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A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Ruth Ellis Story
In 1955, former nightclub manageress Ruth Ellis shot dead her lover, David Blakely. Following a trial that lasted less than two days, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. She became the last woman to be hanged in Britain, and her execution is the most notorious of hangman Albert Pierrepoint's 'duties'.
Despite Ruth's infamy, the story of her life has never been fully told. Often willfully misinterpreted, the reality behind the headlines was buried by an avalanche of hearsay. But now, through new interviews and comprehensive research into previously unpublished sources, Carol Ann Lee examines the facts without agenda or sensation. A portrait of the era and an evocation of 1950s club life in all its seedy glamour, A Fine Day for a Hanging sets Ruth's gripping story firmly in its historical context in order to tell the truth about both her timeless crime and a punishment that was very much of its time.
Despite Ruth's infamy, the story of her life has never been fully told. Often willfully misinterpreted, the reality behind the headlines was buried by an avalanche of hearsay. But now, through new interviews and comprehensive research into previously unpublished sources, Carol Ann Lee examines the facts without agenda or sensation. A portrait of the era and an evocation of 1950s club life in all its seedy glamour, A Fine Day for a Hanging sets Ruth's gripping story firmly in its historical context in order to tell the truth about both her timeless crime and a punishment that was very much of its time.
432 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 5, 2018
An exhaustive, occasionally exhausting, study of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain.
Ruth Ellis unquestionably killed her lover David Blakely (despite some fantastical conspiracy theory in one of the appendices) however, viewed through 21st century eyes, her conviction and execution feel extraordinarily harsh.
In 1955, women were expected to embrace homemaking and motherhood, not to harbour serious career aspirations, and to be chaste. Working class people were expected to know their place. Ruth broke all these "rules" and was characterised as promiscuous, calculating, a bad mother, ambitious, and self-serving.
That she had been abused as a child, was recovering from an abortion, and she had been regularly battered by David Blakely was ignored, furthermore she was given a loaded gun by another man, a rival for her affections, who drove her to the pub where the murder took place. He was never prosecuted.
'A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story' must surely rank as the ultimate book about Ruth Ellis. Carol Ann Lee has left no stone unturned in her quest to understand Ruth’s life, the life of her victim David Blakely, the murder, conviction, hanging, and the aftermath.
Whilst reading the book I occasionally found it wearisome and too detailed, however on reflection, the extraordinary detail allowed me to really understand all the main players in this tragedy and to gain an in-depth understanding of the case.
Anyone interested in the era, or true crime more generally, will ultimately be fascinated by this illuminating and comprehensive account.
4/5
Ruth Ellis unquestionably killed her lover David Blakely (despite some fantastical conspiracy theory in one of the appendices) however, viewed through 21st century eyes, her conviction and execution feel extraordinarily harsh.
In 1955, women were expected to embrace homemaking and motherhood, not to harbour serious career aspirations, and to be chaste. Working class people were expected to know their place. Ruth broke all these "rules" and was characterised as promiscuous, calculating, a bad mother, ambitious, and self-serving.
That she had been abused as a child, was recovering from an abortion, and she had been regularly battered by David Blakely was ignored, furthermore she was given a loaded gun by another man, a rival for her affections, who drove her to the pub where the murder took place. He was never prosecuted.
'A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story' must surely rank as the ultimate book about Ruth Ellis. Carol Ann Lee has left no stone unturned in her quest to understand Ruth’s life, the life of her victim David Blakely, the murder, conviction, hanging, and the aftermath.
Whilst reading the book I occasionally found it wearisome and too detailed, however on reflection, the extraordinary detail allowed me to really understand all the main players in this tragedy and to gain an in-depth understanding of the case.
Anyone interested in the era, or true crime more generally, will ultimately be fascinated by this illuminating and comprehensive account.
4/5
February 15, 2023
3.5 Stars
January 16, 2018
From the very opening of the book, when the author takes us through the last day in the life of Ruth Ellis, this is a totally gripping account of a tragic life. Born in Rhyl in 1926, Ruth had a poverty stricken childhood, which left her with a sense of ambition and a drive to succeed. This book takes us through the years of WWII, when Ruth first enjoyed a level of freedom and the admiration of men. Unfortunately, the man she most admired and loved, a Canadian serviceman, turned out to be married and left Ruth a single mother. Undeterred, Ruth began to work in clubs and found that she was successful at what she did. After a failed marriage, she again picked herself up (this time with two children to support) and went back to work.
It is obvious from reading the life of Ruth Ellis that she was clearly the life of the party. She was soon not only working in a club, but managing one. However, she was also volatile and jealous. She began 1953 with a successful job; gregarious, ambitious and in control. Yet, this was the year she met David Blakely and her extreme love for him overshadowed her life from that point on. Carol Ann Lee gives us not only the biography of Ruth Ellis, but also that of David Blakely, and is always scrupulously fair in her account about both. Blakely was from a far more privileged background - his idea of 'being broke' was certainly not the real fear of poverty which Ellis knew all too well. Although Blakely was happy to move in with Ellis and to spend her money, he was also physically abusive and both his friends, and family, did not consider Ellis suitable for him.
This fascinating account of a crime which caused divided opinions and a huge outcry, both at the time and after, is related in great detail and with obviously meticulous research. We read of the crime itself and of the aftermath - the trial, how Ruth Ellis was viewed by the public and press and of how her death sentence helped change the law. There is no doubt that Ruth Ellis killed David Blakely, but certainly there are aspects of the case which would be viewed differently now. The author shows that this was, ultimately, a tragedy between two very damaged people and you can only view the unfolding events with both horror and sympathy. If you enjoy true crime books, then this is one of the best.
It is obvious from reading the life of Ruth Ellis that she was clearly the life of the party. She was soon not only working in a club, but managing one. However, she was also volatile and jealous. She began 1953 with a successful job; gregarious, ambitious and in control. Yet, this was the year she met David Blakely and her extreme love for him overshadowed her life from that point on. Carol Ann Lee gives us not only the biography of Ruth Ellis, but also that of David Blakely, and is always scrupulously fair in her account about both. Blakely was from a far more privileged background - his idea of 'being broke' was certainly not the real fear of poverty which Ellis knew all too well. Although Blakely was happy to move in with Ellis and to spend her money, he was also physically abusive and both his friends, and family, did not consider Ellis suitable for him.
This fascinating account of a crime which caused divided opinions and a huge outcry, both at the time and after, is related in great detail and with obviously meticulous research. We read of the crime itself and of the aftermath - the trial, how Ruth Ellis was viewed by the public and press and of how her death sentence helped change the law. There is no doubt that Ruth Ellis killed David Blakely, but certainly there are aspects of the case which would be viewed differently now. The author shows that this was, ultimately, a tragedy between two very damaged people and you can only view the unfolding events with both horror and sympathy. If you enjoy true crime books, then this is one of the best.
February 23, 2013
I knew very little about the Ruth Ellis case prior to reading this comprehensive and well written book and I found it a totally absorbing read. The first chapter is one of the most powerful pieces of non-fiction writing I have come across for a long time. Ruth Ellis was the last woman to suffer the death penalty in the UK. There was never any doubt about the fact that she shot David Blakely outside the Magdala Public House in Hampstead. What never really came out in the police investigation or at the trial was the full circumstances which led up to the shooting.
Ruth Ellis was ambitious and wanted the best of life for herself. She moved to London and obtained work in clubs as a hostess. She did well and was managing the Little Club in Brompton Road in her early twenties. She was the sort of person who was ideally suited to the job as she always made people feel welcome and could talk to anyone. Ruth was married to George Ellis and had two children – Andre (George was not his father) and Georgina – but the marriage was always troubled and Ellis was an alcoholic and beat Ruth up. They separated and Ruth was living in a flat above the Little Club with Andre when she met David Blakely.
David was the sort of person who would always attract Ruth – he was unreliable, had ambitions of being a racing driver and was above her in the social scale which was something which mattered more in the nineteen fifties than perhaps it does today. David and Ruth’s relationship never did run smoothly and they frequently had rows and often split up only to be reunited a few days later. Ruth blamed David’s friends Ant and Carole Findlater for many of their problems because they did not like her and, she felt, were always trying to split them up. Eventually David became so jealous of Ruth’s job at the Little Club that she was forced to give the job up together with the flat which went with it.
Things never ran at all smoothly after that and in some ways it could be said that the death of one of them was always on the cards. But until Ruth shot David the odds would always have been on David killing Ruth because of the savage beatings he used to inflict on her. Even though the case was apparently clear cut – many witnesses saw Ruth shoot David and an off duty policeman was on the scene within seconds as he had been drinking in the pub – the police investigation left a lot to be desired. No one really investigated where the gun came from or who gave it to Ruth. The gun was not even checked for finger prints. Ruth’s own movements were never really traced over the whole of the Easter weekend which led up to the shooting. The role played by her friend, and sometime lover Desmond Cussen in the events immediately before the shooting were virtually ignored by the police.
Ruth Ellis was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a trial which lasted an incredibly short space of time and involved very little attempt by the defence team to try and explain Ruth’s actions or the nature of her relationship with David Blakely. The case aroused a huge amount of controversy at the time and fuelled demands for the abolition of the death penalty. Today it is arguable that Ruth would have been able to plead diminished responsibility because of David’s beatings and infidelities and would possibly have been convicted of manslaughter rather than murder. Ruth herself felt her sentence was justified and in spite of strenuous efforts on the part of her solicitor a reprieve was not secured.
The book raises some interesting questions about how a defendant’s lifestyle, morals and appearance affect both a police investigation and the result of a criminal trial. Ruth’s platinum blonde bleached hair was what people remembered about her not the abuse she had received at the hands of the man she killed or the way she was manipulated by people who were supposedly her friends.
I had not realised until I read this book that Stephen Ward, who later achieved notoriety in the Profumo scandal, was probably acquainted with Ruth Ellis as they moved in the same circles. The people involved in her trial are also famous names – Christmas Humphreys for the prosecution. Aubrey Melford Stevenson, Sebag Shaw and Peter Rawlinson for the defence and Mr Justice Havers the judge.
This book is an excellent example of true crime writing and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know about this case. There are comprehensive notes on each chapter, a bibliography and an index. In the e-book edition the illustrations are in a separate section at the end of the book and they display well on the Kindle screen.
Ruth Ellis was ambitious and wanted the best of life for herself. She moved to London and obtained work in clubs as a hostess. She did well and was managing the Little Club in Brompton Road in her early twenties. She was the sort of person who was ideally suited to the job as she always made people feel welcome and could talk to anyone. Ruth was married to George Ellis and had two children – Andre (George was not his father) and Georgina – but the marriage was always troubled and Ellis was an alcoholic and beat Ruth up. They separated and Ruth was living in a flat above the Little Club with Andre when she met David Blakely.
David was the sort of person who would always attract Ruth – he was unreliable, had ambitions of being a racing driver and was above her in the social scale which was something which mattered more in the nineteen fifties than perhaps it does today. David and Ruth’s relationship never did run smoothly and they frequently had rows and often split up only to be reunited a few days later. Ruth blamed David’s friends Ant and Carole Findlater for many of their problems because they did not like her and, she felt, were always trying to split them up. Eventually David became so jealous of Ruth’s job at the Little Club that she was forced to give the job up together with the flat which went with it.
Things never ran at all smoothly after that and in some ways it could be said that the death of one of them was always on the cards. But until Ruth shot David the odds would always have been on David killing Ruth because of the savage beatings he used to inflict on her. Even though the case was apparently clear cut – many witnesses saw Ruth shoot David and an off duty policeman was on the scene within seconds as he had been drinking in the pub – the police investigation left a lot to be desired. No one really investigated where the gun came from or who gave it to Ruth. The gun was not even checked for finger prints. Ruth’s own movements were never really traced over the whole of the Easter weekend which led up to the shooting. The role played by her friend, and sometime lover Desmond Cussen in the events immediately before the shooting were virtually ignored by the police.
Ruth Ellis was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a trial which lasted an incredibly short space of time and involved very little attempt by the defence team to try and explain Ruth’s actions or the nature of her relationship with David Blakely. The case aroused a huge amount of controversy at the time and fuelled demands for the abolition of the death penalty. Today it is arguable that Ruth would have been able to plead diminished responsibility because of David’s beatings and infidelities and would possibly have been convicted of manslaughter rather than murder. Ruth herself felt her sentence was justified and in spite of strenuous efforts on the part of her solicitor a reprieve was not secured.
The book raises some interesting questions about how a defendant’s lifestyle, morals and appearance affect both a police investigation and the result of a criminal trial. Ruth’s platinum blonde bleached hair was what people remembered about her not the abuse she had received at the hands of the man she killed or the way she was manipulated by people who were supposedly her friends.
I had not realised until I read this book that Stephen Ward, who later achieved notoriety in the Profumo scandal, was probably acquainted with Ruth Ellis as they moved in the same circles. The people involved in her trial are also famous names – Christmas Humphreys for the prosecution. Aubrey Melford Stevenson, Sebag Shaw and Peter Rawlinson for the defence and Mr Justice Havers the judge.
This book is an excellent example of true crime writing and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know about this case. There are comprehensive notes on each chapter, a bibliography and an index. In the e-book edition the illustrations are in a separate section at the end of the book and they display well on the Kindle screen.
June 11, 2013
From the very opening of the book, when the author takes us through the last day in the life of Ruth Ellis, this is a totally gripping account of a tragic life. Born in Rhyl in 1926, Ruth had a poverty stricken childhood, which left her with a sense of ambition and a drive to succeed. This book takes us through the years of WWII, when Ruth first enjoyed a level of freedom and the admiration of men. Unfortunately, the man she most admired and loved, a Canadian serviceman, turned out to be married and left Ruth a single mother. Undeterred, Ruth began to work in clubs and found that she was successful at what she did. After a failed marriage, she again picked herself up (this time with two children to support) and went back to work.
It is obvious from reading the life of Ruth Ellis that she was clearly the life of the party. She was soon not only working in a club, but managing one. However, she was also volatile and jealous. She began 1953 with a successful job; gregarious, ambitious and in control. Yet, this was the year she met David Blakely and her extreme love for him overshadowed her life from that point on. Carol Ann Lee gives us not only the biography of Ruth Ellis, but also that of David Blakely, and is always scrupulously fair in her account about both. Blakely was from a far more privileged background - his idea of 'being broke' was certainly not the real fear of poverty which Ellis knew all too well. Although Blakely was happy to move in with Ellis and to spend her money, he was also physically abusive and both his friends, and family, did not consider Ellis suitable for him.
This fascinating account of a crime which caused divided opinions and a huge outcry, both at the time and after, is related in great detail and with obviously meticulous research. We read of the crime itself and of the aftermath - the trial, how Ruth Ellis was viewed by the public and press and of how her death sentence helped change the law. There is no doubt that Ruth Ellis killed David Blakely, but certainly there are aspects of the case which would be viewed differently now. The author shows that this was, ultimately, a tragedy between two very damaged people and you can only view the unfolding events with both horror and sympathy. If you enjoy true crime books, then this is one of the best.
It is obvious from reading the life of Ruth Ellis that she was clearly the life of the party. She was soon not only working in a club, but managing one. However, she was also volatile and jealous. She began 1953 with a successful job; gregarious, ambitious and in control. Yet, this was the year she met David Blakely and her extreme love for him overshadowed her life from that point on. Carol Ann Lee gives us not only the biography of Ruth Ellis, but also that of David Blakely, and is always scrupulously fair in her account about both. Blakely was from a far more privileged background - his idea of 'being broke' was certainly not the real fear of poverty which Ellis knew all too well. Although Blakely was happy to move in with Ellis and to spend her money, he was also physically abusive and both his friends, and family, did not consider Ellis suitable for him.
This fascinating account of a crime which caused divided opinions and a huge outcry, both at the time and after, is related in great detail and with obviously meticulous research. We read of the crime itself and of the aftermath - the trial, how Ruth Ellis was viewed by the public and press and of how her death sentence helped change the law. There is no doubt that Ruth Ellis killed David Blakely, but certainly there are aspects of the case which would be viewed differently now. The author shows that this was, ultimately, a tragedy between two very damaged people and you can only view the unfolding events with both horror and sympathy. If you enjoy true crime books, then this is one of the best.
November 1, 2020
When 28-year-old Ruth Ellis shot her lover, David Blakely, in 1955, she set in motion a trial that rocked the country. Found guilty, she was sentenced to death and became the last woman to be hanged in Britain. With many theories about what really happened, this account attempts to lay out the facts, rather than speculating on hearsay and unprovable notions.
This is the third book I’ve read by Carol Ann Lee and like the others (The Murders at White House Farm and Evil Relations), has been meticulously researched, using new interviews and previously unpublished sources. The author has a knack for recreating the social and historical context of the times, exploring the mores and standards which cannot fail to have influenced the attitudes of many of the people involved in the trial, including the perceived class differences between Ellis and Blakely. Setting the sorry tale firmly within the reality of Ruth’s life and background, it delves into her relationships not only with David Blakely and Desmond Cussen, but shows the impact Blakely’s friends the Findlaters had on Ruth, and which may have contributed to her decision to kill her lover.
‘A Fine Day for a Hanging’ is a fascinating and thoroughly absorbing book that will interest anyone interested in crime and punishment in post-war Britain.
This is the third book I’ve read by Carol Ann Lee and like the others (The Murders at White House Farm and Evil Relations), has been meticulously researched, using new interviews and previously unpublished sources. The author has a knack for recreating the social and historical context of the times, exploring the mores and standards which cannot fail to have influenced the attitudes of many of the people involved in the trial, including the perceived class differences between Ellis and Blakely. Setting the sorry tale firmly within the reality of Ruth’s life and background, it delves into her relationships not only with David Blakely and Desmond Cussen, but shows the impact Blakely’s friends the Findlaters had on Ruth, and which may have contributed to her decision to kill her lover.
‘A Fine Day for a Hanging’ is a fascinating and thoroughly absorbing book that will interest anyone interested in crime and punishment in post-war Britain.
November 19, 2025
[16 Nov 2025] This is an extremely detailed, incredibly comprehensive account of the brief tragic life of Ruth Ellis - forever known to history as the last women to be hanged in the UK. It reads well, is engaging and holds interest, although the narrative can get bogged down in detail and can be overly convoluted. It tells the very sorry-tale of her family, her early years, and her quest for success in the London and south-east of the 1940s and 50s. The author has clearly thrown their research net wide and talked to numerous people and has woven a coherent story, which is a very tough read. She really had a very abusive childhood and up-bringing. Her father was a monster who abused her and her sister. Her sister was raped multiple times and had a baby with her father, who was brought up by his grandmother who enabled the abuse to continue. Ruth was deceived by a Canadian during the war who made her believe she was the centre of his world, but when the war ended, left her pregnant and alone and went back to his wife and three children.
Ruth was launched on a pattern of seeking affection from men - under any circumstances, she morphed into an image that she thought men wanted, she became the life and soul of the party, offered sex to any who flattered her or when told by men to do so. She became a nightclub hostess and mixed with the fantasists, sycophants and fickle, creating an illusion of family. She married Mr Ellis and hoped for a life of respectability, but he was as abusive as her father, one baby, several abortions and much violence later they divorced. She developed a friendship with Desmond Cussens whose motivation remained unclear. She then met David Blakely who was a good-looking charismatic wide-boy and Ruth fell hopelessly in love with him. However he violently abused her and was disrespectful, vindictive, violent, manipulative and ultimately created an obsessive, symbiotic and pathological relationship from which neither could walk away and which would inevitability end in disaster for both.
Convinced he was cheating on her, she shot him at close range as he came out of a pub and the rest is history. The book weaves modern thoughts around diminished responsibility and coercive controlling relationships and how they would be treated differently now. I'm not sure that I'd agree that her execution was 'a stain on English law' as it was unarguable that she murdered him and that meant execution in 1955 (whether we like it or not). It was informative when tracking down what happened to those involved, and the conspiracy theories that have emerged. A very powerful account of a major point in British history.
Ruth was launched on a pattern of seeking affection from men - under any circumstances, she morphed into an image that she thought men wanted, she became the life and soul of the party, offered sex to any who flattered her or when told by men to do so. She became a nightclub hostess and mixed with the fantasists, sycophants and fickle, creating an illusion of family. She married Mr Ellis and hoped for a life of respectability, but he was as abusive as her father, one baby, several abortions and much violence later they divorced. She developed a friendship with Desmond Cussens whose motivation remained unclear. She then met David Blakely who was a good-looking charismatic wide-boy and Ruth fell hopelessly in love with him. However he violently abused her and was disrespectful, vindictive, violent, manipulative and ultimately created an obsessive, symbiotic and pathological relationship from which neither could walk away and which would inevitability end in disaster for both.
Convinced he was cheating on her, she shot him at close range as he came out of a pub and the rest is history. The book weaves modern thoughts around diminished responsibility and coercive controlling relationships and how they would be treated differently now. I'm not sure that I'd agree that her execution was 'a stain on English law' as it was unarguable that she murdered him and that meant execution in 1955 (whether we like it or not). It was informative when tracking down what happened to those involved, and the conspiracy theories that have emerged. A very powerful account of a major point in British history.
September 23, 2018
A terrific read just like her other book on the Jeremy Bamber killings. Here she turns her attention to Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain. This case would bring about a change in the law, abolishing the death sentence in the U.K. Ellis killed her lover David Blakely after suffering months of physical and mental abuse from him. As she had planned to kill him she could not be charged with manslaughter only murder. Today her sentence would be more lenient as the courts would take into account her abuse but in 50's U.K no such option existed. Great read from start to finish. One of Ms Lee's strong points is the fact she covers the whole life of both Ms Ellis and Blakley from their birth to the fatal killing and beyond. Terrific read.
March 26, 2018
Well-researched but rather stodgy, this book claims to be 'The Real Ruth Ellis Story' - as well as examining evidence from contemporaries of Ruth Ellis in the 1950s and official records from her trial, imprisonment and execution, it looks at how the myth surrounding Ruth developed after her hanging and analyses the theories put forward in later literature on the subject.
Carol Ann Lee spends several chapters probing the abusive relationships that Ruth experienced from childhood onwards, shining a light on issues that were ignored or dismissed by the society and legal system of the 1950s. Her obsessive relationship with the victim, David Blakely - fuelled by jealousy, violence and alcohol - is discussed in detail, though quite often viewed from a modern perspective. There is an attempt to explain the mores and mood of the times, but the narrative is not always balanced - for example, the author's exasperation with medical evidence that actually seemed quite enlightened for the time.
Lee also examines questions never fully investigated by the police or Ruth's own defence team, such as the potential involvement of a third party in providing the gun, and the role played by Blakely's friends in disrupting his relationship with Ruth. This was interesting and put a different perspective on events. The description of the killing itself is also well done, and reminds us of the terrible fate of the victim, an aspect which is often lost in the focus on Ellis' hanging.
There is a lot of detail in the book, but much of it is repetitive and needed judicious editing. The impact of key points is often lost in the rather dull prose. While applauding the author's desire to avoid the sensationalism that has dogged the Ruth Ellis case, it could have been made much more engaging without losing the aim of being serious journalism.
The final chapters, dealing with the aftermath of Ruth's execution and its impact on all involved, is truly poignant. Overall, a patchy but quite compelling story of one of the most notorious events of post-War Britain.
Carol Ann Lee spends several chapters probing the abusive relationships that Ruth experienced from childhood onwards, shining a light on issues that were ignored or dismissed by the society and legal system of the 1950s. Her obsessive relationship with the victim, David Blakely - fuelled by jealousy, violence and alcohol - is discussed in detail, though quite often viewed from a modern perspective. There is an attempt to explain the mores and mood of the times, but the narrative is not always balanced - for example, the author's exasperation with medical evidence that actually seemed quite enlightened for the time.
Lee also examines questions never fully investigated by the police or Ruth's own defence team, such as the potential involvement of a third party in providing the gun, and the role played by Blakely's friends in disrupting his relationship with Ruth. This was interesting and put a different perspective on events. The description of the killing itself is also well done, and reminds us of the terrible fate of the victim, an aspect which is often lost in the focus on Ellis' hanging.
There is a lot of detail in the book, but much of it is repetitive and needed judicious editing. The impact of key points is often lost in the rather dull prose. While applauding the author's desire to avoid the sensationalism that has dogged the Ruth Ellis case, it could have been made much more engaging without losing the aim of being serious journalism.
The final chapters, dealing with the aftermath of Ruth's execution and its impact on all involved, is truly poignant. Overall, a patchy but quite compelling story of one of the most notorious events of post-War Britain.
March 19, 2025
I discovered Carol Ann Lee last month and now I’m on a mission to read everything she’s written.
As with her other novels, “A Fine Day for a Hanging” is extremely well researched. Starting at the beginning of Ruth Ellis’s life, her teenager years, what lead her down the path of club work, the men she met, her conviction and death, all the way through to the present day and how her story is still being discussed and recognised in pop-culture today. It examines important topics like post-war and gender expectations, class divide and societal norms at the time Ruth was alive and convicted.
Towards the end of the novel Lee delves into what the acceptable treatment of women was, verses what we’ve learnt now in the 21st Century. When Ruth’s family took the matter back to court there were discussions about how she would have been treated now and what she would have had in her corner for defence (examples being: battered woman syndrome and prolonged provocation), however, the court acknowledged that at the time of her trial, and without these issues being recognised while she was alive, the correct punishment for the era was provided.
Overall Ruth’s story is very sad, but it’s also the terrible influence on her family that really stuck with me. Her story was hidden from her children, multiple people who knew her took their own lives for different reasons, her sister fought hard for her without success and people got pigeonholed for being associated with her.
Ruth is a notorious figure and we all would have seen her face somewhere at sometime. If anything, we have learnt what consistent violence and poor treatment can do to a human and I’m glad that after all this time her struggles have been recognised. However, she still pulled the trigger, but now she won’t just be remembered as the last woman executed in England.
As with her other novels, “A Fine Day for a Hanging” is extremely well researched. Starting at the beginning of Ruth Ellis’s life, her teenager years, what lead her down the path of club work, the men she met, her conviction and death, all the way through to the present day and how her story is still being discussed and recognised in pop-culture today. It examines important topics like post-war and gender expectations, class divide and societal norms at the time Ruth was alive and convicted.
Towards the end of the novel Lee delves into what the acceptable treatment of women was, verses what we’ve learnt now in the 21st Century. When Ruth’s family took the matter back to court there were discussions about how she would have been treated now and what she would have had in her corner for defence (examples being: battered woman syndrome and prolonged provocation), however, the court acknowledged that at the time of her trial, and without these issues being recognised while she was alive, the correct punishment for the era was provided.
Overall Ruth’s story is very sad, but it’s also the terrible influence on her family that really stuck with me. Her story was hidden from her children, multiple people who knew her took their own lives for different reasons, her sister fought hard for her without success and people got pigeonholed for being associated with her.
Ruth is a notorious figure and we all would have seen her face somewhere at sometime. If anything, we have learnt what consistent violence and poor treatment can do to a human and I’m glad that after all this time her struggles have been recognised. However, she still pulled the trigger, but now she won’t just be remembered as the last woman executed in England.
June 29, 2025
Carol Ann Lee's account of the life, times, execution and legacy of Ruth Ellis is highly detailed, providing fresh information and insights into her turbulent and troubled life. The story itself is well-known, and Lee sets out to correct many of the myths and misunderstandings that have arisen regarding her crime, as well as her life with David Blakely. As ever, this is a tale underpinned by glaring double standards, misogyny, and sexism. There's no attempt to excuse or justify Blakely's death at Ellis's hands, but there is an attempt to provide explanation and context.
The book is very well researched, although the overall narrative sags under the sheer amount of minutiae and details included in the main body of the text. For example, almost two pages are devoted to listing Blakely's possessions at the time of his death, which could quite easily have been included as an end-note; there are a number of other similar inclusions, which seem hard to justify within a text for the general reader.
Overall, it is a powerful and thought-provoking retelling of one of Britain's most infamous murder cases.
© Koplowitz 2025
The book is very well researched, although the overall narrative sags under the sheer amount of minutiae and details included in the main body of the text. For example, almost two pages are devoted to listing Blakely's possessions at the time of his death, which could quite easily have been included as an end-note; there are a number of other similar inclusions, which seem hard to justify within a text for the general reader.
Overall, it is a powerful and thought-provoking retelling of one of Britain's most infamous murder cases.
© Koplowitz 2025
June 26, 2025
Detailed & forensic work backgrounding the life and death of Ellis & Blakely, as well as a cast of other low life's masquerading as contributing members of society.
The ineptitude of the legal profession, the media and broader social institutions is stark and establishes the antecedents of how the UK has deteriorated inexorably since WW2 into its current class ridden malaise.
3 stars because of the lack of any meaningful editing which could have trimmed this by at least 100 pages.
The ineptitude of the legal profession, the media and broader social institutions is stark and establishes the antecedents of how the UK has deteriorated inexorably since WW2 into its current class ridden malaise.
3 stars because of the lack of any meaningful editing which could have trimmed this by at least 100 pages.
February 16, 2019
Oops I posted a review for the wrong book. Review to follow.
April 4, 2023
Very good would read again.
April 30, 2023
I was just so bored. I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but it wasn’t to be bored rigid with gossip columns of that era.
It was repetitive and gossipy and boring. I couldn’t wait for it to finish. Sorry.
It was repetitive and gossipy and boring. I couldn’t wait for it to finish. Sorry.
October 25, 2012
I've read articles and books about Ruth Ellis before but this book lumps them all together and is up to the minute with updates, etc. I was staggered to learn that the book I have written by her sister is very "selected" to say the least. I know Muriel was elderly when it was written but she got a lot of the facts mixed up, it seems.
The author mention restoring David Blakely's character to him which I though was nice but felt she failed. He has always come across as an arrogant toff who treated women like crap and this book did nothing to dispel my views.
I didn't enjoy the fact that it's one of those books where you are having to refer to notes every paragraph or so. It makes for a very laboured and interrupted read.
Reading about Ruth and her hostess pals brought to mind the "rinsing" girls we read of nowadays. They were no different. Her pal Jacqueline was a real friend. She never gave up on Ruth and I hope she appreciated her.
I knew her son's story and it's heartbreaking how he lived and died. Sad too how Ruth covered up for Desmond. I thought it ironic he died partly due to a neck dislocation ! I always had precious little sympathy for him, I must say. At least Ruth always maintained she was guilty and was more than happy to accept her punishment.
The whole process regarding her execution was interesting and it describes the whole process inasmuch as it can be learned from people the author interviewed.I like what Prison Officer Galilee wrote-"Ruth Ellis was first class".
The author mention restoring David Blakely's character to him which I though was nice but felt she failed. He has always come across as an arrogant toff who treated women like crap and this book did nothing to dispel my views.
I didn't enjoy the fact that it's one of those books where you are having to refer to notes every paragraph or so. It makes for a very laboured and interrupted read.
Reading about Ruth and her hostess pals brought to mind the "rinsing" girls we read of nowadays. They were no different. Her pal Jacqueline was a real friend. She never gave up on Ruth and I hope she appreciated her.
I knew her son's story and it's heartbreaking how he lived and died. Sad too how Ruth covered up for Desmond. I thought it ironic he died partly due to a neck dislocation ! I always had precious little sympathy for him, I must say. At least Ruth always maintained she was guilty and was more than happy to accept her punishment.
The whole process regarding her execution was interesting and it describes the whole process inasmuch as it can be learned from people the author interviewed.I like what Prison Officer Galilee wrote-"Ruth Ellis was first class".
May 31, 2015
A truly chilling account of the life and death of Ruth Ellis. But perhaps more interestingly, that of her victim, friends, family and contemporaries. Carol Ann Lee has obviously undertaken exhaustive research and presents her story dispassionately. She debunks some of the myth-making that has built up around Ellis. Personally I don't think I would have liked her as a person, but I now think I have a better understanding of her. The Author is very careful not to get entangled in arguments for or against the death penalty, but I am even more of the view that execution but the state is truly obscene. The chapters on the personal aftermath of the execution describe the piteous lives of those who survived Ruth in a very moving way
April 15, 2015
I enjoyed the factual approach but found the ending of the book was a bit dragged out
March 3, 2020
On Easter Sunday 1955, Ruth Ellis, a nightclub manageress and hostess, shot and killed her motor racer lover, David Blakely. For this crime, she would become the last woman to be hanged in Britain. Whilst the common image of Ellis is one of a cheap "goodtime girl" who killed her victim out of greed or jealousy, Lee's book thoroughly explores Ellis' life from the very beginning, painting her as an almost "Roxie Hart" type figure: abused emotionally and physically since childhood by a string of men, including Blakely... at whose hands she suffered terrible violence, and was herself a victim of his various mind games, including a string of affairs he undertook.
Ellis' act was undeniably a murder, but Lee questions whether she would have been spared the noose had the plea of "diminished responsibility", not yet a part of British law, had existed at the time, due to her tragic circumstances. She also explores the issues and perceptions of class differences - Blakely being from a wealthy background, Ellis of "common" birth, and in the eyes of many, working in a scandalous profession -as well as Ellis' gender and her actions when compared to the ideas of idealised "natural" womanhood and motherhood, in addition to her place in a male-dominated society and legal system.
Even Ellis' own guarded defense (or lack thereof, in a more legal sense), and her firm belief in "a life for a life", is taken into account, as to whether anything could have been done to prevent her appointment with Albert Pierrepoint: something many members of the public fought to save her from, whilst others keenly encouraged it. It becomes clear why this case, as well as several others (many of which, contrastingly, involved those innocent of their crime being condemned to die) lead to the eventual abolition of capital punishment in Britain... as well as exploring the often tragic aftermaths of those involved in this horrific affair.
In regards to the audiobook version I listened to, Maggie Ollerenshaw does a fantastic job of reading this fascinating work: using her talents as an actress to modify her voice, and allowing the different distinctive voices of the past to speak in their own ways.
Ellis' act was undeniably a murder, but Lee questions whether she would have been spared the noose had the plea of "diminished responsibility", not yet a part of British law, had existed at the time, due to her tragic circumstances. She also explores the issues and perceptions of class differences - Blakely being from a wealthy background, Ellis of "common" birth, and in the eyes of many, working in a scandalous profession -as well as Ellis' gender and her actions when compared to the ideas of idealised "natural" womanhood and motherhood, in addition to her place in a male-dominated society and legal system.
Even Ellis' own guarded defense (or lack thereof, in a more legal sense), and her firm belief in "a life for a life", is taken into account, as to whether anything could have been done to prevent her appointment with Albert Pierrepoint: something many members of the public fought to save her from, whilst others keenly encouraged it. It becomes clear why this case, as well as several others (many of which, contrastingly, involved those innocent of their crime being condemned to die) lead to the eventual abolition of capital punishment in Britain... as well as exploring the often tragic aftermaths of those involved in this horrific affair.
In regards to the audiobook version I listened to, Maggie Ollerenshaw does a fantastic job of reading this fascinating work: using her talents as an actress to modify her voice, and allowing the different distinctive voices of the past to speak in their own ways.
May 7, 2018
Excellent biography of a complicated lady
I'd never heard of Ruth Ellis before reading this book. The author does a great job putting her life in context, with the war and her family. Ruth comes across as interesting and complicated. She was goal oriented and smart. Running a successful club in the rotten economy of post-war London couldn't have been easy.
But she kept sabotaging herself. The family seemed to have a psychological fault line going through it. The sexual abuse must account for a lot. And something else, undiagnosed, kept her emotionally detached from her kids. She had tunnel vision in her love life, chose just awful people, and made truly bad decisions .
It's painful to read how just a few years later, the idea of hanging her wouldn't have even been considered. I think her attorney was another victim in the long run. And maybe her weird, passive-aggressive, secondary boyfriend.
I was happy to read that the daughter had a good, if short, life. They got her out of that miserable environment early. Neither biological parent did much parenting. I'm sorry for the son. It sounded like he inherited the family mental health issues, on top of losing his mom.
I'd never heard of Ruth Ellis before reading this book. The author does a great job putting her life in context, with the war and her family. Ruth comes across as interesting and complicated. She was goal oriented and smart. Running a successful club in the rotten economy of post-war London couldn't have been easy.
But she kept sabotaging herself. The family seemed to have a psychological fault line going through it. The sexual abuse must account for a lot. And something else, undiagnosed, kept her emotionally detached from her kids. She had tunnel vision in her love life, chose just awful people, and made truly bad decisions .
It's painful to read how just a few years later, the idea of hanging her wouldn't have even been considered. I think her attorney was another victim in the long run. And maybe her weird, passive-aggressive, secondary boyfriend.
I was happy to read that the daughter had a good, if short, life. They got her out of that miserable environment early. Neither biological parent did much parenting. I'm sorry for the son. It sounded like he inherited the family mental health issues, on top of losing his mom.
December 1, 2021
4.5 stars. A thoroughly well researched and in depth examination of the life of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in England, in 1955.
I grew up in Buckinghamshire, just a few miles from where David Blakely lived, and is buried, and in the same town in which Ruth Ellis was eventually buried after her body was moved from Holloway Prison. It's a case that I've always been fascinated by and felt drawn to wanting to know more about. This book does just that. It is thorough, factual, and does not shy away from anything. I found it very moving and, at the description of her execution, distressing.
I have always wondered whether there was more to the events on Easter Sunday 1955, when Ruth Ellis shot Blakely, that were never told in Court. This book considers also the alleged involvement of Ruth's other lover Desmond Cusson in the events leading up to that fatal shooting outside The Magdala pub in Hampstead, and the level of culpability of all other parties concerned.
A very readable and informative book. Recommended.
I grew up in Buckinghamshire, just a few miles from where David Blakely lived, and is buried, and in the same town in which Ruth Ellis was eventually buried after her body was moved from Holloway Prison. It's a case that I've always been fascinated by and felt drawn to wanting to know more about. This book does just that. It is thorough, factual, and does not shy away from anything. I found it very moving and, at the description of her execution, distressing.
I have always wondered whether there was more to the events on Easter Sunday 1955, when Ruth Ellis shot Blakely, that were never told in Court. This book considers also the alleged involvement of Ruth's other lover Desmond Cusson in the events leading up to that fatal shooting outside The Magdala pub in Hampstead, and the level of culpability of all other parties concerned.
A very readable and informative book. Recommended.
August 18, 2020
Excellent, thorough resume of the life of Ruth Ellis.
The author lays out the background to her crime of passion & how it was all a result of the terrible abuse (both mental & physical) that she received, throughout her life, by the principal men in her life - her father, her husband & her lover.
Ms Lee undoubtedly writes a sympathetic portrait of Mrs. Ellis, & in reading the book I certainly adopted such a view.
Although I knew beforehand a bit about the murder of David Blakely, it was good to get an in depth review of all the events leading up to that night in Hampstead, on Easter Sunday 1955.
In my view, her hanging was a travesty & the Home Secretary should have had the decency to grant mercy & commute her sentence to life imprisonment.
Her life was a tragedy, & her death was of course a major factor in the abolition of the death penalty.
An excellent book, as much about society as well as criminal justice in 1950's Britain.
The author lays out the background to her crime of passion & how it was all a result of the terrible abuse (both mental & physical) that she received, throughout her life, by the principal men in her life - her father, her husband & her lover.
Ms Lee undoubtedly writes a sympathetic portrait of Mrs. Ellis, & in reading the book I certainly adopted such a view.
Although I knew beforehand a bit about the murder of David Blakely, it was good to get an in depth review of all the events leading up to that night in Hampstead, on Easter Sunday 1955.
In my view, her hanging was a travesty & the Home Secretary should have had the decency to grant mercy & commute her sentence to life imprisonment.
Her life was a tragedy, & her death was of course a major factor in the abolition of the death penalty.
An excellent book, as much about society as well as criminal justice in 1950's Britain.
March 18, 2021
This book covered every single detail of Ruth Ellis' case, I started off really powerful and good but as it got closer to the middle it started to become so quite boring as the book became so overly detailed. When I got this book I expected for it to go deeper and talk about the death sentence and have more opinions on this case and the sexist, abusive themes which was part of Ellis' story. But no, it is just an exhaustive, impartial review on her case. I can see why some true crime fans can love this- but for people who read the beginning and thought it would be deep and moving, you are going to be disappointed. It took me a lot longer to finish this book as there was no real emotion in it and the parts where that was feeling it felt very much like it was just an account of what Ellis said rather than emotive language. However, it is very well researched and thorough; if you love biographies then I am sure you will like this book.
September 19, 2020
An excellent narrative of the Ruth Ellis story. Guilty of murder most definitely, but given the facts of the story, and that she suffered a miscarriage just three days before shooting her lover, David Blakely surely the jury could have found it in themselves to ask the judge to be merciful. The Judge could have then passed on the jury's comments to the Home Secretary who, if he had a heart, which he didn't, could have commuted the sentence to one of life imprisonment.
I always enjoy Carol Ann Lee's book because she is a very accomplished writer who always brings a story to life. Her basic maths are pretty poor though and on a few occasions her dates, ages and timelines didn't tally but this didn't spoil my enjoyment of a brilliant book. Just a shame it wasn't published in hardback.
I always enjoy Carol Ann Lee's book because she is a very accomplished writer who always brings a story to life. Her basic maths are pretty poor though and on a few occasions her dates, ages and timelines didn't tally but this didn't spoil my enjoyment of a brilliant book. Just a shame it wasn't published in hardback.
November 19, 2019
A detailed look at the life, crime and subsequent execution of Ruth Ellis. The last woman to be hanged in Britain.
This was such a detailed book. It tells the story of her life prior to the murder and the events following on from it including her execution. It even looks at the executioner and a bit about the history of hanging. There are many quotes from those involved along the way that add more depth. Although I found it interesting it did feel like quite a slog at times.
This was such a detailed book. It tells the story of her life prior to the murder and the events following on from it including her execution. It even looks at the executioner and a bit about the history of hanging. There are many quotes from those involved along the way that add more depth. Although I found it interesting it did feel like quite a slog at times.
June 4, 2022
A fascinating read. I knew nothing about Ruth Ellis until reading this book and now feel like I know more than if I was around in the 1950s. The first half of the book is written brilliantly, where we find out about Ruth’s past and what lead up to her killing David Blakely. I do feel that there were monotonous points and a lot of exhausting descriptions and repetitions, which could have been edited out.
November 15, 2022
Thorough, detailed account. Goes to length to present as much testimony as possible to show that Ellis wasn't simply the wronged woman pushed too far that has been her story pushed since her hanging. It was a much more complex amd messier and even more dysfunctional situation than is generally told, and all the more tragic for it This is seemingly compiled from every source possible. Very enjoyble book, well written.
April 22, 2025
This is the hook to read about Ruth Ellis’s the last woman to be hanged in Britain.
Whilst not a particularly likeable woman this book goes into such detail about her life and death, you do feel pity for her, but in the end she did kill David Bentley. As Albert Pierepont says what about the other women who hanged where were all the protests for them?
Definitely the book to read about Ruth and the people around her. Stephen Ward pops up as does Diana Dorrs.
Whilst not a particularly likeable woman this book goes into such detail about her life and death, you do feel pity for her, but in the end she did kill David Bentley. As Albert Pierepont says what about the other women who hanged where were all the protests for them?
Definitely the book to read about Ruth and the people around her. Stephen Ward pops up as does Diana Dorrs.
November 18, 2017
A fabulous book!
A detailed look into the sad and tragic life of Ruth Ellis - the last woman to be hung in Britain.
The first few scenes about the hanging itself were very movingly written and brought me to tears.
Well worth reading.
A detailed look into the sad and tragic life of Ruth Ellis - the last woman to be hung in Britain.
The first few scenes about the hanging itself were very movingly written and brought me to tears.
Well worth reading.
September 13, 2024
Chilling account of the life of Ruth Ellis, who got trampled by life over and over again, until she had enough. And then, she paid the ultimate price. I would definitely not recommend the audiobook version though, as the narrator insists on faking accents when reading excerpts, mildly offensive...
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