Tha Cathy Dhòmhnallach a' tadhal air a' Chomraich taobh siar Rois, far an do stèidhich Graeme MacRath Burnet an nobhail a choisinn cliù dha. Aig cridhe na sgeulachd dhorcha tha trì muirt bhrùideil, a rinn fireannach òg, Ruairidh MacRath, ann an 1869. Ann an ro-ràdh an leabhair, tha an t-ùghdar ag innse gu bheil eachdraidh na thachair ann an làmh-sgrìobhaidh a' mhurtair, clò-bhuailte na leabhar-san. Ann an clò airson a' chiad uair, le fìor bheag atharraichte aig an ùghdar, tha e a' leantail gach tachartas air an t-slighe gu na muirt. Ach 's e tha san leabhar aig MacRath Burnet ach ficsean ann am feall-chruth na fìrinne. A' leantail dòigh-sgrìobhaidh Gothic na naoitheamh linne deug, tha e a' cleachdadh gach cuilbheart sgrìobhaidh a bheir a chreidsinn air an leughadair gur e fìrinn a th' ann. Ach dè an fhìrinn a tha a' laighe air cùl feall-aithris na sgeòil? Tha Cathy Dhòmhnallach a' rannsachadh.

Cathy MacDonald visits Applecross in Wester Ross, the setting for Graeme Macrae Burnet's critically acclaimed novel. This dark tale centres on a brutal and bloody triple murder committed in 1869 by a young man named Roddy Macrae. In the preface to the novel, the author explains that printed within his book is the murderer's handwritten account.

Printed for the first time, and almost unchanged by the author, it details the events leading up to the murders. But Macrae Burnet's novel is a work of fiction, cleverly disguised as non-fiction. In true Gothic style, the author uses all the tricks of the novelist's trade to make the reader accept it as historically accurate. But just what is the fact behind the fiction in this deceptive tale? Cathy MacDonald investigates. Show less