Clan Series

28 years after a young child is rescued from a supernatural attack the nightmares have begun. Are these simply childhood memories emerging from somewhere buried deep in his subconscious? Or has the Evil really returned to attack him once more? In David P Elliot’s sequel to his historical supernatural thriller ‘Clan’, Thomas Ralstone needs to turn again to his family to understand what is happening and why a Russian mercenary is stalking him and seems determined to return him to the scene of his childhood nightmares in the Borders of Scotland and the dark brooding menace of Hermitage Castle where it seems a 700 year old curse is once again unravelling to threaten him.

A jaded 57 year old takes his family to the Borders of Scotland to research family history and encounters incredible danger as 700 years of Scottish Border history unravels to threaten all he holds dear in his life. Heros and mythical creatures and power in the modern World are confronted as the family struggle to protect a small child - their only weapon, the power of their CLAN.

Season 1 - Episode 1: Calum’s Sword. “An edge-of-your-seat adventure" Episode 1 - a complete story with a great cliff-hanger ending in the true Saturday Matinee tradition. With 13 complete Episodes to enjoy in 1-hour Bitesized Reads, all racing towards a Season Finale that'll blow your socks off! A rip-roaring adventure that’ll have you cheering for our heroes and booing the villains... Just rollicking good fun - think Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers, Hornblower... ...An historical adventure following a true hero in a time of war. Calum Maclean is a sword-for-hire and a thorn in the side of anyone who sets himself up as Authority. He returns to the Highlands from the war in Flanders where he fought for the English, for a price, to find Bonnie Prince Charlie has arrived and war with the English is inevitable. Everyone thinks Calum will obey the Pretender. Everyone is wrong. Calum Maclean tips his hat to no man. When his former love asks him to fetch her man from the English army, he accepts without hesitation. It's a noble cause, and Calum can't resist a noble cause. Even if it might cost him his life. The journey has begun! ________________________________________________ Inspired by Bernard Cornwell, but not trying to be him. Reviews: “A series of Saturday matinees! Brilliant! Pure escapism, and great fun.” “If you enjoyed following the adventures of Richard Sharpe and his sidekick, Patrick, then you'll enjoy Calum and Big John.” “Looking forward to reading the rest of this series. Would recommend it to anyone interested in this time period of Scottish history!” “OK it’s not Bernard Cornwell, but it never said it was – it’s just a great read I highly recommend” “Great!” “Good fast read with plenty of tension. Look forward to the next episode. Have got the next three episodes on kindle.” “Can't wait to read the next one - Hope there is more to come in the series and life of Calum Maclean”

Clan - Episode 2: The second Bitesize Read ~ a 1-hour episode following our hero, Calum Maclean, who has sworn to stay out of Bonnie Prince Charlie's rebellion against the English, but is drawn again and again into the conflict. Calum's young nephew swears vengeance on the English colonel who had his family slaughtered and sets off alone in search of the English army. To bring him home, Calum must accept a commission into Bonnie Prince Charlie's army. So he finds himself once again leading a few good men into the jaws of cannon and shot. And slowly Fate pulls the strings a little tighter...

Another Bitesize read! Clan Episode 4 ~ a 1 hour episode following our hero, Calum Maclean, as he desperately races to save the last of his kin. Colonel York has failed to capture Calum so takes his revenge by dragging away young Jamie to be hanged for a rebel. Calum’s rage boils over as he races towards the English camp. And the 200 infantry that remain after his gamble paid off and they suffered a terrible mauling. It’s just a few miles to the English encampment, but it’s all enemy territory. All York has to do is haul the boy up by the neck. Calum knows time is running out, and gallops flat out along the road. Straight into the English patrol. Finally, York looks as though he will get some small revenge for the trouble Calum has caused him. Even if the rebel is just a 12 year old boy.

Another Bitesize read - the third 1 hour episode of Clan, following the adventures of the sword for hire, Calum Maclean. Trapped between the advancing Camerons and the English, Calum takes a daring gamble to save the lives of his friends and the men who trust him with their lives. If the gamble pays off they live, if not they will die. The stakes couldn't he higher. And unknown to Calum, Colonel York is right behind him with a company of dragoons.

Another Bitesize Read. Clan, Episode 8 - the next 1 hour episode following our hero, Calum Maclean. Colonel York needed only ten heavily armed soldiers to help him capture Calum. Calum expects to be hanged at once, but York has other plans for him. He is to betray his country or forfeit the his nephew’s life. He is beaten and dragged to Newcastle to the Royal Navy frigate, Sheerness, where Big John Mackintosh is shot and dropped into the North Sea. In irons and grieving for his friend, Calum knows he has to escape and save his nephew from York’s agent. Or die tying. And with a hundred and twenty men on board, he knows dying is the most likely endgame. But Calum Maclean will not go from this life with a whimper...

Another Bitesize Read. Clan, Episode 6 - the next 1 hour episode following our hero, Calum Maclean. Lord Elcho has ordered Calum to silence the 5 cannon that Colonel York has positioned ready to ambush the Prince’s army as it marches towards Carlisle. All Calum has to do is take on York’s whole division and the 40 artillery men manning the cannon. Alone. He has no plan. John summed it up. “What plan could ya possibly have? There's no plan for this madness” But he has to try, or watch the clansmen slaughtered.

Another Bitesize Read. Clan, Episode 5 - the next 1 hour episode following our hero, Calum Maclean. He must warn the Prince and his friend Lord Elcho that the English have laid a deadly ambush for the rebel army on the road to Carlisle. Colonel York has taken command of the infantry column that has doubled in number now that Loudoun’s Campbells have joined it. The Prince has two thousand men, so York’s three hundred should not have been a problem, but they have five cannon set up for overlapping fire on the road the rebels will use. It will be a massacre, unless Calum can warn the Prince. But York’s company is between Calum and the rebel army. And so is a crazy scout with a sabre and an 18” butcher’s knife. If Calum is to succeed in his mission, he has a very long and very dangerous night ahead of him.

Bitesize Read. Clan, Episode 7 - the next 1 hour episode following our hero, Calum Maclean. Lord Elcho has asked Calum to capture the payroll heading for Newcastle to pay the English army. If he is successful, he can keep a quarter of it, that’s a thousand guineas! Calum fights for gold, and that’s enough to get his interest. He and John head west to rob the payroll coach. He has no plan, but that’s not new. Colonel York knows he is on his way and intends to prepare a little surprise for him. All Calum has to do is find a way to grab the gold from the payroll coach that is guarded by ten heavily armed English soldiers. And get away without anyone knowing the payroll has gone. But nothing worth doing is easy...

Clan, Episode 9 - the next Bitesize episode following our hero, Calum Maclean. Calum confronts the spy, Isobel, as she stands by the bed of the sleeping Bonnie Prince Charlie with a dirk in her hand. He can’t kill the love of his life, but when she renounces her allegiance to the Crown, he forgives her and promises to find her when the war is over. The Prince asks Calum and John to ride with him to Derby where he will rejoin his army and continue the invasion of England. He would’ve liked to have ordered them to act as bodyguards, but even the Prince knows when to shut up and ask. It is the wisest decision he has ever made. The road south is a dangerous place for a would-be king and only Calum’s wit can save them from a bloody end. York’s plan to kill the Prince and collect the reward relies on two scruffy English army deserters, but they are more afraid of York than the whole highland army. If York’s plan succeeds, then the war will be over at the very moment of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s glorious entry into Derby. And York will be rich. Saving the Prince could cost Calum Maclean his life, but because nobody has ordered him to try, he will try. There are no certainties in war, only danger, blood and death. And Calum will meet them all head-on.

The Duke of Cumberland is marching north through Scotland with 9,000 men, determined to end the rebellion once and for all. Against these 9,000 rested, trained and well-fed soldiers stand less than 4,000 exhausted and starving highlanders. Calum and John are also on Drummossie Moor, but they are there for Colonel York, for the final reckoning. In less than an hour, the heather will be soaked in blood, and only the victors will walk away from the battlefield.

Clan, Episode 10 - the next Bitesize episode following our hero, Calum Maclean. Calum and John leads the Manchester Regiment on a mission to delay the Duke of Cumberland’s dragoons. If he fails, the English will catch the Bonnie Prince’s army on the road back to the border. It will be a massacre. Lord Elcho asks him to make a stand and save the Jacobite army, and he agrees. The English duke has four thousand men. Calum’s regiment is three hundred strong. Not really a regiment, but that’s all he has. And with those men, Calum will stand. And if the day goes badly, then with those men, Calum will die.

Another Bitesize Read. Clan, Episode 11 - the penultimate 1 hour episode following our hero, Calum Maclean. Calum and Big John desperately chase Colonel York, who has finally captured the prince and is taking him to London to hang. They gallop around a bend in the road to find York and Weasel waiting for them, pistols in hand. They have 1 second to react. Live or die. If they die, Charles Edward Stuart and the rebellion die with them.

Clan, Episode 12 – Season Finale, Part One. Calum and John are heading home to Scotland with the rebel army that is slowly falling apart. Unknown to Calum, Colonel York has finally snapped and is hunting him. Calum will stand against any man in a fair fight, but there will be no fair fight. York will murder him at the first opportunity. With The Duke of Cumberland back in command of his rested and resupplied army, and ready to march north for the final confrontation with the prince, things couldn’t get any worse... Until Calum returns to Moy Hall in search of his love, Isobel.