"I really enjoy your books." A reader’s email to Thirsty author, Alan Stewart

This is an email I've been meaning to compose for a long time...

 Every now and then my wife Jenny buys me one of your books for my birthday or Christmas - most recently The Peregrine Thief back in June.

 It probably goes without saying, but I really enjoy your books, fact or fiction.  As an amateur naturalist and conservationist, I now know far more about wildlife crime, the law and the challenges of bringing a prosecution than I ever thought I would.  You make the complicated easily digestible and understood - thank you.  The adventures of Bob McKay were an unexpected change in direction, but again I became addicted – the twist at the end of Cruel Intentions genuinely came as a shock!  And I love the fact that you occasionally drop in Bob's musical tastes (I'm a Runrig man myself).  I know Perthshire very well – my ex in-laws used to run the Strathord Inn in Stanley – and I've been holidaying up there all my life. So when I read your books, most of the time I can actually picture where you are talking about and that helps to bring them to life and increases my enjoyment.

 So how did someone living in south west Wiltshire come to have all your books?  Well, it started with a holiday based in Glendevon back in 2017 and a visit to Gloagburn farm shop where they had a selection of your books.  They all looked interesting and I think I went with A Lone Furrow to see what I thought – and I was soon hooked.  It brought the realities of wildlife crime to life, managing to be both depressing and amusing in equal measure! Since then (with thanks to my wife) I gradually acquired your 'back catalogue' and have continued to buy them from you ever since (with the exception of Calls from the Wild which was another Gloagburn purchase in 2022).  Actually, we were back at Gloagburn in September and they only had a handful of your novels remaining, which I hope is a sign of their popularity.

 Are there any more books in the pipeline?  I do hope so, but I would totally understand if the time had come to spend more time in the garden or out with nature.

 Anyway, thank you so much for writing about your experiences over the years, truly inspirational.

 Best regards, Ian Sinclair

 PS - Are you still struggling with the roadworks on the A85?  We stayed near Dundee in September and every morning Tay FM were warning of huge delays between Methven and Perth and Jenny and I would both say "I bet Alan's not happy"!