Read about a quarter of this book but unfortunately just wasn’t for me - however not because it’s a bad book. It was very well written and super intriguing, and I will possibly pick it up another time! Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

"I know what I saw. I thought I knew what I saw."

Marjorie Crowe has never fit into the village of Kilgoyne in Scotland. She's somewhere between 60 and 70 and the villagers whisper about her and her strange ways. When Marjorie goes on the same walk she does twice every day, she makes a horrifying find: a teenage boy she knows is hanging from a tree. Shocked, she rushes home, without telling anyone what she saw.

But, when the police get involved, they start questioning her: why did she not alert anyone, call and ambulance or the police? Marjorie can't give them satisfying answers. But then the investigators drop a bombshell. The boy was spotted on CCTV in the village AFTER Marjorie says she saw his body. Is Marjorie losing her mind? Or is someone playing a dangerous game?

Marjorie doesn't trust the police and begins to investigate on her own. But, when another boy goes missing, the town turns against her, and a campaign begins to get rid of the 'witch'. Soon, deadly threats are being made against Marjorie. However, she's determined to stay in Kilgoyne and find the truth.

This was an interesting and suspenseful 'witchy' thriller that I read pretty quickly. For me, the biggest frustration with the book is Marjorie as a character. She is so stupidly stubborn that she both deliberately and inadvertently places herself in danger over and over again, and I just didn't buy into it. I was also hoping for more 'magic' or witchiness from Marjorie herself, who frequently cowers when under attack, rather than using her power to defend herself.

How do you unravel a homicide when everyone points fingers at you?

In the quaint town of Kilgoyne, Scotland, Marjorie Crowe resides, her age a mystery somewhere between 55 and 70. The locals speculate about her past, debating whether she's divorced, a lifelong spinster, a former librarian, a pharmacist, or even a witch. Opinions vary on her demeanour – some believe she's lonely, others think she's unwell, and a few dismiss her as plain rude. Generally left alone, Marjorie's life takes a drastic turn one fateful day.

The tranquillity is shattered when the lifeless body of local teenager Charlie McKee is discovered hanging in the woods, and Marjorie becomes the first witness to the grisly scene. However, as her account of the events appears implausible, scepticism creeps in among the police. With another young person vanishing without a trace, suspicions intensify, casting a dark shadow over Marjorie.

Now, the question looms: is Marjorie the malevolent force, or is she an unsuspecting victim? To salvage her tarnished reputation, how resolutely will she confront the rising tide of accusations?

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Fantastic book about an old woman who unwittingly becomes central to an old unsolved mystery. Without giving anything away, the central character Marjorie is a feisty, stubborn old lady who has been taught the many secrets and powers of witchcraft by her granny. She is treated with suspicion and as an eccentric but harmless outsider in the village she has lived in for 25 years but a series of terrible events put her centre stage and very much held to blame for them.
This is a great story with strong female characters and plenty of twists and turns to make it an exciting and interesting read.

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.

An elderly lady Marjorie Crowe lives in a small Scottish village.,she has some peculiar habits, which make her stand out to the other villagers. One of her habits is to walk around the village "widdershins" at the same time every day ,cutting through the local pub on her route. One day she sees a teenage boy apparently hanging from a tree ,she does not report it to the police. Later on the family report the boy missing from home and the villagers and police search , eventually finding the body. When questioned by the police Marjorie tells them she saw the body earlier and they want to know why she did not report it. However somebody says they saw the boy alive an hour later so who is right? Marjorie is seen talking to a girl who is later found murdered on a large stone {The Devils Pulpit) in the river, Marjorie is the one to find her . Later another boy goes missing and these missing teenagers link in to the disappearance of a girl some twenty years earlier ,who supposedly ran away to London , but her brother has been searching for her ever since. The villagers turn on Marjorie calling her a witch and mobbing her house demanding she leave the village. Somebody tries to set fire to her cottage but she is rescued by the police.Evidence comes to light of a Satanic Cult (Thelema) which had been operating years earlier and had restarted again. An unusual read with many twists along the way.

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.

Everyone in Kilgoyne thinks Marjorie Crowe is odd, to say the least. They don't know much about her. What they do know is that she is on her own, follows a daily walking routine, and not friendly.

And then on the day that teenager Charlie is found hanging in the woods, Marjorie is the first to see him. And does nothing about it. People aren't pleased.

But when what she saw turns out not to be possible...

And when someone else goes missing...

Marjorie Crowe is an odd woman and a loner in a small village in Scotland, where those who are different stick out like sore thumbs. People aren't sure of her age, marital status, or her activities, but they are convinced that she is strange.

So when Marjorie comes across a horrifying sight during her regularly timed walks around the village, and fails to immediately respond in the way that villages feel that a "normal" woman would, they are quick to cast accusing looks at her.

The death of one teenager and the disappearance of another lead to growing suggestions that Marjorie knows something more than she is telling about what is underway. And in the tried and true fashion that has been observed throughout history, outlandish suggestions from witchcraft to wickedness are suddenly levelled against this woman, who has previously been considered strange or simply eccentric.

Yet in the end, it is Marjorie's observant eye and sharp mind - with unexpected assistance from an unlikely ally - that pieces together the real story of what is happening here...

This is a gripping tale largely told from Marjorie's POV, which makes it feel deeply personal. It provides clever insights on how small towns and mob mindsets work. An original and intelligent book, drawing on plenty of historical research to make its case. Worth a read.

From the very first page i was instantly fascinated with the The Trials of Marjorie Crowe, it kept my attention throughout the whole reading process and i was intrigued to see what and who the cause of the many deaths were from.

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe is about Marjorie, an elderly woman who keeps to herself and everyday goes for a walk and follows the same route twice to and back, many of the townspeople who live in Kilgoyne find Marjorie weird but leave her be until whilst taking her usual walk Marjorie comes across a boy who is hanging from the tree and from there on out because Marjorie didn't ring the police straightaway to report what she had seen the townspeople cast her as the villian and call her a witch but she can't catch a break even going to twitter she is being called a murderer and horrible names even from people all over the world but she knows something is very wrong and sets about finding out some very well known people have hidden secrets and despite everything Marjorie tries to do that's right and find out what is happening in the small town of Kilgoyne.

Throughout the book we get chapters in which we learn of a cult and get glimpses of information from people who were called witches and were killed for it in the past which were very fascinating to read but overall the characters were very well written especially Marjorie, i really did enjoy reading alongside her and wanted to know what happened to the victims. There was a few twists i didn't expect and few i saw coming but at the end i had an idea of what was going on but i very much enjoyed reading this book and i feel the ending tied everything up together.

A very well done book that i feel many readers will enjoy and i would recommend to others most definitely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

I was sent a copy of The Trials of Marjorie Crowe by C.S. Robertson to read and review by NetGalley. I loved the author’s previous novel so was eager to read this, and I have to say it did not disappoint! It is written first person, which I like as you can really get to know and understand the protagonist. As previously there is a great sense of time and place and you really get to know the characters, which I feel are very well drawn. The story involves mysticism, folk law, cults, and the persecution of women accused of witchcraft, which includes real historic accounts of some trials and burnings. I loved the character of Marjorie Crowe and really felt for her throughout the novel. This is a well-crafted and engrossing novel and I cannot wait for whatever the author produces next.

Featuring a number of reports from mediaeval witch trials, The Trials of Marjorie Crowe is a gripping story of small town victimisation of a woman who does not conform to social expectations. Marjorie Crowe is walks twice daily around the village of Kilgoyne in Scotland at exactly the same time each day. She doesn't have too many friends in the village but keeps herself to herself, until the day she witnesses something that she is unable to deal with. Life becomes very difficult for her from this point onwards.

This haunting narrative kept me on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded. The baying crowd of villagers was moderated by a few kind souls whilst those who could have helped stood idly by. By the end, Marjorie’s intuition is key to finding the truth of what happened.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Trials of Marjorie Crowe, a stand-alone set in the Central Scotland village of Kilgoyne.

Marjorie Crowe is a strange woman according to the inhabitants of the villagers of Kilgoyne, but they let her get on with her routines and life, until she sees the body of teenager Charlie McKee hanging from a tree in the local woods. Except the police can prove she didn’t. When another teenager goes missing the villagers suspect Marjorie and turn on her.

Wow, just wow. The Trials of Marjorie Crowe is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is inventive and unusual and utterly gripping, while being so much more than a straightforward crime novel.

I’m not sure that I can do the power and scope of the novel justice in this review as it is all interconnected. The novel is told in the first person from Marjorie’s point of view and what a voice she has. She is steeped in the old traditions of plant based healing and holds other non traditional views. Does that make her a witch? The answer depends on your definition of a witch. She is also an older woman so she has doubts about what has said and done. The villagers and denizens of Twitter, however, have no doubt, and blame her for the misfortune heaped on them in vitriolic ways. What I found amazing about the novel is that whenever anything happens to her, the author inserts a historical note about a witch trial to underscore the fact that the need to punish what is not understood is alive and kicking centuries later.

The novel has a constant sense of tension and danger, which is impossible to look away from. This mostly comes from Marjorie’s reaction to events (and no wonder), but there are some hairy events that don’t involve her inserted into the narrative and they ramp up not just the tension but the reader’s curiosity. The answers, when they come, have a few surprises and tie everything up neatly, if you ignore the potentially supernatural element, but then, again, it’s all about belief systems.

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe is a great read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This wonderful book captured my attention from the first page and did not let it go until the last. To be honest it still has my attention as I catch myself thinking about it at odd moments and no doubt will continue to do so for some time yet.

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe is filled with wonderfully developed original characters. I sometimes find that if a story is told in the first person then everybody apart from the main character blends into the background a bit. Not so with this book. Marjorie stands forth taking central stage. But, everybody else who is important to the story comes across as real, three-dimensional, complex characters.

I was fascinated by the snippets of the witch trials and saddened by the cruel deaths of these women.

Marjorie's behavior ever since she moved to this little Scottish village has been designed to keep the village and its inhabitants safe. Unfortunately she is viewed as an eccentric old biddy. When a murder is committed it doesn't take long for the villagers to turn on Marjorie and decide she is a witch.

The weaving together of the various strands of the story was skillfully done. The present, the recent past, and the distant past all add weight to the story.

Every word is important this is not a book where pages can be skimmed and the story still makes sense. In this book everything is important and it all deserves full attention.

I'm predicting that this book, my first read of 2024, will be high in my top ten at the end of this year.

I found the description to The Trials of Marjorie Crowe intriguing and I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the book. What I found was quite a slow story with a subject matter that didn't really work for my tastes. Looking at other reviews I can see I am in a minority and am sure most people will love it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my ARC.

Brilliant. Loved it. Loved his first book and this is just as good. Well rounded characters, cracking plot that kept me interested the whole way through. A great sense of place. I learnt quite a bit too!

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe is a book set in Kilgoyne, Scotland, the home of a supposed witch and four missing children. The locals all make the obvious, Hansel and Gretel fuelled, assumption that Marjorie must be the killer. As a result, she is sent on an uphill, seemingly fruitless, journey to prove that she is not.

This book was absolutely wonderful and entirely engaging throughout. The lyrical wording worked excellently with the pagan-like, naturalistic theming of the power of man and nature alike. It was entirely engrossing and really built up a vivid setting, especially since the real story of Julian Santana Barrera and his doll island was used. The use of hauntingly memorable stories like Barrera's one added a great eerie atmosphere to the novel while Robertson also developed the less scary, spiritualist side as well. Overall, it became a very well-rounded piece which was easy to imagine and entirely engrossing.

Alongside the well-developed descriptions of the Scottish countryside, the characters were also developed fully which made for a believable and encapsulating read. Marjorie's character subverted the word 'witch' from the Shakespearean stereotype to a portrayal of herbology and faith. This was perhaps the most compelling part of this book, allowing the readers to get an education of the history of witches (with interspersed stories of Marjorie's ancestors) as well as an appreciation for nature. I also finished it with an appreciation of the author's dedication to researching witches and their history, including elements like lay lines and widdershins. Reading this, I knew I would be educated in more ways that one.

Each major character was portrayed as a well-rounded human. They had personality, they had interests, and most importantly, they could make mistakes and still have good within them. I particularly liked the character of Soapy Moary whose true identity went unidentified until the last hundred pages. Despite being a larger, stronger man (presenting as traditionally masculine), Robertson had no problem conveying his vulnerability which made him both more likeable and believable. His interactions with Marjorie, although largely from a distance, still showcased an outstanding amount of chemistry. Other relationships within this book were equally as developed but were ranging in connection. As she was considered a murderer by her neighbours, Marjorie had very few positive relationships and her feelings about that were conveyed in a wonderful way. The first person perspective allowed the readers to get captivated by her opinions and unique narrative which really helped the conflict and tension flourish.

C.S. Robertson has a fantastic way of steering the reader to believe an outcome will be predictable then, at the last minute, making the narrative steer completely in the opposite direction. In mystery books like this, such a skill is both necessary and heavily appreciated, allowing readers to be fully engrossed and constantly thinking about Marjorie, even after putting the book down.

I feel very lucky to have found this book.

After reading and thoroughly enjoying the authors previous book The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill I couldn't wait to read this.
Marjorie Crowe lives alone and walks the same route around her village of Kilgoyne in Scotland twice a day to protect the village from evil happenings. The other residents of the village thinks she is odd, a witch, strange and different. When she witnesses a young boy hanging from a tree and doesn't report it the residents think she has something to do with it.
This is a well written atmospheric read with a unique story line and a cast of well drawn characters. I recommend to readers who enjoy quirky characters and supernatural story lines.

‘The Trials of Marjorie Crowe’ is a fantastic blend of the past and present, full of bright and original characters, and I was consumed by it! This is one of the books which I flew through during the festive break and I really want to ‘shout off the hilltops’ with this one as it's bloody fantastic. I had high hopes for it as I loved his last book ‘The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill’ and this one was just as excellent written I will be thinking about Marjorie for a lot to come.

Craig has created a multifaceted and brilliantly original character in Marjorie Crowe. It's not often we get to see a ‘witch’ in modern Scottish fiction as they are normally confined to historical fiction and based in the era of the witch trials etc. What we find here is a modern version of this rich vein of historical fiction and I was all for it! Marjorie is definitely one of a kind, determined, honest and has a heart made of gold. She is very nuanced but not overly complicated and the author isn't tempted to over-embellish her either. She has her rituals and every day she completes an anti-clockwise circuit of the village, something the village views with suspicion. It's during one of these walks that she discovers the body of a young boy hanging from a tree in a clearing of the local woods. But rather than informing the police she goes straight home and doesn't tell a soul. The police soon arrive on her doorstep though and she soon becomes the main suspect both for the police and for the locals of the village. It's from here onwards that Marjorie has to face the wrath of the locals and also those so called keyboard warriors on Twitter!

Honestly, this book was an outstanding mix of old and new, with the blending of history with the present. It's an ode to Scotland with its rich descriptions of the landscape, its people and its history. The inclusion of real women who were tried and executed as witches really rammed home the point that the author was trying to make. We all judge. We are all capable of making uninformed leaps of judgment to conclusions which are incorrect. But rather than admit this, we just put a face on it and get on with agreeing with the pack. However, there are those out there that are willing to look through that and really ask who the person is and determine the real facts of it all.

This is a multilayered and nuanced book full of nods to history, with an incredible sense of space and a narrative which really spoke to my heart! I thoroughly recommend this book and I predict that this is going to do well in 2024.

Let me know if you pick this one up!

Following on from his debut novel ‘The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill’ this novel although set in Scotland bears no similarity apart from the easy writing style.
Marjorie Crowe is an old lady who in times gone by would have been called a witch, indeed she is actually descended from a long line of witches. Consequently she is already seen as a bit of an outsider, a stranger in the village of Kilgoyne where she has lived for 25 years.
When Marjorie is on one of her regular daily walks she stumbles across what appears to be a suicide by hanging of one of the village youths. She is shaken to the core, returns home and tells no one what she has seen, but it is obvious to those who see her that something is not right. When the body is found some hours later, people begin to wonder why Marjorie didn’t raise the alarm and it’s not long before the rumour mill is accusing ‘the witch’ of having some involvement in the tragedy.
I very much enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next novel from C.S Robertson.