
A retired Glasgow grocer named Dickson McCunn finds himself drawn into the quiet charm of a remote Scottish village, where his curiosity leads him to the crumbling Huntingtower. The tower’s ancient stone walls hide a collection of eccentric characters—a bold young woman, a mysterious gentleman, and a cadre of locals with secrets that ripple back to the days of Rob Roy. As McCunn’s ordinary life collides with the tower’s uncanny atmosphere, he discovers that even a modest man can become entangled in intrigue.
The story weaves together gentle humor, vivid descriptions of the Scottish countryside, and a touch of historical lineage that ties McCunn’s ancestors to legendary Highland figures. Readers are invited to follow his reluctant yet determined steps as he navigates unexpected alliances and the subtle threats that linger in the shadows of the old tower. The first act sets a tone of light‑hearted adventure balanced with a quietly rising sense of danger, promising an engaging journey for those who love a good mystery rooted in place and heritage.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (433K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Edward A. White, Robert F. Jaffe, Kirsten Tozer, Charlene Taylor, Cathy Maxam and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)
Release date
2003-02-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1875–1940
Best known for writing The Thirty-Nine Steps, this Scottish author mixed fast-moving adventure with a remarkable public career that reached all the way to Rideau Hall. His books helped shape the modern thriller, while his life also included work as a publisher, historian, politician, and Governor General of Canada.
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