Not For Glory: A Historical Novel of Scotland (The Black Douglas Trilogy) Paperback – 26 Feb. 2015

I read the first of the Black Douglas Trilogy some time ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I could not resist any longer not downloading the 2nd and 3rd books and I am so glad that I did. It was men like Jamie Douglas, Thomas Randolph, Robbie Boyde, Alexander Scrymageour and so many others that won the war of Independence with, and for The Bruce. This book handles the last third of Jamie's life - after the war has finished and peace finally comes to Scotland. The Bruce was an ill man and his children were born late in his life. Jamie and Thomas are asked to be regents for his young son David. Jamie first though sets off to take The Bruce's heart to the Holy Land where unfortunately he gets caught up in war and dies. I believe this is the way Jamie would have wanted to die. I think he was a bit bored with peace because he had spent too many years fighting and found it difficult to settle down, but had he lived, perhaps David would have made a better king. It seems to me, that they all fought for so much, the Freedom of Scotland, they became old before their time and within a few years of The Bruce's death, all his paladins had died leaving David and Scotland vulnerable with no great heroes to fight for them, except for Alexander Ramsey and The Flower of Chivalry himself - so few. But if you enjoy The Bruce, you will enjoy this trilogy.

A great story about the fight for Scottish independence which rips along at a good pace.The only couple of negatives is that the proof reading has been shoddy; place names are inaccurate e.g. Dunbar instead of Durham and at the siege of Rutherglen a sea wind is mentioned when that town lies far from the sea.There are numerous other such niggles,however over all it was a good trilogy which I enjoyed.

Great last book of the series with so much action and intrigue. By this book the characters were so real you really wanted to weep alongside them as Robert the Bruce faded away . Sadly the proof reading was not up to much.

Another great read from J. R. Tomlin. It was a fantastic look into history, though hard to relate to the smell of the sea at Stirling.Great action and hard to put down. A must read for anyone who likes swift flowing battle scenes and the Black Douglas's skills as a leader.

A very enjoyable read. Very interesting and o was engrossed from the first chapter of the first book of the trilogy. It was great to get a different main character other than King Robert and James Douglas did not disappoint.

Thoroughly enjoyed this series. Would recommend both books in this series. I found that they brought the struggles for peace to life (albeit fictiously)

Very interesting, reasonably well written

Liked it and recognised parts off the areas described