The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill was one of those books that stay with you long after you've finished reading it and I'm happy to say that so is C S Robertson's latest novel. I loved Marjorie Crowe and from the very beginning I was drawn into her world and what made her 'tick'. It's an extremely well researched and well written atmosperic mystery centred around a Scottish village and its inhabitants. Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an arc which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I absolutely loved The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill so I was really excited to be given this book - and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Another very atmospheric story which was beautifully written - I loved the character of Marjorie and was intrigued by her rituals. As someone who lives in the Pendle area of Lancashire, the witch trial aspects were very familiar and it was interesting to hear of similar goings on in Scotland. Highly recommended and I can’t wait for the author’s next novel.

I really loved 'The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill' and this book has a similar 'heroine' in that she is an outside from society with obsessive behaviour, but ultimately noble and honourable. This is a really interesting novel, set in Scotland in the modern day but which harks back to the era of witch trials too. I loved Marjorie, and I found the story to be fascinating and original. An author I will look out for in the future without doubt.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder Books for the ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Very different and the way the reports of the “ trials” were placed in between chapters were very informative. Marjorie was always treated differently by the village because of some of her strange ways but she was carrying on with the traditions to keep the village safe with her widdershin walks every day. The tricks that were played on her were very cruel but typical of people who don’t understand.

Definitely reading more by this author.

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe is a modern-day tale that seamlessly blends the mystical with the mundane, weaving a narrative that not only captivates with its magical elements but also serves as a mirror reflecting the shadows of societal prejudices. At the story's centre is Marjorie Crowe, a contemporary witch whose life takes a sinister turn when she discovers the lifeless body of a teenager in her small town.

The plot unfolds with a gripping intensity, exposing the immediate and unwarranted blame placed upon Marjorie by a community quick to judge based on her supernatural identity. Robertson masterfully explores the consequences of prejudice as Marjorie grapples with accusations solely because of who she is, rather than any evidence pointing to her guilt.

This story blends both fact and fiction which intertwines well throughout. The characters are well written with a few twists and turns throughout. A great read

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe seemed like a strange, weird book about a murder mystery so of course I was drawn to it very quickly. I was very happy to be sent an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this book and read it in one evening! I just could not put it down.

The story was told in a unique, first-person voice but I loved how it. changed between the past and the present so seamlessly and so intriguingly.

The mystery itself was unpredictable, and I found myself on the edge of my seat with pretty much every chapter. This was a brilliant story and I now want to go back and read the author's debut!

I was excited to read this book because I had loved the author’s previous one – The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill. Although I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much it was still and interesting and intriguing read. I grew to love Majorie Crowe’s character. Yes, she’s a bit odd but we can all be a bit odd at times can’t we? The witch trials in days gone by was sad but interesting and I was a little shocked to read that they were all true. The plot was original but I found the pace a little slow at times. Nevertheless this was a satisfying and enjoyable read. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the arc.

An unusual plot that sadly I did not really engage with. The book was rather slow and not really my style. Thanks to Netgalley for ARC.

Thank you for allowing me to have an advance copy of this book. I found it completely absorbing and enjoyed the characters, the pace and the plot.

I loved Robertson's debut 'The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill' and so I had high hopes for this book. I'm pleased to say I was not disappointed!
I was drawn in from the get-go, as I got to know Marjorie and her quirky ways.
As the plot developed I found myself trying to understand the actions she took on the day she made a gruesome discovery in the woods, and I was hooked as little details were revealed that helped piece the puzzle together.
I loved Marjorie's strong-willed and eccentric character, and I really enjoyed watching her relationships with various other characters develop - especially the two main police officers who were sent in to investigate.
When I learned about Marjorie's back story, I was heartbroken for her, and it helped make everything else about her and her behaviour make sense.
I also enjoyed the stories of past witch trials which were woven throughout the novel, and was amazed to discover they were all real.
This was a great read and I can't wait to read Robertson's next book.

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.

I love the eccentricity of Marjorie and the mysteries surrounding her past and her current behaviours.
Many of the other villagers definitely fell into the "pitchfork" brigade for me and even those who empathised with Marjorie were difficult to like on the whole!
Dotted throughout are paragraphs about women who were tried as witches and found guilty, where most crimes were to either be heard having an opinion (unforgivable as a woman!) or to dabble in home remedies and offer help to others.
Marjorie is a great character and the plot is intricately woven between her beliefs, the deaths under investigation and the general public opinion.

Majorie Crowe has lived in Kilgoyne for the past 25 years she has walked the same way twice a day for the entire time she has lived there. While out on her walk she comes across the body of Charlie Mckee hanging from a tree, but what she sees turns out to be impossible. When another teenager goes missing the locals all turn their suspicions to the local misfit Majorie Crowe.

Majorie Crowe what a peculiar character! Like the locals of Kilgoyne I found Majorie rather odd but as the book went on I grew to really like and love Majorie's character.

Majorie suffers at the hands of Internet trolls and conspiracy theories which in this day and age is a massive issue. I loved reading the short parts on the witch trials of the past and was shocked to read they were all true as mentioned in the acknowledgement they were all wirriet and burnt.

This was a great read thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital copy. I look forward to reading more from this author.

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe is a truly brilliant and riveting read. I loved the main character, Marjorie who is a loner and having lived in a village 25 miles outside of Glasgow for only 20 years is still classed an outsider and newcomer. Because of this, Marjorie is an unknown person and little understood by the villagers which is why wild rumours fly around about her. These rumours heighten when strange things start happening in the village. Will Marjorie be driven out of the village? Will the villagers believe that she is a witch and believe her to be guilty? Is Majorie in fact guilty of anything? Is Marjorie just a lonely old lady or is there more to her?
The story of Marjorie and her village is so beautifully told, and it is interspersed with true tales of women who were tried, found guilty and sentenced to death for witchcraft. It was not until reading this book that I understood Scotland’s horrific history of executing alleged witches, having more executions per capita than the rest of Europe. This book brings this to light whilst telling the wonderful (fictional) story of Marjorie Crowe.
Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Trials of Majorie Crowe has a really strong female main character with a believable and sympathetic voice, I was sure the book must have been written by a woman. This is a compliment to the author, who I now know is a man!
Set in Scotland over a few weeks where there is a suicide, a teenager who disappears, and then a murder, all of which seem to be connected to Majorie Crowe. She is an older woman living alone in the large village and is gossiped about for her eccentricity. Majorie is proud to be a herbalist and to believe in the supernatural. These things make her an outsider and an easy target.
I didn’t expect to get so involved and to feel the tension in the way I did. - there are excellent reveals and an intriguing mystery to solve.
The book provided fascinating detail on the place and on the history of how women like Marjorie have been treated over time. I was there for the ride and very much enjoyed this book.
I recommend this as a book club read - with lots of potential for debate and discussion. I loved it, 5 stars from me!

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 do like reading about quirky characters like Marjorie. Why she walks the same route at the same time every day is a mystery.
This book is a great study in small town life and when mob mentality takes over. It is very atmospheric and the sense of place is strong. Very enjoyable read.

Another excellent book from the author of the Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill. Equally quirky, we follow the unconventional Marjorie Crowe and how quickly fake news, suspicion of anyone "different" can whip up into hysteria, in fact, a witch hunt. A story of missing young people iin a small Scottish community is interspersed with real stories of women accused of witchcraft and "wirriet and burnt" for it.. Marjorie's own trauma is cruelly exploited. The rural Scottish setting is beautifully drawn as a backdrop to terrible things.

Marjorie Crowe is regarded as an ' eccentric'; twice a day she walks a circuit of her village hoping to encompass it from evil. Marjorie was taught skills by her grandmother- to many she is a witch.

Marjorie witnesses what she believes is the suicide of a local boy- but says nothing.... her safety and sanity are challenged ... but apparently the boy is seen alive later on after the time she saw him... why/how? But he is found hanging from a tree.

Then further tragedy strikes - another boy disappears... what unfolds is a story that seems like a modern day with hunt...a community wanting to blame, residents gossiping , pointing and accusing and the world of Twitter X a further platform to call for the burning of this modern witch.

C S Robertson has created a unique and formidable character -Marjorie's pain and suffering is palpable- do we believe in her "skills", beliefs , reasons to be outside of society- her sanity? Her decision making and fear of authority pushes the reader's feelings towards her in different directions.

The pace and plot is fast and the unfolding tragedy uncovers the secrets of a community in denial- the 'leaders' diverging attention and manipulating the local opinions. The police procedural element is sensitive and open-minded which makes a positive change.

The interspersing of true 'witch' trials from history add a further dimension to the read.

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe is a fascinating, gripping and highly engaging book- highly recommended

The Trials of Marjorie Crowe by C.S. Robertson

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.

A very enjoyable read of a misunderstood woman like many that went before her at the time of the avalanche of supposedly witch trials.
A different type of book for me but the author brought the characters and the plot to life.
A great read.