Undiscovered Scotland

 

"Lies of the Flesh" by Fiona Watson weaves an atmospheric tale around the lives and secrets of the villagers of Warcop in 1314. In the aftermath of the Battle of Bannockburn, the villagers await the return of their menfolk. Inevitably there are casualties, but no one seems to mourn the loss of Adam Fothergill. The stories told of his exploits in the field simply serve to discredit him and paint him as a monster, one Warcop is well rid of.

So when word gets round of a Revenant praying on the village and its inhabitants, people immediately see the creature as the reincarnation of Adam, who they believe to have returned from the dead to wreak revenge on them.

Meantime, Fran Hilton is the new lord of the manor at nearby Hilton. Whilst still mourning the death of his father and getting to grips with his new responsibilities, he is captivated by the story of the Revenant. When he first catches sight of the creature he is terrified, but a fascination for who and what it might be piques his interest and sets him on course to uncover the truth.

The pen picture Fiona Watson paints of 14th Century life allows the reader to dive into the period and move amongst the characters who come from all walks of life. The social mores, the expectation of male and female roles as well as the importance of social position all have a part to play in building the story around a group of key characters and setting them against a very believable backdrop.

But nothing is quite as it seems and as the book progresses a whole host of secrets are revealed to the reader that drive the narrative. As we find out more our expectations move back and forth. Is it possible the story will have a happy ending? Or is everything we've been led to believe about this world about to unravel? There will be no spoilers here, but this reader strongly suggests you to read for yourself this beautifully crafted and most satisfying novel.