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.