Inspired by an infamous real-life case, The Mourning Necklace is the unforgettable new feminist historical novel from the Women’s Prize-longlisted author.

They said I would swing for the crime, and I did . . .

1724. In a tavern just outside Edinburgh, Maggie Dickson’s family drown their sorrows, mourning her death yet relieved she is gone. Shame haunts them. Hanged for the murder of her newborn child, passers-by avert their eyes from her cheap coffin on its rickety cart. But as her family pray her soul rests in peace, a figure appears at the door.

It is Maggie. She is alive. Bruised and dazed, Maggie has little time for her family’s questions. All that matters to her is answering this one: will they hang her twice?

‘Kate Foster can pluck a dark story from the depths of history and bring it to vivid life before your eyes. The Mourning Necklace is her best yet…it is moving and masterful, a visceral treat that transports you to 18th-century Scotland. A strong contender for my book of the year.’ – Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal.

Doors open at 6.00pm.
This event is being held at the Mainstreet Trading Company in the barn and can only be accessed by stairs. Please read our accessibility guide for more information.