The Slaughter of Leith Hall by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Francis O’Sullivan
The Slaughter of Leith Hall by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Slaughter of Leith Hall by Lexie Conyngham is a rich, enticing historical mystery, set in 18th-Century Scotland. John Leith, the master of Leith Hall, tried to regain favour and social status following the defeat of the Jacobites by fighting for the British army in America. He has returned to Scotland but continues to be preoccupied with his experiences in America and the people with whom he fought.
The story is told in third person, over the shoulder of Charlie Rob which works very well. He has worked with the Leith family for many years but has only recently begun taking on more senior duties. We see him accompany his master to Aberdeen for the first time, encountering the space for the first time through Charlie’s naïve eyes. He is experienced enough to know to be observant but discrete, although he does not always piece together what he has observed which allows the reader to get a few steps ahead at times. Thrown into situations he feels completely unprepared for, we find ourselves rooting for Charlie and admiring his tenacity.
There is plenty of mystery in this story. The reader gets a slow drip of information we know will be relevant, as well as sudden shocking events. It’s a real page-turner as we race to piece together the facts and figure out what happened, and why.
For me, this is a five-star read. A great way to delve into an interesting part of history, and a really gripping story! I’d recommend it to fans of historical mysteries, particularly if you’re interested in Scottish history!
