The Highland Witch by Susan Fletcher

 

Summary (from the publisher): The Massacre of Glencoe happened at 5am on 13th February 1692 when thirty-eight members of the Macdonald clan were killed by soldiers who had enjoyed the clan's hospitality for the previous ten days. Many more died from exposure in the mountains. Fifty miles to the south, Corrag is condemned for her involvement in the Massacre. She is imprisoned, accused of witchcraft and murder, and awaits her death. The era of witch-hunts is coming to an end - but Charles Leslie, an Irish propagandist and Jacobite, hears of the Massacre and, keen to publicize it, comes to the tollbooth to question her on the events of that night, and the weeks preceding it. Leslie seeks any information that will condemn the Protestant King William, rumored to be involved in the massacre, and reinstate the Catholic James. Corrag agrees to talk to him so that the truth may be known about her involvement, and so that she may be less alone, in her final days. As she tells her story, Leslie questions his own beliefs and purpose - and a friendship develops between them that alters both their lives. In Corrag, Susan Fletcher tells us the story of an epic historic event, of the difference a single heart can make - and how deep and lasting relationships that can come from the most unlikely places.

Review: In the aftermath of the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, where members of the MacDonald clan were killed by soldiers, a young woman named Corrag is captured, imprisoned, and accused of witchcraft and murder, and sentenced to death by burning. Charles Leslie, an Irish propagandist and Jacobite, travels to question her, in pursuit of any information that could help condemn King William. As he visits with Corrag every day, he is moved by her life story and a friendship develops between them. 

Alternately entitled Corrag, tells the story of a life on the run. Not only was Corrag condemned as a witch, but so were her mother and grandmother. As a young teenager, Corrag fled for her life with just a horse and a bag of herbs when they came in pursuit of her mother. Hers is a lonely life of constant wandering and suspicion from those she encounters until she finally finds Glencoe and finds a community who welcomes her. 

I loved that the novel was based on true events and that Corrag is able to author her own story. I listened to the audio version of this, and the narrator did a great job with the Scottish accents and alternating between Corrag's perspective Charles Leslie's. But much of this did drag for me. It felt as if 80% of the book was Corrag detailing her lone journey through the woods with her mare. Parts of it just felt tedious without much plot development. Also, because the reader knows Corrag winds up imprisoned and condemned to death, the tension doesn't build particularly well over the course of the novel - we already all know where her journey is taking her. 

Stars: 3