Murder in Victorian Scotland: The Trial of Madeleine Smith

Victorian Puzzle:
In what was called "The Trial of the Century" in 1857, a young lady named Madeleine Smith was accused of poisoning a lover of a lower class so that she could marry a man her family deemed more suitable. The subject of this case does not seem to inspire moderation of views, as earlier works seem to be nakedly pro or anti Smith. Unlike previous works on the case (and many books of this genre), the author resists the temptation to take a stand on the innocence or guilt of the accused. Perhaps MacGowan has enough faith in his readers intelligence to allow them to come to their own conclusions. People who want to read a murder mystery in which the answers are handed to them at the end might want to read an Agatha Christie novel instead. Those that don't mind thinking for themselves, and getting a glimpse of the culture and justice system of the Victorian age will enjoy this book.

Murder Mystery - For Real!:
Most mystery buffs relish the challenge of piecing together the clues and figuring out "who done it" before the author discloses the guilty party(ies). A smug satisfaction settles in after the reader wades through a complex set of circumstances and successfully solves the puzzle. Of course, the fiction author always reveals the answers by the last page. Not so in the true crime story related in "Murder in Victorian Scotland : The Trial of Madeleine Smith." We know that Emile died of arsenic poisoning, and that his secret lover Madeleine was tried for his murder, then released with the unusual verdict of "Not Proven." However, author Douglas MacGowan won't give us much more than that. His clever, 'diarist' style of chronologically detailing the available facts and surviving evidence puts readers smack in the middle of this intriguing story -- to decide for themselves what really happened. Those who usually avoid non-fiction will likely find the saga of Madeleine and Emile as riveting as a blood and guts novel -- pondering clues and re-reading pages in an attempt to fit together pieces of the puzzle. Madeleine's letters to Emile offer a fascinating study in human psychology, through both her emotional missives to her lover, and his apparent responses which are implied in her references. Other characters are woven in, making us wonder if there is more to this tale than just an inappropriate love affair gone wrong. We get to glimpse a time and society where morals, laws and investigative tools were much different from those of today. Yet, it all boils down in the end to -- an upper class young woman carries on a passionate and secret love affair with a common man, who ends up dead by poison just as the woman plans to wed another of her own class. A timeless scenario. And, one that presents more questions than answers. This book provides a rare chance for the reader to "rewrite" history with his/her own verdict...and to wonder about the author's own conclusion. Did she do it? Or not? Puzzling. Thought-provoking. Challenging. Terrific! A must read for historians AND mystery lovers!

into a scottish looking glass:
Douglas MacGowan's book, Murder in Victorian Scotland..., depicts Madeline Smith's life and trial with a clarity and focus that allow the reader a glimpse into a bygone era. Using historical references and letters saved by the deceased to build the world of Madeline Smith and Emile L'Angelier, MacGowan takes his reader into the lives of these two figures in context of 18th century Scotland and allow them to come to their own conclusion regarding the historic trial and its rather odd verdict of "Not Proven". Overall, a fascinating look at another life, time, and judicial system.