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His Bloody Project: Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick MacRae by Graeme Macrae Burnet
xander1894's review against another edition
3.0
A small crofting community in the Highlands provides the backdrop for this compelling tale of the brutal triple murder of a local constable and his family. The book takes the form of a collection of found documents which describe the case from various viewpoints. The first half is narrated by the accused, Roddy Macrae, in the form of an account of his youth and events leading up to the murder written from his prison cell. This is followed by an account by criminologist James Bruce Thomson who, at the request of Macrae's solicitor, investigates the case and attempts to ascertain the mental state of the prisoner. The final section consists of a report of the trial and ultimate verdict.
The book builds upon the evocative setting and characters described in the first half to present the reader with considerations to ponder as the trial progresses in the second half. Issues surrounding Roddy's possible motivations and state of mental health, the reliability of narrators, and Victorian attitudes to criminal psychology lead the reader to rethink their previous assumptions about the case.
The is an enjoyable book with an interesting historical and geographical setting, and an account of the hard life faced by Victorian crofters. It also gives a sense of some of the early theories of criminal psychology which are pretty unpalatable by today's standards.
The book builds upon the evocative setting and characters described in the first half to present the reader with considerations to ponder as the trial progresses in the second half. Issues surrounding Roddy's possible motivations and state of mental health, the reliability of narrators, and Victorian attitudes to criminal psychology lead the reader to rethink their previous assumptions about the case.
The is an enjoyable book with an interesting historical and geographical setting, and an account of the hard life faced by Victorian crofters. It also gives a sense of some of the early theories of criminal psychology which are pretty unpalatable by today's standards.
nemtynakht's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
zebemol's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
gripyfish's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
nepentheiii's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Violence, Gore, and Rape
eilidhs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nina_van_hoof's review against another edition
5.0
Read this book in almost one sitting. The central driving point of the book is simple - why did Roddy kill his neighbour? - but splendidly executed and original in it's structure, with a deep dive into the historical setting of 19th Century Scotland, the psychology of the main character, and the dilemma of the unreliable narrator.
kstericker's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Gore, and Grief