What do you think?
Rate this book
Edwardian Candlelight #9
Maggie
In this spellbinding Edwardian romance, a beautiful young Scottish woman is sold to a merciless police constable by her own father, then finds herself accused of the murder of her oppressor. Maggie is certain to hang - so certain that the future of Peter, Earl of Strathairn, seems safe enough when he makes a drunken wager to marry her if he loses at cards.
Maggie agrees - she has a mind to go to her grave a countess. But the jury brings in the ancient Scottish verdict "not proven," which translates roughly as "We know you're guilty, but we can't prove it."
The courts have set Maggie free, but her troubles are far from over. Joined by Peter's indomitable aunt, she sets out to clear her name.
Maggie agrees - she has a mind to go to her grave a countess. But the jury brings in the ancient Scottish verdict "not proven," which translates roughly as "We know you're guilty, but we can't prove it."
The courts have set Maggie free, but her troubles are far from over. Joined by Peter's indomitable aunt, she sets out to clear her name.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1984
27 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Tremaine
16 books35 followersMarion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Gibbons (née Chesney) was a Scottish writer of romance and mystery novels. Marion wrote her historical romances under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, as well as several pseudonyms ( Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, and Charlotte Ward). Using the pseudonym M.C. Beaton she also wrote many popular mystery novels, most notably the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mystery series. Both of these book series have been adapted for TV. Because of her great success with mystery novels her publishers both in the U.S. and abroad began using the M.C. Beaton pseudonym for all of her novels.
aka: Ann Fairfax, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Gibbons (née Chesney) was a Scottish writer of romance and mystery novels. Marion wrote her historical romances under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, as well as several pseudonyms ( Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, and Charlotte Ward). Using the pseudonym M.C. Beaton she also wrote many popular mystery novels, most notably the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mystery series. Both of these book series have been adapted for TV. Because of her great success with mystery novels her publishers both in the U.S. and abroad began using the M.C. Beaton pseudonym for all of her novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 28, 2017
Maggie is the only daughter of an abusive shopkeeper hailing from one of the outer Scottish islands. One day, she catches the eye of a burly police inspector and is sold into marriage. It is a horrifying, degrading marriage, but luckily, the readers are spared additional scenes because when chapter 2 opens, he is dead, and she is suspected of murder.
Meanwhile, an English captain inherits the Scottish title of the Earl of Straithairn and journeys up to Glasgow, appalled at the extent of poverty he sees and unknowingly offends some Scottish aristocrats with his democratic views (this is ironic, since Edinburgh was referred to as the Athens of the north and hugely democratic). By and by, he is played a nasty trick by these aristocrats and makes a very drunk, unwise wager to marry the condemned criminal, Maggie.
She is found "not proven guilty" and let go, and the Earl offers shelter to her in the south away from the press as his "cousin." After staying with his actual cousin for a while, Maggie and the cousin make their way to London and sees that the Earl has become enamored of a lady friend (OW), who is actually a high society money-grubber. The Earl and Maggie deal well together, as she is a very quiet, understated girl (of extreme beauty, as is the majority of Marion Chesney's heroines) and she relies on him for protection.
Eventually, they are outed by the OW, whose relative recognizes Maggie from the papers, and they have to return to the scene of the crime to figure out the truth, particularly as a second murder has been committed, which effectively clears Maggie in the Earl's mind.
It is a slightly grim, foreboding tale, because Maggie is downtrodden and terrified of men and has had a really rotten life, and both the Earl and Maggie meet really horrific people. Written after Chesney started writing her Hamish Macbeth series. It is well-researched, like all her books, and contains a slightly different plot than her usual Regencies.
Meanwhile, an English captain inherits the Scottish title of the Earl of Straithairn and journeys up to Glasgow, appalled at the extent of poverty he sees and unknowingly offends some Scottish aristocrats with his democratic views (this is ironic, since Edinburgh was referred to as the Athens of the north and hugely democratic). By and by, he is played a nasty trick by these aristocrats and makes a very drunk, unwise wager to marry the condemned criminal, Maggie.
She is found "not proven guilty" and let go, and the Earl offers shelter to her in the south away from the press as his "cousin." After staying with his actual cousin for a while, Maggie and the cousin make their way to London and sees that the Earl has become enamored of a lady friend (OW), who is actually a high society money-grubber. The Earl and Maggie deal well together, as she is a very quiet, understated girl (of extreme beauty, as is the majority of Marion Chesney's heroines) and she relies on him for protection.
Eventually, they are outed by the OW, whose relative recognizes Maggie from the papers, and they have to return to the scene of the crime to figure out the truth, particularly as a second murder has been committed, which effectively clears Maggie in the Earl's mind.
It is a slightly grim, foreboding tale, because Maggie is downtrodden and terrified of men and has had a really rotten life, and both the Earl and Maggie meet really horrific people. Written after Chesney started writing her Hamish Macbeth series. It is well-researched, like all her books, and contains a slightly different plot than her usual Regencies.
February 20, 2024
Available on Open Library under Jennie Tremaine.
Quite different from Marion Chesney’s other books. Much more gritty with undertones of intrigue as the heroine is falsely accused of murdering her vicious brute of a husband.
Quite different from Marion Chesney’s other books. Much more gritty with undertones of intrigue as the heroine is falsely accused of murdering her vicious brute of a husband.
December 3, 2023
As with most M.C. Beaton books, the plot wanders, the characters do things no one with half a brain would do, and modern phrases find their way into unrealistic dialogue. The narrator pronounces words phonetically and also has an unpleasant way of emphasizing words randomly.
I keep reading them though, so there must be something I like. They are fluff and they suit me when I am looking for something simple.
I keep reading them though, so there must be something I like. They are fluff and they suit me when I am looking for something simple.
September 25, 2017
What begins as an interesting, if grim, story just unravels due to a hero who is no hero, a shell-shocked heroine, an evil, evil villain, and a wandering plot.
October 31, 2017
Nice mix of romance and crime.
January 30, 2018
Was hard to find on goodreads bc I wasn’t looking for Jennie Tremaine n
January 23, 2020
Great Story
I loved this book. Only one thing bothered me was when the 2 women made a stupid, stupid mistake. Otherwise this is quite a different type of story and very enjoyable.
I loved this book. Only one thing bothered me was when the 2 women made a stupid, stupid mistake. Otherwise this is quite a different type of story and very enjoyable.
October 3, 2020
Maggie
This is a tale of the predicaments of the poor and bullied and those out to exploit them. Maggie is not your normal heroine.
This is a tale of the predicaments of the poor and bullied and those out to exploit them. Maggie is not your normal heroine.
March 8, 2021
Typical M.C. Beaton/Jennie Tremaine book.
December 11, 2023
Maybe deserves a better rating. But don't remember it at all. OTOH I kept it.
February 25, 2013
Maggie is treated like a chattel by her father and he hands her over to Inspector Macleod who marries her and moves her to his home Glasgow. For a year Maggie endures his brutalities until he dies of arsenic poisoning and she is put on trial for his murder. The Earl of Strathain who sees part of her trial doesn’t believe she is guilty. A drunken bet forces him to ‘marry’ her and he feels duty bound to rescue her from the mob when she is not convicted of the murder.
Maggie is taken to live with the Earl’s aunt Sarah Rochester and gradually regains her health. But a shadow continues to hang over her – who did kill her husband? What follows is part love story and part mystery as Maggie and her friends decide there is only one way to dispel the shadow and that is to find out who did kill her husband.
I enjoyed this story even though it was much less light hearted than some in this series. Some of the characters are very unpleasant indeed but the darkness is redeemed by Aunt Sarah who is one of those older women who M C Beaton does so well. I liked Maggie too though sometimes I wanted to talk some sense into her. I thought the darker side of Glasgow life at the start of the twentieth century was well done and convincing.
If you’re looking for a mystery novel with a dash of romance and some interesting characters then try ‘Maggie’.
Maggie is taken to live with the Earl’s aunt Sarah Rochester and gradually regains her health. But a shadow continues to hang over her – who did kill her husband? What follows is part love story and part mystery as Maggie and her friends decide there is only one way to dispel the shadow and that is to find out who did kill her husband.
I enjoyed this story even though it was much less light hearted than some in this series. Some of the characters are very unpleasant indeed but the darkness is redeemed by Aunt Sarah who is one of those older women who M C Beaton does so well. I liked Maggie too though sometimes I wanted to talk some sense into her. I thought the darker side of Glasgow life at the start of the twentieth century was well done and convincing.
If you’re looking for a mystery novel with a dash of romance and some interesting characters then try ‘Maggie’.
May 13, 2013
Maggie is accused of murdering her horrid husband. When she marries Peter, everyone is convinced that she will hang. But of course, she doesn't. What follows is how she falls in love and how they try to figure out who killed her horrid husband. Funnily enough, through all the adventures, that crime isn't really solved. And although, we at the end of the book are told who the real murderers are, it isn't ever brought to light. How apt.
April 7, 2011
This is one of the few books/series I would read again. These stories of Marion Chesney started me on my adventure...reading Regency Romance/Novels/History! There is not a set of books that will teach you more about the basics about life in Regency England. There are six series with six books each. I love them all. It must be a "past life" thing:)
March 20, 2010
I was intrigued to read other books written by Marion Chesney, aka
M. C. Beaton, aka Jennie Tremaine, aka Ann Fairfax. She's written at least 150 books
A quick romantic read, set in the early 1900's, not too soppy and with a mystery thrown in for good measure.
M. C. Beaton, aka Jennie Tremaine, aka Ann Fairfax. She's written at least 150 books
A quick romantic read, set in the early 1900's, not too soppy and with a mystery thrown in for good measure.
January 24, 2013
Fun. As always
February 9, 2013
Enjoyable romp with a slightly sudden ending! :)
Read
February 7, 2019This is a really good one in the series...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews