The Maiden

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

I couldn’t believe this was based on a real case! What a gripping story. Amazing historical read.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

“The Maiden” is an incredible book, based on a real-life case from the end of the 17th Century in Scotland in which a woman named Lady Christian Nimmo was convicted of the murder of her lover and uncle (by marriage), James Forrester. When the author couldn’t find anything out about the real-life Lady Christian, other than that she was an “adulterous murderess”, she decided to write the story of Christian’s life, from the point of view of various women in James Forrester’s life.

What the author creates is a compelling, evocative story told in turn by Lady Christian and by Violet, a prostitute favoured by James. The women are fascinating and the way in which they reveal James’ true character, and the events that lead up to his death, is nuanced and perfectly paced.

I love that these women – one of whom is real but something of a footnote in the history of her own life, and the other based on countless women whose history was never recorded – have been given such a strong and convincing voice in this novel. I was totally gripped by this story, and can’t wait to read more by this author. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

Thought-provoking historical fiction based on the true story of the murder of Laird James Forrester by his niece and lover Lady Christian Nimmo. Compelling and well researched, it cleverly weaves together the stories of Christian and the main witness at her trial, Violet. Not hugely surprising in its twists and turns, but nevertheless an enjoyable read.

This historical fiction novel is based on a true story of Lady Christian Ninmo, a 17th century Scottish woman convicted of killing Lord James Forrester, her lover/uncle (her mother's sister's husband, so not as ew as it sounds). After having an affair with him, she is sentenced to death. The story then backtracks to tell her story, as well as that of Violet, another women he has victimized. Well-written and thought-provoking.

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. 

Only a year before, Christian was leading a life of privilege and respectability. So, what led her to risk everything for an affair? And does that make her guilty of murder? She wasn't the only woman in Forrester's life, and certainly not the only one who might have had cause to wish him dead . . .

Based on a true story, I found this novel compelling and haunting. It opens with Christian being condemned to death for the murder of her uncle/ lover and tells her story of how this came to happen though the eyes of her and two other women Violet and Oriana both forced to 'service' this unpleasant, manipulative and violent man. It's a familiar story in many ways of poverty forcing women into situations in which they have little control. It's a timeless story.

The maiden of the title is the Scottish guillotine used at the time to execute criminals.

Seemingly well researched ( though obviously a story)on the period and the areas I loved it and look forward to more from this new writer.

I'm a big fan of historical fiction which in my opinion is getting better and better.

Story of an actual murder in 17th century Edinburgh told from the viewpoint of three very different participants. The female characters have all be mistreated by the victim; they all have the reader's sympathy, even though we know the outcome.

Well written, and with interesting female characters - the male characters are entitled, single-minded and less considerate and caring of women, with one notable exception.

With thanks to NetGalley and Mantle for an ARC.

This was a haunting and captivating novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this well written historical fiction based on a true event. The characterisation was brilliant; it kept me reading into the night and so rarely do I say this - I couldn't predict where the author was taking it. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this advance review copy.

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

A few books before reading this one I happened to have read one about Scottish folklore and witch trials which did happen to briefly mention Lady Christian Nimmo and what had been such a scandal that it remains in folklore spoken today.
However, reading this fictionalised version of her story and what could have been what happened, very much in keeping with the expectations and harsh treatment of women during that time period, it felt both a privilege and a horror to get to know the women in this book.
Split between the viewpoints of Lady Christian Nimmo and Violet, the fictional maid and main witness to the murder, you not only hear their very different voices of polar opposite privilege, background and status, but you find your understanding and opinion of both to evolve and change.
This story captures so much about the very difficult and often brutal reality for women in that era, and one that still plays out in some areas of the world today. The constant threat of violence, punishment and repentance, dished out by the men with power and religious pomp that, when tested, even women of high status were not immune from.
This book is a dark and exhilarating window into our past, with misogyny & dangers that still echo along our today.

A great story for lovers of historical fiction. A fictionalised tale based around a short historical entry of a real murder in 1679 of a Lord Forrester by his neice. who has already been condemned as an adultress and whore in the "court of public opinion" before the trial has started. The backstory is told through the eyes of an additional two women who were servants of the vile Forrestor. This is a well written and engaging tale, all the better for having the voices of two working class women ( rather than the usual aristocrats) included.

Wow, I loved this book so much! The whole read was an emotional rollercoaster!

From the start Kate did an amazing job of really questioning your morals and questioning all of the characters integrity as a narrator. I was constantly flopping between who to support and who could have been the murderess. Paired with Kate's fantastic writing style, character development and ingenious plot, this is such a great read. Kate holds on to every bit of information until you're ready to be told, which instantly makes you question everything you know.

I really can't do this book justice, the only thing I can say is to get your hands on this book immediately! I can't wait to read more of what Kate has to offer.

Thank you again NetGalley, Kate Foster and Pan Macmillan Mantle imprint for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review also posted on Goodreads.

If this book is anything to go by, I can’t wait for what else Kate Foster writes in the coming years.

Stories of large manor houses with high-class young women who don’t want to conform to the norm and end up wronged by a high-class man have been ten to the penny over the last few years. It seems it is a trope that isn’t doing anywhere and I’m not sad about that. When done well, it’s done very well, and I can say that Kate has done well with this story.

I like the narrative being spread over two time periods. I’d say for the first 2/3, bar the odd flashforward, most of the action is taking place the year prior to the crime. It gives you a tantalising look at the crime, but with the background information to keep you informed. And then the final part is more about after the crime.

I must say I preferred the scenes after the crime, the trial and whatnot. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the past scenes very much, but the other scenes felt a bit juicier, a bit more explosive, and made for a really interesting read.

Everything is described so visually, you can see the scenes playing out in your head. From clothing to injury, from food to the love scenes. It is so beautifully done.

It’s a lot more explicit, more forward than I expected from a book set in the 1600s, which was a nice change. It’s funny to think of these prim and proper people experiencing the same desires we do now, but there’s no reason not to.

I enjoyed the exploration of class. Should a high-class woman be believed because of her status? Is a serving girl automatically disregarded because of her position? It’s horrible to think there was this prejudice but it’s clear to see. A lady, a prostitute and a maid - who would you believe?

There are a number of characters but I would say there are a few key players. Obviously we have Lady Christian, our main protagonist. A lady of class but loose morals. I liked her right from the start. She was clever and she wanted what the men had. Violet, the prostitute, the one we should look down on. She wants to be loved and protected but she’s also clever. Then Oriana, the maid. A bit surly, a bit mixed up, but hiding a big secret. They are our three main characters.

Then you have Andrew, quiet, unassuming, a kind and gentle soul mixed up in something bigger than him. And James. A nasty piece of work, proud to be in his position, proud to be able to take everything he wants.

Whilst these were my initial thoughts, each character had great development and were expertly written. No-one is perfect. No-one is flawed completely. There are heroes and villains but they’re all so human that they have good and bad within them (some have more bad than others).

I love it when a book is inspired by a true story. It’s hard to believe something like this was happening, but it makes it all the more fascinating and makes you want to find out more.

I think Kate has done a great job as it’s showing the spotlight on historical female people. They’re so often shoved to the sidelines, as a footnote in men’s stories. That’s not to say Lady Christian or anyone else deserve to be idolised (I don’t know the real truth of the matter), but I think no matter who they were or what they did or didn’t do, their stories deserve to be told. Here’s to many more.

It is a compelling, gripping story. And whilst there are slower moments and more frenzied moments, you are hooked from the start to the very end.

Wow, what a story! This book was recommended to me through a friend and it didn’t disappoint! This is tale of 3 women that has been manipulated by a narcissistic man., lord James Forester. Christian is his nephew, Violet is a hired whore and Oriana a servant. The story begins when Christian is accused of murdering her uncle, with whom she has had a sexual relationship. From then, the story unravels and takes us through the complicated relationships of the characters. Kate Forester is a skilled writer, taking you on the journey through 17th century Scottish community , nearby and in Edinburgh. You can almost feel and taste history. I would highly recommend this book.

Rarely have I enjoyed a book so much that I have read it in one marathon session. Kate Foster’s, The Maiden, held me spellbound from the opening paragraph! Inspired by true events surrounding the murder of a Scottish laird during the latter half of the 17th century, the book weaves a web of intrigue in imagining the possible motivation for the murder of this powerful member of the local Scottish community. The closing paragraphs, in their alternating poetic beauty and horror, stayed with me long after I’d finished reading the book.

The Maiden is a compelling historical debut based (very loosely) on the little we know of Lady Christian Nimmo.

Foster's characters and world-building are fantastic. The two distinctive counter-narrators may be at opposite ends of the social spectrum, but their worlds collide when they are both ensnared by the same man. While they are both victims, only one of them has the wherewithal to survive when the odds are stacked against them. It's this tension between the two narrative strands which makes The Maiden so engaging: you end up rooting for both protagonists at once, while knowing that only one can survive.

If there's one thing I love... it's a fictional retelling of factual events - but when I started it, I had no idea.

And with this one - you're in for a wild ride. The Maiden is about the trial of an adulteress and Murderer, Lady Christian Nimmo. From a family of standing, Christian is due to be executed on The Maiden.

Whilst the time and setting of this tale is based in the 17th century - I wouldn't call this a Historical Fiction in the manner that I typically find them. This is as much of a mystery - potentially even a thriller.

The plot definitely leads this book but the characters are well written. My favourite was Violet - ambitious and selfish, she came across the strongest and had a real feeling of Bad*ss B*tch about her.

I was captured by this book from the opening sentence. This isn’t normally the kind of genre I enjoy reading but I couldn’t put this down. The descriptions of the jail, Edinburgh and costorphin were incredibly atmospheric and I was totally immersed in them. Each of the characters were written subtly and beautifully. The book switches its narrative between the main characters and interviews with others or newspaper reports. I was gripped right until very end, waiting to find out what the fate of lady Christian was to be.

Like Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, The Maiden begins with the true story of a woman being convicted of murder and sentenced to be executed. The guillotine (The Maiden) was used in the late 17th Century in Edinburgh Scotland for the execution of nobility while the poor of the time were hung. Lady Christian was found by the court to have killed her married lover, and uncle by marriage James Forrester, but just what may have gone on behind the scenes that the papers and sensational gossip didn’t reveal at the time?

Kate Foster has re-imagined Lady Christian's story through the eyes of women of the time showing the vast differences in the wealthy and the desperate poor in both position in life and attitudes yet both totally controlled by the men around them. This is an absorbing historical novel that reminded me of Burial Rites for its brilliant depiction of place and time, but also The Mercies and The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood-Hargrave for its specific feminist focus.

The Maiden is a wonderful feminist historical novel and I enjoyed reading it so much I didn't want it to end. Inspired by a real-life case in the 17th century in which an aristocratic young woman, Lady Christian, is charged with the murder of her uncle, who is also her lover. But Uncle James had a number of other women he turned to for his carnal pleasures and, as was common with aristos, his servants were also fair game. It takes an expert writer to lead her readers into the life of her characters as well as Kate Foster does The ending should have come as no surprise but thanks to her superb writing, it still did. Thanks to Pan Macmillan/Mantle for the opportunity to read and review The Maiden.

From the first page, this tale gripped my attention and transported me to another world. The two leading ladies have each been given a voice in a way that makes this tragic tale come alive and paints a vivid picture of very different lives. Expertly written to the very end. Sometimes 5 stars aren't enough! I can't wait to read more by Kate Foster.

Well written, addictive and unpredictable. This is a book I have really enjoyed and devoured. i definitely want to read more from this author. Full Review to follow.

An evocative and compelling historical fiction based on true events. Set in 17th Century Edinburgh, The Maiden reimagines the murder and subsequent trial of Lord James Forrester by his niece and lover Lady Christian Nimmo from the perspective of the novel’s female characters. With strong and authentic female narrative voices throughout, this is a gripping page turner which kept me hooked from start to finish.

"The Maiden" by Kate Foster is a great historical novel about Lady Christian Nimmo and her affair with her uncle James Forrester. There is murder, women accused and a potential beheading. This book has it all and shows that not all the best and gory stories have to happen in London. A really well-told story. Thoroughly recommend this to my friends.

5 star read. Beautifully written, well researched, great characters. A must read for historical true crime readers. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

In seventeenth century Edinburgh, Lady Christian Nimmo is sentenced to death for the murder of her lover James Forrester.
The maiden is the guillotine that was used to execute, at the time.
But what actually happened and how are the lives of a sex worker and a servant implicated?
This intriguing and well-written novel is told across time frames so we can see the before and after.
It’s essentially a feminist novel, telling the woman’s story in an age where women had few rights when they were exploited and abused.
But above all it’s a compelling and pacy read, that keeps you guessing until the last page.
I’d highly recommend it, even if you don’t normally read historical fiction.

Aptly named, The Maiden was a guillotine used to execute those of the upper class in the 17th century.

This historical fiction is set in Edinburgh and based on the story of the ghost of Corstorphine. I absolutely love books that breathe life into the real life events of the past so I knew The Maiden was right up my alley.

It begins with the sentencing of Lady Christian Nimmo for allegedly killing her uncle by marriage, James Forrester. Did she do it and if so, why?

We see the plot progress from various snippets of newspaper reports, Lady Christian and Violet's point of view. There's a build of tension as we know from the off that James isn't all he seems and we can only watch as it progresses.

I enjoyed The Maiden immensely and would recommend giving it a read if you're also a fan of historic fiction with a murderous plot.

Absolutely fantastic!

I literally could not put this book down and spent every spare minute I had over 48 hours reading it!
With a dual perspective and time shifts, I was waiting to get confused but I needn't have feared, it works so, so, well. I was gripped by the suspense, drawn to both Lady Christian and Violet's plights, and tense with anticipation right to the last page.

One of my top reads this year!

Pick up this novel and you will find it hard to put it down again, and when you have read it, you will find it easy to believe that you have actually been there experiencing the story yourself.
Omg what a thrill of a read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Twisty and full of suspence. I was on the edge of my seat. Gripped from start to finish. Read in one sitting. Couldn't put it down. Definitely recommend.

Historical fiction set in a period which may be unfamiliar to many readers, The Maiden brings 17th-century Edinburgh to life, and the intriguing plot and well-depicted characters ensure that your attention is kept throughout the novel. The shifting prespectives mean that the truth is always being questioned, and I particularly liked the insertions from the Caledonia Broadside, which gave an objective (or is it?) twist to the characters’ own stories. Highly recommended.