Pilgrim of Slaughter

A gripping historical crime thriller set in a Scotland on the brink of revolution — where faith, politics and murder collide.

Edinburgh, 1688: a divided nation, a city ready to explode, and a killer stalking the streets in the name of God.

About the Ebook

Pilgrim of Slaughter plunges readers into Scotland in 1688 — a nation torn apart by religious hatred, political upheaval and the threat of revolution. Edinburgh is a powder‑keg: mobs burn effigies of the Pope on the High Street, conspirators whisper in taverns, and the King’s pro‑Catholic policies have pushed the country to breaking point.

When a nobleman is assassinated by a Catholic fanatic, Protestant fury reaches boiling point. Investigative advocate John MacKenzie and his assistant Davie Scougall are tasked with uncovering the truth — but their partnership is strained to its limits as they find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide.

Meanwhile, a far more terrifying threat stalks the city: a killer who believes himself a holy instrument, a butcher acting in the name of God… a true pilgrim of slaughter.

Rich in historical detail and driven by tension, conflict and moral complexity, this is a standout instalment in Douglas Watt’s acclaimed John MacKenzie series.

Critical Praise

"Move over Rebus. There’s a new – or should that be old – detective in town."
— Matthew Perren, i-on Edinburgh (on Death of a Chief)

Why You'll Love This Ebook

• A gripping historical crime mystery set during one of Scotland’s most turbulent eras.
• Richly atmospheric Edinburgh setting filled with danger, intrigue and political tension.
• Complex, compelling characters navigating faith, loyalty and moral conflict.
• A chilling serial killer plot woven into real historical events.
• The third book in the acclaimed John MacKenzie series.

About the Author

Douglas Watt is a historian, poet and novelist. His non‑fiction work The Price of Scotland: Darien, Union and the Wealth of Nations won the Hume Brown Senior Prize in Scottish History in 2008. He is also the author of Death of a Chief, the first novel in the John MacKenzie series of pre‑Enlightenment crime mysteries.

Watt has contributed opinion pieces to The Scotsman on financial, historical and political topics. He lives in Linlithgow with his wife Julie and their three children.

Also in the John MacKenzie Series

Continue the investigations of John MacKenzie:

• Death of a Chief — Book 1
• Testament of a Witch — Book 2
• Pilgrim of Slaughter — Book 3 (you are here)
• The Unnatural Death of a Jacobite — Book 4
• A Killing in Van Diemen’s Land — Book 5
• A Case of Desecration in the West — Book 6

Or get the full series in one place:

The Complete John MacKenzie Bundle

Publication Details

Publisher: Luath Press

Publication Date: —

Print Length: — (Ebook edition)

ISBN (Ebook): 9781910324547

Format: Ebook

Language: English / Scots

Categories: Historical Crime / Scottish Fiction / Mystery

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