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The Missing Beaumont Children: 50 Years of Mystery and Misery
The case of the "Missing Beaumont Children" has been forged into Australia's psyche and soul like no other crime. A crime so shocking that it has often been described as a defining moment in this country's history.
After 50 years of intense police investigation the whereabouts of Jane (9), Arnna (7) and Grant Beaumont (4) is still a mystery; Australia's most famous unsolved crime.
On the morning of January 26, 1966 the three children set off from their Somerton Park home to Glenelg Beach on a bus to enjoy a brief excursion at Adelaide's most popular beach only a few kilometres away. Apart from a brief sighting from the Beaumont family's postman early on that afternoon, there have been no other sightings of the children since.
The 'mystery' of the children's disappearance has often overshadowed the 'misery' the Beaumont parents have had to endure. This book takes the reader inside the trauma of Nancy and Grant; from the panic and heartbreaking first few days to the utter despair in later years.
Only seven years after the Beaumont disappearance, two girls Joanne Ratcliffe (11) and Kirste Gordon (4) were abducted from Adelaide Oval during a football match. Were the two abductions connected? How could they not be connected?
Author Michael Madigan delves into the sordid world of the numerous 'persons of interest' who have at times been suspects in this case and forensically answers the question 'who could do such a thing?'
After 50 years of intense police investigation the whereabouts of Jane (9), Arnna (7) and Grant Beaumont (4) is still a mystery; Australia's most famous unsolved crime.
On the morning of January 26, 1966 the three children set off from their Somerton Park home to Glenelg Beach on a bus to enjoy a brief excursion at Adelaide's most popular beach only a few kilometres away. Apart from a brief sighting from the Beaumont family's postman early on that afternoon, there have been no other sightings of the children since.
The 'mystery' of the children's disappearance has often overshadowed the 'misery' the Beaumont parents have had to endure. This book takes the reader inside the trauma of Nancy and Grant; from the panic and heartbreaking first few days to the utter despair in later years.
Only seven years after the Beaumont disappearance, two girls Joanne Ratcliffe (11) and Kirste Gordon (4) were abducted from Adelaide Oval during a football match. Were the two abductions connected? How could they not be connected?
Author Michael Madigan delves into the sordid world of the numerous 'persons of interest' who have at times been suspects in this case and forensically answers the question 'who could do such a thing?'
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 7, 2018
It is always going to be difficult to write something resolved about a crime that has hundreds of questions and no answers.
The multiplicity of the scenarios and suspects compiled by the author are at times disorientating and hard to follow.
Overall, there are some interesting aspects to this case. However, the information could have been better presented and organized by the author. The resounding tragedy of the continued anguish felt by the Beaumont parents was deeply moving.
The multiplicity of the scenarios and suspects compiled by the author are at times disorientating and hard to follow.
Overall, there are some interesting aspects to this case. However, the information could have been better presented and organized by the author. The resounding tragedy of the continued anguish felt by the Beaumont parents was deeply moving.
June 23, 2018
Australia has been and continues to be astonished by this mystery. I have read other books outlining the facts and speculation. This book is well written and although of course not containing additional 'facts' presents everything in a very easy to understand sequence. Excellent reading on what remains a complete puzzle.
October 13, 2019
Como cronología de los hechos, supongo que puede calificarse de impecable. Pero tiene poco de literario, la verdad.
February 27, 2016
Well written with a few typos. A look into the lives of the Beaumont parents during and since makes heartbreaking reading
February 6, 2017
Excellent book with up to date information on this tragic case. A few minor typos.
December 21, 2016
Heartwrenching story of the abduction of the Beaumont children. Some spelling errors/typos were a little distracting but it is an informative telling of this tragic case.
May 5, 2017
Like everyone my age, I grew up with the shadow of child abductions and murder. The Beaumonts, the Adelaide Oval abductions, the Wanda Beach murders....
The strength of the book is it is not sensationalist or speculative. It covers all the known ground & evidence and briefly profiles each of the main suspects who have emerged over the years. But doesn't claim to "know".
Some realtively new knowledge about the MO of child abductions and killers which has grown as detective work has become more sophisticated updates matters.
And WHO can ever forget the wacky clairvoyants who fetched up from time to time! Not surprisingly they all came to nought!
The dignity of and respect for the parents and families is maintained throughout.
There are a few proofreading and editorial clunkinesses that detract a bit as well as some unnecessary repetition. Needs a good edit!
The strength of the book is it is not sensationalist or speculative. It covers all the known ground & evidence and briefly profiles each of the main suspects who have emerged over the years. But doesn't claim to "know".
Some realtively new knowledge about the MO of child abductions and killers which has grown as detective work has become more sophisticated updates matters.
And WHO can ever forget the wacky clairvoyants who fetched up from time to time! Not surprisingly they all came to nought!
The dignity of and respect for the parents and families is maintained throughout.
There are a few proofreading and editorial clunkinesses that detract a bit as well as some unnecessary repetition. Needs a good edit!
February 22, 2021
This proved to be an interesting read, full of information about the mysterious disappearance of the Beaumont children, as well as two girls 5 years later. It was sad to read about what Grant and Nancy Beaumont went through, especially when they thought they might actually be reunited with their children. The author clearly did a lot of research.
The only downside was the number of typos in the book. The publisher was one I'd never heard of, so maybe it's self-published.
Still an intriguing book...I wonder if the two cases can ever be solved...
The only downside was the number of typos in the book. The publisher was one I'd never heard of, so maybe it's self-published.
Still an intriguing book...I wonder if the two cases can ever be solved...
May 15, 2018
Tragic and insightful all at once. This book does a good job of presenting the facts and not sensationalising things. I also appreciated how respectful the writer is to the parents of the missing children. True respect was shown. Overall this was a good read.
June 16, 2017
I couldn't put this book down! If you have an interest in this tragic case, you will want to read this one.
July 18, 2016
On Australia Day in January 1966, three young children went to their local beach in Adelaide and never returned. The Beaumont children, Jane aged 9, Arnna aged 7 and Grant aged 4 had vanished, with no eye-witnesses and no solid leads on what happened to them.
In The Missing Beaumont Children, author Michael Madigan provides a comprehensive review of this devastating case. He details the frantic searches and police investigations into the disappearance while remaining sensitive to the anguish of the children’s parents who today, still do not know what happened to their three beloved children. He discusses persons of interest in the case and reviews the psychology of individuals who abduct children. This is a book which asks those questions we all have regarding this case and attempts to find some answers in tragic true tale of missing children and the quest to find them.
You can read my full review of The Missing Beaumont Children on Crime Traveller: http://www.crimetraveller.org/2016/02...
In The Missing Beaumont Children, author Michael Madigan provides a comprehensive review of this devastating case. He details the frantic searches and police investigations into the disappearance while remaining sensitive to the anguish of the children’s parents who today, still do not know what happened to their three beloved children. He discusses persons of interest in the case and reviews the psychology of individuals who abduct children. This is a book which asks those questions we all have regarding this case and attempts to find some answers in tragic true tale of missing children and the quest to find them.
You can read my full review of The Missing Beaumont Children on Crime Traveller: http://www.crimetraveller.org/2016/02...
July 8, 2016
The 50 year mystery of the missing Beaumont children has been permanently etched into the minds and psyche of South Australians, if not all Australians ever since that dreadful day in January 1966. The three Beaumont children left their home that morning for a day at the beach but they were never to return home again.
This book brings together what little information the police have been able to gather over the days, months and years following the children's disappearance. The book talks about many of the persons of interest as well as touching on other disappearances around the country and whether they could be connected. Unfortunately there is no happy ending in this book. The Beaumont children are still missing. The person or persons involved have never been caught and our society is still questioning why someone would do such a horrible thing? - Mark, QBD Elizabeth
This book brings together what little information the police have been able to gather over the days, months and years following the children's disappearance. The book talks about many of the persons of interest as well as touching on other disappearances around the country and whether they could be connected. Unfortunately there is no happy ending in this book. The Beaumont children are still missing. The person or persons involved have never been caught and our society is still questioning why someone would do such a horrible thing? - Mark, QBD Elizabeth
December 14, 2025
This is one case that I would like to see solved before I die as it is as mystifying as it is heartbreaking. It almost seems impossible that three children could disappear off a crowded beach, never to be seen again and not a single clue as to their whereabouts. How hard it must have been for the Beaumont family to live the rest of their lives without knowing what become of their children.
I enjoyed the book and it is interesting to read about the different suspects (and may they all rot in hell) although it is hard to fathom that so many of them were in the area at the time.
This is a great book to read if you are not familiar with the Beaumont story and even if you are it gives a good overview on the difficulty on solving it.
I enjoyed the book and it is interesting to read about the different suspects (and may they all rot in hell) although it is hard to fathom that so many of them were in the area at the time.
This is a great book to read if you are not familiar with the Beaumont story and even if you are it gives a good overview on the difficulty on solving it.
April 26, 2016
An interesting and comprehensive account of two infamous unsolved South Australian abductions - The Beaumont Children and Joanne Ratcliffe/Kirste Gordon. However, the many typos and persistent spelling of physic instead of psychic are distracting and definitely pull the reader out of the story - which is frustrating and disappointing. Once you get past these issues though, this book is worth a read - especially if you are fascinated by true crime and are looking for more details on these two cases.
May 5, 2016
An interesting and wide ranging account of this enduring mystery, which also covers the disappearances at the Adelaide oval in some detail. Suspects are discussed, but the author never over reaches to try and persuade you of a particular point of view. Whilst not quite as good as Alan Whiticker's book on the same subject, an interesting read nonetheless.
March 24, 2016
This reads more like a more informative Wikipedia entry than an actual cohesive non-fiction narrative. There are also many typing errors which annoy and detract, especially the use of 'physic' instead of 'psychic' throughout the whole book.
April 14, 2017
Very intriguing mystery.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews