Murder Ballad

by Lucy Ribchester

This edition includes two full original songs written by the author and performed by the narrator.

Edinburgh, 1791. Isobel Duguid and her friend Clessidro are the stars of the Edinburgh Musical Society. Clessidro sings opera and Isobel sings famously dark Scottish ballads, despite being incapable of holding a tune. They roam the streets of Edinburgh, enjoying an opulent lifestyle.

One night a note arrives from the mysterious Cecilia Abercorn, asking if Isobel's most notorious song, The Fiddler's Wrath, might be included in a book. It's the tale of a prima donna who died of heartbreak after her husband committed murder and was sent to the gallows. Isobel is intrigued. But Mrs. Abercorn's curiosity about the ballad is far more than a fickle interest. When Clessidro goes missing, Isobel is forced to confront her past and the truth about The Fiddler's Wrath begins to emerge.

Using the geography of Edinburgh to guide us through the story, this dark tale becomes more complicated than anyone could have imagined and awakens the chilling retribution of a once buried secret.

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Unfinished, Scotland, Audiobook

384 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Lucy Ribchester writes thrillers under the pseudonym Elle Connel.

Lucy Ribchester is a dance and fiction writer based in Edinburgh. She studied English at the University of St Andrews, and later Shakespearean Studies at Kings College London and Shakespeare’s Globe. She then embarked on a strange and waggly career path organising parties at a boutique cinema in London, working for Al Jazeera television network, freelance writing while living in Spain, and later coordinating the National Trust for Scotland’s annual cruises (where I worked onboard a ship, swam with icebergs, set foot on St Kilda, and finally learned how to ceilidh dance).

She won a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award in 2013, and now work as a freelance dance journalist and adult education tutor, alongside fiction writing. When she's not doing any of those things she likes to make origami jewellery out of old book paper.

Lucy has a retired greyhound called Buster whom you will see a lot of if you follow her on Twitter.

Picture credit: Kuba Kolinski

Reviews

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

souvenir book from edinburgh 1/3

beautifully written but unfortunately i got a little too bored and it took me ages to finish this :/

[Geonn Cannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll keep this short because enough time has been wasted. This bored me to death and I kind of hated it. I can't even pinpoint why. It was just tedious and felt three times as long as it was.

[Cit Lennox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sordid and evocative of a half true Edinburgh, this book was a stellar Autumn read. Daft at points with the reveals rarely a surprise, but a great world to dip yourself into.

[Maddy McGlynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Ballad by Lucy Ribchester
A tense and twisted ballad set in 18th century Edinburgh.

Murder Ballad is set in the Georgian musical world of Auld Reekie (Edinburgh). Straddling between the filthy chaos of the old town and the calm and elegant wealthy New Town, Ribchester captures the changing face of Edinburgh at the end of the 18th century. From the rowdy music halls, the twisty closes and the role of turnpikes, it’s a deeply atmospheric insight into Edinburgh in the 1790s.

Ribchester captures the musicality of this Edinburgh, dispersing a musical lexicon throughout the narrative and immersing the reader into a world of sound that Isabel hears. The story is structured around traditional Scottish ballads and their roots in Scottish tradition, which layers into the musical setting.

Isobel Duguid is a fascinating character. Appearing arrogant and with deluded ideas of grandeur at the beginning of the novel, we slowly see beneath the veneer as we learn more about her history and personality through her letters. And we learn with interest her own part in the dark, claustrophobic events. The result is a multi-layered character.

The plot takes twists and turns, building into a crescendo mirroring that of the operatic/performance world in which the story is set. There is a twist at the end which I didn’t see coming but requires the reader to embrace a willing suspension of disbelief to fully appreciate its effectiveness.

Overall, it's an addictive, fast-paced read, and you look forward to stepping back into its music.
Thank you to @blackandwhitepublishing for the review copy.

[ClaireJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing took me into the depths of 18th century Edinburgh. I could picture and imagine the filth and stench of the cobbled streets. The writing was incredible in how it captured my attention and imagination.

I loved learning about how murder ballads were sang in the streets and theatres. The way how they spread the word of the latest murders or legendary ones from the past.

The elements of Scotland’s musical culture and tales from history create an atmospheric and compelling tale that I devoured in just a few days. The author has carried out a lot of in depth research to make this tale feel rich and authentic, featuring many vivid and memorable characters that are morally grey and complex. The plot was intriguing and unsettling. Basically everything about this book worked for me.

It is a story of secrets, love, friendship and betrayal. It encapsulates the feel of 18th century Edinburgh and the haunting and grisly side of it. If you enjoy books that are a bit on the macabre side, this is definitely for you.

[Carrie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent performance of onomatopoeia - listen to the audiobook of this!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Come all false-hearted women and your jealous husbands near,
For in my song about a foul murder you shall hear."

Edinburgh, 1791. Isobel Duguid, is famous for singing macabre murder ballads. She and her friend, Clessidro, are stars of the Edinburgh Musical Society and in high demand. One evening, Isobel receives a note from the mysterious Mrs. Abercorn, saying that her husband, Percy, is creating a collection of Scotland’s finest ballads and would like to include Isobels’s most notorious ballad, The Fiddler’s Wrath. Isobel is intrigued by their interest in the tale of a prima donna who died of heartbreak following her husband committing murder and being sent to the gallows. But when the full story of Mrs. Abercorn’s curiosity is revealed, it brings long-buried secrets to light.

Murder Ballad is a gloriously gothic, bloody and alluring serenade. A tale of friendship, love, secrets, betrayal and murder that I got lost in. With dark, atmospheric prose Lucy Ribchester crafted a gorgeous lullaby that transported me to the cobbled streets of 18th-Century Auld Reekie as she tells a tale rich with the fascinating history of Edinburgh, its theatres and the ballads themselves. She makes the music of its time leap from the pages and the audiobook was a treat for the ears as the narrator sang the ballads, immersing me completely in this melodic world. But there is a danger here, too, as peril lurks in the shadows and murder is scattered throughout the story.

“We are the hidden architects, the secret sulphurous sounds that weave their way into your thoughts. We build morals, climb into your bones through your ears and hand you your history and yet you will never know our names.”

The plot is convoluted and labyrinthine, a cleverly choreographed trail of music, secrets and death strewn through the streets of Edinburgh that is filled with fascinating and vivid characters. It is a journey that spans the entirety of Isobel’s career, starting with her humble beginnings as an orange seller and following as she recounts her rise to fame and the origin of the famous ballad that is woven intricately into every facet of this tale. It kept me guessing and I was on tenterhooks as I searched the story for clues and tried to predict where this curious tale would lead. But I was unprepared for the shocking truths that were finally revealed as the full picture emerged.

Evocative, original and surprising, Murder Ballad is a haunting piece of historical fiction that is not to be missed.

[historic_chronicles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edinburgh, 1791 and Isobel Duguid along with her friend, the talented castrato Clessidro, are privileged members of the Edinburgh Musical Society. Despite Isobel's questionable skill and bold attitude, the grisly murder ballads she features in her performances continue to draw in the crowds.

However, when Isobel is approached by the unassuming Mrs Abercorn keen to discuss her notorious ballad, The Fiddler's Wrath, a tale of betrayal, murder and heartbreak, Isobel becomes intrigued by the woman's motives. When the truth is complicated and history can mean danger, Isobel's past comes to haunt her as a secret once buried comes to light in search of justice.

Lucy Ribchester's novel is utterly beguiling from the very first pages. By encapsulating the dark and grisly side of historic Edinburgh, or "Auld Reekie" as it is known by us locals and also referred to in this novel, Ribchester completely brings to life the culture, the horror, and the beauty of 18th century Scotland.

Gripping and passionate at every turn, the consistent undercurrent of music is original and fascinating. Read this book and you too will be transported to the maze of closes, towering tenements and hard cobble stones beneath your feet no matter where you are. 

Thank you to @bwpublishing for so kindly sending me an advanced copy to review.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that features several murder ballads, has the elements of a murder ballad, and is called Murder Ballad. That's guaranteed to appeal to me. I also love plots that fold together neatly, yet without feeling contrived, and while I wouldn't say the plot is the main reason for reading this book, it worked well. It's the kind of story that has twists that feel surprising in the moment, and in retrospect, feel like things simply couldn't have been any other way.

It's a quick read, but also densely packed with detail, particularly aural detail - appropriate, as the main character is a musician. A lot of themes rhyme with the three protagonists: the need to use men to achieve their ambitions (creative or otherwise), the associated lack of credit for their work, the feeling of being an outsider, the struggles to finance the art they want to create. The balance of power and knowledge between them shifts through the work in a really neat way.

As I said at the start, this feels ballad-y (is that a word?) and operatic (safer ground here).

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like murders and historical fiction, then this is the book for you. Lucy captures the essence of late 18th century Edinburgh in all meanings of the word. The city was developing form the overcrowded, narrow streets of the old town to the wide streets and large opulent buildings of the new town although life still mingled together in a strange juxtaposition. We are told about Isobel and her friend Clessidro and her meeting with Mrs Abercorn who is keen to collect her ballads for her husband to write down. Historically ballads were passed down from generation to generation simply by rote as they belonged to nobody. The story is in five parts and as it evolves, you are not too sure which way it is going to go and certainly has an explosive ending that I did not foresee. As an historian, I loved getting the glimpses into the life of Edinburgh and its people of that time. A very well researched book too.

[Lucy Waves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Vivid, visceral and brilliantly twisty.

Set in the seedy but sensational music scene of eighteenth-century Edinburgh, where Enlightenment scholars smoke pornographic pipes while philosophising. Featuring ballad singers, tales of murder, castrati, song thieves, and the odd resurrection man.

Themes include who owns a song, a tune, a story? Class and gender as barriers to creativity, and society’s desire to gawp at death and tragedy. And gallows humour.

Five stars for voice and characters: salty, unabashed, full of energy and life, and whip smart words. Great sense of place: sights, smells, and above all sounds.
Such a clever plot, thought provoking, gripping, and twisty.

Audio narration by Sarah Barron is spot on.

Similar vibes to Zoe Heller’s exquisitely uncomfortable ‘Notes on a Scandal’ but also very different (no teacher-pupil ick).

I loved Isabel, from whose point of view we see much of the story, so much. Her voice will stay with me for a long time.

[SharleneH · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 18th century Edinburgh, Isobel Duguid and her friend Clessidro are the darlings of the Edinburgh Musical Society with Isobel singing famously dark Scottish ballads. When a note arrives from the mysterious Mrs Abercorn asking about The Fiddlers Wrath and to include it into a book at the same time Clessidro disappears, Isobel is forced to confront her fears, her past and the truth about the ballad.
Taking us into the depths of old town Edinburgh, through cobbled streets and mysterious paths this haunting tale will draw you in. Betrayal and friendships with secrets at the heart.
A mesmerising and fascinating tale that had me gripped to the very last page.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astounding read. Lucy excels at lush, vivid, immersive, and transportive historical fiction, and this is exceptional. A trio of women musical composers are the focus of the late 18th century novel set in Edinburgh, at a time when male figures dominated. The lurid and contrasting lives of Edinburgh's old and new town are brought to life so vividly by the authentically depicted rank and fine smells, sounds, and realities of the time. At its heart, an intricately woven tale of music, myth, and murder enlivened by some potentially unreliable narrators. An enthralling provoking joy to read. Ash Mowat.

[Monty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something a little different, though it didn’t grip me quite as much as You Can Stay (written under the pseudonym Elle Connel).

This novel transports you to 18th‑century Edinburgh and follows the story of Isobel Duguid, notorious for singing murder ballads (badly).

As the story unfolds, the boundaries between fact and fiction begin to blur, drawing you in.

An interesting read, especially for its subtle exploration of appropriation and the question of who truly has the right to tell a story.

[Lindsay (novelandink) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Ribchester does not shy away from the unsavoury aspects of 18th-century Edinburgh, and it does her story credit. The writing is immersive, the setting expertly crafted, and the story kept me on my toes—I even had to pause the audiobook to fully absorb a plot reveal I didn’t sense coming.

This novel truly melds with the dark history of Edinburgh. It feels like it could even be a true story.

I feel like I should note that I was gifted a physical copy of the book as I’m chairing an event in Edinburgh featuring it. This did not influence my rating or review.

[Rome · Rating 3 out of 5]

picked this one up because it's set in edinburgh and about a musical society but it just didn't do it for me. felt like a chore to read if we're honest. it was fine but im excited to be done and read other things. (3.5)

[Anne M Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but you have to love historical fiction to get along with it. It is richly written and very dense. Set in 1791 Edinburgh it is a story of a ballad singer who was involved in the murder of an opera singer and her musician lover.

[Rowan Pelfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Edinburgh in the late 18th century. I liked the story and found the main character compelling. I do think the story was a little predictable and I felt like I wanted more drama in the denouement. I did enjoy it and loved the atmosphere that was created.

[Paradise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Amberley Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit of a slow start but actually ended up being a great read. Also fun to read about Edinburgh in the 18th century as someone who currently lives there.

[Sarah Couley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edinburgh's streets and people came alive in this tale of decades long secrets and murder. I could imagine walking the closes and stepping through the grime. Hearing the clamour of the lower classes and smelling the stench of the fish markets. The main characters were quite detestable people, which made for interesting storytelling. The class divide, even in the music halls, was prominent, and discovering the secret of Isobel's murder ballad was thoroughly intriguing. The ending absolutely caught me off guard, which I loved! I had a great time reading this incredibly well researched novel, and it was fascinating learning about murder ballad origins and the historical world of music.

[Janni_B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strange tale – but intriguing.

1791 Edinburgh. Isobel Duguid is a 'star' of the Edinburgh Musical Society, despite her questionable skill and attitude, where her friend, the castrato Clessidro is the Musical Director. Isobel is a singer of Scottish ballads, often dark 'murder ballads'. Clessidro is sought for his Italian training, violin playing and singing. They roam Edinburgh, living an opulent lifestyle. But there's a feeling that not everything is quite as it seems.

Then Isobel receives a letter from a Mrs Abercorn, whose husband is a song collector, wanting permission to include one of Isobel's famous murder ballads, The Fiddler's Wrath, in a book and hinting it was her husband's intention to include a etching of the writer or custodian of each ballad he selects. Mrs Abercorn has also requested that Isobel sings the notorious ballad at a concert that evening. After the concert Mrs Abercorn approaches Isobel and starts quizzing her about the ballad. And so Isobel's tale unfolds and unravels and the truth emerges. I'm not sure how I felt about Isobel. At times I disliked her; other times I felt some sympathy for her.

It's a dark and twisted tale. You can almost smell the alleys and closes of Edinburgh Old Town. It's a tale of secrets, misogyny, jealousy, love, betrayal, heartbreak, murder.

I think I was hooked at the start by the words of The Fiddler's Wrath and also the fact that there was a musical thread (I like to sing old ballads and traditional songs – but only in the company of friends). I got slightly lost at one point and almost gave up but I'm glad I read on to the end because overall I enjoyed the book. It might even be one I would read again.

[Samantha (A Dream of Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Come all false hearted women and your jealous husbands near, for in my song about a foul murder you shall hear.”

Set in 18th century Edinburgh, Murder Ballad was a captivating historical murder mystery, exploring the truth of a crime connected by music, song and story.

Isobel Duguid is part of the Edinburgh Musical Society. She is infamous for singing murder ballads, one of which attracts the attentions of the mysterious Mrs Abercorn. She claims to want to put The Fiddler’s Wrath in a book that her husband is writing but as she draws closer to Isabel, her interest in the song starts to go even deeper.

This was an incredibly atmospheric read. It conjured up all the sights and sounds of the city and the historic period in which it was set. I loved the way it incorporated the theatre and the history of music, which are woven together with a devilishly dark murder mystery plot line.

Lucy Ribchester has written a very feminist story, exploring the the question of womens’ rights at the time and the tensions between those of the working class and the elite.

Betrayal and hidden secrets seem to lurk around every corner making this a book you won’t want to put down.