BelEdit Book Reviews
The Mourning Necklace is a gripping and immersive historical novel based on the true story of Margaret Dickson, who survived being hanged in 1724 for concealing a pregnancy and murdering her baby.
The story is prefaced with a Public Notice, stating that:
” Notice is hereby given that, on the 2nd of September 1724, at the Grassmarket Gallows, Edinburgh, at eleven o’clock in the morning, there will be an Execution by Hanging of sundry criminals, for miscellaneous offenses, including, Murder, Coining, Robbery, and Concealment of a Pregnancy. […]
“Any of the Hanged criminals whose bodies are unclaimed by next of kin will be taken by the Anatomists of Edinburgh for dissection at the Incorporation of Surgeons and Barbers.”
The story opens with Maggie regaining consciousness after being hanged, lying in a coffin in a cart that awaits pick-up by the anatomists. She escapes from her coffin and, dressed only in a shroud and with a rope burn around her neck, she goes to the nearest pub where her family are drowning their sorrows. So begins an absolutely page-turning story of Maggie’s life and imprisonment, both before and after the hanging.
Vivid and compelling
This is historical fiction of the highest order. To say it’s immersive is an understatement. You can practically feel the wound on Maggie’s neck and smell the stench of the streets. It’s a story to lose yourself in. I was captivated from the opening pages and my suspension of disbelief was total.
Foster does an amazing job at fleshing out the little that’s known about Margaret Dickson and building a rich and detailed story that brings the era and places to life. Maggie grew up in a poor family in Fisherrow, a fishing village in Scotland, where the family scrapes a living by selling fish and occasionally serving as intermediaries in smuggling operations. Maggie dreams of escaping this hard life, and when she is wooed by a man visiting the village, her head is turned and she marries him.
While much of the story is thrilling fiction rather than documented fact, like all great fiction The Mourning Necklace captures universal aspects of the human condition, in particular hardships experienced by women, illustrated through a unique story.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.
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