A solid 5 star read!. I loved it and was hooked from beginning to end. I was somewhat familiar with the story and character that this book was originally based on, (and watched the old movie "Madeline" a few years back).

I'm really impressed with the research that was carried out to determine what happened to her afterwards, resulting in this book. The backstory of how the book came to be was so intriguing, and to the author, yes, you have done the book justice, and yes, she would be proud of it. Thanks to NetGalley , the publisher and the author for this advance copy.

This is a novel based on a true story and written over two timelines. I struggled with the narrative pace and the switching timelines and did not finish.

While the premise is intriguing, and I enjoyed the Author's note explaining more about the context and real story behind this book, this book, most of the time, had me wanting to vomit. The scenes of manipulation, near rape, suicide, self harm were all so detailed that it had me feeling queasy and nauseous. I hated every section until the end. Why did I not DNF this book you ask? Because I needed to see that Emile would get his just desserts and that Henry in 1927 would not get his story. In a way this book is well written and brilliant because you truly hate the men surrounding Madeleine in both timelines. I skipped over the scenes of sex because they were just too disgusting to read, an older man conning a young girl desperate to be loved into having many kinds of sex including anal just so he can blackmail her into marriage and an advantageous match is deplorable. I cannot recommend this book because it is not enjoyable, and should come with many more trigger warnings. Maybe there is no way to write Madeleine Smith's story without this level of vitriolic hatred and disgust for the guy being produced... but I just couldn't find any other positive points but the author's note and the absolute very end after all the horrible things were done and were being explained.

I wasn’t sure whether to read this new novel by Lesley McDowell as I didn’t get on very well with her last one, Clairmont. Although I liked her writing, I struggled with the structure, the way it would jump from one timeline to another and the lack of context to explain characters’ backgrounds and relationships. I like to give authors a second chance, though, and this book, based on a true crime, did sound intriguing…

In 1857, Madeleine Smith is put on trial in Glasgow for the murder of her lover, Emile L'Angelier. After listening to witnesses and examining the evidence, the jury, still unable to decide whether she is guilty, give a verdict of ‘Not Proven’ and Madeleine is set free. Seventy years later, Harry Townsend, an aspiring filmmaker, believes he has tracked down the woman who used to be Madeleine Smith, now living in New York as a respectable elderly widow, Mrs Sheehy. Harry wants to interview her about Emile’s murder, but when Mrs Sheehy refuses to cooperate, Harry is forced to question whether he has got the right person after all.

We move back and forth between 1857 and 1927 throughout the book, but I found it much easier to follow the plot and understand what was going on than I did with Clairmont, which was a relief! The first few sections were interesting as they set the scene and introduced the characters, but then we settled into the 1857 period and the story of Madeleine’s relationship with Emile and my attention began to waver. There’s a lot of focus on their sexual encounters, some of which are described quite explicitly (I understood why later on), and I started to get impatient waiting for the murder to happen. It does happen eventually, of course, and I was glad I stuck with the book as I found the aftermath of the murder and Madeleine’s trial much more compelling to read about.

Although I did have some sympathy for Madeleine’s position – Emile had become very manipulative and controlling, threatening her with blackmail – I never really warmed to her as a character and I felt that she could have handled the situation differently. I also didn’t like the way she implicated not just the maid Christina, who arranged meetings and passed letters between Madeleine and Emile, but also her own twelve-year-old sister, Janet. None of the other characters in the book were very likeable either; the way Harry Townsend treated the older Madeleine was horrible and I hoped he would never get to make his film! There’s a twist in that particular storyline which I hadn’t guessed, but which seems to fit well with the historical facts.

I’ve never read about the Madeleine Smith case before, although it seems to be well documented, and I wonder whether my perception of this book would have been different if I already knew some of the details before I started to read. Anyway, it was all new to me and I was fascinated by the author’s note at the end of the book where she explained the origins of the novel – the idea was suggested to her by fellow author Emma Tennant who had wanted to work on it as a joint project before her death – and how she chose to interpret some of the historical evidence. She discusses her theory regarding the murder method and weapon (this is where the strong sexual content earlier in the novel suddenly made sense), and how she tried to piece together the clues we have regarding Madeleine’s later life after the trial.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, having seen a lot of very mixed early reviews – but at the same time, I do understand some of the criticisms. Still, I found it interesting to learn about a true crime I was previously unaware of and which has inspired a large number of other novels, plays and adaptations.

Overall: 3 stars.

Premise: A young socialite from Glasgow is accused of murdering her lover in a sensational trial that sweeps across the nation in the 19th century. 70 years later, a young g filmmaker hopes to unravel this mystery by bringing the now elderly woman out of her recluse. Based on a true story.

The book is written with chapters based on alternating timelines, which helped readers try to figure out this mystery while following along with the main protagonist. The prose is well written and the writing is descriptive; readers would empathise with the characters as well as easily feel annoyed by them. Although I quite enjoyed the fact this is built upon a true story and I truly enjoyed the descriptive prose, at times I felt perhaps the writing can waffle on with no actual substance and paragraphs that unfortunately douses the growing suspense.

Overall, although an interesting book, it can fail to entertain those that look for a fast paced murder mystery.

I'm afraid this one isn't working for me, so I'm abandoning it. Partly it's due to the characterisation - Smith is being shown as some kind of cross between nymphomaniac and simpleton, almost confirming the misogynistic representation of her (and through her, women in general) at her trial Her maid's behaviour is also feeding into this depiction of women. And partly it's the overblown "creative" writing style, with constant tingling toes and shivering stomachs and veins prickling with dread. I know that style works for many people. but not for me.

I found this book really interesting as a story but really struggled to follow the dual POV. The characters lacked depth and weren't really likeable. I find it hard to enjoy a book where I don't root for any of the characters.
I appreciated the research that was done by the author but this book really wasn't for me.

I feel bad for not enjoying much this book. It had everything I liked but unfortunately I was quite bored and didn’t get attached to the characters.
It was a bit too slow for me.
I really liked the research the author did though
I just think this book wasn’t for me but could definitely be for some people who are more into this genre

Thought this would be interesting as it is set partly in Glasgow, and is based in a true story. I found the characters shallow and unappealing. The behaviour of the main characters was alarming , not at all what I was expecting. I wasn’t fully engaged. Shame - as I am always interested in Victorian history, Glasgow settings and a mystery.

A young Victorian woman, Madeleine, lives a sheltered, privileged but constrained life until she meets a dashing French clerk by chance. So begins the story of repression, coercion and obsession that leads to murder. I found the relationship complex and difficult to stomach and read with mounting dread as Madeleine was blackmailed and threatened by a man she once found utterly thrilling. Author Lesley McDowell describes the manipulation and degradation and how self-obsessed Madeleine becomes, at the expense of her family and the housemaid whose situation is so precarious. Psychologically this rang true. But I found it hard to connect or champion any of the characters in this story which made it hard for me to enjoy the book. It was a relief when Madeleine’s life after her trial took a more positive direction and I hoped to finish there, but the plot twist at the end was a bit of a stretch and didn’t convince me.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, and I did like the overall story. There were parts of the writing that were really poignant and beautiful. The dual narrative worked well to frame the story and add suspense.

However, there were a few things that fell short for me in this book.

Although the dual narrative worked well to help frame the story, the pace of the story within each POV was difficult to keep track of. It felt as though the story was trying to fit too much detail within each section of the story, so it skipped through the timeline inconsistently.

The way that each character was written lacked depth. The focus of the book felt much more focused on the story, so character motives and desires felt thin (or non-existent), which made it difficult to connect to, understand, or empathise with any character in the story.

This may be partly due to the inconsistent pacing of the book, but I find it difficult to fully immerse myself in a book if there is no character I can feel truly connected to, or want to root for.

The book was particularly intriguing because it featured two distinct timelines, adding depth to the narrative. The captivating story behind the book itself enhanced my reading experience, making it even more fascinating. However, I found the pacing to be slow, which led to a loss of interest before I reached the middle of the book. I pushed through, hoping the story would improve, but ultimately, it just wasn’t the right book for me. On a positive note, I found the notes included in the text to be very interesting. I got this ARC on a exchange of a honest review

I felt like something was just missing.

An interesting story and I enjoyed the detail at the end of the book that gave the true history and the comparison of the one written in this book. I enjoyed the writing style and the general direction of the book but I just felt like I expected more from such a rich true story.

There were times where the story felt like it threw new characters into the mix without explaining who they were and so at times I wasn’t sure who I was reading about. It jumped through timelines very quickly and without warning sometimes and I felt like I had to really pay attention whilst reading.

Overall, a good story that I would say is worth a read.

When a reporter turns up on 92 year old Lena's NYC doorstep, the many secrets she has held close for decades start to unravel. Flitting between the present and the past her story is unpacked to reveal a young girl: rich, naïve, seduced and on trial for the murder of her lover. Much of the story being a reimagining of the real life and trial of Madeline Smith in Edinburgh in 1857, a trial that scandalised and thrilled society. I loved the afterward and how Lesley McDowell reveals her research into Madeline's trial and upbringing and how she wove this story around the evidence she could find. This interlocking between fact and fiction is so cleverly done that it is seamless. Not realising this was based on a real life on my first read, it really makes me want to go back and read it again.

A good premise for a book but fell a little bit short, wasn’t a book for me I’m afraid. Had good intentions but felt rushed at times.

I enjoyed the initial storyline which I understand was a true story but then the book seemed to wander and lose its way. I didn’t enjoy it. The notes at the end of the book helped to explain the story a lot more than the book itself. I would not recommend it.

I was excited by the premise of this book but sadly I didn’t enjoy it greatly. From the beginning I was unconvinced by the relationship between the main characters in each of the time frames. I found the coercive relationship between Madeline and Eugene uncomfortable which I guess could be seen as a good thing if it one of the reasons she kills him. Equally between Harry and such an elderly Madeleine..To be honest I didn’t finish the story so accept that this might change as the story develops.
I appreciate having been sent the story to read in advance and wish the author well as it publishes.Just not for me this time!

Straightaway I knew this book was one for me. I was attracted to the front cover and title. After reading the blurb I loved the mystery of the story and the fact is was based on a true story.

I took me a good few chapter to get into the story, but I decided to stick with it and I am glad I did. This is a very well researched and well written book. Once I got into the story I was hooked. I liked the characters which is always a must. I found the whole story gripping I wanted to know the outcome. I also loved reading about Glasgow, plenty of research has gone Into the setting

Well recommend for those who love a good gruesome murder mystery that keeps you interested until the very end.

What to expect:

- Dual timelines
- Historical fiction novel (1857 Glasgow/1927 New York)
- Mystery/Thriller
- Murder trial
- Based on a true story
- Socialites/ privileged social class
- Informative and interesting Author’s notes

A story about a former socialite in 1857 Glasgow, who was accused of and given a ‘not proven’ verdict of murdering her former lover. This book alternates between dual timelines, showing the reader the unfolding of events as they happened in 1857 to her modern-day life as a much older woman in 1927 New York where a hopeful filmmaker tracks her down to capture a long-awaited ‘tell-all’ story.

I requested to read this book because it had all of the themes I look for in a book rolled into one but unfortunately for me, it didn’t entirely deliver. What I did love, was that it was based on a true story, which made me head straight to Google mid-read and glean as much information as possible. This made reading the book more enjoyable! The author’s notes at the end were much appreciated and I must say, I enjoyed these probably more than the story itself.

I thought that the author’s character building of naive and insufferably privileged young Maddie was good (I couldn’t stand her!) The contrast between the attitudes to life and love with that of her working-class lover made for reflective reading for me. I also found the complete ignorance of Maddie startling and how she had to educate her sister to prevent her from making the same mistakes as her saddened me.

The author captured the culture of that time well, especially among young women, thankfully a stark difference to how things are in today’s generation.

I wanted to love this book but I found myself skimming quite large chunks of the book to get to more compulsive reading, which didn’t seem to ever come. That being said, I appreciate the research the author must have put into this book to put it together and that is evident in her writing. I also liked the quotations taken from historical documents throughout the book which complimented the story nicely.

I think this book would appeal more to those who have a penchant for true crime perhaps more than historical fiction lovers and I gave it a rating of three out of five stars. 🌟🌟🌟

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Books for the opportunity to read this before publication, in return for an honest review..

4.5⭐ for the story and 6 ⭐for the historical research/author's note

I really enjoyed this - a beautifully written historical fiction novel which has a dual-timeline between the real-life Madeleine Smith murder case in 1850s Scotland, and 1920s New York (where a film company lackey is trying to track down the elderly maybe-murderess).

I gave into temptation and looked up the case on Wikipedia before I was half-way through (probably best to avoid this), but the story had some twists and turns up its sleeve anyway, so it wasn't predictable.

I loved the quotations from the historical documents which punctuate the text, and the absolute dedication/eye for detail with which the author had examined those documents and considered the main character's motivations and actions. I found the Author's Note, which laid out her thinking in developing the story using hints/gaps in the historical records absolutely mesmerising. I really liked the clever solution that the author had come up with to the miniature mystery posed by the ship's manifest (it would also make sense of the big age gap between Madeleine and her last husband). If I have a minor criticism, it's that there wasn't really a character to love/root for, so I didn't feel emotionally invested in the outcome, though I was absorbed by the story.

The author explains that the original idea for this novel came from the writer Emma Tennant, who suggested they work on it together but passed away in 2017 while the project was still in its early stages. I felt this was sensitively handled in the Author's Note, which gave a lovely tribute to Emma Tennant, and fully acknowledged her contribution.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.