Blurb:

In the end, it did not matter what I said at my trial. No one believed me.

Edinburgh, 1679. Lady Christian is arrested and charged with the murder of her lover, James Forrester. News of her imprisonment and subsequent trial is splashed across the broadsides, with headlines that leave little room for doubt: Adulteress. Whore. Murderess.

Only a year before, Lady Christian was newly married, leading a life of privilege and respectability. So, what led her to risk everything for an affair? And does that make her guilty of murder? She wasn’t the only woman in Forrester’s life, and certainly not the only one who might have had cause to wish him dead . . .

Review:

For my September reading challenge I decided to read books from genres that I don’t usually read. My friend recommended The Maiden to me and it was the perfect place to start. I often find historical fiction a little intimidating, but this novel is really accessible and took me effortlessly to a time period I didn’t know much about. 

It’s clear from the beginning how the story is going to end and the intrigue is found in what has happened to lead to the opening scene in the court. The story is told from the perspective of two women, Christian and Violet, something which I found interesting as these women would not have had a voice at the time when the novel is set. Although neither Christian nor Violet are flawless, and they are very different characters from very different backgrounds, I felt sympathy for them both at different times and I became invested in their situation. 

I was surprised to learn from the author’s note at the end of my copy of the book that The Maiden is based on a true story. Kate Foster has researched this story in immaculate detail and I loved how she found a fresh angle on it and brought it to life. Her writing is fast paced and compelling and I will be looking out for more work from this author. 

The Maiden is available from Amazon.

You can find out more about my September reading challenge and sponsor me here.