This is my favourite genre and I much enjoyed the other work by this author .Sadly,however I really struggled to finish this one. The premise is interesting but the style just didn’t work for me this time. I couldn’t believe in Maggie’s character-the narrative style ,at times addressing the reader, coupled with some words and phrases that didn’t seem to fit with the period led me to abandon the book part way through.
I am however grateful for the opportunity to read this and perhaps in time will try to reread.

What an interesting book! The Mourning Necklace is based on the true story of Maggie Dickson, who survived a hanging in Edinburgh near the Grassmarket Gallows during the eighteenth century. Maggie was accused of concealing her pregnancy and murdering her baby.
.Maggie was a fishwife and that was the only way of life she knew. So when a man calls, asking them to keep and hide a parcel for him, Maggie’s head is turned and she marries him. The rest of the story tells of Maggie’s life from this point until her death.
I learned a lot from this book. I found it very informative. I hadn’t known it was a crime to conceal a pregnancy and consequently if the baby died, the crime was punishable by hanging. We had insights into the prison system, gin palaces and such like. Also what life was like for working women.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Kate Foster and the publishers, Pan MacMillan for an arc of this fascinating book.

The Mourning necklace by Kate Foster is about Maggie, a young woman from a small fishing village in Scotland, who is hanged for murdering her baby. However the hanging was not successful as Maggie wakes up in her coffin to the surprise of everyone. The story then goes back to the time before the crime and we learn what has lead to it being committed.

This is my 3rd book by this author and I think my favourite. It is based on a true story, which I didn't know about before reading this book.

The story and characters are very well written and is easy to read. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction.

Kate Foster writes so well about Scotland, and especially the Edinburgh area, in the 18th century. You can smell and taste the lives of her characters!
This story starts with Maggie Dickson miraculously surviving her public hanging for killing her baby, and then we are taken back to her earlier life to discover the journey that led to the gallows. A well-researched and well-written story. Kate Foster never disappoints.

Honestly, I think if Kate Foster wrote the blurb on the back of a packet of cornflakes, I'd read it. I loved The Maiden and The Kings Witches was one of my favourites reads of 2024, so I was excited to be offered the opportunity to read The Mourning Necklace and she's done again! This story is based on a woman who survived the hangman's noose and Kate has offered up her own interpretation of how that might have happened.

This is a compelling book, a great story, a character to route for and a real page turner with twists and turns along the way that reminded me of Sarah Waters book Fingersmith.

This immediately appealed to me as it was historical fiction....As I started to read I wasn't really too too sure but as I got going this just shouted to me wow this book is going to be a hit.....It is hard to write a review without giving too much away but this book was so well researched and full of historical information that I can't wait to recommend this to others. It will have you saying just one more chapter before I get on with the day. You just don't want to put it down. The way the plot is written you can relate to the MFC your heart just pines for her. Kate Goster has done it again with her charm and powerful writing. I hope everyone enjoys this just as much as i did.

There is so much low quality of writing and storytelling out there that I find anything that I did not love but liked about this book negligible.
5 stars, very much deserved.
Maggie Dickinson is a fishing community girl, living with her younger sister and parents.
Her da is a difficult man, her ma is resilient, her sister Joan is a pain in the fishing net.
The opening chapter is one of the most captivating chapters I have ever read.
There is a kind of literature that almost invents a new language and tells a great story in the meantime.
Foster does not invent a new language, but she never wastes a word - every word on the page deserves to be there. Every plot element deserves to be there.
Written from Maggie’s POV, we are transported to a time when women could face prison and death had they not declared their pregnancy and… more of it could be spoilers.
Maggie and Joan’s complex relationship, the very complex Maggie, Mrs Rose and Dr. something were curious characters.
Based on a true story, the author recreates a time long gone in some ways, but that has a lot in common in terms of poverty, social exclusion, misogyny with today’s world.
I am not a big fan of twists, especially if the whole gimmick of a story is a major twist. This is not such a book. It rather subverts a couple of tropes and reverses expectations with a couple of plot points.
I loved that the characters were flawed. I liked that the messages were not on the nose and the book was not full of silly truisms.
Maggie’s realisation and her arc were well done.
Most of the writing was showing, despite the first POV and not telling.
The ending and a few minor details were not as fleshed out as I would have loved, but they were not bad at all.

Well-written historical novel based on a real woman - Maggie Dickson - who somehow survived her hanging for infanticide. From this fact Kate Foster has created a gripping read steeped in the life of 18th century Scotland. Maggie wants to improve her life - she is a fisherman's daughter - and move to London; she has many challenges on her journey; and, at all times, the reader is on her side willing her to succeed. Please read and find out if this happens. Would highly recommend to anyone.

With thanks to NetGalley and PanMac Marketing for an ARC

The Mourning Necklace by Kate Foster is a riveting work of historical fiction inspired by the true story of Maggie Dickson, a young woman sentenced to hang who manages to survive the noose. Set in eighteenth century Scotland the book captured my attention immediately in the opening chapters which describe what happens from the moment that Maggie reawakens in her coffin to the moment she walks into the nearby inn where her family are gathered to mourn her loss. Naturally enough seeing a woman return from the dead is shocking to everyone and the big question on many lips is whether justice has been done, surely a woman cannot be hanged twice. From there the story unfolds, told to the reader from Maggie's own perspective and we learn not just about how she ended up facing the gallows in the first place but also many details about what life was like for a woman in her social class during that time period, the dangers they faced and the unending drudgery and hard work they faced.
Kate Foster does an exceptional job of bringing the character to life, making her feel very fleshed out and believable, though it becomes clear as the story unfolds that she may be somewhat of an unreliable narrator of her own story, since she is always determined to portray herself in the best possible light. That being said I was unashamedly rooting for her and loved seeing the growth of her character and the way she took control of her own fate, especially given how well the author portrays the emotional turmoil and heartbreak she endured. There is a strong feminist slant to the storytelling that makes the parallels to modern day life quite striking and there is a beauty to the writing style that made me want to seek out more books by this author. I really appreciated the historical notes at the end of the book which gave more information about the real Maggie and how the author extrapolated her story to create such a wonderfully compelling book
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own,

Another raw, yet beautiful book from Kate Foster.
Told from our main character, Maggie Dickson’s, point of view. You really hear her voice, almost like reading a personal diary. You feel her pain, her naivety, anger and fear. The story is dark and heartbreaking but told with such gentleness.
Being based on true events in 18th century Scotland this historical fiction teaches you so much without becoming a preaching text book. Kate Foster is a master in taking real people and events and turning them into a very readable, relatable story. Once again it is made clear that although we have in some ways moved on as a society, in other ways we have stayed the same. Especially with regards to how a women’s body isn’t always her own.

Thank you to Pan MacMillan for inviting me to read and review this book.

Kate Foster has an extraordinary ability to take a historical period and person and bring them to life in an engaging and thought provoking way. She inhabits the lives of her characters, makes them feel real, for the reader to empathise and relate, alongside highlighting the lives women have been forced to live throughout history. Though we’ve moved on to some degree, she points out how absurdly unequal the lives of women are. She takes the factual information available to her and creates a three dimensional, believable world around it. Sometimes unrelentingly bleak, there always remains a humanity and caring between some of the main characters. She creates a satisfying sense of balance and optimism that balances out the hardships that bring about a sense of relatability and reality. Despite addressing hardships, injustices and trauma, her books are always easy to read and enjoyable, but with added insight.

This is the third book I’ve read by Kate Foster. The Mourning Necklace is as fascinating and readable as my previous favourite, The King's Witches.

Thank you very much to Pan Macmillan for inviting me to read and review this book.

I absolutely loved loved loved this book. When I read the premise, I wasn't sure what to expect. But in true Kate Foster fashion, I was sucked into a story that I was completely involved in. The descriptions of the scenes are so vivid that I could feel and smell the places. The characters were very real, and Maggie's story took me on an emotional roller coaster.

What I always love the most about Foster's books is that the women she writes about are real women, their stories almost forgotten. I love that they become visible and their stories heard.

Highly recommend this book to any fan of historical fiction!

The Mourning Necklace by Kate Foster is an absolute page-turner of a book!

The book centres on Margaret Dickson, a woman separated from her husband, who survived being hanged in Edinburgh 1724 for the crime of concealing a pregnancy in the case of a dead child.

The story unfolds from Maggie’s point of view - her life with parents and sister Joan and that of her married life. It was such a compelling read, the books had so much detail about the lives of fisherwomen, the tight knit community of fisherwomen, smuggling, the poverty, camaraderie, dreams of a better life.

As with Foster’s other books, this centres on a strong Scottish woman. The 1720s is a dangerous time to be a woman and fortunately for Maggie - she is a quick thinking survivor and a real heroine.

I really enjoyed the Historical Notes at the back of the book in which Kate Fosters details the life of the real Maggie Dickson and also provides historical notes on the tea smuggling which took place at that time on the Scottish coast.

The Mourning Necklace is great Scottish Historical Fiction at its best.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Pan Macmillan, for making this e-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Compulsive read.
Loved this, not a word wasted in this emotional roller coaster.
Story starts with Maggie rising from the dead, she survived hanging and walked into her own wake in Edinburgh in 1724.
The story goes back a year and finds Maggie living with her parents and spoilt sister Joan in a small fisherman's cottage, her Father is a fisherman supplementing his income by storing contraband for people in his cottage, this gives them a slightly better standard of living. An Englishman Spencer calls one day to leave a parcel and Maggie catches his eye, she is a forthright woman and a hard worker and they marry quickly and rent a nearby cottage, Maggie is happy at last with a prospect of setting up a perfume business with Spencer in London, although her sister Joan is jealous she often visits at the cottage.
Whilst at the local Inn Spencer is pressganged and taken away, Maggie is distraught and Joan comes to live with her, Joan's secret is uncovered causing further heartbreak for Maggie, she decides to go to London and with careful planning sneaks away. The cart she is travelling in stops at Kelso and needs repairs, so she stays at an Inn for the night where she is robbed by a seemingly gentile woman, with no money left, Maggie takes up the offer of work at the Inn, settling in well and still planning to go to London. Joan comes looking for her just after Maggie discovers she is pregnant, hiding her condition she continues working until she goes into early labour with only Joan to attend to her. Although not originally wanted, Maggie loves her baby and it survives for a day. The dead babies body is found and Maggie accused of murdering the baby and not informing anyone of her pregnancy, she did not realise she had to inform anyone.
Maggie is imprisoned and found guilty, that is how she came to be hanged.
The story continues, will Maggie find peace and happiness?
Well researched and written, the attitude towards women and their hard life is heart-breaking.
Thank you Kate, NetGalley and PanMacmillan for this ARC

“Human life is cheap. They die on street corners, in rags, an empty bottle rolling around beside them . They die of poxes and plagues and starvation and hangings. They die in childbirth. Or shortly thereafter. Whispers of the afterlife are sometimes the only hope we have.”

Where do I even begin with The Mourning Necklace by Kate Foster? This novel swept me off my feet and delivered a powerful emotional punch. Having adored The Maiden and The King’s Witches, I thought I knew what to expect from Foster, but she exceeded every expectation. With The Mourning Necklace, Foster proves beyond doubt that she is a master of feminist historical fiction, standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Stacey Halls and Susan Stokes-Chapman.

This book is a revelation. Maggie Dickson’s story, rooted in historical fact, bursts to life with Foster’s lyrical and immersive prose. Maggie is a true force—raw, vulnerable, and unbreakable. Her transformation, from a woman sentenced to death to one who reclaims her narrative, is among the most gripping character arcs I’ve ever encountered. It’s impossible not to ache with her, cheer for her, and ultimately feel empowered by her tenacity.

Foster’s storytelling is nothing short of genius. She captures the harsh realities of 18th-century Edinburgh with such precision that you can feel the cobblestones beneath your feet and the oppressive weight of societal judgment. Yet, she balances the grit with a narrative so captivating and fast-paced that I flew through the pages. The twists—oh, the twists—were as satisfying as they were surprising, leaving me breathless at every turn.

What makes The Mourning Necklace shine even brighter is how it bridges historical authenticity with timeless themes of injustice, gender inequality, and redemption. Foster weaves a tapestry of social commentary into Maggie’s journey, crafting a story that feels as urgent now as it would have been in 1724.

And the writing—goodness, the writing! Foster’s prose is sheer poetry. Her ability to capture the complexity of human emotion, the beauty of fleeting hope, and the terror of facing one’s mortality is unparalleled. I paused so many times just to reread sentences, marvelling at the craft.
If you love historical fiction, feminist narratives, or just plain phenomenal storytelling, this book is a must-read. It’s an anthem for the overlooked, a tribute to those who endure, and a testament to Foster’s extraordinary talent.

Thank you to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley, I’m incredibly grateful for the e-ARC of The Mourning Necklace. All opinions are my own.

A massive thank you to Pan MacMillian and the fantastic Bookbreakuk team for approving my Netgalley request for the eARC of The Mourning Necklace (which I dutifully devoured as soon as it landed on my virtual Netgalley shelf).

The Mourning Necklace is a riveting and chilling story based on the historical events of a woman, Maggie Dickson, who survived being hung in Edinburgh in 1724. The portrait of Maggie as a character beautifully recreates her story, bringing to life a soul full of dreams, loneliness, and inner strength that brings her through the pain and suffering she endures, making her relatable and viscerally real on the page. Her story is recreated with care and sensitivity to the real people behind the history, showing the challenges of poverty, the powerlessness women faced with unjust laws, and the struggle to have rights over their bodies, which were the property of their husbands.

Kate Foster knows how to bring history to life with a story that hooks into your heart so you become emotionally invested in her novel and don’t want to put it down. Her storytelling is masterful, full of amazing historical details that pull you into the era and poignant issues that reach across time to be a relevant and powerful message in the 21st century as it was in the 1700s. The pacing is tense and full of suspense as the dual timeline explores the events of Maggie’s life leading up to her hanging, the aftermath of her survival, and the question of whether she will face the gallows again.

A heartbreaking, enthralling read about finding the strength to endure adversity and the joy of finding happiness after trauma. I love how Kate Foster is able to bring a feminist twist to the strength of women in history, which is often veiled by the shadow of antiquity. The next favourite read of any historical fiction lover, especially if you loved Kate’s other books, then you will not be disappointed by The Mourning Necklace.

I love Kate Foster's books and "The Mourning Necklace" is excellent. I knew nothing of Mistress Maggie Dickinson but her story is fascinating. The book starts of grim with a hanging but then the story rewinds and you get the back story and what happens after. Brilliant and a tale of what happens when people give you a second chance.

I was aware of the history of Maggie Dickson and was intrigued to read this tale by Kate Foster on how she envisaged Maggie's life after surviving the hanging. It was a fantastic story and once started couldn't put it down. An excellent read.

I love author Kate Fosters work, she has a way of getting me totally invested in a novel and I do not want to put it down.

The Mourning Necklace was such a unique and special read and I loved every minute of reading it.

We meet main character Maggie who lives with her family, the year is 1724. The story opens up after Maggie has been hanged, but not actually dead. She leaves her coffin and goes and finds her family.

The main story really is about how Maggie became to be hanged and it is gripping. The Mourning Necklace is actually based on a true story and it was eye opening to read about this part of history.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars from me.

Set in 18th century Scotlans this is quite a powerful but heartbreaking story.

Maggie is just a beautiful character to get to know and her plight is as relevant today as it was back then.

This authoir knows how to write a good tale. her descriptions of the poverty and the opinion of women is brillaintly told and I just loved getting immersed in this book..