Mystery and Crime Bowen, Marjorie: Moss Rose. v1. 26 Jan 2023

[GrannyGrump]

Bowen’s writings present recurring themes of darkness, the supernatural, and the gothic in combination with the historical. Her “Shearing” novels, while often based on true crime, still retain sinister gothic undertones. This is one of the author’s many fascinating novels based upon actual murder cases, here using her own interpretations as to what actually happened and who was really guilty.

Moss Rose is based upon an 1872 murder of a prostitute named Buswell, which was never solved. A Dr. Hessel was arrested for the murder; he was acquitted, but the author finds him guilty and weaves a romance which goes far beyond fact.

— — — —
“Belle Adair is the young woman ‘of good birth and education but quite ruined in reputation,’ who knew the truth of what the police had to dismiss as ‘an unsolved mystery.’ How she used her knowledge and silence and her power over the murderer to re-enter the society to which she had been born, and to lift herself from degradation, is the theme of Mr. Shearing’s novel.”
(—Publisher’s summary)

=============
Margaret Gabrielle Vere Long (née Campbell; 1 November 1885 – 23 December 1952) was a British author who wrote historical romances, supernatural horror stories, popular history and biography. Her total output numbers over 150 volumes, with the bulk of her work under the pseudonym “Marjorie Bowen”, the name she is mostly known by. She also wrote under the names Joseph Shearing, George R. Preedy, John Winch, Robert Paye and Margaret Campbell.

Bowen’s books are much sought after by aficionados of gothic horror, and received praise from many critics. Several of her novels were adapted for film.

=============
Moss Rose was first published in 1934.
This book is in the public domain where copyright is “Life+70” or less.
.

This work is assumed to be in the Life+70 public domain OR the copyright holder has given specific permission for distribution. Copyright laws differ throughout the world, and it may still be under copyright in some countries. Before downloading, please check your country's copyright laws. If the book is under copyright in your country, do not download or redistribute this work.

To report a copyright violation you can contact us here.