This true crime book describes a murder of a 3 year old boy in mid-1800s England. The young victim of the Road Hill murder's throat was slit, and his body was dumped down an outdoor privy. The crime occured in the middle of the night, and everyone in the household was a suspect.
The crime captivated the public's imagination, and everyone had a theory about who did it. The concept of the detective was new, and detective stories were popular throughout the country.
The methods of investigation used were rudimentary and seriously flawed by today's standards. It is hard to believe any crimes were solved in those days.
London's foremost detective, Mr. Whicher, was brought in to review the evidence after the local police could not solve the crime. He pointed the finger at what seemed an unlikely suspect, and was denounced when the evidence did not prove guilt.
The crime and ensuing investigation are described it in a way that leave you guessing who the murderer is.
The book spends far too much time discussing fictional detective stories of the time. It is clear the author did a lot of research, but most of it does not enhance the underlying story here of the murder and detective. The references to other stories are often distracting and uninteresting if you have not read the books to which she refers.
Although the book gets bogged down by details and sidetracked by side stories, the underlying crime story is a good one. If you have the patience to wade through the muck, the root is a true crime story worth reading.
(Click below to check out the book.)
The crime captivated the public's imagination, and everyone had a theory about who did it. The concept of the detective was new, and detective stories were popular throughout the country.
The methods of investigation used were rudimentary and seriously flawed by today's standards. It is hard to believe any crimes were solved in those days.
London's foremost detective, Mr. Whicher, was brought in to review the evidence after the local police could not solve the crime. He pointed the finger at what seemed an unlikely suspect, and was denounced when the evidence did not prove guilt.
The crime and ensuing investigation are described it in a way that leave you guessing who the murderer is.
The book spends far too much time discussing fictional detective stories of the time. It is clear the author did a lot of research, but most of it does not enhance the underlying story here of the murder and detective. The references to other stories are often distracting and uninteresting if you have not read the books to which she refers.
Although the book gets bogged down by details and sidetracked by side stories, the underlying crime story is a good one. If you have the patience to wade through the muck, the root is a true crime story worth reading.
(Click below to check out the book.)
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