Aaron hits top 100 list with Highland mystery tales
A FORMER Wick High School pupil has used his time in lockdown to write a book of Highland mystery tales that has gone into a top 100 bestsellers list on Amazon alongside Stephen King and Dean Koontz.
Caithness features heavily in the new book, Mysteries and Misadventures: Tales from the Highlands, released this week by author Dr Aaron Mullins.
Aaron includes a special section of "author's notes" within the compendium which reveals how aspects of his life growing up in Caithness inspired each story.
“In these uncertain times, I wanted to write a book that not only entertains people but also reminds them of happier memories," he said.
"The land is still beautiful and we’ll get through this together and emerge kinder to each other.”
From Dunnet Forest and Whaligoe Steps, and from Castletown to Beinn a’ Chrulaiste, his love for the Highlands and its people shines through, both in his stories and reflections on his personal journey in the author’s notes.

As Dr Aaron Mullins, he is an award-winning, internationally published psychologist. As a fiction author, he is known for exploring the darker side of psychology in his work.
This can be seen in the stories of redemption – a prank gone wrong in The Gala Queen, and a heavy suitcase containing a dark secret in Last Train South, which concerns a journey from Wick to Inverness.
In another tale, Secrets of the River, an unopened box with a deadly history is dragged from Wick River.
In a varied career, Aaron set up Birdtree Books Publishing where he worked as editor-in-chief before going on to teach academic writing at Coventry University.
Now semi-retired from academia and living in Troon, he devotes most of his time to charity work, travelling and writing on the beach.
"I left Wick High School in 1999 and followed the family tradition of growing up in the Highlands, before joining the military and serving four years in the RAF.
"My father also attended Wick High School and my grandparents ran a tearoom in Strathpeffer.
"The A9 north from Inverness is basically the trunk of my family tree, with each of us settled on the branches along the way."
Aaron fondly recalls his early years playing in the woods next to the Caithness Glass factory and says that every story in the new book is inspired by a childhood memory of Wick.
"I was inspired to write about the Highlands when I visited my old primary school, just before it was knocked down and became Noss primary.
"One of my teachers showed me around my old P7 classroom and it brought back so many memories, especially as my school report from that teacher said I have a natural ability for creative writing and she can't wait to read my books one day."
Describing Mysteries and Misadventures, Aaron said he wanted to include "a message of hope" – where the story allows – relevant to the current lockdown crisis.
"I write about people going through extraordinary things but with a message that can translate to the real world. It’s okay if things aren’t positive all the time.
"It’s normal to feel scared, sad, angry or annoyed with events that are happening around you, and to you. This is the human experience. And there is always hope for something better in the next chapter."
Aaron said he felt it was quite "surreal" to see his book debut in the Top 100 Bestsellers on Amazon in the crime, thriller and mystery short stories category.
"It's sitting there alongside Stephen King and Dean Koontz, currently at number 97," he added and described the short story collection as having "something for everyone".
Mysteries and Misadventures: Tales from the Highlands is available from Amazon as both a paperback and ebook at www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B087QVNGWY
Aaron’s author website is https://aaronmullins.com/ and there is a Facebook page for fans at www.facebook.com/aaronmullinsauthor/