Avree Kelly Clark's Blog

Malice Aforethought: A True Story of the Shocking Double Crime That Horrified Nineteenth-Century New England by Avree Kelly Clark




To all my potential readers,

After three and a half years, I am finally sharing my passion project with all of you. I’m convinced that part of the reason for the delay was caused by my having to take frequent breaks from writing due to the grievous subject matter taking an emotional toll at times. But I believe it’s what enabled me to tell such an emotional story for which I poured my all into, letting myself go to some very dark places to get into the mind of these very real people. As an author, my aim is to get you, the reader, to feel something and to care. I hope I have done so!

I believe this true story could have broad appeal for lovers of crime fiction, history, historical fiction, and true crime. Ultimately, this story is for those seeking to be transported to a time and place vastly different from our own and willing to learn about a bygone era and what all occurred 150 years ago. If one is seeking a heavily crime-centric book with much gore, you’ll be sorely disappointed. However, I do describe the condition of the victims upon discovery and what the postmortem revealed in detail, which may not be for the faint of heart, and I endeavored to do so with much tact to preserve the dignity of the victims.

I elected to tell this true crime as a historical fiction in order to play up the narrative and dialogue surrounding facts found. For example, I knew certain findings of the postmortem and who was present, so I created a scene around what most likely would have transpired, and I was content so long as I was ultimately giving readers the facts gleaned.

This story is plot driven with omniscient narrator because I really wanted the reader to feel like they were present and part of the town, getting all of the information in real time as it played out then. It’s for this reason, I believe, that ALL of my early readers have come back saying to me that this book played out like a movie or a modern crime show. You’re getting to see everything the narrator wants you to see and are not limited by a single POV. The town and its people really is the heart of this story. As for stylistic choices with the telling of this tale, I endeavored to make the narrator a product of the time and not a modern person telling past events, if that makes sense.

In the early chapters, especially, we follow the town in the days leading up to the Pembroke crime, and I introduce you to a lot of characters. Please do not allow yourselves to become daunted by the introduction to all of these very real people. As the story progresses, certain characters will be brought to the forefront, and I'm confident you'll be able to keep everyone straight. Also, there are no fictional characters in this book.

I so enjoyed researching all about nineteenth-century customs and ways while I allowed my six drafts to sit for weeks to months at a time. I really felt like I’ve had a foot propping open a door to another world for over three years. It’s surreal, really. I remember looking up from my writing and being so surprised to see what the weather actually was and to see all of my modern conveniences surrounding me. I went deep into writing zones. So much so that, oftentimes, I felt in a funk when I’d go about my normal chores and routines. Like some kind of time travel hangover, haha.

I did have a challenging time coming up with a blurb for the back jacket because I did not want to give anything away. So the order of the story’s telling does not match the book’s description intentionally. For those who believe they know the details surrounding any of the the crimes mentioned in this book, I strongly encourage your giving it a read anyway . . . you’ll be surprised by how much false information is actually floating around out there and how much new information you’ll learn.

This book is my compendium of every nugget of truth I doggedly pursued; yet another reason it took me so long to bring you this story. I wanted to be as confident as I could be that this is the most accurate portrayal of events. I take full responsibility for any erroneous information introduced.

I became so enthralled with this story upon learning of it in my senior year forensics class in 2005 while attending Pembroke Academy (the school at the center of the main part of this story). My author’s note at the back of the book tells the story of how/why I decided to take it upon myself to write this novel. I also stumbled upon some eye-opening details that led to my theorizing that I don’t think things occurred precisely as they were recorded for history concerning the Pembroke crime. So if you read my book, be sure to read the Author’s Theory and Note at the end!! I also provide discussion questions for your consideration or to discuss in book groups.

I’m so grateful to all who take a chance on reading this story that I feel so honored and privileged to be the one to bring to you!

Happy reading,
Avree Kelly Clark



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