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The Trials of Marjorie Crowe
How do you solve a murder when everyone thinks you're guilty?
Marjorie Crowe lives in Kilgoyne, Scotland. The locals put her age at somewhere between 55 and 70. They think she's divorced or a lifelong spinster; that she used to be a librarian, a pharmacist, or a witch. They think she's lonely, or ill, or maybe just plain rude. For the most part, they leave her be.
But one day, everything changes.
Local teenager Charlie McKee is found hanging in the woods, and Marjorie is the first one to see his body. When what she saw turns out to be impossible, the police have their doubts. And when another young person goes missing, the tide of suspicion turns on her.
Is Marjorie the monster, or the victim? And how far will she go to fight for her name?
Marjorie Crowe lives in Kilgoyne, Scotland. The locals put her age at somewhere between 55 and 70. They think she's divorced or a lifelong spinster; that she used to be a librarian, a pharmacist, or a witch. They think she's lonely, or ill, or maybe just plain rude. For the most part, they leave her be.
But one day, everything changes.
Local teenager Charlie McKee is found hanging in the woods, and Marjorie is the first one to see his body. When what she saw turns out to be impossible, the police have their doubts. And when another young person goes missing, the tide of suspicion turns on her.
Is Marjorie the monster, or the victim? And how far will she go to fight for her name?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
January 30, 2024
In a Nutshell: A mystery-drama with mild paranormal shades and a quirky aged lead character. The plot idea had great potential. Should have worked better for me, but the execution didn’t leave me happy. This is an outlier review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
Marjorie is the lynchpin of the plot, and as the first person narrator, it is she who takes us through the events that occur over the course of the story. The problem with this is that Marjorie is a highly unreliable narrator. She chooses to ramble to us readers about her inner thoughts and worries, but when it comes to the facts, she hides much and twists most of what she reveals. I am not fond of the unreliable narrator trope when it is executed this way. Deliberate manipulation of facts just to keep us in suspense gets annoying.
Not only does she NOT function as a reliable narrator but she is also not a reliable or likeable character. Her sketching is quite haphazard. She is confident in one scene and shaking with nerves in the next. She sometimes talks to the police about her suspicions and yet she doesn’t reveal crucial details to them. She is often afraid to go out in the village after the accusations begin, and yet she goes all alone to the house of whomever she suspects and confronts them without anyone’s help. She uses her impulse more than her brains and handles almost the entire investigation by herself despite the presence of two supportive police officers. In short, Marjorie is a typical contemporary thriller FMC in all ways except for her age. (Actually, her age is also just a number in the book – it is hardly ever incorporated well into the plot except in one scene.) Is it any surprise then that I couldn’t connect with her? Unreliable narrator + amateur sleuth = Loads of eye-rolling!
The only positive aspect of Marjorie’s character was her “witchy” tendencies. Her knowledge of herbs and remedies, her respectful approach towards nature, and her belief in the unexplainable is strongly rooted. I wish these elements had been explored more because she had great potential as an actual “witch.”
As a story, the premise could have worked wonders. The book straddles many genres – mystery, thriller, paranormal, witchcraft and drama. This weakens the core focus. The pacing is terribly slow, not a good sign for such a story. Despite the extensive development, there are many plot gaps, especially but not only connected to Marjorie’s past history and how she came to live in that village.
The contemporary timeline, based in 2024, is interrupted often by flashbacks from the past, some of which date centuries ago. These focus either on past witch hunts or on mysterious happenings in the village from a few years ago. The witch hunts are sad to read, but they add nothing to the actual storyline. The village flashbacks are better connected to the plot, but they aren’t clarified well at the end.
I was keen to see how a woman who is a loner and a murder suspect clears her name. But the execution is so jumpy that I couldn’t focus properly on the plot. There is a lot of repetition, not in the writing but in the events. It feels like the same things happen on loop almost throughout the book, except for the ending, which is a typical extended infodump - a boring feature of so many murder mysteries.
On the other hand, the village is described excellently. The setting is written so well that you can actually picture the scenes in your mind. Some of the settings are based on actual locations. The one that is derived from the real-life Mexican island (won’t go into spoilers) is the creepiest.
The nature of the villagers is also like that of a typical small place, where there is loads of gossip and nose-poking. I wish the portrayal had been more balanced because most people in the village were cast only in negative shades.
It was nice to see an Indian-origin character as one of the investigating officers. Through her arc, and through Marjorie’s story as well, the plot tackles the theme of racism. What was ironic though is that when Marjorie’s first person narration talks of her, she sometimes refers to her as Indian or Hindu. This is also racism, though softer. True inclusivity means that you focus on the person and not on their ethnicity or religion during your interactions.
A part of me feels like this book might have clicked better for me if written in third person as the ramblings could have been avoided and I would have got to see more direct action. Then again, if Marjorie is unreliable, even that approach wouldn’t have worked. The storyline was great but the handling seemed superficial to me.
That said, most readers seem to have enjoyed this witchy mystery, so I am very much the outlier. Do read other reviews before you take a call on this novel.
2 stars.
My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Trials of Marjorie Crowe”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
Sixty-something Marjorie Crowe has lived alone in a little Scottish village for twenty-five years. Yet, all the villagers know about her is that she is a creature of habit and a recluse. Her past life is a mystery. And her present habits cause many to feel that she’s a witch. So they gladly leave her alone, though they do talk about her behind her back, and she knows it.
Living in her cottage on the edge of the village, Marjorie has a fixed routine for every day, planned down to the second. This changes the day teenaged Charlie McKee is found hanging on the outskirts of the village. This is the first day that Marjorie is seven minutes late returning from her morning walk. Locals see her with a shocked look on her face and scurrying away faster than usual. Speculation begins that she has something to do with the boy’s death.
With no one to support her or accept her reasoning, it is up to Marjorie to save herself.
The story comes to us in Marjorie’s first person perspective.
Marjorie is the lynchpin of the plot, and as the first person narrator, it is she who takes us through the events that occur over the course of the story. The problem with this is that Marjorie is a highly unreliable narrator. She chooses to ramble to us readers about her inner thoughts and worries, but when it comes to the facts, she hides much and twists most of what she reveals. I am not fond of the unreliable narrator trope when it is executed this way. Deliberate manipulation of facts just to keep us in suspense gets annoying.
Not only does she NOT function as a reliable narrator but she is also not a reliable or likeable character. Her sketching is quite haphazard. She is confident in one scene and shaking with nerves in the next. She sometimes talks to the police about her suspicions and yet she doesn’t reveal crucial details to them. She is often afraid to go out in the village after the accusations begin, and yet she goes all alone to the house of whomever she suspects and confronts them without anyone’s help. She uses her impulse more than her brains and handles almost the entire investigation by herself despite the presence of two supportive police officers. In short, Marjorie is a typical contemporary thriller FMC in all ways except for her age. (Actually, her age is also just a number in the book – it is hardly ever incorporated well into the plot except in one scene.) Is it any surprise then that I couldn’t connect with her? Unreliable narrator + amateur sleuth = Loads of eye-rolling!
The only positive aspect of Marjorie’s character was her “witchy” tendencies. Her knowledge of herbs and remedies, her respectful approach towards nature, and her belief in the unexplainable is strongly rooted. I wish these elements had been explored more because she had great potential as an actual “witch.”
As a story, the premise could have worked wonders. The book straddles many genres – mystery, thriller, paranormal, witchcraft and drama. This weakens the core focus. The pacing is terribly slow, not a good sign for such a story. Despite the extensive development, there are many plot gaps, especially but not only connected to Marjorie’s past history and how she came to live in that village.
The contemporary timeline, based in 2024, is interrupted often by flashbacks from the past, some of which date centuries ago. These focus either on past witch hunts or on mysterious happenings in the village from a few years ago. The witch hunts are sad to read, but they add nothing to the actual storyline. The village flashbacks are better connected to the plot, but they aren’t clarified well at the end.
I was keen to see how a woman who is a loner and a murder suspect clears her name. But the execution is so jumpy that I couldn’t focus properly on the plot. There is a lot of repetition, not in the writing but in the events. It feels like the same things happen on loop almost throughout the book, except for the ending, which is a typical extended infodump - a boring feature of so many murder mysteries.
On the other hand, the village is described excellently. The setting is written so well that you can actually picture the scenes in your mind. Some of the settings are based on actual locations. The one that is derived from the real-life Mexican island (won’t go into spoilers) is the creepiest.
The nature of the villagers is also like that of a typical small place, where there is loads of gossip and nose-poking. I wish the portrayal had been more balanced because most people in the village were cast only in negative shades.
It was nice to see an Indian-origin character as one of the investigating officers. Through her arc, and through Marjorie’s story as well, the plot tackles the theme of racism. What was ironic though is that when Marjorie’s first person narration talks of her, she sometimes refers to her as Indian or Hindu. This is also racism, though softer. True inclusivity means that you focus on the person and not on their ethnicity or religion during your interactions.
A part of me feels like this book might have clicked better for me if written in third person as the ramblings could have been avoided and I would have got to see more direct action. Then again, if Marjorie is unreliable, even that approach wouldn’t have worked. The storyline was great but the handling seemed superficial to me.
That said, most readers seem to have enjoyed this witchy mystery, so I am very much the outlier. Do read other reviews before you take a call on this novel.
2 stars.
My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Trials of Marjorie Crowe”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
November 30, 2023
4+
Marjorie Crowe could be anywhere between 60 and 70, she lives in a Hansel and Gretel house in Kilgoyne, Scotland, and has been variously described as divorced, a spinster, a librarian, a pharmacist and a witch. What isn’t in dispute is that twice a day at precisely 11:30 am and 6:30 pm she takes a walk widdershins (anticlockwise) in the same loop around the village. This particular day she dresses in her usual eclectic, eccentric style and takes the route which includes straight through the Endrick Arms, Kilgoynes oldest pub, as it’s a shortcut. She arrives at Spittals Clearing and there is the Witching Tree, an ancient elm, which has broken into two sections, reinforced by iron. That’s her turning point. However, this particular warm day in April, something halts her in her tracks and makes her feel as if the world has stopped. What did she see that shakes her so much and why is it cast in such doubt at the subsequent police enquiry led by D S Tom Deacon?
This is a tale that demonstrates that nothing changes through time, although the medium of attack may differ. It shows that things can worsen and that harsh words can often lead to action. Here we have ancient and modern ignorance and prejudice that can spiral out of control.
If you’ve read The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill then you’ll know just how good CS Robertson is at creating characters who are very different, at making readers see them for who they really are rather than the perceived notions of those who don’t conform to the considered norm. Here we have Marjorie Crowe and she certainly does undergo “trials”. The way she is treated is like the wise women of yore, often tried, convicted and condemned in the court of public opinion. I grow to love her as a character, she is so misunderstood yet her intentions are nothing but good. You also have the conundrum of who is the liar - is it the ‘oddball outsider’ in Marjorie or someone whose reputation is that of an upstanding citizen. Things descend from this as a close knit village community who thinks they know everything but actually, apart from a chosen few, knows nothing. There’s sadness and extreme anger which means an inevitable collision course, there’s fear provoked by a pack mentality which is deepened by toxic social media. The situation becomes chaotic and dark, with tension that shreds the nerves creating a dangerous and nightmarish environment.
One of the strongest elements of the gripping storyline is the atmosphere the author creates. He uses the beauty of the area to great effect and it contrasts sharply with the darkness that lurks within. It’s spooky, ghostly and chilling, as well as darkly forbidding as the different energies swirl to create a strong feeling of dread. I love how the past is woven with historic cases of witchcraft to make this story feel current and fresh.
This is a powerful tale which I enjoy very much although I do feel the ending could have packed more of a punch after what precedes it but I do buy into it. Another cracking read from a talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Marjorie Crowe could be anywhere between 60 and 70, she lives in a Hansel and Gretel house in Kilgoyne, Scotland, and has been variously described as divorced, a spinster, a librarian, a pharmacist and a witch. What isn’t in dispute is that twice a day at precisely 11:30 am and 6:30 pm she takes a walk widdershins (anticlockwise) in the same loop around the village. This particular day she dresses in her usual eclectic, eccentric style and takes the route which includes straight through the Endrick Arms, Kilgoynes oldest pub, as it’s a shortcut. She arrives at Spittals Clearing and there is the Witching Tree, an ancient elm, which has broken into two sections, reinforced by iron. That’s her turning point. However, this particular warm day in April, something halts her in her tracks and makes her feel as if the world has stopped. What did she see that shakes her so much and why is it cast in such doubt at the subsequent police enquiry led by D S Tom Deacon?
This is a tale that demonstrates that nothing changes through time, although the medium of attack may differ. It shows that things can worsen and that harsh words can often lead to action. Here we have ancient and modern ignorance and prejudice that can spiral out of control.
If you’ve read The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill then you’ll know just how good CS Robertson is at creating characters who are very different, at making readers see them for who they really are rather than the perceived notions of those who don’t conform to the considered norm. Here we have Marjorie Crowe and she certainly does undergo “trials”. The way she is treated is like the wise women of yore, often tried, convicted and condemned in the court of public opinion. I grow to love her as a character, she is so misunderstood yet her intentions are nothing but good. You also have the conundrum of who is the liar - is it the ‘oddball outsider’ in Marjorie or someone whose reputation is that of an upstanding citizen. Things descend from this as a close knit village community who thinks they know everything but actually, apart from a chosen few, knows nothing. There’s sadness and extreme anger which means an inevitable collision course, there’s fear provoked by a pack mentality which is deepened by toxic social media. The situation becomes chaotic and dark, with tension that shreds the nerves creating a dangerous and nightmarish environment.
One of the strongest elements of the gripping storyline is the atmosphere the author creates. He uses the beauty of the area to great effect and it contrasts sharply with the darkness that lurks within. It’s spooky, ghostly and chilling, as well as darkly forbidding as the different energies swirl to create a strong feeling of dread. I love how the past is woven with historic cases of witchcraft to make this story feel current and fresh.
This is a powerful tale which I enjoy very much although I do feel the ending could have packed more of a punch after what precedes it but I do buy into it. Another cracking read from a talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 12, 2023
I really enjoyed the authors first novel (The undiscovered deaths of Grace McGill). So, I couldn’t wait to delve into this one.
Marjorie Crowe has lived in Kilgoyne, Scotland for the last 25 years. She lives alone and walks the same route around her village twice a day. To protect the village from evil doings. The other residents of the village thinks she is peculiar and maybe a witch as her ancestors many years ago was. But she is an herbalist that makes potions and plants and sometimes sells them to some of the residents of the village. She is always gossiped about.
So, when one morning she sees a boy hanging for ‘the witching tree’. She says nothing at first until a few hours later he is found alive and well. When another boy has gone missing, the residents of the town thinks that Marjorie has something to do with it. This is the start of harassment for her not only just a few words but been trolled on Twitter too. All saying that she is a witch, and they need to burn her. Majorie is innocent. But because she is ‘different’ they are putting two and two together.
I found this to be a fabulous read. How one woman who is different to her peers are being ostracised from the rest of her community for just being ‘different’. Which I found quite appropriate in todays society. I like the character of the protagonist. She is quite determined and doesn’t let anything upset her too much. I also thought it was quite unique storyline with the blend of old- and new-time differences and supernatural element throughout the book. 5 stars from me.
Marjorie Crowe has lived in Kilgoyne, Scotland for the last 25 years. She lives alone and walks the same route around her village twice a day. To protect the village from evil doings. The other residents of the village thinks she is peculiar and maybe a witch as her ancestors many years ago was. But she is an herbalist that makes potions and plants and sometimes sells them to some of the residents of the village. She is always gossiped about.
So, when one morning she sees a boy hanging for ‘the witching tree’. She says nothing at first until a few hours later he is found alive and well. When another boy has gone missing, the residents of the town thinks that Marjorie has something to do with it. This is the start of harassment for her not only just a few words but been trolled on Twitter too. All saying that she is a witch, and they need to burn her. Majorie is innocent. But because she is ‘different’ they are putting two and two together.
I found this to be a fabulous read. How one woman who is different to her peers are being ostracised from the rest of her community for just being ‘different’. Which I found quite appropriate in todays society. I like the character of the protagonist. She is quite determined and doesn’t let anything upset her too much. I also thought it was quite unique storyline with the blend of old- and new-time differences and supernatural element throughout the book. 5 stars from me.
July 28, 2024
Marjorie has lived in the remote Scottish village of Kilgoyne for over twenty five years but is still considered an outsider. Twice every day she takes the same walk around the village in an anti-clockwise direction. Then, during her late morning walk she discovers local teenager Charlie McKee hanging from an old elm tree. However, when the police begin to investigate, it turns out that, although Charlie is definitely dead, someone saw him alive in the village over an hour later.
When another village teenage boy goes missing, Marjorie becomes the prime suspect amongst the villagers and is subject to a tirade of abuse both in person and on social media. When Marjorie discovers the body of a teenage girl on a rock known as The Devil’s Pulpit the abuse ramps up further.
We learn through flashback chapters that the deaths are somehow linked to a devil worshipping cult called Thelema and the disappearance of 17 year old Jenni Horsburgh in 1999. Somehow, Marjorie has to unravel the mystery to prove her innocence and discover the true killers.
Mixing police procedural with historical accounts and supernatural elements, this is a highly original and thoroughly gripping thriller with the sort of protagonist one can root for all the way.
When another village teenage boy goes missing, Marjorie becomes the prime suspect amongst the villagers and is subject to a tirade of abuse both in person and on social media. When Marjorie discovers the body of a teenage girl on a rock known as The Devil’s Pulpit the abuse ramps up further.
We learn through flashback chapters that the deaths are somehow linked to a devil worshipping cult called Thelema and the disappearance of 17 year old Jenni Horsburgh in 1999. Somehow, Marjorie has to unravel the mystery to prove her innocence and discover the true killers.
Mixing police procedural with historical accounts and supernatural elements, this is a highly original and thoroughly gripping thriller with the sort of protagonist one can root for all the way.
March 17, 2024
5 ⭐
A library read and wow this didn't disappoint.
Such a talented author. Wonderfully written.
Kept you guessing throughout, so many twists and turns.
Great plot and great atmosphere.
I loved the past woven with real historic cases of witchcraft.
Couldn't put this down.
Would definitely recommend 💕
A library read and wow this didn't disappoint.
Such a talented author. Wonderfully written.
Kept you guessing throughout, so many twists and turns.
Great plot and great atmosphere.
I loved the past woven with real historic cases of witchcraft.
Couldn't put this down.
Would definitely recommend 💕
November 26, 2023
The author who brought us Grace McGill has now brought us Marjorie Crowe. As characters go, these are two of the best.
I adored CS Robertson's first novel and if anyone hasn't read it, I would encourage you to go do so.
In this novel, a young boy is found hanging in the small town of Kilgoyne and all attention turns to Marjorie. Why wouldn't it? No one knows her age (between 55 and 70?), no one knows what she done (librarian, pharmacist or witch?) but everyone knows she's strange.
When Marjorie's witness testimony is called into question, it leads to more questions and Marjorie is going to need to delve into this matter herself to find out what is really going on.
As I say, I really enjoyed Robertson's first novel and couldn't wait to read this. What is clear, only two novels in, is that the author is big on main characters and, in particular, somewhat 'strange' main characters who pull the novel together. The two he has pulled out so far are impressive and I've loved both so here's to a lot more to come!
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I adored CS Robertson's first novel and if anyone hasn't read it, I would encourage you to go do so.
In this novel, a young boy is found hanging in the small town of Kilgoyne and all attention turns to Marjorie. Why wouldn't it? No one knows her age (between 55 and 70?), no one knows what she done (librarian, pharmacist or witch?) but everyone knows she's strange.
When Marjorie's witness testimony is called into question, it leads to more questions and Marjorie is going to need to delve into this matter herself to find out what is really going on.
As I say, I really enjoyed Robertson's first novel and couldn't wait to read this. What is clear, only two novels in, is that the author is big on main characters and, in particular, somewhat 'strange' main characters who pull the novel together. The two he has pulled out so far are impressive and I've loved both so here's to a lot more to come!
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 19, 2024
Read this in 3 sittings which is very unusual for me but just couldn’t put it down. I want Marjorie to be my friend, she is such a wee soul and I’m going to miss her! Highly recommend if you like a mystery and some witchcraft or even if you don’t - give it a go xx
October 28, 2024
It took me a while to get through this as initially I kept putting it down but I’ve read through the last three quarters quickly.
An enjoyable read- a bit of mystery, superstition and witchcraft. All things I love. There are plenty of twists and turns and I enjoyed the Scottish setting.
An enjoyable read- a bit of mystery, superstition and witchcraft. All things I love. There are plenty of twists and turns and I enjoyed the Scottish setting.
October 19, 2024
This was a good thriller to read at this time of year with sprinklings of witchery, superstition & the occult. Marjorie was quite a frustrating protagonist in places, hence 3*. Adored the eerie Scottish setting!
November 30, 2023
Rating: 4.0/5
I missed out on Craig Robertson's previous novel, "The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill" which received plenty of plaudits, so I was keen to make sure that I picked up his next offering - and I am so glad that I did. "The Trials of Marjorie Crowe" is a quality piece of character-driven storytelling.
Even though it is more than twenty years since Marjorie Crowe moved to Kilgoyne, she has always been treated as an outsider by the rest of the community. Apart from being a latecomer, nobody quite knows what to make of her. They don't really know how old she is or what she does, but they do know that there is something different about her - something strange. That perception is not helped by Marjorie's strict daily routine of always walking the exact same route around town at precisely the same time every day. To their way of thinking, she simply isn't normal - in fact, she is probably a witch!
Although this story has an intriguing mystery - or perhaps it would be more accurate to say mysteries, which unfold as the narrative progresses, it is the quality of the characterisation which most strongly drives the storyline. The central protagonist, Marjorie, is well-drawn as you might expect, but the supporting cast are equally well observed and depicted. This lends a real sense of depth and realism to proceedings. Stylistically, I was reminded on a number of occasions of the writing of C.J. Tudor who is also a gifted storyteller with hints of the supernatural running throughout her work.
If I were to make a criticism, then it would relate to the various witch trials that are referenced in the course of the novel. Whilst they were interesting and I could understand the author's desire to include them, I felt they hampered the overall flow of the narrative. Perhaps a different way of incorporating the references could have been found that didn't have such a disjointing effect.
Nonetheless, the overall impression made by this story is unequivocally positive. As I said at the start, I missed out on "The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill" when it was published, but based on my experience of reading this example of C.S. Robertson's work, I am going to make sure that I grab myself a copy and read it in the next few weeks.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
I missed out on Craig Robertson's previous novel, "The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill" which received plenty of plaudits, so I was keen to make sure that I picked up his next offering - and I am so glad that I did. "The Trials of Marjorie Crowe" is a quality piece of character-driven storytelling.
Even though it is more than twenty years since Marjorie Crowe moved to Kilgoyne, she has always been treated as an outsider by the rest of the community. Apart from being a latecomer, nobody quite knows what to make of her. They don't really know how old she is or what she does, but they do know that there is something different about her - something strange. That perception is not helped by Marjorie's strict daily routine of always walking the exact same route around town at precisely the same time every day. To their way of thinking, she simply isn't normal - in fact, she is probably a witch!
Although this story has an intriguing mystery - or perhaps it would be more accurate to say mysteries, which unfold as the narrative progresses, it is the quality of the characterisation which most strongly drives the storyline. The central protagonist, Marjorie, is well-drawn as you might expect, but the supporting cast are equally well observed and depicted. This lends a real sense of depth and realism to proceedings. Stylistically, I was reminded on a number of occasions of the writing of C.J. Tudor who is also a gifted storyteller with hints of the supernatural running throughout her work.
If I were to make a criticism, then it would relate to the various witch trials that are referenced in the course of the novel. Whilst they were interesting and I could understand the author's desire to include them, I felt they hampered the overall flow of the narrative. Perhaps a different way of incorporating the references could have been found that didn't have such a disjointing effect.
Nonetheless, the overall impression made by this story is unequivocally positive. As I said at the start, I missed out on "The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill" when it was published, but based on my experience of reading this example of C.S. Robertson's work, I am going to make sure that I grab myself a copy and read it in the next few weeks.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
January 20, 2024
Marjorie Crowe is an outsider. Despite living in her small cottage for 25 years, she doesn't really mix with the locals and she wasn't born there. However she walks, twice a day, a set route around the village. The locals notice this strange habit and accept it as part of their daily lives. So when she's late one day, it's very obvious.
Marjorie is a modern day witch. What I love about the way Craig has written her is as sympathetically as he could. He hasn't gone for any stereotypes. She's a little odd, but justifies some of her remedies with science and proof. She listens and observes. I love how the village have all but shunned her but she knows more about them than they realise. A really stark realisation of how we treat those who are different, but they see and hear everything.
When a young boy is seen hanging by Marjorie, she runs home and hides instead of telling anyone. The odd thing is he's seen alive and well a couple of hours later.
Marjorie is then attacked both in real life and online by so called keyboard warriors on twitter.
The story unravels slowly, and cleverly. There is an ever present feeling of unease or menace. It's interspersed with stories of the witch trials in the 1600s. The reasons women were found guilty were shocking and appalling.
I really enjoyed how everything was unravelled and the focus was on Marjorie who in some ways was as much as a victim.
The writing was beautiful and descriptive without being flowery and excessive. A real triumph.
Marjorie is a modern day witch. What I love about the way Craig has written her is as sympathetically as he could. He hasn't gone for any stereotypes. She's a little odd, but justifies some of her remedies with science and proof. She listens and observes. I love how the village have all but shunned her but she knows more about them than they realise. A really stark realisation of how we treat those who are different, but they see and hear everything.
When a young boy is seen hanging by Marjorie, she runs home and hides instead of telling anyone. The odd thing is he's seen alive and well a couple of hours later.
Marjorie is then attacked both in real life and online by so called keyboard warriors on twitter.
The story unravels slowly, and cleverly. There is an ever present feeling of unease or menace. It's interspersed with stories of the witch trials in the 1600s. The reasons women were found guilty were shocking and appalling.
I really enjoyed how everything was unravelled and the focus was on Marjorie who in some ways was as much as a victim.
The writing was beautiful and descriptive without being flowery and excessive. A real triumph.
December 1, 2023
Marjorie Crowe is an outsider. Although she has lived in Kilgoyne for over twenty five years, she is not “one of them”. All the locals think it best just to leave her be. Seen variously as different, standoffish, witchy, and very odd, Marjorie has heard it all. Names can’t hurt her until they do.
The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill, is a favourite of mine, and I was excited to be offered this latest book from Robertson.
From the start I was drawn into Marjorie’s world, and felt the descriptive prose of the area set the scene perfectly. Off to a flying start, the book did flatten a little in the middle, but soon picked up the pace again and the ending was all a reader could hope for. A character driven story that gives a lot - murder, mystery, secrets, supernatural and intrigue, a melting pot of themes that result in an exciting read.
Beautiful writing, well drawn characters and a bewitching plot. A very enjoyable book.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton.
The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill, is a favourite of mine, and I was excited to be offered this latest book from Robertson.
From the start I was drawn into Marjorie’s world, and felt the descriptive prose of the area set the scene perfectly. Off to a flying start, the book did flatten a little in the middle, but soon picked up the pace again and the ending was all a reader could hope for. A character driven story that gives a lot - murder, mystery, secrets, supernatural and intrigue, a melting pot of themes that result in an exciting read.
Beautiful writing, well drawn characters and a bewitching plot. A very enjoyable book.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton.
September 3, 2024
A new author for me but what a treat this was to read; Scotland & crime - my favourites.
Marjorie Crowe lives alone in the village of Kilgoyne. She loves her cottage, dresses for comfort & the weather, not for fashion. Every day at precisely 11.30 & 6.30, whatever the weather, she walks around the village. Her appearance & her walks lead the villagers giving her various names behind her back. However, she is fully aware of what they do - name calling & much, much more.
One particular morning walk, & a horrific discovery in the woods, leads to Marjorie receiving death threats & attempted arson on her beloved cottage. For various reasons, she begins to doubt her own sanity but help comes from an unexpected quarter & a killer is unmasked.
The plot unfolds in chronological order, with Marjorie at the centre. The characters are well drawn & you really feel for her helplessness & bewilderment as events unfold. Not your usual crime novel & you need to read it.
Marjorie Crowe lives alone in the village of Kilgoyne. She loves her cottage, dresses for comfort & the weather, not for fashion. Every day at precisely 11.30 & 6.30, whatever the weather, she walks around the village. Her appearance & her walks lead the villagers giving her various names behind her back. However, she is fully aware of what they do - name calling & much, much more.
One particular morning walk, & a horrific discovery in the woods, leads to Marjorie receiving death threats & attempted arson on her beloved cottage. For various reasons, she begins to doubt her own sanity but help comes from an unexpected quarter & a killer is unmasked.
The plot unfolds in chronological order, with Marjorie at the centre. The characters are well drawn & you really feel for her helplessness & bewilderment as events unfold. Not your usual crime novel & you need to read it.
December 21, 2023
The Outsider fingered as the Scapegoat who solves the crime 3.5 rating, raised
I read Robertson’s first book, The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill, with fascination and delight. So I had high hopes of this, which were not completely met. In some ways, the territory is the same, a mystery thriller, a woman who is regarded as an outsider in her community, one ‘on the margins’ in some way who stumbles upon wrongdoing, and, with some danger to herself, solves, and helps the police to solve the crimes they initially partly suspected her of. The central eponymous characters in both books have pain and tragedy in their pasts, as skeletons in their cupboards. They are both, in similar ways, archetypes of ‘wounded healers’
This time, I was aware of writing being a little more formulaic, and of research and plot at times being driven a little too hard. Sometimes an author just wants to include all their research, and don’t realise that narrative drive goes a bit flabby, or doesn’t quite piece sensibly together with plot events and timing.
Our central character here is a rather wonderful older woman, who comes from a long line of outcast wise women – healers, herbalists, ‘witches’ when in some way they offend others in their society, or the healing they are asked to help with, is outside possibility of cure.
This is set in the present day, in a very small Scottish community, where Marjorie retreated to some 20 years ago, after her own skeleton tragedy and heartbreak. So she has always been an outsider, marked as much by grief as by her wise woman gifts and strangeness
She comes into a community which has its own dark past, consciously chosen by some, and a history of disappearing teenagers. When other teens go missing, and there are mysterious deaths, Marjorie becomes the suspect the mob turn on. And, in modern times, the mob use social media, drawing in trolls from far and wide.
Interspersed with Marjorie’s investigations, and the collaboration she forms with the local polices, are her researches into the real history of women strangled and burned as witches.
As mentioned earlier , sometimes the drive of the plot gets held up a little by Robertson’s desire to put in all the research into herbal potion making. Including one such account of a common potion for the relief of anxiety which allegedly takes 6 months to make yet inexplicably happens to somehow be a potion to be made which can avert a rather violent event and there being no more for Marjorie to use for her own needs.
There are a few little plot blips like this, and they meant I couldn’t quite dispel my disbelief, or prevent my mind from analysing ‘faults’
Nonetheless, enjoyable.
I read Robertson’s first book, The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill, with fascination and delight. So I had high hopes of this, which were not completely met. In some ways, the territory is the same, a mystery thriller, a woman who is regarded as an outsider in her community, one ‘on the margins’ in some way who stumbles upon wrongdoing, and, with some danger to herself, solves, and helps the police to solve the crimes they initially partly suspected her of. The central eponymous characters in both books have pain and tragedy in their pasts, as skeletons in their cupboards. They are both, in similar ways, archetypes of ‘wounded healers’
This time, I was aware of writing being a little more formulaic, and of research and plot at times being driven a little too hard. Sometimes an author just wants to include all their research, and don’t realise that narrative drive goes a bit flabby, or doesn’t quite piece sensibly together with plot events and timing.
Our central character here is a rather wonderful older woman, who comes from a long line of outcast wise women – healers, herbalists, ‘witches’ when in some way they offend others in their society, or the healing they are asked to help with, is outside possibility of cure.
This is set in the present day, in a very small Scottish community, where Marjorie retreated to some 20 years ago, after her own skeleton tragedy and heartbreak. So she has always been an outsider, marked as much by grief as by her wise woman gifts and strangeness
She comes into a community which has its own dark past, consciously chosen by some, and a history of disappearing teenagers. When other teens go missing, and there are mysterious deaths, Marjorie becomes the suspect the mob turn on. And, in modern times, the mob use social media, drawing in trolls from far and wide.
Interspersed with Marjorie’s investigations, and the collaboration she forms with the local polices, are her researches into the real history of women strangled and burned as witches.
As mentioned earlier , sometimes the drive of the plot gets held up a little by Robertson’s desire to put in all the research into herbal potion making. Including one such account of a common potion for the relief of anxiety which allegedly takes 6 months to make yet inexplicably happens to somehow be a potion to be made which can avert a rather violent event and there being no more for Marjorie to use for her own needs.
There are a few little plot blips like this, and they meant I couldn’t quite dispel my disbelief, or prevent my mind from analysing ‘faults’
Nonetheless, enjoyable.
January 14, 2024
I'm in the minority here as I didn't enjoy this book at all. Strange, quirky and very slow I struggled with this one and nearly put it down. Just didn't gel with me. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
September 22, 2024
Burn the witch. History doesn’t repeat but it often rhymes, as they say, and in Scottish author CS Robertson’s terrific standalone thriller the rhyming echoes from the past involve witchcraft, and how women who stand apart from ‘normal society’ have been persecuted throughout the centuries; sometimes fatally, often by their closest neighbours. Think the Salem Witch Trials, where 200 people were accused of witchcraft on the flimsiest of evidence, and two dozen executed or died in custody.
In The Trials of Marjorie Crowe, twice a day the titular character walks the same route through and around the village of Kilgoyne, determinedly keeping on track even when that means walking right through a pub where she can face stares and jeers. She’s the village metronome, the ‘weird old lady’ living on the outskirts that some kids taunt, and others are fascinated by. How old is Marjorie, and is she a retired librarian, a former pharmacist, or a witch? When local teen Charlie McKee is found hanging in the woods, the village begins to turn on Marjorie. Then social media. Burn the witch.
Then another youngster goes missing…
Marjorie can’t explain her actions or trust her own recollections. Is she a victim, or a monster?
Robertson deftly draws readers into an unsettling, character-centric crime story that dips into the occult while being horrifyingly plausible. Internet pile-ons akin to historic lynch-mobs. Fears of anyone different, or anything that’s not easily explained. Interspersed vignettes about real-life Scottish women accused of witchcraft in centuries past, and executed, are a poignant reminder of how easily distrust is stoked into persecution, how those in power may abuse it, and the ubiquitous-ness of misogyny. History doesn’t repeat, but rhymes. Burn the witch.
An unusual, terrific crime thriller
In The Trials of Marjorie Crowe, twice a day the titular character walks the same route through and around the village of Kilgoyne, determinedly keeping on track even when that means walking right through a pub where she can face stares and jeers. She’s the village metronome, the ‘weird old lady’ living on the outskirts that some kids taunt, and others are fascinated by. How old is Marjorie, and is she a retired librarian, a former pharmacist, or a witch? When local teen Charlie McKee is found hanging in the woods, the village begins to turn on Marjorie. Then social media. Burn the witch.
Then another youngster goes missing…
Marjorie can’t explain her actions or trust her own recollections. Is she a victim, or a monster?
Robertson deftly draws readers into an unsettling, character-centric crime story that dips into the occult while being horrifyingly plausible. Internet pile-ons akin to historic lynch-mobs. Fears of anyone different, or anything that’s not easily explained. Interspersed vignettes about real-life Scottish women accused of witchcraft in centuries past, and executed, are a poignant reminder of how easily distrust is stoked into persecution, how those in power may abuse it, and the ubiquitous-ness of misogyny. History doesn’t repeat, but rhymes. Burn the witch.
An unusual, terrific crime thriller
December 1, 2023
I love crime and thriller books however this was a little different as it had an element of witchcraft thrown in which probably detracted a little from my enjoyment however certain elements were essential to the story in fairness. Marjorie is an incredible well drawn character, she knows she’s different and owns it but telling the story from her perspective gives you a great insight into the human within. There’s also another minor unconventional character in this who is also very thoughtfully portrayed as the story progresses. The other characters are good and combined with the eerie elements of the location build up quite an atmosphere of fear and the police investigating were also actually well depicted. The crime itself was well considered and the way events spiralled out of control in the village - and on social media - built up the tension well but for me the best element of the book was Marjorie herself. 7/10
November 27, 2023
Marjorie Crowe lives in a cottage at the end of a small village. The locals whisper behind her back; is she a witch, a spinster or just lonely? She keeps up regular routines, which the villagers know well and it is during one of these regular walks that everything changes. Teenager, Charlie McKee is found hanging but Marjorie’s accounts are impossible. Soon the village are all suspicious of Marjorie. Will she find out what is really going on?
I liked this author’s previous book so was looking forward to starting this one. After finishing it I am having a tough time with my rating as I have mixed feelings. I found it well written and an interesting storyline. The author does a good job of creating quirky characters, which reflects the character of Marjorie well, however even though she was intriguing, I found that I did not fully connect with her. I found that there were too many internal thoughts and was unable to become fully engaged in the story. The book came together well though and I enjoyed finding out what really happened. Overall, this was an interesting read, however a bit too slow paced and dragged out for how I was feeling at time of reading. I can see this being a big hit for those who like a slow burn, unusual character driven mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in return for an honest review.
I liked this author’s previous book so was looking forward to starting this one. After finishing it I am having a tough time with my rating as I have mixed feelings. I found it well written and an interesting storyline. The author does a good job of creating quirky characters, which reflects the character of Marjorie well, however even though she was intriguing, I found that I did not fully connect with her. I found that there were too many internal thoughts and was unable to become fully engaged in the story. The book came together well though and I enjoyed finding out what really happened. Overall, this was an interesting read, however a bit too slow paced and dragged out for how I was feeling at time of reading. I can see this being a big hit for those who like a slow burn, unusual character driven mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in return for an honest review.
December 4, 2023
A gothic, atmospheric and a strange kind of read from CS Robertson.
The story of Marjorie Crowe and her quirky ways in a small insular village do make for an intriguing, if somewhat slowly paced read. With Witchcraft and folklore abound, it’s a book that I never really found myself compelled by but there was enough to like Marjorie and root for her.
Almost a modern imagining of Salem witch trials, this times its Twitter and trial by social media of an old lady as the little whispers gather pace and untruths so quickly become so much more with devastating circumstance.
It’s well written and the story unfolds nicely, the finale is satisfying yet I still felt like it just missed the mark for me with the laboured pacing probably the main reason for that.
Decent though and certainly worth picking up.
The story of Marjorie Crowe and her quirky ways in a small insular village do make for an intriguing, if somewhat slowly paced read. With Witchcraft and folklore abound, it’s a book that I never really found myself compelled by but there was enough to like Marjorie and root for her.
Almost a modern imagining of Salem witch trials, this times its Twitter and trial by social media of an old lady as the little whispers gather pace and untruths so quickly become so much more with devastating circumstance.
It’s well written and the story unfolds nicely, the finale is satisfying yet I still felt like it just missed the mark for me with the laboured pacing probably the main reason for that.
Decent though and certainly worth picking up.
November 18, 2025
Book Club Choice: Oct2025
I really enjoyed the voice of Margorie narrating this suspenseful tale. And it’s cautionary tale of how mob culture, singling out someone because of their difference can soon gather momentum and get out of hand. It does well to remember that difference can sometimes be a strength.
I really enjoyed the voice of Margorie narrating this suspenseful tale. And it’s cautionary tale of how mob culture, singling out someone because of their difference can soon gather momentum and get out of hand. It does well to remember that difference can sometimes be a strength.
December 22, 2023
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book I was intrigued and knew I wanted to read it. Marjorie Crowe lives by herself in the small Scottish village. To the other villages she’s between 55 and 70, she could be a librarian or a witch. They know nothing about her as she keeps to herself. Twice a day, she walks the same route around the village, you could set your watch by her until one day she sees something that stops her in her tracks. What unfolds is fear and paranoia, secret and lies as the village tries to determine the truth. I really enjoyed this novel and found Marjorie’s character to be intriguing and heartwarming. I can highly recommend this novel and would rate it 4.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the chance to review.
January 14, 2024
I'm in the minority here as I didn't like this book at all. It was slow, quirky and strange. I didn't like the writing of it at all and nearly gave up on it. I know another of reviewers enjoyed it but, I must have missed something. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
October 1, 2024
I really loved this book, well written with a wonderful protagonist Marjorie.
Even though she has lived in her community 25 years she is seen as an outsider, she dresses for comfort and the weather, keeps to herself.
A wonderful crime/thriller with elements of witchcraft. Perfect to read in a dark miserable night.
Even though she has lived in her community 25 years she is seen as an outsider, she dresses for comfort and the weather, keeps to herself.
A wonderful crime/thriller with elements of witchcraft. Perfect to read in a dark miserable night.
December 10, 2023
This trials in this book relate not to those of a criminal court, but to those conducted by the inhabitants of Kilgoyne and further afield in the world of Twitter. Marjorie represents the outsider and the unknown, her behaviour attracting the speculation and rumours of those who live around her. When unfortunate events happen in the village, everyone is of course drawn to place the blame on her.
I found this to be a really enjoyable read. The plot line was believable but left me guessing right to the end. My connection with Marjorie grew as her personal story was slowly revealed. It feels cleverly written too. There is a sense of urgency in the first chapter, helping the reader to feel as if they are partaking actively in Marjorie’s brisk, twice daily walk. By beginning with this walk, the reader is introduced to the key locations in the story, enabling them to create a mental map of the village.
I haven’t read the author’s previous book but I am now keen to do so.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
I found this to be a really enjoyable read. The plot line was believable but left me guessing right to the end. My connection with Marjorie grew as her personal story was slowly revealed. It feels cleverly written too. There is a sense of urgency in the first chapter, helping the reader to feel as if they are partaking actively in Marjorie’s brisk, twice daily walk. By beginning with this walk, the reader is introduced to the key locations in the story, enabling them to create a mental map of the village.
I haven’t read the author’s previous book but I am now keen to do so.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
January 22, 2025
I read this in three days, it was so engaging and had such a creepy feel in the best possible way
June 6, 2025
3.5 to 4 stars
Review to follow
Review to follow
August 11, 2025
Good story telling. Kept me guessing. some parts felt unnecessary.
November 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this!! Should’ve been quicker reading this but just didn’t have time. I liked how it incorporated the trials of women in Scotland and shows how women have been treated in history and how this hasn’t changed much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2025
At last a book I enjoyed reading. Quirky, engaging and emotional. Found the history fascinating and how women have been treated for being wise and in touch with nature enraging.
The comparison with modern witch hunts was a stark reminder of how badly people/women are still treated.
The comparison with modern witch hunts was a stark reminder of how badly people/women are still treated.
December 28, 2023
This book is good. Really good. Just thought I'd get that bit out of the way. This author has a real knack for taking characters who are outliers, people whose lives are perhaps less conventional and mainstream and really bringing them to life. Grace McGill, his previous protagonist was great, really got under your skin. Marjorie Crowe, the protagonist and narrator for his latest novel, is absolutely marvellous.
Marjorie Crowe lives a solitary life, dominated by routine. She lives in a small village where everyone knows everyone else, and everyone knows to just let Marjorie do her thing. Everyday, at the very same times, she walks the very same route - no deviation - and people know better than to interrupt her, even when part of her route runs straight through the middle of the village pub. It is on one such walk that we meet Marjorie, are first made aware of the quirks of her character. It is also on this particular walk that Marjorie's routine is broken and her life takes a very dramatic and macabre turn. Marjorie finds the body of a young boy hanging in the woods, but her reaction, and what then comes to pass, leads the whole village to turn against her. Understandable, to a degree, given the circumstances. But Kilgoyne is no ordinary village and someone in town will do anything to keep their secrets hidden. And this is very, very good news for us readers.
I really liked Marjorie. She is a very unique character, but sympathetically written. It is easy to see why most of the village would shun her or turn against her - nobody likes people who don't conform to 'normal' behaviour after all. But there is something compelling about her, about her need for routine and her clear superstitions. She also has a certain talent, one which defies explanation, even sometimes by Marjorie herself. There is a certain supernatural element to this book, a sense of the otherworldly that defies what would be called rational explanation. Sometimes Marjorie just senses things, situations that defy logic, but convincing others, particularly the police, of her foresight, is not easy. People are quick to misread and label her connection to the land and the natural world as 'witchcraft', and are quick to condemn her for all the bad deeds happening in town.
The story is told primarily from Marjorie's point of view which means that forming a bond with her is quite easy as a reader. Far from making light of her differences, the author establishes the importance of routine to Marjorie, and also how delicate her mental health really is. She doesn't revel in her gift, more feels haunted by it and the burden it brings. That said, there is a certain understandable glee Marjorie shows in being able to run rings around the police given their reluctance to believe her and why not. It puts her at risk at times, but also brought a smile to my face at others. The author also highlights how quick others are to judge based on suspicion and not evidence, and the price people are forced to pay for being different. It is a kind of a modern Salem witch trial that also harnesses the 'power' of social media - an often destructive medium for conveying hate and prejudice. It all serves to add a layer of jeopardy to a story which is already teaming with tension from the start.
The remote village setting is perfect for this book and gives the whole thing a really atmospheric vibe. Scotland is known for its lore and legend, and there is just something about the setting that CS Robertson has created, something so vivid and authentic, that you can feel transported by the narrative. As Marjorie walks through the woods, that creeping, skin crawling feeling is almost tangible. There is a real sense of being watched, a slow building unease and feeling of apprehension that something bad is going to happen. This is elevated by scenes from an alternative point of view, ones which start to add meaning to things that have occurred and illustrate the real dark heart of this novel. There is also a really emotional element to this story, and the more we learn of it, the easier certain characters are to understand.
I really enjoyed this book. It had everything I love in a novel. Great mystery, wonderful characters and setting, a real feeling of tension and unease and a sense of something which goes beyond what the eye can see and most minds comprehend. I enjoyed seeing everything wrapped up, the way in which the author brought the story full circle, and how it is that sometimes different is a very good way to be. Highly recommended.
Marjorie Crowe lives a solitary life, dominated by routine. She lives in a small village where everyone knows everyone else, and everyone knows to just let Marjorie do her thing. Everyday, at the very same times, she walks the very same route - no deviation - and people know better than to interrupt her, even when part of her route runs straight through the middle of the village pub. It is on one such walk that we meet Marjorie, are first made aware of the quirks of her character. It is also on this particular walk that Marjorie's routine is broken and her life takes a very dramatic and macabre turn. Marjorie finds the body of a young boy hanging in the woods, but her reaction, and what then comes to pass, leads the whole village to turn against her. Understandable, to a degree, given the circumstances. But Kilgoyne is no ordinary village and someone in town will do anything to keep their secrets hidden. And this is very, very good news for us readers.
I really liked Marjorie. She is a very unique character, but sympathetically written. It is easy to see why most of the village would shun her or turn against her - nobody likes people who don't conform to 'normal' behaviour after all. But there is something compelling about her, about her need for routine and her clear superstitions. She also has a certain talent, one which defies explanation, even sometimes by Marjorie herself. There is a certain supernatural element to this book, a sense of the otherworldly that defies what would be called rational explanation. Sometimes Marjorie just senses things, situations that defy logic, but convincing others, particularly the police, of her foresight, is not easy. People are quick to misread and label her connection to the land and the natural world as 'witchcraft', and are quick to condemn her for all the bad deeds happening in town.
The story is told primarily from Marjorie's point of view which means that forming a bond with her is quite easy as a reader. Far from making light of her differences, the author establishes the importance of routine to Marjorie, and also how delicate her mental health really is. She doesn't revel in her gift, more feels haunted by it and the burden it brings. That said, there is a certain understandable glee Marjorie shows in being able to run rings around the police given their reluctance to believe her and why not. It puts her at risk at times, but also brought a smile to my face at others. The author also highlights how quick others are to judge based on suspicion and not evidence, and the price people are forced to pay for being different. It is a kind of a modern Salem witch trial that also harnesses the 'power' of social media - an often destructive medium for conveying hate and prejudice. It all serves to add a layer of jeopardy to a story which is already teaming with tension from the start.
The remote village setting is perfect for this book and gives the whole thing a really atmospheric vibe. Scotland is known for its lore and legend, and there is just something about the setting that CS Robertson has created, something so vivid and authentic, that you can feel transported by the narrative. As Marjorie walks through the woods, that creeping, skin crawling feeling is almost tangible. There is a real sense of being watched, a slow building unease and feeling of apprehension that something bad is going to happen. This is elevated by scenes from an alternative point of view, ones which start to add meaning to things that have occurred and illustrate the real dark heart of this novel. There is also a really emotional element to this story, and the more we learn of it, the easier certain characters are to understand.
I really enjoyed this book. It had everything I love in a novel. Great mystery, wonderful characters and setting, a real feeling of tension and unease and a sense of something which goes beyond what the eye can see and most minds comprehend. I enjoyed seeing everything wrapped up, the way in which the author brought the story full circle, and how it is that sometimes different is a very good way to be. Highly recommended.
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