Bought this as listed for the Booker prize (2016) and in the crime section at Waterstones. It is very good and I can understand the short-listing.
A teenager in 19th century rural and impoverished Scotland murders a bullying member of his community, his daughter (with whom the murderer was in love) and young son rather randomly.
The first half is the murderer’s ‘confession’ (he offers no defence), but his victim was clearly an unpleasant bully, who was raping his sister regularly. The second half is this trial, where he is found guilty and hanged.
Beautifully written and no judgements are expressed on the morality of the situation.
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