This one took me a while to get into, then it grabbed me, then it was over and I was left wanting. The author offered so many tantalizing clues and possibilities that didn't really add up to anything conclusive, which might be realistic, but it's not satisfying. It is definitely an interesting look at class differences and the assumptions we make about one another based on our origins, as well as the role of fate in shaping our lives and choices.
This was compelling reading. Eventually. I wasn't sure where we were going, and it was a bit of a slog at the beginning, through the highlands of Scotland, poverty and land-grabs. Ultimately, though, this was a courtroom drama, gradually revealing a series of violent and brutal acts in a violent, brutal context. I'm sure there is a lot more depth to it and it's worth a re-read in a few years, but the brutality was expertly developed and unleashed.