Absolutely brilliant. A book that reminds you how delightful reading is. It’s grimy and seedy, the perfect atmosphere for 17th century Edinburgh. The good old feminist lens has been applied too, so it was interesting comparing Christian’s thwarted sexual desire with Violet’s experience of sex work for necessity, and ultimately what little power women held across the class divide.

I enjoyed listening to the maiden, however I did think it was just a bit too slow at times. I liked the story but I didn’t find the characters all that likeable. I also really wanted more from the relationship with Andrew. Overall an enjoyable book.

Wow I loved this story! Based on a true life historical case it’s delve deeper into the society’s and sister hood back then. Beautifully written and a joy to listen to with amazing narration.

I was so excited at the start. Utterly gripping.
Then the pace dropped, and I found it difficult to keep track of the different timelines and POVs.
The writing and the characters were just as I hoped, beautiful, alluring and full of depth.
This will be a huge book this year for fans of historical fiction.

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

My thanks to Macmillan Audio U.K. Mantle for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘The Maiden’ by Kate Foster. The audiobook is narrated by Paula Masterton, Samara MacLaren, and Angus King.

This powerful historical debut novel is set in Scotland during the late 17th Century and was inspired by real events.

Edinburgh, October 1679. Lady Christian Nimmo has been arrested and charged with the murder of her lover, Lord James Forrester. He was also her uncle by marriage. News of her imprisonment and the subsequent trial is splashed across the broadsides, including salacious headlines that loudly condemn her.

The narrative moves between Christian’s present and events of the previous year when Lady Christian was newly married and leading a life of privilege and respectability. It explores the reasons that led her to begin the affair with Lord James.Yet Forrester had a number of women in his life and Christian wasn’t the only one with reasons to wish him dead.

The other lead is Violet Blyth, a fictional character. She was living on the streets of Edinburgh when taken in by Mrs Fiddes, who runs the House of Pleasure. The paths of Christian and Violet eventually converge. I won’t say more in order to avoid spoilers.

I found this a highly engaging read. The chapters move between the perspectives of Lady Christian and Violet with the occasional insert of a contemporary news article. The Maiden of the title refers to a guillotine-like execution machine that was used in Scotland between 1564-1710.

I found it interesting that the ghost of Lady Christian is said to haunt the scene of the crime and is known as the ‘White Lady of Corstorphine’.

With respect to the audiobook, Paula Masterton takes the role of Lady Christian with Samara MacLaren as Violet. I felt that both readers were excellent, infusing the characters with life. It was also useful to have the shift between voices to signal the change of narrative viewpoint. The third narrator, Angus King, reads the newspaper accounts.

Overall, ‘The Maiden’ was an atmospheric and well written historical novel. While Kate Foster advises in her Author’s Note that this is not a historical biography, it’s clear that she has undertaken a great deal of research into the case and the period in general. Her portrayal of 17th Century Edinburgh was especially vivid and certainly added to the ambiance of the novel.

On a side note, while I know it is wrong to judge a book by its cover, the design for ‘The Maiden’ is exquisite. Its botanical themes draw the eye as they frame the sinister shape of the Maiden.

Highly recommended.

Captivating, beautifully crafted historical fiction.

Kate Foster has based this work on a real murder & woven a story around the event that finds the reader questioning everything leading up to the act itself. Written from two viewpoints, the tale is uncovered as the timeline jumps backwards and forwards, each revelation bringing you further into the twisted tale. I felt for Lady Christian & Violet, both victims of the attitudes of the time, subject to the wants of men, but both wielded what little power they had to better their lives.

I love historical fiction set in Edinburgh as so many of the locations are still there, although somewhat busier with tourists than they would have been.

I really enjoyed this audioARC, despite the scenes of sex and sexual violence, which were necessary given the nature of the man who is murdered.

Now I am curious about the historical backstory on which Kate Foster based her novel. I’m assuming from the time period that the documentary evidence is both scant and scandalous, making a non-fiction account difficult to write other than in very academic prose (with lots of caveats around the weight of the evidence)?

In any case, so soon after the #MeToo movement hit the headlines, this 17th century story provides us with a portrait of three of the many women it seems the Laird of Corstorphine seduced and abused: one a servant, one a prostitute he kept on his estate, and one the niece of his wife whom he groomed from her early teen years into becoming his lover.

I really liked the quotes from broadsides that were used to progress the plot. I’m unsure if they are real quotations or inventions by the author, but either way, I *love* this type of narrative device and appreciated the texture added by them.

I also really admired the author’s choices around the order in which she chose to reveal the plot. It was really skilful and well-balanced.

Finally, I thought that the level of pity inculcated in us towards various characters at various points in the novel was just right - the barbarity of the 17th century was successfully conveyed without either sentimentality or horror-porn.

The only reason this is a four-star read for me rather than a five-star one is the level of attachment I felt to the two narrators. I loved Violet but found Christian selfish. Perhaps I am being overly judgmental - it’s certainly down to me and nothing to do with the skill of the author.

In short, I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes historical crime fiction. It really is top quality.

I listened to the audio of this, and thought the narration was spellbinding. Told from different POV, we learn the background to a murder as we follow the lives of Christian and Violet. I was utterly captivated by the storytelling and felt fully immersed in the sights and sounds if Edinburgh during the late 1600s. I felt every emotion and enjoyed both characters stories. I'd highly recommend this book.

Kate Foster did a great job with this novel - what a captivating listen.

A gritty and thought-provoking story set in late 1600s Edinburgh - Lady Christian is accussed of killing her uncle by marriage (and alleged lover) James Forrester. If found guilty, she will be killed using the Maiden - a guillotine reserved for deaths of the upper classes.

I have to say the highlight of this book was the way it portrayed each and every character. Multi-faceted, complex and imperfect, I found myself liking and disliking all individuals' actions at times, but all of their decisions made sense in the context and contributed to the very realistic portrayal of human survival instincts. The different experiences of social classes, sexism and misogyny, the convention of marriage, child grooming (TW), adultery and human passion were all topics broached, and I really think above all, people existing and making decisions within the confines of their circumstances. There are parts of this book which go really deep and since finishing it, I have not stopped thinking about it. The feeling of injustice and unfairness nagged at me, while also realising I had gone from disliking to completely understanding someone's intentions and actions by the final sentence being uttered.

We have two distinct POV's - Lady Christian, and a woman we are introduced to a little bit later in the book named Violet. We also have a backwards and forwards timeline, exploring the present and finding out retrospectively what happened leading up to it. At no point is it confusing however, and I found the mixed timelines really helpful and good for pacing overall!

I listened to this book as an audiobook, and I absolutely loved this portrayal - the narrators did a fantastic job in keeping each character with a unique 'voice' (literally and figuratively) and a different flavour to their outlook. I would certainly recommend the audiobook edition (though I have seen the cover and must say the hardback also looks tempting!).

Overall I would certainly recommend giving this a read if you are someone who enjoys historical fiction, but also perhaps if you enjoy a story of a murder investigation.

<i>I would like to thank MacMillan UK Audio for providing me with a complimentary copy of this audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, which I leave voluntarily</i>

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

What a gorgeous novel; I was mesmerised from start to finish.

As the book opens we are in Edinburgh, 1679, and Lady Christian is charged with the murder of her Uncle (by marriage) and lover James Forrester. The story that follows jumps perspectives as well as back and forth in time, to slowly build a picture of what really happened to Lord James, and why the women in his life may have had cause to wish him dead.

I adored each perspective we got, each character feeling fully developed and real. I believed their feelings, their motives, their actions. I felt the very real brutality of living in 17th Century Scotland, and what it meant to be a woman at that time. How restricted their options were, and the lengths they could be driven to, just to survive in a such a harsh world.

Peppered throughout we are presented with newspaper snippets, covering the happenings at court, and giving us additional points of view, adding to the scandal of the trial. And the beautiful Scottish settings pour from the page, with every passing chapter sucking you deeper into the mystery, needing to know what really happened.

The audiobook is also an absolute delight. The narrators do a wonderful job bringing this tale to life, and helping Foster's writing shine. Each PoV has its own voice, and I think that added to the clarity of each perspective, each character's personalities were so vibrant and distinct from one another.

A stunning novel and one that will stay with me for a long time to come. I cannot recommend this one enough.

An astonishing piece of writing based on the true story of a 17th Century Lady, convicted for the murder of her Uncle - a man with whom she had extra marital relations.

Lady Christian is bought to life throughout this novel from a teenager through to being a wife and then accused murderer. The novel also is told from the perspective of Violet, a prostitute in a Boardhouse in Edinburgh and who’s life is intertwined with Lady Christian’s

I had never heard of the term The Maiden, or the story of Lady Christian. Being a huge fan of historical novels especially those based on true stories this story delivered in abundance. Kate Foster writes with such vivid descriptions and draws the reader in.
There were some surprises along the way which added to the intrigue.
This was so close to a 5 star rating, however I would have preferred slightly less about Violet’s story line and more from Lady Christian. I felt empathy for the main female characters and sadness too, a great sign through captivating writing

I listened to the Audio version and absolutely loved the ends of chapters of the Caledonian Broadside. Very very well done.

I look forward to Kate Foster’s next novel and thank her, the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC

Actual rating 3.5.

It’s my stop on the #blogtour for this haunting novel today, and this one was surprisingly empowering, giving the women of this real life case a powerful voice.

Focused on the murder of a wealthy lady’s lover, we start at the beginning with this tale and work our way back, with narrative not just from the accused murderess, but also from the impoverished prostitute who may have had her own reasons to kill him…I loved that I had no clue how this one would go with quite a few possible suspects - very mysterious!

It’s also a beautifully written novel, with strong, compelling female characters - especially the foul mouthed Violet who I absolutely adored! But the thing which I really appreciated, and which surprised me given the time it’s set in, was the way these women owned their sexuality and were open about their craving for intimacy - it was much racier than I expected! A great read 👏

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for approving me for an ARC of this book.

⌛Set in 17th Century Edinburgh we are transported to a time in history I was not familiar with. I loved the setting and learning the history of ‘the Maiden’. I also love that this is based on a true story, some creative license has been taken but the entire scenario does sound very plausible to me. If anything it will give others food for thought on what really happened to Lady Christian Nimmo.

👧🏻The story alternates between Christian’s and Violet’s POVs. I loved both characters equally and sympathised with them both at several points. Violet had been dealt a rough hand in life but her determination to survive and live the life she’d chosen was admirable. Christian may have been a little naïve but I could understand what had drawn her to Forrester.

📖 I found myself glued to the story, wanting to see how everything came together and to find out who did kill James. I had my suspicions but let’s just say there were a few surprises that I hadn’t foreseen. The fate of Lady Christian was a constant thread throughout the story, her time in prison, awaiting her execution was vividly described, and I could see the scenes playing out in my head.

🎵Kate Foster’s writing is simply beautiful and captivating. Her ability to draw you in and trap you within the pages is exceptional. I am very keen to see what she writes next.

Such a brilliant piece of historical fiction - the blurb in itself is my kryptonite - a feminist viewpoint, early modern setting, a crime against a lover - absolutely sold.

The audio of this was excellent, each PoV had its own voice to fully bring the character to life and I thought both ladies personalities were captured perfectly. Violet was the standout of the two, she was so engaging in how she put her perspective across.

The overall story was compelling - I particularly loved that the author based this on a true crime record and built up the feminist perspective of how the events unfolded from what little is known. This really made for a powerful narrative giving voices to those who at this time in history wouldn’t have had them.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one, a must for historical fiction fans.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my audio copy.

Engaging and infuriating in its, accurate, portrayal of the way women were treated in the 1600s.

“Adulteress. Murderess. How similar they sound.”

Lady Christian Nimmo has spent her whole life being seen as less than her sister. Less beautiful, less marriageable, with less prospects.
Arrested for the murder of her Uncle-turned-lover, Christian faces death. Looking back across the year, she remembers how she got to where she is, and the other women who were involved along the way.

The characterisation in The Maiden was wonderful. I didn’t find any of the female main characters particularly likeable, but I could understand all of their motives, and seeing how they had been forced into their decisions was a stark look at how women were treated in the 1600s.

As someone who lives in Scotland, I loved the setting of Edinburgh and Corstorphine. I was really able to immerse myself in the characters’ worlds.

The plot unravelled in a way which was interesting and kept me guessing. Seeing each character’s motives and their part in the death of James Forrester made the story feel real and intriguing.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narration. The character’s voices were distinct, and the Scottish accents were realistic, which I appreciate.

Based on a true story, The Maiden was a stark reminder of what women have faced in the past, and an engaging read about the lengths people will go to when they have few choices.

Narrated by Paula Masterton, Samara MacLaren, Angus King - wonderful narrations and brought all characters to life.

Perfectly constructed as the narration flicks back and forth from the POVs of two of the central characters on specific dates leading up to the murder of a Laird and the trial date and aftermath of Lady Christian. Interspersed with newspaper articles about the two instances.

Historical non-fiction (based on true events) at its best - immersed the time-period, no odd 4th wall breaking explanations of how things work. A long book that passes by fast. Would recommend.

A raw, earthy and devastating novel that had me convinced until the last minute that the inevitable could be avoided, until it wasn't. Will be recommending widely

Two women at completely opposite ends of the spectrum.
Set in 1979 in Edinburgh. The book is based on a true story. Lady Christian is in a loveless marriage. She married for reputation and wealth after her family fell on harder times following the death of her father.
Then there is Violet a working girl from a more upmarket brothel. She's a whore with the dreams of becoming a lady of the manor.

The characters evolved throughout the book as we saw the tale from two perspectives. The narration made for easy listening as it was clear who's POV was being described in each chapter.

Lady Christian is charged with the murder of her uncle now lover James Forrester. We see how the two women are connected. Also an insight into the lives of women in the 17th century and how they fared compared to men.

Which of the women will have an appointment with the Maiden. The guillotine used to execute the death penalty.

The beautiful book cover drew me in to this book. Based on a real tale of murder in 1600's Edinburgh, 'The maiden' is a compelling story with excellent narration. Christian is trapped in a marriage she feels is loveless when her Uncle James begins to show more interest in her than her husband. She chooses to risk all with her secret liaisons and is, ultimately, trapped in a very different way. The characters and setting were carefully drawn and believable, as was the contrast in treatment of women at either end of the social spectrum. I look forward to reading more from Kate Foster in the future.
Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up

The two narrators give different perspectives on 17th century life: Lady Christian’s family are down-on-their-luck after the death of their father but she’s still incredibly privileged, so she is mostly concerned with marrying well and protecting her reputation when she starts to make scandalous decisions; Violet is a sex worker with more immediate, material concerns who spots an opportunity when a wealthy man wants to take her to his castle for a lengthier sojourn. Their interactions with the justice system make the implications of wealth and class stark, though I felt this was occasionally handled in a clumsily obvious way.

The prose was smooth and the setting was incredibly evocative, Edinburgh especially, with lots of little details that really flesh out the historical setting. The story is structured in a non-linear way to release information in a way that heightens tension, however there were a couple of times when the changing timeline combined with the changing point of view threw me off a bit, eg. The flashbacks could be a bit disjointed, making it more difficult to follow any emotional arcs.

There was a heck ton of period typical acephobia that I wasn’t expecting, and while it’s understandable within the context of the story (both from the fact that it’s ultimately a story about sex, and not feeling sexual attraction is one facet of human sexual experience, but also because it gave Christian a way to defend the adultery to herself) it was still personally uncomfortable to read - and I think it potentially tempered empathy I had for Christian’s self-criticism, which was born of her otherwise loving husband’s lack of sexual attraction to her. (I don’t know if the acephobia was mentioned in content warnings, I wasn’t able to find any at the time of reading.)

Each POV character had their own narrator, and I enjoyed both Paula Masterton and Samara MacLaren’s performances. One note on the audiobook that I’m not docking stars for because it was an ARC - it seemed like some of the stuff towards the end got replaced by a part of an earlier chapter (for reference it was section 58 and a bit at the very end of 61), but the NetGalley app was being super-glitchy because of my poor wifi, which made it difficult to check, and it could very well be have been a result of the glitchiness.