Ratings20
Average rating4.2
Documents relating to the case of Roderick Macrae. A brutal triple murder in a remote northwestern crofting community in 1869 leads to the arrest of a young man by the name of Roderick Macrae. There's no question that Macrae is guilty, but the police and courts must uncover what drove him to murder the local village constable. And who were the other two victims? Ultimately, Macrae's fate hinges on one key question: is he insane? A story ingeniously recounted through the accused's memoir, trial transcripts and newspaper reports, His Bloody Project is a riveting literary thriller that will appeal to fans of Hannah Kent's Burial Rites.
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《I told him that my mother had lately died during the birth of my youngest brother and this had caused our family a good deal of hardship. Archibald Ross replied that for folk like us there was no other ship than the hard ship.》
★★★★½
This review will be spoilery, so watch out u.u
Well, I spent the whole night trying to finish this book (31~84% from 3am till 7am. YES. I stopped to read for a couple hours but I HAD TO GO ON), soooooo I guess it's supposed to be a good book, right? :)
I wanted so bad to know how it ended or if there would be more facts to know about (since the beginning I couldn't feel like I could wholly trust Roddy's account, for he being a murderer).
Honestly, at this right moment I don't know what to think about him. I feel confused in a weird way, but I can't explain it very well lol
Did he really kill them because of Lachlan MacKenzie's behavior or did he solely wanted to rape Flora? But then, why did he bother to take the tools with him? Was it only to have a kind of excuse to go there or did he plan to kill her after raping her?During the whole time of the trial my theory was that he raped Flora and inflicted her such injuries firstly because she rejected him twice, but also because in a twisted way he wanted to "punish" Lachlan, considering the fact he used to have sexual intercourseswith Roddy's sister, Jetta (I still have to understand if they were lovers or if he used to rape her tho. If he used to, then my theory makes even more sense, I think). I mean, I don't think it is a coincidence he put her corpse on the table, considering the fact Roddy surprised Lachlan while having sex with Jetta in that position. Do you know what I mean, right? XD Maybe Lachlan arrived at home while Roddy was raping her on the table, facing the same scene Roddy saw that time??? This is mindfucking me, buddies.DO YOU SEE IT? I HATE WHEN I DON'T KNOW THE TRUTH, NGHHHH. Why didn't he even bother to write something after the trial?! Just don't leave me like thiiiiiiiis D:In any case, I always find it hard to forgive a killer, especially when they try to defend themselves saying they are insane or whatever. Like, seriously?! Of course you're all cuckoo, but it doesn't mean you have the right to live "happily" (like to live in prison would be an happy ending lol) after taking other people's lives {even if I can understand how sometimes some people just don't deserve the right to breathe my same air, being the scum of this world -.- I'd never end up killing someone, but Lachlan didn't deserve any less being a bully who just wanted to ruin other people's lives IMO. Deprive a family of their food and house without a real reason? WOW, seriously? -.-}Anyway, I don't feel like it's supposed to be right to argument a sensitive topic like this one on a site like GR, so I'll probably edit this review very soon, I don't know lol
Anywho, I would have gladly given it five stars, but the part of the trial was too repetitive, being kind of boring :/ Beside that, this book totally deserves the hype :)
Adrian McKinty , who's recommendations I always put on my TBR list mentioned mcRae's last book [b:Case Study 57539677 Case Study Graeme Macrae Burnet https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616819577l/57539677.SY75.jpg 90104103], but i decided to start with this one and I'm glad i did. The brilliance of this book is McRae's ability to mimic the various voices, from semiliterate protagonist, to pompous doctor, to court newspaper. So much so I did have to make double sure this was all fiction. A historically accurate portrayal of the life of a crofter in 19th C scotland.
It was alright. The beginning was excellent but then it lost steam around the start of the trial. No real interesting revelations, resolutions or twists.