Kate Summerscale takes a notorious child murder committed in Victorian times as the centre piece of the book but provides so much more. The book is a description of Victorian England through the lens of the birth of the classic detective/murder mystery, both factual (as this one is) and fictional. Given how popular this genre is now, it is interesting to go back and find the root of this phenomenon. I had never thought about the history of the development of detective policing, however, it is all here. Summerscale provides the background of the key players both factual and fictional. The research for this book must have been very thorough and, in addition to the focus on the ‘Road House’ murder case, we get detailed backgrounds of all the major characters, the aftermath and how their lives were subsequently lived.

The descriptions of the newspapers of the time, including the hype, exaggeration, glorification of the gory details and at times baseless speculation, are interesting as these instances must preclude the restrictions of the press in relation to live cases. A thoroughly informative and entertaining read.

I wanted to put this book down after 10 pages so It took every ounce of self-discipline to actually finish it! And what a long book it was! The basic premiss is a good one, looking at how modern detective policing was born. However, I thought it read like it is, more or less a list of facts, which is a shame as it could have been a really good faction novel. I know it has been made into a TV series but I’m not going to indulge. Summerscale has obviously done a lot of research and that’s to be commended but it scored nil points from me.

This was a muddled book, part report of a terrible crime and part report of the beginnings of the detective system within the police force. The crime was solved despite the best efforts of the family within which it occurred. It laid out the class differences and the subsequent treatment by the police and detectives. This terrible, bloodthirsty crime also influenced the use of detectives in literature. An interesting subject in itself but it could have been a separate book. One person, I believe a co-conspirator, walked away from the crime unpunished. But, what a story and what a dysfunctional family. It was a rambling book and quite hard to get through.

I thought the book in question was not to my taste, I didn't like the characters and there was too much unnecessary information.

Despite having read this book before and watched the TV drama, I found it a chore to reread. It took me two weeks. More a textbook/essay/dissertation with a short murder investigation as the basis. Well written, thoroughly researched, meticulous detail, an insight into crime, its investigation, policing and crime writing of the day.

I thought it was rather a strange book and I kept having to check if it was fact or fiction. There is some interesting content such as the moral panic over the dangers of what could be happening behind closed doors. There were parallels with modern society, with certain behaviours seen as deviant and evil. People started to wonder whether such behaviour is more common than they thought. Is it the norm? Is it ok to imitate it? The murder is interpreted as evidence of national decay and degeneration; a sort of reverse Darwinism: "if human beings could evolve … they could surely regress as well." The Daily Telegraph reported "Better a hundred times that she should prove a maniac than a murderess."

There is thoughtful interlinking of descriptions of the actual crimes, the investigating of crimes, the press reporting both of the crimes and the investigations, and the evolution of crime fiction. When Whicher more or less disappeared from the book, I wondered what was coming next. Then when Summerscale reported that Whicher had died, I was puzzled that there was quite a bit to go. In the later part of the book, William's emigration to Australia, his career as a naturalist didn't seem relevant and I had lost interest by then. It felt like the writer had done lots of very detailed research and we were going to get every bit of it, whether we wanted it or not! Then we were shown pictures of some of the characters in their later years. Why? I think it went on too long and drifted into irrelevance.

This is a very long book which, having read before, I couldn’t re read. It is not my cup of tea! Whilst I appreciate the influences on subsequent detective novels, the fascinating etymology of crime related vocabulary and the actual case, it is too long. The style of writing is dry and lacklustre for what is advertised as a “gripping murder mystery”. There appears to me to be confusion as to whether is it a social comment on Victorian life, the rise of the detective and his fictional successors or a factual report of an horrendous crime, for which I have to applaud the amount of research done by the author. If you like true crime documentaries then this book may interest you - I don’t!

Natasha left home due to her domineering charismatic Christian father, a man other people found to be wonderful. When her mother is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Natasha returns and she, along with her sisters, take up their family roles. He returns from a prayer meeting, saying that God has sent a message to say that his wife will be healed and that they should throw a party to celebrate. Natasha struggles with her family’s faith and their denial of reality. A good read that explores family loyalty, the roles we adopt and how love can’t be denied.

Faith Jackson has just landed a job in the costume department at the BBC, she has moved into a shared house with her friends and life is looking promising. However, she soon realises that her life is full of both open and hidden racism. When her parents decide to return to Jamaica, Faith feels like every foundation of her life is being eroded. She knows nothing of their lives before their coming to England and her parents suggest she goes to Jamaica and stays with her mum’s sister, Aunt Coral. Keeper of the family’s stories, Coral helps Faith to know and understand her history and heritage. This is a beautiful book that stretches out over time and place, it highlights race and identity in a humorous way whilst making real the brutality and harm of slavery.

Set in an unspecified future London, Hera lives through unprecedented times, times dominated by climate change, sources of food and fuel and the removal of those thought to be a threat to law and order. Her brother is arrested and repatriated to his country of origin. Or is he? Her mother is so shocked that she has a heart attack and dies. As the snow falls unceasingly, Hera is left only with Raphael, her artist lover but even he disappears after the city descends into chaos and anarchy. After many years, the snow begins to melt and Hera searches for him. Hera endures. Not a light read, but there are some parallels with current events in other parts of the world.

Evelyn Dolman is a thoroughly unpleasant character. Disappointed that his new wife has been disinherited by her father, they go, on honeymoon, to Venice, at the turn of 1899/1900. He becomes paranoid and a pawn in a dark mystery. He finds himself in a city he has never visited before where everybody appears to know about him. It eventually becomes apparent that he has been manipulated, used to further the ambitions of those who claim to know him.

The dark side of Rembrandt. His personal life and how he treated the maid/mistress Geertje Dircx. Easy, if uncomfortable, read, interesting history background.