Pickering Book Tree

Gin and Books Evening
2025-12-12 19:00 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
Join us for the perfect combination on a Friday evening in December!
Because last year’s festive gin and books event was so much fun, we’ve summoned a delicious range of distilled treats for a return of Winter Spirits in the Book Tree…
a friendly haunting among the old oak beams, where we’ll meet:
🕵️‍♂️ The Ghost of Characters Past
🎄 Winter Spirits (make great presents!)
📚 The Ghost of Christmas Books Yet to be Read
At the event, enjoy a selection of literary cocktails from the pop-up bar and soak up the festive atmosphere in the cosy company of a room full of books and booklovers! The shop will be open for browsing if you’re looking for the perfect gift or to find your next read, bookish socialising, and possibly a very relaxed and completely optional game or activity (TBC).
The bookshop will be open from 7pm, when the bar will also open.
Tickets are free and guarantee entry to the event. While we will be able to accept walk-ins on the night, space in the shop is limited and priority will be given to those who have booked in advance.

Toby Virgo & Carter the Cabman
2025-12-29 17:00 - 18:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
‘Tis the Dark Time of the Year…
but don’t worry, Jeremiah Carter is here 🎩
We’re delighted to welcome Toby Virgo and Carter the Cabman back for a special seasonal event in the Book Tree.
Hear extracts from the new Carter the Cabman story, The Dead Who Bury Us, and enjoy a warming mulled wine while you soak up the atmosphere. Toby will also share tales and anecdotes from Victorian London’s strange obsession with Death, gleaned from his extensive research of the period.
The Dead Who Bury Us is the third in the series of beautifully produced pamphlets set in the world and life of Carter the Cabman. Like the full length novel they accompany, each short story is complete with stunning illustrations together with immersive narration rich with historical detail evoking the streets of Victorian London and the realities of life for people of the time.

About the Book
Read about the story below, and watch the trailer on YouTube (here’s the link) for a taste of what to expect…
The Dead Who Bury Us is set on All Hallows’ Eve, 1888 and follows hansom cab driver Jeremiah Carter as he works the rain-lashed streets of Victorian London on the night when the veil between the living and the dead is said to be at its thinnest.
Visiting a small churchyard in the dead of night, Carter quickly discovers he is not alone. But in a world when men and women will stoop to almost any depths to survive another day in the Abyss, justice can be served in the strangest of ways.

Event Details
This event will start at 5pm, and the shop door will be open from 4.30 (we’ll close as usual at 4pm to set up).
Tickets are free and guarantee entry to the event. There’ll be complementary mulled wine on arrival.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Brooks Williams
2026-02-20 19:30 - 22:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
We are thrilled to welcome acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter Brooks Williams to the Book Tree for our first music gig of 2026.
Combining roots, jazz, blues, classical and folk, Brooks is a “guitarist in possession of rich vocal powers and a talent for lyrical imagery” (RnR Magazine) with “a beautiful voice that you just melt into” (Americana UK).
Each year Brooks performs hundreds of solo and band shows and regularly collaborates with an impressive list of fellow musicians including Hans Theessink, Guy Davis, Sally Barker, Boo Hewerdine, Paul Jones, and Rab Noakes. He’s played the Fairport Cropredy Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival, Costa del Folk, Shrewsbury Festival, Celtic Connections and Glastonbury Festival among many others.
Brooks creates a “beautiful fusion” (Keys And Chords) in his music, “Setting new standards and a fresh direction for the blues” (Blues In Britain). His massive repertoire spans his own impeccably written material, and he has an excellent ear for a good cover too. Down At The Crossroads wrote of Brooks that his “original songs are typically sophisticated musically, and yet sound immediately familiar – a sign of a skilled songwriter”.
Drinks will be available to purchase at an informal bar before the show and during the interval. The concert will be in our atmospheric upstairs event space, surrounded by the building’s old oak beams.
Doors will open from 7pm, and the performance will start at 7.30pm.
Tickets can be booked below, by contacting Pickering Book Tree, or at the shop counter. We hope to see you there!

About the Musician
One of the most consistently excellent musicians in roots music — American Roots UK who ranked Brooks Williams in the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists
STRING BENDER, SONG WARBLER, TUNE WRANGLER
Brooks Williams is one of those select few ‘how on earth does he do it?’ artists. He can sing. He can write. And, man oh man, can he play guitar.
Statesboro, Georgia-born, Williams lives and tours from him home in the United Kingdom for nearly two decades.
Williams’ music effortlessly slides between country, blues and folk. He has been playing Americana long before it was given that name.
With thirty-four recordings in thirty-five years, Brooks Williams is listed one of the ‘Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists’. At The Barrier calls him a “chocolate-voiced, guitar maestro”.
Never one to shy away from the road, the list of venues and festivals Brooks Williams has plays is staggering. Newport, Winnipeg, Cropredy, Cambridge, Philadelphia, are but a few of many.
It is pure talent, hard work and relentless touring which has brought him to the pinnacle of his career — Blues In Britain

Find Out More
Follow Brooks on Facebook or Instagram
Read more about Brooks on his website
Find Brooks’ music on Bandcamp or YouTube

Pete Morton
2026-03-06 19:30 - 22:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
We very much look forward to welcoming folk singer, songwriter and entertainer Pete Morton to his first gig at Pickering Book Tree. Pete is an astounding live performer, as those of you have seen him before will attest to!
Since the 1990s Pete has toured extensively throughout the UK and the world including the US, Canada, and Europe. He has also toured Pakistan, Malaysia, and Singapore on behalf of the British Council.
Pete’s diverse repertoire ranges from songs of love to social commentary to historical classics and beyond. Described by R2 Magazine as “a writer who manages to express everything, from the highly personal to the truly international”, his albums and live performances are rich with music and stories to make you laugh and cry.

About the Show
This new show of Pete’s is a tour de force, it is honestly a revelation, and a real joy, to see a performer at the top of his already deeply impressive game … It’s one of the very best things I’ve ever seen — Pete Kenny
The Ghost of a Sailor is a new show of singing together, comedy and storytelling. The 17th century ghost is a shipwrecked sailor who has remained resident in a harbour tavern to the present day, telling his tales in an unruly mix of stand-up, tales and popular chorus. The show is primarily a community singalong that crosses the centuries with well known traditional ditties, music hall and modern day popular classics, with songs for all generations.
The sailor’s ghost winds his way back and forth through time, interacting with the audience, observing the world and history, whispering to famous characters, dancing with revellers and falling in love. The show is wrapped in the style of the talking blues — a simple guitar and spoken word technique invented by Woody Guthrie, and later made famous by Bob Dylan in his early recordings.
Drinks will be available to purchase at an informal bar before the show and during the interval. The concert will be in our atmospheric upstairs event space, surrounded by the building’s old oak beams.
Doors will open from 7pm, and the performance will start at 7.30pm.
Tickets can be booked below, by contacting Pickering Book Tree, or at the shop counter. We hope to see you there!

About the Musician
Pete is everything we want our singer-songwriters to be. Fiercely creative, proudly independent, skilful, talented, and terminally unpredictable — MOJO Magazine
Pete Morton is a singer and entertainer who is often referred to as an old time troubadour. He delivers an unruly freewheeling mix of storytelling, comedy and song that weaves its way around the folk tradition. His current show The Ghost of a Sailor’s talking blues is a joyful ramble through time (not necessarily in the right order), in the style of the talking blues, as well as unleashing popular singalong chorus from the last 400 years.
Pete is known for his songwriting skills. He has recorded a wealth of material over the years. His two most recent albums are The Golden Thread and Fair Freedom.
His most famous song Another Train has been performed and recorded by various artists including Sally Barker, whose version you can listen to on YouTube here.
Originally from Leicester, Pete discovered the acoustic music scene at 16 and has been on the never-ending tour internationally ever since. With his powerful, euphonious voice storytelling and compelling stage presence he continues his merry niche, singing songs and entertaining with a fun-loving and approachable style.
As a chronicler of the human condition and wry observer of history and the march of progress, Morton is up there with fellow Englishmen Richard Thompson and Chris Wood — Glasgow Herald

Find Out More
Follow Pete on Facebook or Instagram
Read more about Pete on his website, his Ghost of a Sailor tour page or his Wikipedia page for a full bio and discography
Find Pete’s music on YouTube or his two most recent albums on Bandcamp

Gay Marris
2026-03-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
We are excited to welcome Gay Marris back to the Book Tree for what is sure to be a fascinating evening!
Many of you will remember her previous event in 2024 when she enthralled us with her debut novel A Curtain Twitcher’s Book of Murder — a deliciously dark and gripping crime novel in short stories about a series of murders on Atbara Avenue, the very picture of a quiet suburban street.
The Beasts of the Black Loch, the first book in the new A Natural History of Murder series, is published on 12th March. We can’t wait to chat with Gay about her brilliant combination of science and cosy crime, the clues which can be found in nature, her writing process and more at this in conversation event.
The novel is gorgeously atmospheric, steeped in its wild Highlands setting with wonderful descriptions of the flora and fauna from the perspective of the very knowledgeable Dr Ava Dickens, whose point of view is a delight to read. There’s an eclectic cast of characters — isolated together and each raising suspicion in one way or another — combined with a hint of local folklore, a crumbling estate turned hotel setting, and a satisfying mystery which kept us guessing. The story reads like a classic whodunit for Agatha Christy fans, with a scientific twist as Ava uses her knowledge of the natural world to find a killer wreaking havoc in an otherwise peaceful place ruled by nature.
This event will start at 7.30pm and the shop door will be open from 7pm with complementary wine and cordial available on arrival.
Tickets are free and guarantee entry to the event. Please contact the shop or use the booking form below to reserve your seats.
We look forward to seeing you there!

About the Book
In 50,000 acres of remote Scottish mountains and moor sits Dorcha Hall: a former hunting lodge nestling amongst ancient forests, on the shores of the enigmatic ‘Black Loch’. At night, lights glow from within, smoke curls from its chimneys, and in the forgiving murk of the gloaming, it looks magical. In daylight, its mouldering plasterwork and failing plumbing present a less romantic reality.
Dr Ava Dickens has come to Dorcha to visit her godson, Alastair – a young man whose parents’ sudden death has taken him from a quiet life in academia to owning Loch Dorcha. He and his very new wife are convinced the only way to make the estate work is to run the Hall as a hotel. But Ava is a rigorous scientist, her specialty animal behaviour, and she is by no means certain that the evidence is indicative of a successful outcome.
When one of the hotel guests is found dead in his bed, having gulped down poisonous insect repellant rather than the whisky sitting next to it, Ava’s knowledge of the female Culicoides impunctatus – aka the Highland midge – leads her to doubt that it was an accident. And worse is to come…

About the Author
Dr Gay Marris is a retired research scientist whose career focussed on insect ecology, parasites and honey bee health. Her first novel, A Curtain Twitcher’s Book of Murder, is set in the deceptively dangerous suburbs of 1960s London, where she grew up.
From a young age Gay had a profound curiosity about nature. Many formative hours were spent in the company of tadpoles, caterpillars, and other wildlife gathered on garden safaris. Time well spent. She went on to study at Dundee University, was awarded a degree in Zoology and, later, a doctorate.
Perhaps because she spent so much of her professional life observing tiny interactions between tiny creatures, her fictional work explores the minutiae of human conduct: what makes us tick.

Ryedale Festival: Pre-Concert Conversation with Edward Dusinberre
2026-03-27 18:30 - 19:30 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
Ryedale Festival: Pre-concert conversation with Edward Dusinberre
6.45–7.15pm | Pickering Book Tree
Edward Dusinberre, first violinist of the Takács Quartet, joins us to discuss his writing as well as his music-making. Warm, insightful and often very funny, his two acclaimed books — Beethoven for a Later Age and Distant Melodies — offer a rare glimpse into the pressures, friendships and musical adventures of one of the world’s great ensembles. A fascinating introduction before hearing the Quartet perform.

Tickets: £5
Book online at ryedalefestival.com
(direct link to the pre-event conversation here)
Doors will be open from 6.30pm for a prompt start at 6.45pm. The event will be held in our atmospheric upstairs event space.
The bookshop will remain open for browsing following the event, and there will pre-signed copies of both of Edward’s books available to purchase while stocks last.

Ryedale Festival 2026 Season Launch Concert: Takács Quartet
8pm | Church of St Peter and St Paul, Pickering
Haydn – Quartet in G minor op.74 No.3 The Rider
Beethoven – Quartet in E-flat major op.74 The Harp
Debussy – Quartet in G minor
Join us as we open the 2026 season with the Takács Quartet, whose five-decade journey from Budapest to the major stages of the world has made them one of the most revered ensembles of the past century. As BBC Music Magazine recently put it, ‘you will not hear better string quartet playing anywhere in the world today’.
Their programme moves from the galloping energy of Haydn’s Rider Quartet to the glowing serenity of Beethoven’s Harp Quartet, before closing with an impressionist masterpiece by Debussy. An unmissable night for music-lovers across Yorkshire and a memorable way to launch the Festival’s 2026 season.
Classical music doesn’t get more life-enhancing than this — The Guardian
The undisputed greatest string quartet in the world — The Daily Telegraph

Tickets: £38 · £32 · £22 · £5 (Under 25s)
Book online at ryedalefestival.com
(direct link to the launch concert here)
The full programme for the 2026 Ryedale Festival will be announced after the concert. Festival dates Friday 10th July – Sunday 26th July 2026

Ava Glass
2026-03-31 19:30 - 21:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
We are delighted to welcome brilliant spy fiction author Ava Glass to Pickering to discuss her new page-turner, which is published in March!
Inspired by her time working with spies and later as a crime reporter in the US, Ava’s fiction is laced with tension and is addictively entertaining. The Hiding Season features a compelling main character who’s easy to root for from the beginning as she tries to build a new life for herself after her old one falls apart, through to her unwitting discovery of something she wasn’t meant to see, and the ensuing cat and mouse chase to survive. The fast-paced story is packed with plenty of action and suspense — all of which kept us hooked until the final page!
One of the vanishingly few female authors writing spy fiction, Ava Glass is breaking down the door to the most male-dominated genre. We can’t wait to chat with her about The Hiding Season (spoiler free!), the art of writing gripping espionage and crime thrillers, and balancing real world inspiration with the perfect fictional spy story.
For a taste of what to expect, there’s a great article in The Yorkshire Times here: https://yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/The-Spy-WHO-Nodded-At-Me
The event will start at 7.30pm and the shop door will be open from 7pm with complementary wine and cordial available on arrival.
Tickets are free and guarantee entry to the event. Please contact the shop or use the booking form below to reserve your seats.
We look forward to seeing you there!

About the Book
A twisting cat and mouse chase from the mountains of Montana to the heart of Texas that warns the reader, be careful who you trust! — Ruth Ware
In this gripping, atmospheric thriller, a woman becomes the only witness to a deadly crime . . . making her the next target.
Maya Landry is in desperate need of a fresh start.
Alone and heartbroken, she finds work as a caretaker at an exclusive ski resort for the elite in the mountains of Montana. Quiet and empty in the summer months, it’s the perfect escape.
All Maya wants is to be alone. But she’s not alone on the mountain. Someone else is there. A killer with his next victim in his sights.
After Maya finds a body, she must run for her life. One man tells her that he can save her. But can she trust him? Is he everything he claims to be?
Only one thing is certain: the killer will stop at nothing. And Maya is the only witness to their crime . . .
A stunningly paced and artfully rendered thriller, The Hiding Season gripped me from the first word and kept me up late into the night. Riveting — Megan Davis

About the Author
Dubbed ‘The new queen of spy fiction’ by the Guardian newspaper, ‘the real thing’ by the Washington Post and ‘A worthy heir to the James Bond mantle’ by James Patterson, A.C. ‘Ava’ Glass is the CWA Dagger-shortlisted author of the popular Emma Makepeace series (which included The Chase, The Trap, and The Traitor. Her critically acclaimed 2023 thriller The Traitor was a Grazia Book of the Month, a Washington Post Book of the Year, a Cosmopolitan Book of the Year, and a Richard and Judy Bookclub pick.
Ava Glass’ novels are based on first-hand experience working with spies for the British government alongside several years working as an investigative journalist and crime reporter in the US. Her time in that world fascinated her, and the people she met back then inspire every book she writes.

Anne Gair
2026-04-03 19:30 - 22:00 | The Black Swan, 18 Birdgate, Pickering, YO18 7AL
We are delighted to welcome the wonderful Anne Gair to Pickering during the tour for her gorgeous debut album of original songs which has already received wide praise.
Anne’s music is a heady mix of genres with nods to indie folk, country americana, blues and jazz, with strong vocal melody lines and a penchant for harmony and open tunings.
Anne played at The International Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow in January 2025, releasing her debut single Steal Away that same month.
Her debut album Cigarettes and Smokescreens was chosen as Album of the Week on Celtic Music Radio in November 2025, and went on to be nominated for Album of the Year. Anne’s fifth single, Blank Spaces, was included in the Fatea Winter Sessions 2025.
Originally trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Anne has toured widely on stage performing both Joni Mitchell covers as well as her own original material, and is endorsed by Cole Clark Guitars and G7th Capos.
(Anne’s) voice is beautiful, just gorgeous — Nerina Pallot
The event will be held in The Black Swan in a separate room with a cosy atmosphere making it a lovely setting for live music! The room has easy access to the bar which will be open as usual, so arrive any time before the show starts if you’d like to enjoy a drink or two beforehand. There will also be an interval.
We’ll check tickets into the performance space from 7pm to allow plenty of time to arrive and find a seat before the music starts at 7.30pm with a special guest opener from Carrie Martin.
Tickets can be booked below, by contacting Pickering Book Tree, or on the door while spaces are available. We hope to see you there!

About the Musician
In Cigarettes and Smokescreens Gair has delivered a remarkable debut … it flows as confidently as the incoming tide — Neil King, Fatea Magazine
With an extensive performance history, Anne has toured throughout the UK and abroad both as a solo artist and lately with her ensemble, The Anne Gair Band. She has played at prestigious venues including The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (Celtic Connections 2025), The 100 Club, The Cavern Club, The Hard Rock Cafe, The Voodoo Rooms, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Belladrum Tartan Heart festival, and regularly performs to sold-out audiences in venues and theatres across the country.
Anne possesses a passion for writing in alternative open tunings and pushing genre boundaries which has drawn comparison to Laura Marling, Joni Mitchell, John Martyn, and Imelda May, as she lets each song breathe and travel where it needs to go.
Anne Gair’s contributions to new music make her an up-and-coming artist being touted as ‘One of Scotland’s most promising songwriters’.
When not on stage, you will usually find her in a field in Scotland, in the middle of no-where with her two retired horses.
What a lovely song, beautifully written. A masterpiece — Paul Johnson, writing for Folking.com about the single White Horses

Find Out More
Follow Anne on Facebook or Instagram
Read more about Anne on her website
Find Anne’s music on Bandcamp or YouTube

Oak Book Club: April 2026
2026-04-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
Join us for a welcoming Book Tree book club!
We usually meet on the second Monday of each month to discuss the current book and choose the next month’s read, but please note that this meeting is on the first Monday in April.
Bring along your favourite drink — we’ll provide the glasses and washing up.
The bookshop door will be open from 6.50pm for a 7pm start in our atmospheric upstairs space.
Our book club meetings are free to attend, and we offer a 10% discount on each month’s paperback choice.

This Month’s Book
The Boy from the Sea by Garrett Carr
A Waterstones Book of the Month
As read on BBC Radio 4
A Sunday Times Best Book of the Year
An Observer Best Debut of the Year
A baby is found abandoned on a windswept Irish beach, and nothing in this small coastal town will ever be the same again. The Boy from the Sea is Garrett Carr’s moving tale of a boy that brings together a community, but changes a family forever…
Compassionate, lyrical and full of devilment — Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses
A joy . . . Vivid, loving and genuinely funny — The Sunday Times
I didn’t want it to ever end — Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
In 1973 on the west coast of Ireland, a baby is found abandoned on the beach. Who is he? Where is he from?
Ambrose, a local fisherman, is far more interested in who he will become and – with a curious community looking on – takes the baby home and adopts him.
But for Declan, Ambrose’s young son, this arrival is surely bad news. Rivalries can be decades in the making, and families are easy to break…

Readers love The Boy from the Sea:
“Left me feeling warm and satisfied when I finished it and I’ve thought about it daily since then”
“Books are meant to change you, to shape you, and to heal you, and The Boy from the Sea does all those things”
“You feel like you’re right there in the village”
“Stunning. I found myself waking up at 5am because I was desperate to read more”
“Felt like I was stepping off life’s treadmill and immersing myself in another world”

Hawthorn Book Club: April 2026
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
Join us for the first meeting of a new Book Tree book club!
We’ll meet on the second Thursday of each month for a relaxed and friendly conversation about the current book.
Bring along your favourite drink — we’ll provide the glasses and washing up.
The bookshop door will be open from 6.50pm for a 7pm start in our atmospheric upstairs space.
Our book club meetings are free to attend, and we offer a 10% discount on each month’s paperback choice.

This Month’s Book
Greater Sins by Gabrielle Griffiths
Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month for February 2026
Radio Times Best Books of 2025
A gritty tale of secrets, guilt and desire — The Observer
Completely enthralling — Lucy Rose, author of The Lamb
A simmering tale of outcasts and buried secrets, love and redemption — Danielle Giles, author of Mere
1915, the Cabrach.
In the fierce, wild beauty of this remote corner of Scotland, an isolated community makes a discovery: an ancient body in a peat bog, perfectly preserved. Two people haul the body from the ground: Lizzie, the wife of a wealthy local landowner, and Johnny, a nomadic singer and farm hand.
Soon afterwards, strange events begin to occur. At hearthside and inn, people whisper: what have we unearthed?
As tensions run high and men leave for war, old fears and secrets emerge. But in a place where judgement is swift, who is truly without sin?
A striking and atmospheric debut — The Times
Sets a beautifully atmospheric scene from its opening lines to its final moments — PA Media
Scapegoats, suspicion and secrets…a haunting picture of a small, intense environment where isolation can breed solidarity and warmth as easily as superstition and exclusion — Financial Times

What readers are saying:
“An earthy, folkloric tale, where superstition is rife…a captivating read. Highly recommended”
“A gothic literary experience, rural and immersive, that thrums with tension, mystery and forbidden love”
“A deeply immersive reading experience, and one of the best elements of this book is how the atmosphere and environment of rural scotland, the small farms, the fields, the bog, the changing of seasons – nature itself becomes a character”
“Beautifully written, chilling and disturbing, the book is an engrossing read from start to finish”
“Sometimes you come across a book that is note perfect; very readable and entirely relatable but still beautifully, poetically written. This is such a complete novel, it is hard to believe it is the author’s debut”
“This was a stunningly beautiful novel. Dark and creepy and wonderfully realised, and the character voices were next-level good”

Kate Gray
2026-04-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
We can’t wait to chat with Kate about her gripping new summer thriller, where family drama and dark secrets collide in a sun-drenched Italian villa to set in motion a mystery which kept us guessing right up to the end!
C.M. Ewan recommends Welcome to the Family as “the perfect destination thriller” which combines “a messed up family with devastating secrets and a twisting murder mystery” to create “a stunning summer page-turner”.
In this character driven crime novel, an alternating viewpoint casts doubt on the motivations of others to weave complicated family loyalties, lies and betrayal into a quickly developing mystery where we could never be sure who to trust. That’s all we’ll say for now, so that you can find out for yourself spoiler free!
This event will start at 7.30pm and the shop door will be open from 7pm with complementary wine and cordial available on arrival.
Tickets are free and guarantee entry to the event. Please contact the shop or use the booking form below to reserve your seats.

About the Book
Simmering tension turns deadly in this twisty and addictive summer mystery – a cracking family thriller — T.M. Logan

Holiday with your in-laws can be murder . . .
Rosie Riley is nervously excited about meeting the Fraser family. She’s head-over-heels for her boyfriend Theo and she hopes that spending a fortnight with the Frasers at their luxury Tuscan villa is a good sign of where their relationship is headed.
Fenna Fraser has been part of the family for years. She’s always enjoyed the glam annual holiday, but this year she’s especially tired with a new baby in tow and she fears her mother-in-law will be more critical than ever. No one is good enough for her sons.
It starts as the perfect family holiday.
It ends with one of these women arrested for murder.
Who is guilty? Who is the victim? And did they deserve it?
A red hot thriller which simply demands to be read by a pool… I didn’t know who to believe; lies, betrayal and buried secrets ensured I read Welcome to the Family in one weekend — Jo Murray

About the Author
Kate Gray is the author of page-turning summer thrillers. She loves writing about terrifying situations that anyone could find themselves in. If these happen to take place in exotic locations then that’s even better!
As well as her twisty, suspense thrillers, she also writes feel-good uplifting fiction as Katy Colins.
Kate lives in North Yorkshire with her husband, two young children and two rescue cats. She also runs creative writing workshops and mentors aspiring authors.
Before becoming a full-time author, Kate worked in public relations and was a freelance journalist. Her work has been featured in Stylist, Marie Claire, and national newspapers. Her debut psychological thriller The Honeymoon published to critical acclaim in 2023 and was followed by The Summer Party in 2024. Welcome to the Family is Kate’s third book in this genre, and will be published by Headline in April 2026.

Three Acres and a Cow
2026-04-25 19:00 - 22:00 | Pickering Memorial Hall, Potter Hill, Pickering, YO18 8AA
The history lesson I’ve always wanted. Thank you for a very entertaining/life changing evening. I’ll be looking at the land and listening to folk songs in a very different way — Emily
A history of land rights and protest in folk song and story, the show connects the Norman Conquest and Peasants’ Revolt with current issues like the housing crisis, reparations, climate breakdown and food sovereignty via the Enclosures, English Civil War and Industrial Revolution, drawing a compelling narrative through the radical people’s history of England in folk song, stories and poems.
Part TED talk, part history lecture, part folk club sing-a-long, part storytelling session… Come and share in these tales as they have been shared for generations.
Visit the Three Acres and a Cow website for more information about the group and the show, and check their Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to any specific enquiries.
The event will be held in the Memorial Hall, Pickering, which is fully accessible.
Doors 6.30pm with the show starting promptly at 7.00pm. We will finish around 9.45pm with one interval.
I think about this show all the time. It has totally changed the way I think about colonialism, direct action and English nationalism. Thinking about it today, four years after seeing the show, it’s clear it was a life changing event for me — Monique

Tickets
Standard seated tickets are £16.50
(supported and pay it forward options also available)
Book online at threeacresandacow.co.uk
(direct link to the Pickering event here)

Oak Book Club: May 2026
2026-05-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
Join us for a welcoming book club to discuss the current novel and choose the next month’s read.
In May and for the foreseeable future, meetings will now be held on the first Monday of each month rather than the second.
The bookshop door will be open from 6.50pm for a 7pm start in our atmospheric upstairs space.
Our book club meetings are free to attend, and we offer a 10% discount on each month’s paperback choice.

This Month’s Book
The Names by Florence Knapp

Brilliant . . . one of those books that will make you irritable with anyone who interrupts you, but which you’ll finish wanting to press into the hands of a friend — The Times
Beautifully written, and wise and tender . . . An utter original — Jojo Moyes
***
A once-in-a-generation debut from a major new talent, The Names is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark.
It is 1987, and in the wake of a great storm, Cora sets out with her young daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband expects her to follow tradition and call the baby after him – but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? Her choice will shape the course of their lives.
Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, hoping he will grow up to be brave and big-hearted. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, keen for him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image – but is there still a chance to break the mould?
Powerfully moving and full of hope, this is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark.
***
Wildly original and emotionally profound — The Observer
Astonishing, unique and incredibly moving, The Names is a beautiful novel about the courage of a mother in the moment she names her child . . . I know it will stay with me for a long time — Jeanine Cummins

Jules Brown
2026-05-05 19:30 - 21:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
We’re very much looking forward to chatting with Jules Brown about his travel adventures, from how he plans his journeys to translating them into his always entertaining real-life stories.
The evening will focus on Jules’ newest book Far Out, which takes readers with him on his challenge to reach each of the four furthest points in Europe by train, exploring some fascinating off the beaten track places along the way.
Jules’ books are all written in his lively and humorous style, and are brilliantly engaging with quick and often funny observations which make these reads perfect for fans of Bill Bryson, anyone in need of some armchair travelling, or perhaps even to inspire your own European adventure!
Jules started his travel author journey writing for Rough Guides, now focussing on his own blog posts and travel books. He’s published two series: Tales from a Travel Writer’s Life (Don’t eat the Puffin, Never Pack an Ice-Axe and Watch Out for Pirates) and On the Rails (Not Cool: Europe by Train in a Heatwave and Far Out: By Train to the Edges of Europe).
Jules has so many great stories to tell gathered from his many trips across Europe and beyond, so we know that we’re in for a fantastic evening hearing some of them!
This event will start at 7.30pm and the shop door will be open from 7pm with complementary wine and cordial available on arrival.
Tickets are free and guarantee entry to the event. Please contact the shop or use the booking form below to reserve your seats.

About the Book
Jules’ travel writing is funny, inspiring, quirky and always engaging. His blog is great but reading the cream of his travels in book form is even more fun — Mark Ellingham, founder of Rough Guides & publisher of Driving over Lemons
Travel writer Jules Brown is back with another wayward rail adventure.
When Jules sets out to go as far as he can in Europe by train, everything seems to be on track. Travel to the most extreme stations in the north, south, east, and west. How hard can it be for a seasoned rail traveller and ex guidebook writer?
Funny you should ask.
It’s a long way, for a start – from Scandinavia and Finland to the shores of the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Even the final destinations are in dispute. In fact, no one sensible would try it.
Enter Jules. Whether it’s travelling through the Swedish wilderness on the Inlandsbanan, into the Pyrenees on the Train Jaune, or across Spain on the Torre Oro, he’s aiming for some classic rail experiences. And while capital cities and famous sights come and go, there are also plenty of offbeat and intriguing stops along the way.
*This book also includes five special route maps.
Jules has a rare observational talent. These short travel tales are really very good – passionate, engaging and entertaining — Phil Ascough, journalist, author, media/PR consultant

About the Author
Travel writer Jules Brown wrote his first books for Rough Guides, and more recently has produced a series of highly entertaining travel memoirs and adventures based on his travelling life.
In his latest book, Far Out, he takes to Europe’s trains to journey to the most extreme stations in the north, south, east and west of the continent. Part travelogue, part memoir, and definitely not a guidebook, Far Out is a snort-in-your-coffee train adventure by the author of Not Cool: Europe by Train in a Heatwave.

Yvonne Lyon & Boo Hewerdine
2026-05-08 19:30 - 22:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
An intimate, story-led evening with Boo Hewerdine and Yvonne Lyon. Things Found In Books is a wonderful project!
Following a hugely successful 2025 tour for their album Things Found In Books, we’re thrilled that Yvonne Lyon and Boo Hewerdine are touring again this May and are returning to Pickering for what we know will be another very special evening of music and stories.
Things Found In Books is a show born from songs written in response to a notice board in Culzean Castle’s secondhand bookshop, where notes, photographs, old receipts, letters, postcards and fragments of people’s lives have been lovingly collected and kept on the wall among the bookshelves. Forming an inimitable songwriting partnership, Yvonne and Boo weave these ephemeral stories with their own, creating a performance full of nostalgia and beauty, hope and longing.
For a hint of what to expect you can hear Yvonne and Boo talk about the album on their YouTube video.
Audience members are encouraged to bring their own ‘things found in books’ to to the gigs — items brought along so far have have ranged from tickets and letters to… bacon! Yes… in 4 different locations…! This is a beautiful idea, so if you have anything you’d like to add to the touring board of things found in books please bring it along to the show.
The gig will be in our atmospheric upstairs event space, surrounded by the building’s old oak beams in the very apt setting of the bookshop! Drinks will be available to purchase at an informal bar before the show and during the interval.
Doors will open from 7pm, and the show will start at 7.30pm.

About the Musicians
Boo Hewerdine
One of the country’s most consistently admired songwriters — Folk Radio UK
Boo Hewerdine is an acclaimed award-winning English singer-songwriter now living and working in Glasgow. Well known as one of the greatest songwriter performers in the business, he has worked with several other well-known names including Eddi Reader, who enjoyed international success with the hit single Patience of Angels (written by Boo) in 1995.
Simple, poetic reflections on life and love — The Guardian
Read more about Boo on his website
Follow Boo on Facebook or Instagram
Listen to Boo’s music on YouTube or Bandcamp

Yvonne Lyon
An awesome level of talent that I cannot compare — Maverick Magazine
Yvonne Lyon is among the UK’s brightest and best singer songwriters. Her most recent album Growing Wild is her tenth solo studio album release. Yvonne consistently combines poignant lyrics with strong, creative melodies demonstrating a voice that can be both fragile and intense. She has guested on to live sessions with Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2 and recently completed a master’s degree in Songwriting and Performance from the University of West Scotland.
I love her, absolutely love her… great song beautifully performed — Michael Ball, BBC Radio 2
Read more about Yvonne on her website
Follow Yvonne on Facebook or Instagram
Listen to Yvonne’s music on YouTube or Bandcamp

Hawthorn Book Club: May 2026
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
Join us for our next Thursday book club!
We meet on the second Thursday of each month for a relaxed and friendly conversation about the current book.
The bookshop door will be open from 6.50pm for a 7pm start in our atmospheric upstairs space.
Our book club meetings are free to attend, and we offer a 10% discount on each month’s paperback choice.

This Month’s Book
Late in the Day by Tessa Hadley

The lives of two close-knit couples are irrevocably changed by an untimely death in this Sunday Times bestselling novel
Alex and Christine and Zach and Lydia have been inseparable since their twenties. From student house-shares and grubby pubs to proper homes and grown-up careers, the two couples’ lives have been interlinked for decades. Then one evening, Alex and Christine receive a call from a distraught Lydia. Zach is dead.
Inconsolable, Lydia moves in with Alex and Christine. But instead of their loss bringing them closer, the three of them find that love and sorrow give way to anger and bitterness as old entanglements and resentments rise from the past.
Unflinching, intelligent and fascinating — Marian Keyes

Ellie Levenson
2026-05-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
New date — this event had to be rescheduled due to Ellie’s train being at an hours long standstill last time. We’re so glad that it’s been possible to find a new date when Ellie will be able to travel up to us again!

We’re delighted to welcome Ellie Levenson to the Book Tree to discuss her deeply suspenseful and original debut novel!
Room 706 is both reflective and pacy with the tension of a very real threat looming over the narrator throughout. Caught somewhere she shouldn’t be when the worst happens — in the wrong place at precisely the worst time — she must face the most confronting situation of her life and discover what matters most.
Built upon a brilliant concept brought to life sensitively, and led by a deeply layered and very believable main character, this story is gripping and emotional in equal measure and lingers long after turning the final page.
This event will start at the slightly earlier time of 7pm, and the shop door will be open from 6.30pm with complementary wine and cordial available on arrival.
Tickets are free and guarantee entry to the event. Please contact the shop or use the booking form below to reserve your seats.
We look forward to seeing you there!

About the Book
A tense, riveting read about the unpredictable ripple effects luck and choices can have — Tracy Sierra
A love story wrapped in a grenade — Cecelia Ahern
If she knew it would end this way, would it ever have begun?
When mother of two Kate goes to meet her lover James in a hotel room, she watches in horror when she switches on the TV and realises their hotel has been taken under terrorist siege. Told to stay silent and hidden, Kate is trapped in a room with a man she’s been having an affair with for years – her escape hatch, her release valve – but who she doesn’t really know at all.
In one room, with the possibility of death looming, Kate is left to contemplate what has led her here. She reflects on the grief and heartbreak of her young life, the complexities of her relationship with her husband, Vic, and the pure, unadulterated love she feels for her children. Intricately weaving Kate’s past in with her present, Room 706 follows one woman taking stock of her life, and considering what life might hold in store – if she makes it home.
I devoured it… I haven’t stopped thinking about it — Jennie Godfrey
A suspenseful real-time page-turner with an ending that demands to be talked about — Erin Kelly

About the Author
Ellie Levenson has worked as a journalist, writer and lecturer for many years.
Her freelance work as a feature writer and columnist saw articles published across national newspapers, consumer magazines and specialist publications, with a special focus on writing accessibly about politics, language and social issues.
Ellie has extensive experience as a lecturer in journalism at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and has been a guest lecturer at many other institutions. She has also worked as an Adjunct Professor at the London programmes of Boston University and Syracuse University.
Before becoming a novelist, Ellie wrote non-fiction books for adults and non-fiction and picture books for children. These include Politics in 100 words (Quarto, 2020), Creativity and Feature Writing: How to get hundreds of new ideas every day (Routledge, 2015), The Election (Fisherton Press, 2015) and The Noughtie Girl’s Guide to Feminism (Oneworld, 2009).

Katie Carr
2026-05-29 19:30 - 21:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
We very much look forward to welcoming Katie Carr to mark the much anticipated publication of her memoir Thundery at Times.
Katie’s first book Moderate Becoming Good Later follows her brother Toby as he faces a life‑limiting illness through sea kayaking and the solace of the natural world, written from his recordings and notes.
Thundery at Times is her own memoir of finishing his Shipping Forecast journey while navigating loss, a difficult family past, and midlife in Barcelona.
This event will start at 7.30pm and the shop door will be open from 7pm with complementary wine and cordial available on arrival.
Tickets are free and guarantee entry to the event. Please contact the shop or use the booking form below to reserve your seats.
We look forward to seeing you there!

About the Book:
Thundery at Times announces Katie Carr as a terrific writer on her own terms. Having continued her brother’s journey and book in the beautiful Moderate Becoming Good Later, here she sets out on the next epic series of voyages, revealing herself to be not only resilient, determined and courageous, but possessing a rare ability to distil those qualities into exquisite prose. Thundery at Times is a profound depiction of the long tail of grief, but most of all it is a voyage into the best of humanity and how it can be found in the remotest of locations. Like the Shipping Forecast itself, Thundery at Times is quirky and eccentric but underpinned by extraordinary heart and substance. A remarkable book. More, please — Charlie Connelly, author of Attention All Shipping
Katie had never been in a sea kayak, but when her brother Toby died in the middle of his challenge to paddle in every area of the Shipping Forecast, she decided to honour his memory by completing his adventure. On a journey that takes her from the monotonies of motherhood in urban Barcelona to the far reaches of the Shipping Forecast through the wilds of the British Isles, Katie is forced to face her past and question her present, exploring the loss of her family members as well as her own identity. After two years of inelegant paddling and potentially worse parenting, can she complete the challenge?
Thundery at Times is not a story of battling high seas or completing daring tasks, but one of making your own rules and living life to the full. It is about finding joy and hope in nature, motherhood and middle age, in nurturing your own adventures and embracing connection and peace. It is a story of female resilience in the face of adversity; of staring down grief and asking, what’s possible from here?
Thundery at Times captures something essential about grief – that it asks us to keep going even when we don’t know how. Carr’s honest, heartfelt writing about finishing her brother’s challenge is a story of small braveries and the quiet strength found in honouring those we love — Freya Bromley, author of The Tidal Year

About the Author
Katie Carr is a British author, coach and trainer based in Barcelona. Her work sits where sea and city, loss and possibility meet: she writes narrative non‑fiction and helps people find steadier ways of leading and living; her narrative non‑fiction is rooted in sea, weather and family, and includes Moderate Becoming Good Later and Thundery at Times.

Pickering Midsummer Festival
2026-06-18 - 2026-06-23
The first Pickering Midsummer Festival will take place from Thursday 18th to Tuesday 23rd June 2026, in the beautiful and historic town of Pickering North Yorkshire.
It will be a folk traditions themed weekend of music, author events, storytelling, art, performance, heritage crafts, a dash of midsummer magic, plus more as it develops over time.
There’ll be much more announced over the coming weeks — including an exciting lineup of events — but for now we just wanted to share the early news that it’s happening!

Find Out More
Register using the form below to hear when full information about year’s events lineup. We will email you once the event pages are online so that you can find out more and book tickets, or save the date for unticketed events.
You can also follow Pickering Midsummer Festival on Facebook or Instagram to stay in the loop and find out about festival events as they’re announced. Or join our email newsletter (scroll to near the end of our website homepage here) for occasional updates including events and book recommendations.
If you’re as excited about this as we are, please share this page to help make the first Pickering Midsummer Festival a wonderful weekend for everybody!

Midsummer Festival: Wyl Menmuir
2026-06-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
The Spirit of Stone
Pickering Book Tree | Doors from 7pm | Tickets £5

Full of wonder, hope and fascinating tales of stones and their people — Fiona Robertson, author of Stone Lands
From the lonely heights of mountains to the womblike depths of caves, stone has always drawn us in. In The Spirit of Stone, Wyl Menmuir explores the many ways in which rock and earth form part of our identities, histories and futures.
Across Britain and Ireland – from Mull to the Isles of Scilly – rock is everywhere beneath our feet, shaping not only our landscapes but also our imaginations and the ways we live together.
Moving across these lands, Wyl Menmuir’s essays combine travelogue, social history and memoir, bringing together interviews, folklore and personal encounters with the landscapes themselves.
From sacred monuments to modern sculpture, this book reveals how stone grounds us, challenges us and inspires us, such as:

Mountains and caves as places of pilgrimage, danger, refuge and wonder.
Ancient pathways and stone circles that leave traces of our ancestors written into the land.
Marks and monuments, from Neolithic carvings to contemporary sculpture, art that endures across centuries.
Everyday stone, for example the quarries, buildings and raw materials that underpin our daily lives.

The Spirit of Stone follows on from The Draw of the Sea and The Heart of the Woods, completing a trilogy of explorations into our relationship with place. Where the first two books took readers to the water’s edge and into the forest, this book journeys into the landscapes of rock, stone and earth, reflecting on how they continue to define us.
Resonant with the work of Robert Macfarlane, Kathleen Jamie and Peter Ross, yet strikingly original in its breadth and vision, The Spirit of Stone is a profound meditation on belonging, endurance and our shared human story written in stone.
A warm and generous guide to the bedrock of our land, and the characters who champion it — Ruth Allen, author of Weathering and Grounded

About the Author
Wyl Menmuir is an author and creative writing lecturer based in Cornwall. His 2016 debut novel, The Many, was nominated for the Man Booker Prize and was an Observer Best Fiction of the year pick. His short fiction has appeared in Best British Short Stories and he has been published by Nightjar Press, Kneehigh Theatre and the National Trust.
Wyl’s non-fiction books have been awarded the Roger Deakin Award from the Society of Authors, the Award for Excellence from the OWPG, a Holyer an Gof Award, and the 2026 Blue Metropolis Planet Literature Prize, awarded for a body of work that demonstrates the beauty and fragility of the living world and promotes greater ecological awareness.
A former journalist, Wyl has written for Radio 4, The Guardian and The Observer. He lectures in creative writing at Falmouth University.

Tickets
£5 from the shop counter (currently cash only) or online at ticketsource.com

Direct link to booking page here

Doors will be open from 7pm for a 7.30pm start. The event will be held in our atmospheric upstairs event space.

Midsummer Festival: Toni Bunnell
2026-06-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
New Songs, Traditional Sound
Pickering Book Tree | Doors from 7pm | Tickets £5+

Join us in the Book Tree to hear Toni Bunnell perform original songs, music and stories, with all proceeds going to Protect the Wild.
Toni’s self-penned songs in the traditional style speak of social conscience and love of the natural world, bringing audiences and communities together with her rousing performances.
During the evening Toni will share songs and tunes from her new album, Between the Moon and Sea, including two pieces linked to her recent memoir Ferret in a Rucksack, which is inspired by her rescue ferrets. In between songs Toni will talk about where she gets her ideas from, some of which evolve into books while others result in songs she’ll sing on the night.

About the Musician
Toni Bunnell is a singer-songwriter who has played on the folk circuit in the UK and Germany for many years. She has recorded nine albums of her songs which she accompanies using the guitar, bouzouki, dulcimer and hurdy gurdy, plus an album of hurdy gurdy tunes. Toni has produced a book of 100 of her songs, called Across the Years.
Toni’s album, Tracking the Changes, received a 4 star review in RNR music magazine: ’These are songs that respect ‘the spirit of people throughout the world’, songs that remind us to ‘move to the future but remember the past’. Tracking the Changes is a living heritage’ — Andrew Darlington, RNR, 2024.
Toni is also the author of fifteen books, including two books of poems, one non-fiction on music therapy and two about hedgehogs, based on her work running a hedgehog rescue since 1990 and her background as a wildlife biologist. Ten works of fiction venture into parallel worlds and the supernatural.

Tickets
Pay what you feel (suggested price £10, min £5) with all proceeds going to Protect the Wild.

Available from the shop counter (currently cash only) or online at ticketsource.com

Direct link to booking page here

Doors will be open from 7pm for a 7.30pm start. The event will be held in our atmospheric upstairs event space.

Midsummer Festival: Old Songs
2026-06-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
Stories Told Through Music, Words and Art
Pickering Book Tree | Doors from 6.30pm | Tickets £15

As the Summer Solstice twilight nears, we welcome you to the Book Tree to travel into a selection of Britain’s folktales through a stunning artistic collaboration.
Old Songs is based on the book of the same name, written by Amy and illustrated by Gwen. Natalie will lead the trio in performing beautiful renditions of the traditional ballads featured in the book, while animated versions of Gwen’s illustrations will be projected onto a screen to accompany the songs. Giving deeper context to the stories, Amy will share readings and historical insights throughout the evening.

Old Songs
An astonishing collaboration of words and images that immerses readers in a magical folkloric world . . . These remarkable stories dice with the dangers around us and within us, and they challenge us to emerge triumphant — Juno Magazine
Old Songs fuses short stories, histories, lyrics and illustrations in an enthralling reimagining of traditional folk ballads. Sunday Times Bestselling historian Amy Jeffs and Illustrator Gwen Burns combine forces to create a rich compendium, singing of travel, mystery, magic and the essential urges of humanity.
Featuring iterations of fairy tales and sinister descendants of Greek myths and bible stories, as well as a cast of lesser-known characters with names like Tam Lim, Child Wynd and Maisery, Old Songs threads a tapestry of Britain’s landscape, history and cultures. At the base of hills we can visit to this day, elf queens kidnap hapless poets and carry them through rivers of blood; and at the foot of a tree whose offspring still stand in the forests of Northumberland, a girl mimes combing the hairless head of a dragon who was once her brother.
In spellbinding tales of brown-skinned girls who danced on their lovers’ graves, of golden-masted ships captained by the Devil, of fiddles that cried “Murder!”, of men kidnapped by fairies and boys married at fourteen, we find narrative motifs as ancient as humanity itself.
In the histories interconnecting the stories, we find the fantastical rooted in the everyday, bringing to light the real experiences of great swathes of people to whom such story-songs were not only familiar, but a way of escaping into the extraordinary and returning gratefully home. Bringing enchantment to familiar landscapes, ballads were created anew by each singer and passed down from fireside to fireside, at the knees of childhood nurses, in manuscripts and in early printed pamphlets. Now, ten stories are gathered here, beautifully recreated for modern readers.
The stories absorb you instantly . . . A treat for those captivated by the medieval, grisly and historic — The Northern Echo

Tickets
£15 from the shop counter (currently cash only) or online at ticketsource.com

Direct link to booking page here

Doors will be open from 6.30pm for a 7pm start. The event will be held in our atmospheric upstairs event space.

Midsummer Festival: Aidan Meighan
2026-06-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
The Folklore of Trees
Pickering Book Tree | Doors from 6.30pm | Tickets £5

The Folklore of Trees explores the fascinating stories and intriguing superstitions behind nature’s guardians. Insightfully written and beautifully illustrated by Aidan Meighan, it’s the perfect reading companion for every lover of the natural — and mythological — world.
This book reminds us of the enduring power of stories to connect us to our history, to nature and hopefully to an ever-greener future. We need to love life, we need to love trees — Chris Packham, wildlife TV presenter & campaigner
Uncover the myths, legends and secrets of the world’s most iconic trees.
Did you know that laurel is said to protect against snakebites and shield against witchcraft? Or that yews are often planted near graveyards to keep the devil out? Across cultures and centuries, trees have stood as guardians of life, inspiring stories that connect us to nature, spirituality and tradition.
The Folklore of Trees brings these tales together in a stunning hardback featuring a foreword by acclaimed naturalist, Chris Packham. Inside, you’ll explore 36 legendary species from around the globe, each paired with an intricate illustration and rich cultural context.
You’ll discover:

The Major Oak, said to shelter Robin Hood, and the baobabs of Madagascar, revered for their longevity.
Sacred trees of Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Hindu, Buddhist and Indigenous traditions.
Fascinating myths behind olive branches of peace, dragon blood trees that bleed red sap and Japanese cherry blossoms symbolising life’s impermanence.
Seasonal customs, protective charms and superstitions.
A compact, beautifully designed format, perfect for gifting or personal reflection.

Whether you’re a nature lover, folklore enthusiast or simply curious about the stories rooted in our landscapes and forests, this book is your invitation to wander the cultural canopy.

About the Author
Aidan Meighan is an author, illustrator and arboreal devotee living in Somerset, with a passion for nature and storytelling. For fifteen years, Aidan has been passionately drawing trees, maps and beautiful places from around the world, working with travel and lifestyle books and magazines, brands and destinations, in his distinctive style.
Aidan is an enthusiast for the written word and print, being instrumental in the production of the Glastonbury Free Press newspaper since its inception in 2013. He is also a keen gardener and back-yard conservationist.
The Folklore of Trees is a joyful coming together of Aidan’s passions and interests.
You can find Aidan on his website, www.aidanmeighan.com, and on Instagram, @aidan_meighan.

Tickets
£5 from the shop counter (currently cash only) or online at ticketsource.com

Direct link to booking page here

Doors will be open from 6.30pm for a 7pm start. The event will be held in our atmospheric upstairs event space.

Rachel Davis & Darren McMullen
2026-07-03 19:30 - 22:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen ignite the stage with a bold, fiery blend of Celtic tradition and contemporary folk energy. Their music is a thrilling fusion of driving rhythms, haunting melodies, and masterful instrumentation, at once deeply rooted and refreshingly modern.
With a dynamic mix of vocals, fiddles, guitar, banjo, mandolin, viola, bouzouki, and whistles, they breathe new life into age-old tunes while crafting original songs that feel instantly timeless. Every performance is a vibrant journey through sound. Passionate, precise, and irresistibly alive.
With over a decade of international touring and recording as core members of the award-winning Cape Breton Celtic supergroup Còig, Rachel and Darren are now forging a new path with their latest collaborative project, Home. This bold new venture has already garnered critical acclaim, winning the 2024 Music Nova Scotia Award for Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year, and earning nominations from both the Canadian Folk Music Awards and the East Coast Music Awards.
The gig will be in our atmospheric upstairs event space, surrounded by the building’s old oak beams. Drinks will be available to purchase at an informal bar before the show and during the interval.
Doors will open from 7pm, and the show will start at 7.30pm.

About the Musicians
Fans will be happy to know that the whole album lives up to the extraordinarily high standards that Darren and Rachel have already set for themselves. They really had nothing left to prove coming into this project, but they’ve managed to outdo themselves, nonetheless — Roots Music Canada
Rachel Davis is a masterful fiddler known for her emotive playing and rich, expressive voice. She won the prestigious Canadian Folk Music Award for Traditional Singer of the Year in 2020.
Darren McMullen is a versatile and highly respected multi-instrumentalist, bringing deep musicality and rhythmic drive to the duo’s sound.
Between them, they have performed across Canada, the US, UK, Denmark, Belgium and Australia, with multiple East Coast Music Awards and a JUNO nomination to their names.
Set to release a highly anticipated new album in June 2026, Rachel and Darren continue to expand their artistry while staying grounded in the Celtic traditions that inspire them.
The first single, River and the Road is a touching folk track that blends evocative lyrics with a haunting melody, creating a deeply moving experience … Overall, this album seamlessly blends a variety of musical elements, creating a captivating tapestry of sound that invites listeners to immerse themselves in its rich textures and explore its compelling narratives — Canadian Beats

Find Out More
Read more about Rachel and Darren on their website
Follow Rachel and Darren on Facebook or Instagram
Explore Rachel and Darren’s music on YouTube or go straight to the videos for River and the Road and Long House with examples of their live performances here and here.

Sally Coulthard
2026-07-21 19:30 - 21:00 | Pickering Book Tree, 43a Market Place, Pickering, YO18 7AE
We are excited to welcome Sally Coulthard back to Pickering Book Tree to discuss her fascinating new book, A Brief History of the Coast in 100 Objects, which offers a wealth of insight into the often surprising objects connected to the coast and the people who live and work there.
Sally has authored more than thirty non-fiction books spanning a wonderful range of interests including nature writing, social history, folklore, and anthropology — always brilliantly researched, engaging, and informed by an immersion in the subjects she writes about through her own rural life in her Yorkshire smallholding.
We’ll chat with Sally about the book, her writing, research and inspiration. There’ll also be a chance to ask your questions and Sally will sign copies of the book at the end of the evening.
The shop door will be open from 7pm with complementary drinks available on arrival until the event starts at 7.30pm.
The event is free to attend, but booking is essential. Please contact the shop or use the form below to reserve your seats.
We look forward to seeing you there!

About the Book
A genuine delight, this richly woven tale of our maritime nation is as crafted as the objects it highlights. I’ve loved every page, and learnt and laughed along the way — Jules Hudson
An immersive history of our coasts and the people who have shaped them
The coast means something different to everyone.
It’s a place of pleasure and reckless pursuits, of fishing, fearless endeavours and a crashing, rugged beauty. The coast is, and always has been, our first line of defence and our springboard to other cultures.
Through the lens of 100 carefully selected objects, this treasure chest of a book delves into the myriad ways our coastlines have shaped, and been shaped by, our history, culture, and identity. From Roman lighthouses to rosary beads, knitted jumpers to Viking slave shackles, each object serves as a portal to a unique story.
Sally Coulthard’s engaging narrative goes far beyond the traditional seaside holiday to illuminate the coast’s role as a first line of defence, a site of trade, and a catalyst for cultural exchange. Readers will discover how the coast has influenced our beliefs, economy, and even our domestic lives. And, looking out to sea, this book will show how Britain’s story is anchored to those of our European neighbours and of faraway lands.
From one of Britain’s finest historians of material culture, this book vividly captures the enduring magic and significance of our shores. Whether it’s smugglers’ underpants or sailor’s hoaxes, whale vomit or pickled puffin – it all washes up on the British coast…
A rich, perfect jigsaw of 100 genuinely fascinating pieces, building a deep and wide picture of Britain’s history through its salty edges. Prehistoric harpoons, slave shackles and a Pepysian fake nose all contribute to this superbly researched, lively tale of our islands. Enriching, engaging and a pleasure to read — Jo Bell

About the Author
Bestselling author and columnist Sally Coulthard has spent the last two decades writing about her favourite things – nature, history, and craft. Many of her books delve into the traditions of rural life – from artisans to agriculture – the people, plants, and creatures who make the countryside tick.
Sally’s work often weaves together different disciplines, pulling threads from social history, anthropology, archaeology, design, and nature writing to bring her diverse subjects to life.
