One of my Christmas presents was a slim volume called Queen Macbeth, written by Val McDermid, published in 2024.
In the author’s notes at the beginning, she says that we know very little about the real Macbeth, or Macbethad, and that Shakespeare’s play bears no relation to the few facts we do know. She felt this gave her the freedom to let her imagination run wild as to what did happen to Queen Macbeth after the reported death of Macbeth at the Battle of Lumphanen. While she is grieving the loss of her husband and son, she is on the run, fleeing from Malcolm and Macduff who are intent on revenge. The story is told about how she first met Macbeth, their life and her escape.
I got to the end in one sitting on a cold, wintry day, hiding under the duvet. I really enjoyed it, and in true McDermid style, there is a twist in the tale!! The story is a romp through all the emotions, ambition, revenge, forced marriage, birth and death. A good read. I’ve left the copy in the library for others to judge.
