Documents Relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae (Man Booker Prize Finalist 2016)

This book is well written and although there no 'murder mystery' - one wants to know about the murderer - and that way the book is a great read. Not for murder mystery fans - rather for people who like to understand the minds of the characters in a book. Different but a good read.

A provocative and provocative read challenging injustice and inequity. Paul Betty's work shows us we have not moved far in our understanding of inequity, poverty and servitude: Much of the 21st century world remind benighted by these tragedies

The first half was a very well-written and engaging tale that seemed to have a deeper message about class and power. This message was diluted in the 2nd half of the book, which plodded through the trial in a painfully slow fashion.

This was an interesting book. Parts of it dragged, and parts moved - overall though, I thought it was interesting and original.

It's Scotland in the late 1800's - there has been a murder and a confession. The prisoner is asked to write out his story, which he does with a literary skill far beyond his station. Most of the story is told through this diary which gives a good overview of the time and place. After the diary there are multiple methods and points of view which told the story. So the story in itself was nothing to write home about, but the way in which it was told was.

It was well done. I appreciate the nod it got from the Booker team, but can't say I'll be rushing off to recommend it to people.

His Bloody Project is a very unusual and interesting novel, based, as I understand it, on historic material relating to the case of a relative of the author. Written in distinct parts, it relays the details of a shocking murder, and in documentary fashion, sets the incident from a number of perspectives, without offering judgement on the outcome. The novel paints a detailed and vivid picture of life in a tiny village in the Scottish Highlands for a group of individuals scraping a subsistence living from the land. The shocking way in which people were treated and virtually disregarded as anything other than resources to be managed or exploited is very well captured. Definitely a recommended read.

Wow! This is a really clever novel especially once you realise that it was an entire work of fiction - something that seems to have eluded other reviewers. I felt like I had been transported to Scotland in a croft in the mid 1980s. I thororughly enjoyed the many perspective of this story told from different angles - all of which keep you guessing. The characters were extraordinary from the rather autistic main character to the even less likable other characters in the story . I was somewhat fascinated that the murders are committed by someone you can feel just a bit sorry for (albeit I cant imagine anyone can relate to him). Not a single likeable person in the entire story but it wouldn't have worked quite so well if there was! It is dark novel of mystery with some moments of black humour which will make you shake your head. Best of all is the disguise that this novel is actually based on real documents - it seems to have fooled a few out there!

This is an interesting way to present a period crime novel. I love how the author creates these documents in such an adept way that creates distinct voices for the characters that originate them. The bucolic Highland setting is a great backdrop to the events described, and really allows the writer to pace the events well.

A great read which is beautifully written. The setting, the Highlands of Scotland, the time, Victorian era, are vividly portrayed. My husband and I discussed this novel long after we finished reading it. He reread it to see if he had missed any details. Roddy, the main character is unforgettable.

An exceptionally well written novel, based on some supposed documents found by the author. The veracity of these findings are immaterial to the remarkably well told story of life and murder in 19th century Scotland.

Beyond the murders, which is already revealed from the beginning, the book layers out different elements that somehow come together perfectly: social, political, legal, and economic legacies of Scotland, the role of the church and English nobility, class hierarchies, and a bit of the supernatural. The only other book I found that came to a similar level of ambition is The Faint-hearted Bolshevik, set in modern day Madrid. By chance I came close to Applecross on my visit to Scotland a couple of years ago, so I could relate a little bit to the setting in the book.

Deadly dull. The main character's written account of his life is the longest of the "documents," and is not in itself moving, engaging or even interesting. One reads it with the expectation it will contain clues to whatever twist the book is eventually going to spring, but having completed the book and experienced the twist, I am here to tell you there are no clues to find or miss in the main character's long grim narrative. The twist, such as it is, hinges on some information that appears in other "documents" that we do not see until almost the end of the book, and which could never have been deduced from anything that came earlier. It may be that Burnet has done an astonishingly accurate job of describing 19th century rural Scottish life as seen through the eyes of a young crofter with Asperger's. And then again, it may be that he has not. Few readers, certainly not this one, have the background to spot any howlers. But historically accurate or not, this book is dreadfully dull. It has been called a psychological thriller. But in fact it doesn't thrill you. First it bores you, then it startles you with an implausible revelation, then you get a headache.

The book captures an era in the 17th century Scotland where people working a lord's land were subjected to adversity, poverty, and harsh rules of the laird. It is written like a story of true crime, and the central figure portrays the injustices of daily life in a well written narrative.

I ordered this book either because it won a prize, or was short listed for winning one. I quite enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates true crime writing, a well told story, or both. Usually I read non-fiction, and I found this book a refreshing departure from my usual, and a fascinating read, both for the true crime story, and for the well drawn characters.

The descriptions of village life, its shared environment, the set up in households are believeable and bleak.
Superimpose the harsh rule of the landlord through to the tenant with sexual repression, mental instability and you are reading about life that is almost worthless.
The approach of telling this story as a true record /account of the events is unusual and the unexpected opinion of an expert witness adds a degree of authenticity.
A refreshingly good read.