Far na Slighe: Shelagh Chaimbeul

World Gaelic Week (24^th February - 2^nd March) celebrates Scottish Gaelic across the globe. To mark World Gaelic Week 2025 we welcome author Shelagh Chaimbeul, winner of the Gaelic New Writers Award 2023, to the Mitchell Library on Thursday 27^th February to discuss her Scots Gaelic  crime novel Far na Slighe, shortlisted for The Highland Society of London Prize for Best Fiction Book 2024.

A summer's day in June 2004. Four teenagers are walking on the Fife Coastal Path near St Andrews when one of them, Amy, finds an unusual bracelet.

20 years later a new true crime series begins, Fuasgladh Cheist, which investigates suspicious and unexplained deaths. In the first program, Art Dawson is trying to find answers about the death of his sister, Joni, who fell while walking the Fife Coastal Path in June 2004. He has never believed the official verdict that it was an accident – what happened to her, and where is the priceless bracelet she was wearing?

As soon as Amy sees a picture of the bracelet on Fuasgladh Cheist, she recognises it. She had no idea that the jewellery was connected to the death of a young girl, and has no idea what to do with it now, especially with so many people looking for it.

Do the three others that were with Amy in 2004 know what happened to Joni? Why are they so reluctant to speak to her about their trip? And why is someone trying to make sure that the bracelet will never be found?

Samhraidh san Ògmhios, 2004. Tha ceathrar deugairean a’ coiseachd air Slighe Chladach Fìobha faisg air Cill Rìmhinn nuair a gheibh tè dhiubh, Amy, lorg ai bann-làimhe eireachdail.

20 bliadhna an dèidh sin tha sreath ùr a’ nochdadh, Fuasgladh Cheist, anns am bithear a’ dèanamh sgrùdadh air bàsan amharasach. Sa chiad phrògram, tha Art Dawson a’ feuchainn ri freagairtean a lorg mu bàs a pheathar, Joni, a thuit far Slighe Chladach Fìobha san Ògmhios 2004. Cha robh esan a-riamh a’ creidsinn gum b’ e tubaist a bh’ ann: dè thachair dhi, agus càit an deach am bann-làimhe prìseil a bh’ oirre?

Cho luath ’s a chì Amy dealbh den bhann-làimhe air Fuasgladh Cheist, tha i ga aithneachadh. Cha robh for aice gum b’ ann ceangailte ri bàs nighinn òig a bha am pìos seudraidh, agus chan eil for aice dè nì e leis a-nis, is daoine a’ coimhead air a shon.

A bheil fios aig na triùir eile a bha còmhla ri Amy ann an 2004 dè thachair do Joni? Carson nach eil iad airson bruidhinn rithe mu dheidhinn an turais aca? Agus carson a tha cuideigin airson dèanamh cinnteach nach tèid am bann-làimhe a lorg idir?