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The remains of Annie Pritchard
A century before Lady Diana Spencer put Althorp on the map, the Northamptonshire estate gained notoriety for a very different reason. In 1892 the dismembered body of a female was found in a ditch a short distance from the now infamous cast iron gates.
This is the true story of the victim, Annie Pritchard and her love affair with her married neighbour, Andrew MacRae, who after a sensational and controversial trial was found guilty of her murder and executed.
Ultimately, it is the story of East Haddon, a village who took Annie as one of their own. They gave her the final dignity and respect she deserved. She has never been forgotten, and to this day she is held close to the villagers’ hearts.
A gruesome read and not for the fainthearted.
This is the true story of the victim, Annie Pritchard and her love affair with her married neighbour, Andrew MacRae, who after a sensational and controversial trial was found guilty of her murder and executed.
Ultimately, it is the story of East Haddon, a village who took Annie as one of their own. They gave her the final dignity and respect she deserved. She has never been forgotten, and to this day she is held close to the villagers’ hearts.
A gruesome read and not for the fainthearted.
360 pages, Paperback
Published December 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 7, 2026
3.5 stars
Whilst the story is horrific it was a very interesting read and the novel had you hooked (apart from the trial which i found hugely repetitive and needed serious editing ) I’ve lived in the village mentioned and visit all the areas mentioned in the book regularly . The story is one that had me researching as I went I took time to locate historic pictures of the sites , used maps to help with travel timelines . I managed to locate the place in which she was found on road side . I loved getting deep into the history of this book even the areas in Birmingham I know due to being from there myself . It made me want to read more books that are true crime based on local or nearby areas .
There are a couple downfalls but I don’t want to sound harsh or too negative to a new author making their journey into being published . Whilst my grammar is awful most days I’m not printing a book , The grammatical errors were hard to unsee … even the blurb had a spelling error and some paragraph layouts had words separated onto two lines sometimes (more proof reading required)
The trial was too deeply explained and it felt like I was reading theses chapter for as long as the trial lasted (5days ) so some sharp editing needed here to make it flow as well as the rest.
You couldn’t help but feel for Annie and have a hatred for Andrew ,a man that you would assume by the facts was guilty of her murder .
I plan to visit her grave soon quite possibly on his hanging date .
Whilst the story is horrific it was a very interesting read and the novel had you hooked (apart from the trial which i found hugely repetitive and needed serious editing ) I’ve lived in the village mentioned and visit all the areas mentioned in the book regularly . The story is one that had me researching as I went I took time to locate historic pictures of the sites , used maps to help with travel timelines . I managed to locate the place in which she was found on road side . I loved getting deep into the history of this book even the areas in Birmingham I know due to being from there myself . It made me want to read more books that are true crime based on local or nearby areas .
There are a couple downfalls but I don’t want to sound harsh or too negative to a new author making their journey into being published . Whilst my grammar is awful most days I’m not printing a book , The grammatical errors were hard to unsee … even the blurb had a spelling error and some paragraph layouts had words separated onto two lines sometimes (more proof reading required)
The trial was too deeply explained and it felt like I was reading theses chapter for as long as the trial lasted (5days ) so some sharp editing needed here to make it flow as well as the rest.
You couldn’t help but feel for Annie and have a hatred for Andrew ,a man that you would assume by the facts was guilty of her murder .
I plan to visit her grave soon quite possibly on his hanging date .
March 3, 2026
This book took me a while to read as it is vey dry and some parts, I had to skim read. Also needs a decent proof reader to sort out the typos.
It is of local interest to me and like other readers, I know the locations and some still exist.
It is a shame that the book is part fiction as it is not written in the style of a real life thriller and the attempts to add supposition to scenes does not add anything to the book.
I would have scored this more if it had stuck to the facts and not tried envisage what they did or said.
it would have also benefited from pictures of locations and maps to assist us local to visualise and visit the scenes.
Great book for locals or those interested in grisly murders and capital punishment but it will not be winning any literary prizes.
That said, it is great for a first book that will continue to be of interest locally.
It is of local interest to me and like other readers, I know the locations and some still exist.
It is a shame that the book is part fiction as it is not written in the style of a real life thriller and the attempts to add supposition to scenes does not add anything to the book.
I would have scored this more if it had stuck to the facts and not tried envisage what they did or said.
it would have also benefited from pictures of locations and maps to assist us local to visualise and visit the scenes.
Great book for locals or those interested in grisly murders and capital punishment but it will not be winning any literary prizes.
That said, it is great for a first book that will continue to be of interest locally.
January 11, 2026
Gripping
Living in Duston, I am familiar with these roads and places yet have never heard of the death of AP. I was gripped and read it within two days. A very sad story. The circumstances of her burial was very saddening. Grateful to the parish of East Haddon for their role.
Living in Duston, I am familiar with these roads and places yet have never heard of the death of AP. I was gripped and read it within two days. A very sad story. The circumstances of her burial was very saddening. Grateful to the parish of East Haddon for their role.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews