If I had to choose just one genre to read for the rest of my life it would be historical fiction. I love it but I love it even more when it has an Edinburgh setting. When I heard about The Maiden, a historical tale based not just in Edinburgh but in my neighbourhood, I knew I had to read this book.

I was not disappointed. The Maiden really is a wonderful read, evoking the sights, sounds and society of 17th century Edinburgh to perfection.

Based on a true story of the bloody murder of Lord James Forrester by his niece and lover Lady Christian Nimmo in 1679, the author spins a wonderful tale around the known facts of the case.

It opens with Christian held as a prisoner in the tolbooth of Edinburgh. In fact the very first line is the judge pronouncing her sentence of beheading - an opening that is sure to grab a reader's attention!

The story of the events leading to this point is told mostly between Christian and Violet, a working girl and a particular favourite of Lord James.

History does not like to dwell on the stories of women. So although we know the brief details of Christian through her part in the case, it was so interesting to see her represented as a more rounded, real human rather than just the murderess she was reported to be.
Descriptions of her life, upbringing and her relationship with her husband give an understanding of why she was vulnerable to the attentions of James and why she was willing to take a chance on a relationship with him despite the scandal it could attract.

As we learn more about James’ character through the eyes of the women, it becomes clear what a manipulative and selfish man he was. While Christian is risking everything to be with James, her discovery of his various affairs leaves her feeling betrayed and embarrassed providing a motive for why she eventually takes action against him,

The stories of working class women are even more absent from history. Therefore I loved the voice given to Violet in this book. I thought she was so well written. Working in a house of pleasure on Edinburgh’s High Street before she was selected by Lord James to stay for a period at Corstorphine Castle, she hadn’t had an easy life. She is still so young when she gets caught up with James Forrester but I loved her practical way of looking at her situation and her observations often added a touch of wry humour to the story.

Compelling writing and a gripping story set against a backdrop of locations I know so well, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I’m very much looking forward to hearing more from Kate.

Thank you so much to Pan McMillan and Kate Foster for a proof copy

The Maiden is inspired by the real-life case of Christian Nimmo, who, in 1679, was executed for the murder of her lover (who happened to be her aunt's husband). Christian is said to haunt the site of the murder, but in The Maiden, the author explores what happened leading up to her death rather than what came after, imagining the circumstances that might have driven Christian to kill. The narration is split between Christian and another character, Violet, which works well for this story -- I don't think a single narrator could have carried the plot.

The twists and turns weren't especially surprising, but I don't think they were meant to be. It does much for this book if you read it as a tragedy rather than a murder mystery.

In a world where privilege and money are all-important and the aristocracy look down on the inferior serfs and servants , the lives of three women intertwine and a tragic event will change their destinies forever.
I loved this book - set in Old Edinburgh in the 1670s, Kate Foster brings the sights, sounds and smells of the city to life. It is based on an actual trial and the author has fleshed out the bones to produce a historical novel which tries to explain what might have led to the murder of Lord James Forrester. There are strong female characters, a building sense of dread and anticipation and a satisfying conclusion. Altogether an excellent read.

This was an incredible book, it was well written with a compelling and haunting storyline and well developed characters, especially the maiden. The book is tense and atmospheric all the way through with a creepiness that had the hairs on my neck standing up. I couldn't put this book down and I loved the fact that it was based on true events.

The Maiden tells the story of two women in Scotland in the late 17th century and how their very different lives intertwine, the results of which cause far reaching consequences.

I enjoyed this book immensely and was both shocked and saddened to find out it’s based on historical events.

It’s very well researched and written from a very personal perspective, not backing away from painful truths and the reality of human nature.
From a female point of view it’s maddening and all too familiar to read women being shamed and persecuted although in this case the men don’t always get away with their behaviour!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers Pan MacMillan for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A really good read with very powerful female characters. Set in Scotland which is what drew me in the book is a historical retelling of a woman about to face The Maiden for the death of her uncle. I loved the way the female characters were the dominate force. A great book that is cementing my enjoyment of historical fiction

The Maiden by Katie Foster

Edinburgh, October 1679. Lady Christian Nimmo 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.
I really good book , very atmospheric and creepy.
It is interesting to read a novel about something that happened in real life . It brought to attention that even know ( in certain parts of the world ) that women are still at the perils of man's whim.
It not not long ago that wives were out into asylums because the husband wanted another wife.

The Maiden by Kate Foster immediately grabbed my attention by dramatically opening with Lady Christian Nimmo being sentenced to death for the murder of her lover/uncle James Forrester. Foster adds to the tension by exploring Christian’s past and her present. The latter left me on tenterhooks as I wondered whether Christian would escape her fate. Even better, Foster explores Christian’s relationship with James (the husband of her mother’s sister) and we begin to realize that this seemingly handsome and charming laird has a dark side as Violet, James’s mistress/servant, knows only too well.

Violet was my favourite character. I loved her wit, her determination to survive and her ability to see through James’s façade from the very beginning. Violet resolves to make the best of her life despite her circumstances, and I loved seeing her scheme to get the better of James and the situations he places her in for his amusement.

Through Violet, we see how manipulative James is and while Christian is no helpless damsel, we realize that her privileged upbringing, family dynamics and troubled marriage leave her especially vulnerable to James’s intentions.

One of the things that struck me about The Maiden was how young Violet and Christian are and how quickly their circumstances force them to grow up. In Christian’s case I felt for her as, despite her closeness to her sister Johanna, her life has been spent very much in her shadow. Marriage was her chance to come into her own, but her hopes were quickly dashed. This coupled with the limitations on what women are allowed to talk about even with their family members encourages Christian to start an affair with James or rather conclude what James's had been engineering for years. Of course, while men can cheat, it’s a different matter for women and it was interesting to see how Christian’s privilege shielded her until, of course, it didn’t.

What I loved about The Maiden was that it was very much Christian, Violet and Oriana’s story, even though their lives are all shaped by James's destructive influences. Despite all the trouble he causes, James never dominates their narratives and to me, this felt like poetic justice considering how he sees women as his personal playthings. I also loved the friendship between Violet and Oriana and Christian’s relationship with her sister. These were bright moments in a dark but gripping story. Overall, I really enjoyed The Maiden and can’t wait to read Kate Foster’s next book.

I found this book disturbing but very engaging. It was creepy, atmospheric and the way the maiden haunted almost every page was brilliant.