This review is written with thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for my copy of The Trials Of Marjorie Crowe.

Blurb:

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?

Review:

I’ve heard a lot about The Trials Of Marjorie Crowe and I was delighted to have the opportunity to read it for myself. CS Robertson is a talented author, and although the town of Kilgoyne is fictitious, I know places just like it, and was able to picture it vividly from the description.

As the title suggests, The Trials Of Marjorie Crowe is centred around its protagonist, a woman named Marjorie Crowe. She is slightly unusual and this draws her to the attention of the residents of Kilgoyne. The novel is narrated by her, and it’s not always certain that she’s reliable, but I felt sympathy for her and I wanted to trust her. She’s a fascinating character and she’s so compelling that as her story develops, it was very difficult to put the book down.

The concept of witchcraft is not one in which I necessarily believe, but I find it very interesting and the themes drew me further into the story. CS Robertson has researched the issues about which he writes in great depth, particularly the case studies which are interspersed between the chapters, which really fascinated me and added extra layers to the novel.

There is a mystery at the centre of this plot, and although it’s often secondary to the development of Marjorie’s character, but towards the end, it really takes on a life of its own. I was really intrigued as the mystery unravelled.

The Trials Of Marjorie Crowe is available from Amazon.