Recommendations from our site
“This is the story of a house servant, who was convicted of murdering her employer and his housekeeper. She begins to recount her life to this psychiatrist who is trying to determine whether she deserves a pardon. The central tension is whether she is guilty, although at the same time it almost doesn’t matter. The novel, which I love, subverts the whodunnit trope; you’re not trying to discover the truth, you’re trying to uncover her character. I really remember the dreamy quality of it, and my frustration over the ambiguity of the case. I was very drawn into the complex psychology of it, and what it was trying to do.” Read more...
Historical Novels Set in the Victorian Era
Virginia Feito, Novelist
“It’s a fictionalised account of Grace Marks, a 16-year-old Canadian girl who was convicted as part of the murder of her employer. It explores whether Grace is guilty, whether she’s evil, whether she’s insane, or whether she is simply a victim of circumstance. Throughout the novel, she remains an enigma.” Read more...
The Best Historical Crime Novels
Anna Mazzola, Novelist
“I’ve always been a massive fan of Margaret Atwood, and Alias Grace is one of my favourite novels. It’s based on the real-life story of Grace Marks, one of Canada’s most notorious murderers. In the mid-19th century, when she was only 16, she and a stable hand called James McDermott were accused of killing their employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his pregnant housekeeper and mistress, Nancy Montgomery. McDermott was hanged for the murder, and Grace was given life imprisonment and shuttled between prison and an asylum.” Read more...
The Best Historical Fiction About Real People
Louisa Treger, Novelist
“Historical fiction set in Canada around the mid-1800’s. Grace Marks, the main character, really was a person. She was put into prison for her role in the murder of a farming family.” Read more...
The best books on Navigating the Future: a reading list for young adults
Chris Kutarna, Political Scientist
