a lot of research and if you like historical novels you will enjoy this one. Take it from another writer -- a lot of work went into this book. It is very realistic and I couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like to life during that time in history among the Scottish feuds. I just downloaded the next one in the series. You will want to read this one too... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0719KNKK2/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_5

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NicShef❤️Reading
Beautiful historical storytelling...
Reviewed in Australia on August 12, 2017
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Set in 16th century Scotland, this novel focuses on the multi-generational feud between the Cunninghames and the Montgomeries. Margaret Skea brings this fascinating period alive with a powerful account of family feuding amidst the political intrigues of the day.

The main character, Munro, witnesses divided loyalties within his family. Actions of the nobility are shown to have consequences for all members of the family and all levels of society. The descriptions are rich and it made the reader feel like you were living in 16th century Scotland, from the royal court to domestic life in the countryside. Skea writes beautifully, the depth of research shines out in the details of costume, cookery, agriculture, childcare and the role of women.

There is one drawback - you may need to refer to the family charts quite often to work out who is related to whom - however stick with it; this novel is well worth it...

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Turn of the Tide (Munro) Paperback – Illustrated, April 8, 2020

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Superbly Written, Highly Engaging Novel

5.0 out of 5 stars Family Feuds!

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling, griping read!

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable historical novel, true to life and accurate

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful historical storytelling...

A Superbly Written, Highly Engaging Novel

Family Feuds!

Thrilling, griping read!

Enjoyable historical novel, true to life and accurate

Beautiful historical storytelling...