The Case of Kitty Ogilvie- Book Review

The Case of Kitty Ogilvie by Jean Stubbs

(Based on a real Scottish Trial)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Crime, Murder Mystery, True Crime

4.2 Stars

The story takes place in Scotland, 1765. Kitty, aka Katherine Nairne, barely 20 years old and from a rich, influential family, marries Thomas Ogilvie, 40 years old, suffering from stomach ulcers, and belonging to a poor Scottish family.

The book starts with the wedding and moves on to show how Kitty’s youthful stupidity, Thomas’s laidback approach, Patrick’s happy attitude, Lady Eastmiln’s actions in the past and the present, and the hidden agenda of Anne Clarke end up ruining and taking lives.

The atmosphere on the cover picture and the little piece of news that the book is based on a true crime made me request this book.

For someone whose Scottish stories have been limited to historical romances with the lairds, this book was a fresh and interesting take set in the same land. The Ogilvies are not rich. But they are not poor. Their lives are the opposite of what Kitty was used to. Her dreams of having a lovely marriage with her husband don’t come true.

Away in Edinburgh is Alexander, another member of the family who has never gotten the love he deserved. Anna Clarke, a relative and a mistress, offers a simple solution. Then begin the mind games and manipulations.

As readers, we know every thought and action before the characters can even comprehend them. We see what is happening and can guess what would happen (to an extent). We know whether or not Kitty killed her husband. There is injustice, and there is karmic justice. But ultimately, lives have been lost. Is it only greed? No. Alexander’s motives and actions stem from something far more personal.

What about Anne Clarke? She is the key character in this book. It’s her brain that plots and executes. Yet, underneath it, all lay emotions that never let her lead a happy and contented life.

The actual trial starts somewhere after 70% or 75% of the book. It doesn’t last long either. But the focus of the book is not the trial. It is the people, the characters, and their personalities that keep us engaged.

We could say they have been stereotyped a little, but that only makes us want to roll our eyes or smack them on their heads. The writing is steady. It starts slowly and still hooks us. The observations about the settings, the characters, and their actions are woven into the narrative with ease. Even when there was an information dump at one place, it had subtle insights that would later make sense.

I wouldn’t call it a delightful book, but it sure was entertaining. The dry humor and ironic undertones added to the narration.

Fans of historical fiction and crime (without gore) will enjoy this book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Sapere Books. 

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