The Redemption of Alexander Seaton

Alexander Seaton works as an under-teacher in 1626 Aberdeen, Scotland, haunted by his failed attempt to join the ministry years before. When a young apothecary's assistant is found dead in Seaton's classroom, he becomes entangled in uncovering the truth behind the murder. The investigation leads Seaton through the dark corners of Aberdeen, where witch hunts and religious tensions simmer beneath the surface. He must navigate a complex web of relationships and historical forces while confronting figures from his own troubled past. This historical mystery combines period detail of 17th century Scotland with elements of political intrigue and personal redemption. The stark realities of life in a Scottish burgh town provide the backdrop for exploration of faith, justice, and the price of absolution in a deeply religious society.

Readers describe this as a slow-burning historical mystery with detailed atmosphere of 1620s Scotland. The book holds 4.0/5 stars on Goodreads (1,400+ ratings) and 4.2/5 on Amazon UK (100+ ratings). Readers highlighted: - Rich historical detail and sense of place - Complex protagonist dealing with religious conflicts - Authentic period dialogue and descriptions - Strong supporting characters Common criticisms: - Pacing drags in first third of book - Religious/theological discussions slow the plot - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Period language takes effort to follow Several readers compared it favorably to C.J. Sansom's Shardlake series, though noting it's less action-focused. Multiple reviews mentioned struggling initially but finding it rewarding after 100 pages. As one Goodreads reviewer noted: "The historical detail and atmosphere make up for the sometimes plodding pace. MacLean clearly knows her stuff about 17th century Scotland."

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🔹 S.G. MacLean based the character of Alexander Seaton on real historical records of Scottish schoolmasters from the 17th century, bringing authenticity to the protagonist's profession and social standing. 🔹 The novel is set in 1626 Banff, Scotland, during a time when witch hunts and accusations of witchcraft were at their peak in Scottish society. 🔹 The author holds a PhD in 17th-century Scottish History from the University of Aberdeen, the same region where the novel takes place. 🔹 The book's murder mystery plot reflects actual historical cases where apothecaries were involved in poisoning schemes during the Stuart period. 🔹 MacLean wrote the novel under her initials S.G. rather than her full name Shona MacLean, following her publisher's suggestion that readers might be more likely to pick up a historical crime novel if they weren't sure of the author's gender.