‘Moving and masterful . . . transports you to 18th-century Scotland and says as much about modern life as it does about those harrowing times’ – Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal
Inspired by an infamous real-life case, The Mourning Necklace is the unforgettable original feminist historical novel from the Women’s Prize-longlisted author of The Maiden, Kate Foster.
They said I would swing for the crime and I did . . . I wear the rope-mark like a mourning necklace.
1724. In a tavern just outside Edinburgh, the family of Maggie Dickson – hanged for the murder of her newborn child – drown their sorrows, mourning her death yet relieved she is gone. Shame haunts them; passers-by avert their eyes from her cheap coffin on its rickety cart.
But as her family pray her soul rests in peace, a figure appears at the door.
It is Maggie. She is alive.
Bruised and dazed, Maggie has little time for her family’s questions. All that matters to her is answering one: will they hang her twice?
Praise for Kate Foster:
‘Riveting . . . The tension persists until the last page’ – The Times
‘Tense, thrilling . . . with a decidedly feminist slant’ – Daily Mail
‘Kate excels at bringing the forgotten women of history back to life and giving them the attention they deserve''' – Claire Evans, author of The Fourteenth Letter
‘Captivating . . . Scratch beneath the surface of a Kate Foster novel and all of life is there in the most elegant prose’ – Marion Todd, author of the bestselling DI Clare Mackay series
‘Brilliant . . . the new Hilary Mantel’ – Tina Baker, author of What We Did In The Storm
Genre: Historical
Inspired by an infamous real-life case, The Mourning Necklace is the unforgettable original feminist historical novel from the Women’s Prize-longlisted author of The Maiden, Kate Foster.
They said I would swing for the crime and I did . . . I wear the rope-mark like a mourning necklace.
1724. In a tavern just outside Edinburgh, the family of Maggie Dickson – hanged for the murder of her newborn child – drown their sorrows, mourning her death yet relieved she is gone. Shame haunts them; passers-by avert their eyes from her cheap coffin on its rickety cart.
But as her family pray her soul rests in peace, a figure appears at the door.
It is Maggie. She is alive.
Bruised and dazed, Maggie has little time for her family’s questions. All that matters to her is answering one: will they hang her twice?
Praise for Kate Foster:
‘Riveting . . . The tension persists until the last page’ – The Times
‘Tense, thrilling . . . with a decidedly feminist slant’ – Daily Mail
‘Kate excels at bringing the forgotten women of history back to life and giving them the attention they deserve''' – Claire Evans, author of The Fourteenth Letter
‘Captivating . . . Scratch beneath the surface of a Kate Foster novel and all of life is there in the most elegant prose’ – Marion Todd, author of the bestselling DI Clare Mackay series
‘Brilliant . . . the new Hilary Mantel’ – Tina Baker, author of What We Did In The Storm
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"The new Hilary Mantel. A tale of a working class lass punished for the crime of wanting more. Thank you for making me cry again Kate Foster! Another brilliant read with shocks and humour along the way." - Tina Baker
"What a fabulous read. Maggie is an amazing character - so ordinary, yet profoundly extraordinary at the same time - her story compelled me from the very first page. Kate excels at bringing the forgotten women of history back to life and giving them the attention they deserve." - Claire Evans
"Kate Foster can pluck a dark story from the depths of history and bring it to vivid life before your eyes. The Mourning Necklace is her best yet. Inspired by the real-life tale of a woman who survived her own execution, it is moving and masterful, a visceral treat that transports you to 18th-century Scotland and says as much about modern life as it does about those harrowing times. Foster is a class act and an author who, if you haven't read her yet, what are you waiting for? A strong contender for my book of the year." - Janice Hallett
"Scratch beneath the surface of a Kate Foster novel and all of life is there in the most elegant prose. The Mourning Necklace is an exquisitely crafted imagining of Maggie Dickson's life, death and life again - a captivating tale you must not miss." - Marion Todd
"What a fabulous read. Maggie is an amazing character - so ordinary, yet profoundly extraordinary at the same time - her story compelled me from the very first page. Kate excels at bringing the forgotten women of history back to life and giving them the attention they deserve." - Claire Evans
"Kate Foster can pluck a dark story from the depths of history and bring it to vivid life before your eyes. The Mourning Necklace is her best yet. Inspired by the real-life tale of a woman who survived her own execution, it is moving and masterful, a visceral treat that transports you to 18th-century Scotland and says as much about modern life as it does about those harrowing times. Foster is a class act and an author who, if you haven't read her yet, what are you waiting for? A strong contender for my book of the year." - Janice Hallett
"Scratch beneath the surface of a Kate Foster novel and all of life is there in the most elegant prose. The Mourning Necklace is an exquisitely crafted imagining of Maggie Dickson's life, death and life again - a captivating tale you must not miss." - Marion Todd
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