The Red Barn

LM West’s previous books have all been based on 17th century witch trials, so this is something a little different, but what it has in common with her previous books is that it tells the story from the woman’s point of view – in this case, from that of the victim, Maria Martin. 

A lot of the contemporary material was sensationalist and based largely on rumour and gossip.  More recent work has been rooted in historical research, but it nearly all concentrates on William Corder, the man accused of murder, and the details of the trial.  There is little attempt to understand the background of Maria.  Her story was complicated: she was unmarried and had had two previous children by two different fathers before she met Corder.  But all indications were that he loved her and wanted to marry her – so why would he murder her?

LM West’s The Red Barn is a fictionalised account, written in Maria’s voice.  It takes us from her childhood, with the early death of her mother, through her relationships and the births of her children.  We get to understand how she might have been feeling, and how the lack of love from her father and stepmother led her to accept love from unsuitable men.  And how it brought her to the Red Barn where she met her death.  Of course, we will probably never know what really happened there, but this story differs from most accounts and suggests another possible solution to the mystery.

The Red Barn is an excellent novel, well paced and hard to put down, yet it shows a deep understanding of how Maria might have felt through the events of her life. It is based on the author’s own research from original records and documents and cleverly weaves a new plot around the available facts. LM West’s books are all self-published – not because she couldn’t find a publisher, but simply because she didn’t want the hassle.  Her previous books have all done well in Suffolk, where they are set, but The Red Barn deserves a wider audience and full recognition for the quality of the writing.