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Gypsy Jane (6)

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher (5)

The Guv'nor (6)

The Damage Done (4)

We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed with Our Families (4)

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The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

The fascinating story of a famous Victorian murder case - and the notorious detective who solved it

Average Customer Rating:

out of

(5 Reviews) 5

Rating snapshot (5 reviews)

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5 of 5(100%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.

Customer Reviews for The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

Review 1 for The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

Overall rating:

5 out of 5

Amy Nahome at Tenterden

Location:Tenterden

Age:24

15 September 2010

What a fascinating book. I am a huge crime fiction fan, so it was great to see what influence the Road Hill case and Jonathan Whicher had on early crime fiction. I have a family member who wants to work for the police, so finding out how the first detectives used to operate was really interesting.

Kate Summerscale really did an incredibly amount of research for this book, as it most certainly isn't shy of facts. Those who are expecting an easy fiction like read will be disappointed, but if you know what to expect, you'll enjoy every word.

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Review 2 for The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

Overall rating:

5 out of 5

Gary Horner, WATERSTONE'S TRAFALGAR SQ.

Top 100 Contributor

26 November 2008

Kate Summerscale writes a fascinating true crime novel of a Victorian murder. Mr Whicher is one of the original English detectives; who inspired the likes of DIckens to create the first detective novel, is sent to investigate the murder at Road Hill House.Summerscale sets this non-fiction story up like one of those classic whodunits. Everyone in their place and everyone with a movtivel it's almost like a game of cluedo! She paces the story beautifully and throws in hundreds of interesting facts about the Victorian era and the beginnings of the detective.As Whicher turns over every stone in this middle-class family's home we discover all of their dirty secrets and finally who done the brutal murder.An instant classic.

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Review 3 for The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

Overall rating:

5 out of 5

Rachael Swindlehurst, WATERSTONE'S BRENTFORD

12 October 2008

A fascinating account of a Victorian murder case.

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Review 4 for The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

Overall rating:

5 out of 5

sandra swan, WATERSTONE'S MEADOWHALL 26 ARC

08 October 2008

Strange but true tale of murder in an upper class victorian home. Mr. Whicher is one of a new breed of detectives sent to uncover who purpertrated the dastardly deed.

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Review 5 for The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

Overall rating:

5 out of 5

Jon Woolcott, WATERSTONE'S BRENTFORD

25 August 2008

In The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, Kate Summerscale takes a real-life Victorian murder mystery and by re-examining it, shines a light on 19th Century Middle Class English Life. As well as being a whodunnit, told with great style and with a real sense of the characters, it's also a history of how detective fiction first became popular (Wilkie Collins based the Moonstone on this murder) and how the idea of the Detective, as we understand it, was first formed. But the main narrative is that of this original country house murder. Impressively Summerscale also unearthed the end of this story which occured many years later, and produces a convincing twist in the tale.This is a truly brilliant book, a deserving winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize in 2008. If you enjoy it, you might also like Death At the Priory, in which the author, James Ruddick, uncovers the truth behind another true life Victorian murder. I

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