A Mix of Murders: Fifteen Historic English Cases from the Twentieth Century

by Grahame Farrell

A Mix of Murders treats the reader to fifteen in-depth accounts of 20th Century murders. Researched meticulously, and possessing a clear, eloquent style, this book explores cases such as that of William Bisset, an older, well-to-do gentleman, who was given to exhibiting his wealth somewhat brashly. His murder appeared simply to be a fatal mugging, yet ever-growing factual contradictions threw the prime suspect's guilt into ever greater doubt, to the point of strengthening his defence. In the intricate case of Paul Vickers, we learn of a driven and accomplished medic, with aspirations to high political-status, and a predilection for vulnerable women. Unhappily married to a once-promising but handicapped mathematician, the doctor took numerous lovers, meeting his demise in the form of the attractive and worldly Pamela Collison. She informed the police of complicity with Vickers, and thus we discover a near-perfect murder-weapon along with counsels’ imaginative and polarising arguments during Vickers’s trial. Was Vickers the ‘new Dr. Crippen’, as Collison asserted? Grahame Farrell delivers the uneasy sense that facts and outcome were never wholly matched; read it and form your own view. In notable contrast, we find that Michael Queripel’s conviction hinged on a single and rather unusual piece of evidence, and that his murder trial was one of the very shortest in legal history, and it is through such accounts that the broad spectrum this book presents becomes apparent. Scrutinising hitherto unexplored cases, Farrell gives accounts of murder driven by poverty, disaffection, social pressures and vaunting ambition. Comparing and contrasting those all-too-human forces that motivate people to kill, this volume forms a fine addition to the library of any fan of true crime. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A review from A Mix of Murders is an e-book released for Kindle [in May 2012] that features British murder cases from the twentieth century, from the early years of the century to the 1980s. Author and librarian Grahame Farrell covers a really interesting mix (as the title suggests) of 15 crimes. The latest crime in the book is a chapter on Kenneth Erskine, known as “The Stockwell Strangler” who murdered elderly people in South London in the 1980s. This is a particularly disturbing chapter as Erskine was simply so brutal and dangerous. His victims so vulnerable. Another intriguing case is the 1955 murder of Elizabeth Currell in the quaint and respectable commuter village of Potter’s Bar, South Hertfordshire. Mrs Currell was on her regular evening stroll on the local golf course when she was brutally attacked and murdered. I enjoyed this book because the murder cases are ones that are lesser known and have a touch of “Midsomer Murder” to them. The book is Farrell’s true crime debut and it’s definitely worth a read. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A review from ...Fascinating studies of human behaviour. Each story is well written and detailed, and progresses logically through the crime, arrest, trial to the final outcome. It was a book I enjoyed reading. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter The Departure of Winifred Mitchell A Killing for Christmas The Outlaw of Bulford Camp The Clue of the Crumbs in the Suitcase The Man who Slept in Cupboards The Long Arm of the BBC The Old Man and the Gypsy Murder for Sale Murder at the Seventeenth Hole Suicide or Murder? West Drayton 2101 Requiem for a Writer Murder by Prescription Testimony in Blood The Quiet Killer

Genres: True Crime, History

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 22, 2012

Reviews

[brian pendergest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super read

Couldn't put it down,will read the authors other 4 books
Interesting and like how it jumps from Victorian to the 1980s

[Mrs Christine Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing true crime

I enjoy true crime stories, particularly about centuries ago.
I would recommend it to all crime readers.
I look forward to the next book by this Author

[Michael Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mix of not well known cases

Easy read book of cases that are not usually listed in most publications. Recommend for holiday reading or just when on a break.