The Killing of Louisa

(Paperback)

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Finally, convicted murderess Louisa Collins can tell her own story. But will she confess To lose one husband may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like murder. In New South Wales in 1888, Louisa Collins was sentenced to hang after being tried multiple times for the alleged murders of her two husbands. The testimony of her young daughter helped to decide her fate. This clever and compelling novel recreates Louisa's time in her Darlinghurst prison cell as she reflects on her life and on the grief and loss that delivered her to this place. Despite difficult marriages, financial hardship and the deaths of several children, she remains resilient and determined to have her own identity. But as she faces her final days, will Louisa confess to her crimes Or is an innocent woman about to be hanged

Reviews

'The Killing of Louisa follows the tradition of Burial Rites and Alias Grace, with one woman unfairly sent to death by men in the judiciary. This novel provides a creative re-imagining of colonial Australia, rich with historical detail and high drama.' Queensland Literary Awards judges' comments

'Like listening to a ghost of the past, The Killing of Louisa performs an incredible act of ventriloquism. Janet Lee inhabits the heart and soul of Louisa and makes her speak again. While her story is devastating, I could scarcely drag my eyes away. Louisa has a fragile beauty that made me feel protective of her. I wanted to reach inside the pages and call for calm before someone got hurt. But someone does get hurt and the story of how it happened will haunt you for a long time.' Rohan Wilson, author of The Roving Party

'The Killing of Louisa tells of the last days of an unconventional woman imprisoned, tried multiple times, and finally convicted for the murders of two husbands and a son with rat poison, a case built on flimsy circumstantial evidence. Lee's meticulously researched recreation of Louisa's own testimony is an authentic and compelling read; this is a superb debut.' Melissa Ashley, author of The Birdman's Wife

Author Bio

Janet Lee's manuscript The Killing of Louisa won the Emerging Queensland Writer category in the 2017 Queensland Literary Awards. Her short fiction has won awards and has been published in national and international anthologies. In 2017 Janet was awarded a Doctorate of Creative Arts from the University of the Sunshine Coast for her research into the creative relationship between the sisters Cassandra and Jane Austen. She lives in south east Queensland with her family and is currently working on her second novel.