Tag: historical crime

Book Review – Notes of Change by Susan Grossey

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About the Book

Book cover of Notes of Change by Susan Grossey

In the autumn of 1829, the body of a wealthy young man is found dumped in a dust-pit behind one of London’s most exciting new venues. Constable Sam Plank’s enquiries lead him from horse auctions to houses of correction, and from the rarefied atmosphere of the Bank of England to the German-speaking streets of Whitechapel. And when he comes face to face with an old foe, he finds himself considering shocking compromises…

The new and highly organised Metropolitan Police are taking to the streets, calling into question the future of the magistrates’ constables. Sam’s junior constable, William Wilson, is keen, but what is an old campaigner like Sam to do when faced with the new force and its little black book of instructions?

Format: ebook (290 pages) Publisher:
Publication date: 20th April 2022 Genre: Historical Fiction, Crime, Mystery

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My Review

I’m ashamed to say it’s almost two years since Susan contacted me about her book, Notes of Change, the seventh and final book in her Sam Plank historical crime series. You can read a brief summary of the preceding books in the whole series here. Sam’s final outing has been waiting in my review pile for all that time (sorry, Susan) but I’m so glad to have finally made his acquaintance.

The book’s clever title references the plot – the uttering [putting into circulation] of counterfeit notes, a capital offence at the time – but also the changes coming to Sam Plank’s life and career as the role of magistrate’s constable is supplanted by the new Metropolitan Police. For Sam’s junior, William, there’s also the prospect of change; a promising career in the new police force and an addition to his young family. Another interesting aspect of the book is the notion of whether a person can ever change, for example leaving behind a life of crime, and what might motivate that change.

As well as a clear interest in financial instruments, it’s evident the author has fully researched the period in which the story is set. (The glossary at the end of the book provides useful explanations of some of the more unfamiliar terms.) The streets and taverns which Sam and William frequent in the course of their enquiries – along with more unusual places such as a Horse Bazaar – are vividly brought to life.

Thanks to his decades of experience, Sam has amassed a number of useful contacts whose help and information he is able to call upon in solving the case. I imagine many of these are characters who have appeared in previous books. His reputation for probity gets him access to places to which many others wouldn’t, notably Newgate Prison. It also provides a stark contrast to the disreputable behaviour of others, demonstrating that misconduct in public institutions and cover-ups are nothing new.

I loved the tender relationship between Sam and his wife, Martha. And Martha’s unerring ability to detect when someone is telling the truth comes in handy. But no-one is more surprised than Martha when Sam proves to be something of a matchmaker. He’s a lovely character and I’ll leave you with one of Martha’s wise observations. ‘Do you know how wonderful it is, Sam, that after three decades in your uniform you can still see the good in people who have done bad things? I pray that you never change.’

If you’re a fan of historical police procedurals, I’m confident you’ll enjoy Notes of Change. Better still, don’t be like me; start the series from the beginning.

I received a digital review copy courtesy of the author.

In three words: Engaging, intriguing, authentic
Try something similar: Down a Dark River by Karen Odden

About the Author

Author Susan Grossey

Susan writes: ‘I graduated from Cambridge University in 1987 with a degree in English, and then taught secondary English for two years before realising that the National Curriculum was designed primarily to extinguish every spark of creativity in its teachers. I then became a technical author, and reached the pinnacle of this profession when I was asked to document the workings of a choc-ice wrapping machine in Cardiff, while wearing a fetching blue hairnet (which I forgot to remove until it was pointed out by a cashier in a petrol station on the M4).

From this unbeatable high point I moved into technical training, and one day was asked to help with a staff manual on fraud prevention. As I wrote the chapter on money laundering, I realised that here was a topic that could keep my interest for years – and so it has proved. Since 1998, I have been self-employed as an anti-money laundering consultant, providing training and strategic advice and writing policies and procedures for clients in many countries. As part of my job, I have written several non-fiction books with exciting titles like Money Laundering: A Training Strategy, The Money Laundering Officer’s Practical Handbook and Anti-Money Laundering: A Guide for the Non-Executive Director.

However, even this is not enough financial crime for me, and in my spare evenings and weekends I write fiction – but always with financial crime at the heart of it.’ (Photo/bio: Goodreads author page)

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book covers of Sam Plank Mystery series by Susan Grossey

Book Review – His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet @SarabandBooks

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About the Book

Book cover of His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

The year is 1869. A brutal triple murder in a remote community in the Scottish Highlands leads to the arrest of a young man by the name of Roderick Macrae.

A memoir written by the accused makes it clear that he is guilty, but it falls to the country’s finest legal and psychiatric minds to uncover what drove him to commit such merciless acts of violence.

Was he mad? Only the persuasive powers of his advocate stand between Macrae and the gallows.

Format: Paperback (282 pages) Publisher: Saraband
Publication date: 5th November 2015 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

His Bloody Project was the book chosen for February’s Radio 4 Bookclub, although it had been on my wishlist ever since it was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2016. I was fortunate enough to attend the recording of the programme at BBC Broadcasting House and listen to author, Graeme Macrae Burnet, talk about the book with its host, James Naughtie, and answer questions from the audience of fellow readers. If you’re in the UK, you can listen to the programme on BBC Sounds.

The book is made up of a series of documents including medical reports, witness statements and a court transcript. They give a remarkable feeling of authenticity, so much so that you could be forgiven for believing you’re reading about an actual crime, not a fictional one. It’s something that seems particularly relevant in an era of ‘fake news’. In fact, a few real historical figures appear in the book although, like me, you might well assume – until you read the Historical Notes – these are fictional too.

The central document, which constitutes the majority of the book, is the memoir of Roderick Macrae, the young man accused of the murder – a murder he admits to carrying out – written from his jail cell as he awaits trial. He describes his life growing up on a croft in a state of poverty and the increasing malevolence shown towards his family, especially his father, by the local Constable Lachlan Mackenzie, one of the three individuals murdered by Roddy. Roddy is unusually articulate and educated, something which marks him out in the small community of Culduie. He’s also withdrawn, something of a loner and quite sensitive which makes his subsequent actions all the more surprising.

But can we believe everything Roddy describes in his memoir? Small details that emerge from other documents, but which are omitted from his account, suggest perhaps we can’t. He doesn’t dispute he committed the murders, the brutal nature of which he describes in a chillingly dispassionate way, but what was his motive? Was it revenge for the suffering inflicted on his family or an act of insanity? What’s brilliant about the book is that the author lets us, the reader, come to our own conclusions.

The story also touches on topics such as inequality of power. A scene which illustrates this is when Roddy’s father, John, is told by Lachlan Mackenzie that he can no longer collect seaweed to fertilise his crops because it belongs to the laird. This is just one example of the personal malevolence directed at him by Lachlan Mackenzie. John Macrae is a piteable figure, subjected to just about every misfortune you can think of, including the threat of eviction from the land he cultivates. His inarticulacy and poor grasp of English means he is unable to stand up for himself, especially when he appears as a witness at Roddy’s trial. The one person who believes in Roddy’s innocence, albeit on grounds of insanity, is his advocate, Mr Sinclair. Are his efforts on Roddy’s behalf in vain? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

His Bloody Project will immerse you in the life of Culduie and its inhabitants whilst demanding your close attention to the evidence presented to you. It’s a fascinating experience and one I very much enjoyed.

In three words: Ingenious, compelling, authentic
Try something similar: The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

About the Author

Author Graeme Macrae Burnet

Graeme Macrae Burnet was born in Kilmarnock in 1967. He studied English Literature at Glasgow University before spending some years teaching in France, the Czech Republic and Portugal. He then took an M.Litt in International Security Studies at St Andrews University and fell into a series of jobs in television. These days he lives in Glasgow.

He has been writing since he was a teenager. His first book, The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau (2014), is a literary crime novel set in a small town in France. His second novel, His Bloody Project (2015), revolves around the murder of a village birleyman in nineteenth century Wester Ross. He likes Georges Simenon, the films of Michael Haneke and black pudding. (Photo/bio: Goodreads author page)

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