His Bloody ProjectHis Bloody Project
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1869, a brutal triple murder in a remote crofting community leads to the arrest of a young man, Roderick Macrae. There's no doubt he did it, but what drove him? Told through his own memoir, trial transcripts and other documents, the case turns on one question: is he insane?
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker Prize finalist. It's an ingenious literary crime novel.
You'll love it if you liked
Alias Grace
Burial Rites
In Cold BloodGood to know
It's presented as real historical documents, but it's fiction.
By the numbers
- Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller12 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz4 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #225 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #1015 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1873 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is His Bloody Project worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker Prize finalist. It ranks #1,873 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is His Bloody Project about?
In 1869, a brutal triple murder in a remote crofting community leads to the arrest of a young man, Roderick Macrae. There's no doubt he did it, but what drove him? Told through his own memoir, trial transcripts and other documents, the case turns on one question: is he insane?
How long does it take to read His Bloody Project?
About 7 hours (280 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after His Bloody Project?
If you liked it, try Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, Burial Rites by Hannah Kent or In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.