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Peter Tobin: Hunting Shadows
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March 7, 2026
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Review for 'Hunting Shadows' by Jane Hamilton
This is the first book that I have read by this brilliant author but I am definitely looking forward to reading more from her!!
I will start by saying that this isn't my usual chosen genre being non-fiction but I'm an eclectic reader and happy to read most books. I am also intrigued by true crime stories and have never actually heard of Peter Tobin nor of Angus Sinclair or Robert Black who are also discussed in this book. I must say that if you are the same as me and don't normally read non fiction then don't let that put you off, expand your literature genres and pick up your copy of this great book today and I can promise that you will not regret it!
This book is a memoir written by journalist Jane Hamilton about the serial killer Peter Tobin so please be aware that it does contain details about the murders so it is most definitely not for the faint hearted. What I loved about this book in particular is that although Jane does include details about Peter Tobin but she also focuses on his victims ensuring that they are the ones whose memories live on as they deserve to be. I am shocked that I have never read any of Jane's books before as I have a book shelf dedicated to true crime books and have read many other ones also. I am pleased that I have discovered her work now and am looking forward to reading more of her previous and future books. Jane does go in to detail when it comes to the crimes, let's be honest it would not be a true memoir if she didn't, but she does this as sensitively as possible without glorifying Peter nor his killings. It is not just Peter that she discusses in this book but also other killers such as "Bible John", Angus Sinclair and Robert Black. As I have previously mentioned I had never heard about any of these killers before so I was pleased that I have learned more information than when I started the book. I always enjoy reading books that I learn from as I also then go on to do my own research after which I enjoy doing. Peter Tobin was a Scottish serial killer as well as a $3x offender. This memoir is open, raw and honest and one of the most shocking things I discovered was how he could and should have been arrested before he killed as many as he did but the police failed to report immediately to an attack and didn't turn up until the next day!! If they had come out immediately at least one death could have been avoided and Peter would have been arrested before. The fact that he was first arrested and put in jail for 14 years in 1994 for a double $£xual attack on two young girls and then left prison in 2004 to then continue evading the police and carrying on his attacks and murders is absolutely deplorable! He managed to evade capture by constantly travelling to different countries and changing his identities. Of course back then it was easier to run and hide but at the same time if the police had worked together in the different countries and actually turned up after attacks then a lot of heartache could have been avoided!! Anyway, moving on from what could have been done to save lives. In this book Jane goes in to details and tells us the lives of the victims that we knew Peter had killed. These were 15 year old Vicky Hamilton who went missing on the 10th February 1991 from a bus stop in Bathgate, 18 year old Dinah McNicol who went missing after being picked up by a hitchhiker after a festival in Hampshire on the 5th August 1991 and 23 year old Angelika Kluk who disappeared from a Catholic Parish Glasgow on the 24th September 2006. She also discusses "Bible John" who murdered 25 year old Patricia Docker in February 1968, 31 year old Jemima MacDonald in August 1969, 29 year old Helen Puttock in October 1969. Many believed "Bible John" and Peter Tobin were one and the same as there were many similarities although it was never proven and Peter had alibis for some of Bible Johns killings. These are just some of the victims named and spoken about in this book. Jane shows the affects that these killings have had on the family members, friends, the police, reporters, jurors and communities. The fact that Jane has clearly done years and years of research shines through her words and although this book is a difficult, heart-breaking and harrowing read it is a must read to ensure that the victims are never forgotten and that their lives do not get lost in the history books. I devoured this book in two days although it would have been quicker if my health allowed as I struggled to put it down and only did so due to my health as I was glued to the pages. Jane has written this memoir extremely well and leaves nothing out. She speaks about police procedures, HOMES 2, how technology has helped to stop killers getting away with it as long as Peter did, Operation ANAGRAM, what was learned from the failure in this case, what it is like for journalists along with the families of these killers. It is a very powerful and emotional read and one that will stay with me for a very long time. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Jane's non fiction books.
Thank you Jane for bringing this story into the world and ensuring the victims stories are told.
Overall an emotional, harrowing, must read, honest true crime memoir.
#HuntingShadows #JaneHamilton #MirrorBooks #RandomThingsTours #RandomTTours
@JaneHamilton @Jane.DHamilton @MirrorBooks @mirror.books @RandomThingsTours @RandomTTours
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Review for 'Hunting Shadows' by Jane Hamilton
This is the first book that I have read by this brilliant author but I am definitely looking forward to reading more from her!!
I will start by saying that this isn't my usual chosen genre being non-fiction but I'm an eclectic reader and happy to read most books. I am also intrigued by true crime stories and have never actually heard of Peter Tobin nor of Angus Sinclair or Robert Black who are also discussed in this book. I must say that if you are the same as me and don't normally read non fiction then don't let that put you off, expand your literature genres and pick up your copy of this great book today and I can promise that you will not regret it!
This book is a memoir written by journalist Jane Hamilton about the serial killer Peter Tobin so please be aware that it does contain details about the murders so it is most definitely not for the faint hearted. What I loved about this book in particular is that although Jane does include details about Peter Tobin but she also focuses on his victims ensuring that they are the ones whose memories live on as they deserve to be. I am shocked that I have never read any of Jane's books before as I have a book shelf dedicated to true crime books and have read many other ones also. I am pleased that I have discovered her work now and am looking forward to reading more of her previous and future books. Jane does go in to detail when it comes to the crimes, let's be honest it would not be a true memoir if she didn't, but she does this as sensitively as possible without glorifying Peter nor his killings. It is not just Peter that she discusses in this book but also other killers such as "Bible John", Angus Sinclair and Robert Black. As I have previously mentioned I had never heard about any of these killers before so I was pleased that I have learned more information than when I started the book. I always enjoy reading books that I learn from as I also then go on to do my own research after which I enjoy doing. Peter Tobin was a Scottish serial killer as well as a $3x offender. This memoir is open, raw and honest and one of the most shocking things I discovered was how he could and should have been arrested before he killed as many as he did but the police failed to report immediately to an attack and didn't turn up until the next day!! If they had come out immediately at least one death could have been avoided and Peter would have been arrested before. The fact that he was first arrested and put in jail for 14 years in 1994 for a double $£xual attack on two young girls and then left prison in 2004 to then continue evading the police and carrying on his attacks and murders is absolutely deplorable! He managed to evade capture by constantly travelling to different countries and changing his identities. Of course back then it was easier to run and hide but at the same time if the police had worked together in the different countries and actually turned up after attacks then a lot of heartache could have been avoided!! Anyway, moving on from what could have been done to save lives. In this book Jane goes in to details and tells us the lives of the victims that we knew Peter had killed. These were 15 year old Vicky Hamilton who went missing on the 10th February 1991 from a bus stop in Bathgate, 18 year old Dinah McNicol who went missing after being picked up by a hitchhiker after a festival in Hampshire on the 5th August 1991 and 23 year old Angelika Kluk who disappeared from a Catholic Parish Glasgow on the 24th September 2006. She also discusses "Bible John" who murdered 25 year old Patricia Docker in February 1968, 31 year old Jemima MacDonald in August 1969, 29 year old Helen Puttock in October 1969. Many believed "Bible John" and Peter Tobin were one and the same as there were many similarities although it was never proven and Peter had alibis for some of Bible Johns killings. These are just some of the victims named and spoken about in this book. Jane shows the affects that these killings have had on the family members, friends, the police, reporters, jurors and communities. The fact that Jane has clearly done years and years of research shines through her words and although this book is a difficult, heart-breaking and harrowing read it is a must read to ensure that the victims are never forgotten and that their lives do not get lost in the history books. I devoured this book in two days although it would have been quicker if my health allowed as I struggled to put it down and only did so due to my health as I was glued to the pages. Jane has written this memoir extremely well and leaves nothing out. She speaks about police procedures, HOMES 2, how technology has helped to stop killers getting away with it as long as Peter did, Operation ANAGRAM, what was learned from the failure in this case, what it is like for journalists along with the families of these killers. It is a very powerful and emotional read and one that will stay with me for a very long time. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Jane's non fiction books.
Thank you Jane for bringing this story into the world and ensuring the victims stories are told.
Overall an emotional, harrowing, must read, honest true crime memoir.
#HuntingShadows #JaneHamilton #MirrorBooks #RandomThingsTours #RandomTTours
@JaneHamilton @Jane.DHamilton @MirrorBooks @mirror.books @RandomThingsTours @RandomTTours
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenOldies...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/a...
Displaying 1 of 1 review