The Beast of Birkenshaw: Life of Serial Killer Peter Manuel

by Jack Smith

Some serial killers seem surreal, as if it's almost impossible to believe that an individual could do such horrific crimes. The Beast of Birkenshaw, a.k.a. Peter Manuel, was such an individual man. Download FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Peter Manuel was Scotland’s first serial killer and certainly the country’s most notorious mass murderer. But he was so much more than that. As well as the horrific nature of his murders, which killed men, women, and children, he possessed a constant arrogance and a swift intelligence that often allowed him to operate right underneath the noses of the local law enforcement. Always happy to embarrass the police in Glasgow and the surrounding area, he waged a lifelong battle of wits which ended with him being hanged. But the legend of Peter Manuel lives on. He had a penchant not only for violent killings, but for having the audacity to represent himself in court. Sometimes, this was successful and sometimes it was not. But each time, he was noted for his deft ability to out manoeuvre the best police officers Glasgow had to offer. When he eventually faced his last court hearing, it was described in the tabloids as the Trial of the Century. In this book, we will attempt to look into the history of the killer and the reasons he might have had for carrying out his horrific series of crimes. Throughout the various chapters of this book, we will meet the friends, the family members, and the enemies of Peter Thomas Anthony Manuel, the man described as having the names of the saints, but the heart of Satan himself. We will examine Manuel’s worst crimes, while exploring the background that made him into the man he was. We will even look at his obsession with outsmarting the authorities. If you would like to learn more about the life of Peter Manuel, this is the book for you. Scroll back and click the buy button for immediate download

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

117 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2016

About the author

Biographer and recorder of the history of serial killers

Reviews

[Anastasiya M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contained a fair amount of adult language as well as the depiction of uncensored sexual content. While I understand it's important to explain the crimes, I doubt it was necessary to provide that much detail. I couldn't believe that someone could be so arrogant and believe that they were so untouchable.

This book was riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes and used certain words incorrectly which was shocking.

Read more here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.wordpress...

[Tony Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

The life & times of serial killer: Peter Manuel Scottish 1st serial killer

I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.

Warning: This book contains descriptive accounts of extremely graphic adult content (racial hatred), violence, murder, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material (minor/adult verbal, psychological, emotional, physical & sexual abuse) which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader. If you are especially sensitive to this type of material, it is strongly advised not to read any further.

An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written serial killer book.
It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, a classroom PP presentation, or better yet a paid-per-view mini-TV series or even a documentary (Crime Museum; True Crime; American Crime Story; Investigative Discovery. There are no references, works cited, postscripts, or endnotes so I will only rate it at 3/5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Peter Manuel was Scotland’s first serial killer and certainly the country’s most notorious mass murderer.”


Born in New York City in 1927. Moved to Detroit shortly before The Great Depression. Back to Scotland in 1932.

Disruptive in class, sent to a more rigid Catholic elementary school. Move to England (father keeps trying to find work), incarcerated as a teenager.

Starts as a burglar, and inspired by American mobsters. Escalates to attacks on women; bounces between Scotland and England.

Intelligent, arrogant, and flawed: Peter always elects to defend himself in court. And he is adept at it. Especially using the loopholes that existed, back then, to defend himself—or just outright lie.

More murders and sexual assaults. Enjoys taunting and toying with the police.

Peter is one of the last criminals to be executed in Scotland.


“Often, some of his worst crimes simple came from a curiosity as to whether he could get away with it.”

[Lisa Baillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read. A great insight into the serial killer peter Manuel. His home was a few miles from where I grew up so that gave a more chilling view to the book. Reading about the pubs he would go in knowing I had been there too.. Thankfully not at the same time. He was w very interesting character. Very set in his ways at times. To be come across as a very well educated family man always immaculately dressed. To the more sinister side to his life. One can never understand what makes monsters like this tick. The book was very well written. Really enjoyed it

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grammar issues galore

I was really disappointed. The earlier books by this author had minor errors here and there, but they were somewhat tolerable and easily written off as typographical errors. This book, however, is so full of mistakes that it makes one wonder about the author's grasp of the English language. For example, "required" and "acquired" are completely different words with totally different meanings, and they are most certainly not interchangeable in any situation.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Manuel was a monster. How he got away for so long was amazing. Peter was cunning with a charming intelligence when dealing with the police and court system. Unfortunately that made him Scotland's first serial killer. And he was a vicious brute. And he was indiscriminate in his killings and assaulting of men, women, and children. What finally was determined is that the killer came to the realization once a victim escaped that if future victims were killed they wouldn't be able to testify against their murderer in court.

[Tom Stretton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing read.

I enjoy researching serial killers. I think many people do. It's the question of what makes these monsters tick and perform their despicable acts that really gets the brain going. Jack Smith does a great job of bringing the notorious Peter Manuel to life in this book and painting a picture of Scotland's most notorious killer.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

A straightforward retelling of the facts of the Manuel's criminal life. Not in any great depth and lacking many of the details you'd expect in a true-crime book - not that I'm a huge fan of such.

Still, at 93 pages, it was a quick read and filled in some of the gaps in my knowledge of these murders. But the 2016 television series, In Plain Sight, did it much better.

[Sandra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading about cases outside the USA

This guy, had both luck, incompetence of law enforcement & intellect on his side. Peter was a strange killer, his killings were not all the same type of victims. Mixed ways & victim's. Good read.

[Neal Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book.

Fascinating account and well worth the read, but several spelling/mistype errors slightly spoil the experience. All in all though, I would recommend this book.

[Patricia Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A monster for sure. Definitely a great read.

[Laura L. Willey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good.

I always enjoy reading Jack Smith's books. I have always enjoyed true crime books. Thanks again for another great read.

[Lyndsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written account (typos notwithstanding). Informative and easy to read.

[Christine Vose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary.

First heard about Peter Manuel on the TV made me more interested wanting a thorough version of what was. the truth this book told me all and more. Thanks.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brief but straightforward history of the infamous Scottish criminal.

[Archie Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good general overview of the case and the killer. although not the in depth examination I would usually prefer I still enjoyed it