News — dogs

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of John Cowan, a lifelong gamekeeper and cherished author of ours who we worked with over many years.

Born in the Scottish Borders, John dedicated more than 40 years to gamekeeping, rising to become headkeeper on a major Scottish estate. His knowledge was forged through a lifetime spent in the field - learning his craft from seasoned keepers, managing wildlife, and working closely with generations of dogs. 

Through his writing, John shared not only practical wisdom but also a profound respect for the countryside and its traditions.

His book Advice from a Gamekeeper remains a cornerstone of modern gamekeeping literature - full of insight and hard-earned advice from a life devoted to the land. It offers readers a vivid window into the challenges and rewards of running a sporting estate. 

In The Gamekeeper’s Dog, John turned his attention to working dogs, blending expertise with engaging personal stories. His writing has been praised for going beyond instruction, bringing warmth and personal experience to the subject. 

John’s books will continue to educate and inspire those who care deeply about the countryside and its traditions.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

— The Team at Merlin Unwin Books

'Whether you're a fan of dogs or not, I can't recommend this book enough as a funny tale of life on a family farm surrounded by some very eccentric characters - human and dog alike. I've put the link to buy it in the comments in case you want to get a copy for the crazy dog person in your life'. Caroline Stocks, agricultural journalist and editor. 

We have four new books published today. We hope you will enjoy them as much as we have, it is a pleasure to work with author we know and love, as well as getting to know new writers and to share their work. 

We bring you an eagerly awaited book by Barry Ord Clarke. The Feather Bender's Advanced Flytying Techniques. This book continues his teaching of new flytying skills through comprehensive instruction and tying sequences. As with his last books, the innovative addition of a QR code takes the reader to Barry's YouTube channel for each pattern, to help you visually if you get stuck.

Laurence Catlow returns with Testament of a Trout Fisher, this is an elegantly written and thoughtful account of why flyfishing means so much to him. He is one of the finest classical flyfishing writers of our times, and this new book will undoubtedly strike a chord with all who take pleasure from fishing.  

Death of a Dealer is a gripping thriller, the fourth by D. P. Hart-Davis, following DCI Robb on his latest investigation. A colourful, characterful parade of horses and riders fills the pages of this action-packed thriller. This is a book you won't want to put down. 

And finally, we have a new author to introduce... Colin Whittemore with his book, Taught by Dogs. Colin was brought up on a farm, and his life was interwoven with dogs from the start. He writes movingly about both working and family dogs in his life who have bonded humans together, seen them through hardships, shown wisdom often lacking in their owners, and given so much more than they have taken.