'It seems your father has been poisoned, sir.'
Hector's lips trembled slightly. 'Then it is murder, Mr Stirling?'
'Murder... or suicide.'


The year is 1686. Sir Lachlan MacLean, chief of a proud but poverty-striken Highland clan, has met with a macabre death in his Edinburgh lodgings. With a history of bad debts, family quarrels, and some very shady associates, Sir Lachlan had many enemies. But while motives are not hard to find, evidence is another thing entirely. It falls to lawyer John MacKenzie and his scribe Davie Scougall to investigate the mystery surrounding the death of the chief, but among the endless possibilities, can Reason prevail in a time of witchcraft, superstition and religious turmoil?

This thrilling tale of suspense plays out against a wonderfully realised backdrop of pre-Enlightenment Scotland, a country on the brink of financial ruin, ruled from London, a country divided politically by religion and geography. The first in the series featuring investigative advocate John MacKenzie, Death of a Chief comes from a time long before police detectives existed.

Douglas Watt is the author of The Price of Scotland, winner of the 2008 Hume Brown Senior Prize in Scottish History

Interview with Douglas Watt

This is your first venture into the world of fiction, why did you decide to write Death of a Chief, and what was the inspiration behind the story?

I’ve always loved both history and fiction. It just happened that I had a history book published first (The Price of Scotland) and the novel is appearing second. It could have happened the other way round! The original inspiration for the story was a man I came across during my historical research, an Edinburgh lawyer called John MacKenzie of Delvine. He was a Gaelic speaking advocate in the late 17th century who worked for a large number of clients. Very little is known about him as a man, but I thought he seemed like an interesting character to base a detective on.

I hope to achieve two main things with the novel. Firstly I want to tell an interesting tale in the adventure story/thriller genre. Secondly, I want to take the reader through the fascinating world of late 17th century Scotland. I’ve tried to do this without labouring the history too much, letting the conversations of the characters open up the major themes of the period and the differences and similarities with our own time

Why did you chose 1680s Edinburgh as a setting for the story?

I know the period very well from my historical research. I did a PhD at Edinburgh University on the relationship between Highland chiefs and Edinburgh lawyers in the 17th century (Chiefs, Lawyers and Debt), so it seemed natural to set the novel in a period I was familiar with. For me the 17th century is the great historical period. A clash was occurring between two worlds as the old order fragmented and the modern world was born. For example, in the 17th century there are joint stock investors who are also witch hunters, and scientists who are also alchemists. The juxtaposition of differing world views provides a very interesting backdrop for fiction.

This is the first book in a series, where will it go from here?

I’m busy writing a second book at the moment with the same two principal characters (John MacKenzie and Davie Scougall). The provisional title is Testament of a Witch. It’s a year after the first book – 1687. A witch hunt is brewing in East Lothian. The wife and daughter of one of MacKenzie’s clients are accused. Scougall and MacKenzie investigate.

I’d like to keep the series progressing through the late 17th century and even into the early 18th century (one a year – maybe until 1707!). I’ve already begun to plot out a third book set in late 1688 at the time of the Glorious Revolution, mixing murder and politics. The idea is that each book, as well as being an interesting story, will deal with a particular historical subject. Death of a Chief is concerned with Highland chiefs and debt. Other books will cover alchemy, freemasonry, witchcraft, Jacobitism, Darien etc.

What can you tell us about John MacKenzie and Davie Scougall?

John MacKenzie is a Gaelic speaking Highlander who trained as an advocate in Edinburgh and works as a clerk of the Court of Session, as well as looking after a large number of clients. He is 55 and has one daughter. His wife died in childbirth. His views anticipate the Enlightenment of the 18th century. He loves philosophy, gardens, golf and literature. However, despite his devotion to reason he is haunted by the emotional turmoil of his past (which is slowly revealed in the books) and sometimes suffers from crippling melancholy. He is also a bit full of himself, but like most detectives he’s a dedicated seeker of the truth.

MacKenzie’s character contrasts with his sidekick Davie Scougall, a young Presbyterian Lowlander, who reflects the prejudices and superstitions of the time. The dialogue between the two of them highlights some of the intellectual and religious debates of the period.

You’ve previously written an award winning history book, how do you think your knowledge of Scottish history helped with this story?

Hopefully because I’m very familiar with the period I can bring it alive for those who don’t have detailed knowledge of the late 17th century or who know nothing about Scottish history. Most of the characters are fictional but the setting is anchored in historical reality and the books will be dictated by the historical events of late 17th century Scotland.