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A Dangerous Place: The Story of the Railway Murders
Shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger Award for Non-Fiction.
In September 1970, two boys met in the playground on their first day at secondary school in North London. They formed what would be described at the Old Bailey thirty years later as ‘a unique and wicked bond’. Between 1982 and 1986, striking near lonely railway stations in London and the Home Counties, their partnership took them from rape to murder. Three police forces pooled their resources to catch them in the biggest criminal manhunt since the Yorkshire Ripper Enquiry.
A Dangerous Place is the first full-length account of the crimes of John Duffy and David Mulcahy. Told by the son of one of the police officers who led the enquiry, exhaustively researched and with unprecedented access, this is the story of two of the most notorious serial killers of the twentieth century and the times they operated in. It is the story of the women who died at their hands. It is the story of the women who survived them, and who had the courage to ensure justice was done. And it is the story of a father, told by a son.
In September 1970, two boys met in the playground on their first day at secondary school in North London. They formed what would be described at the Old Bailey thirty years later as ‘a unique and wicked bond’. Between 1982 and 1986, striking near lonely railway stations in London and the Home Counties, their partnership took them from rape to murder. Three police forces pooled their resources to catch them in the biggest criminal manhunt since the Yorkshire Ripper Enquiry.
A Dangerous Place is the first full-length account of the crimes of John Duffy and David Mulcahy. Told by the son of one of the police officers who led the enquiry, exhaustively researched and with unprecedented access, this is the story of two of the most notorious serial killers of the twentieth century and the times they operated in. It is the story of the women who died at their hands. It is the story of the women who survived them, and who had the courage to ensure justice was done. And it is the story of a father, told by a son.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2016
34 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 24, 2024
Dangerous Place turns out to be the London of the 1980s where a pair of serial rapist-murderers were on the loose. John Duffy and David Mulcahy were school chums and outcasts. John was a short, acne-faced kid who was bullied at school and he hooked up with David.
A series of rapes were followed up by four murders and the author's father was a detective on the case. The book serves mostly as a tribute to Simon's father, Charles.
Unfortunately, the endless footnotes in tiny print distracted me from the main story.
Eventually, DNA matches first sent Duffy to prison, and years later were matched to Mulcahy, who continues to proclaim his innocence. Apparently, the police planted evidence in order to convict him. O.J. said much the same thing here in 1994.
The Old Bailey with QCs and men in white wigs are the primary part of the legal system in Britain and Dangerous Place is a cold read.
A series of rapes were followed up by four murders and the author's father was a detective on the case. The book serves mostly as a tribute to Simon's father, Charles.
Unfortunately, the endless footnotes in tiny print distracted me from the main story.
Eventually, DNA matches first sent Duffy to prison, and years later were matched to Mulcahy, who continues to proclaim his innocence. Apparently, the police planted evidence in order to convict him. O.J. said much the same thing here in 1994.
The Old Bailey with QCs and men in white wigs are the primary part of the legal system in Britain and Dangerous Place is a cold read.
March 15, 2017
This is a marvellous book. I'll admit I picked it up because I know the author a little from my university days, but that influences my review not one jot. A terrifying but sober depiction of the crimes of two terrible individuals, but also a touching tribute to Farquhar's late father, a main detective on the case. This should be a very famous book, and deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Blake Morrison's "As If", and Joseph Wambaugh's "The Blooding". Excellent.
September 25, 2018
As Farquhar himself states early on in his book, writing about a subject you greatly admire (in this case, the author's father) runs the great risk of turning into a hagiography. However, Farquhar treats the subject of his father's involvement in the Railway Murders with a deft and modest touch and his obvious admiration of a man of decency and fortitude takes second stage to the compelling narative of the crimes at hand.
Unlike much recent writing of this type which descends into a schmaltzy podcast 'my investigation led me to find out something profound about myself' this books concentrates on facts and they are presented with a frightening vividity.
Books like these are the rollercoaster ride of the writing world, we want to be scared but still we want to know that everything is fine and we are safe. Farquhar lets the crimes and the subsequent investigations speak for themselves and the chills and revelations do not feel overwrought or cheapened like a penny dreadful, they are real insights into awful crimes and I found myself not speculating on the lives of the killers but feeling real empathy for the fear and terror the victims went through. This is to Farquhar's credit.
Realy the only other writer who has hit that button for me is Gordon Burn, to compare Farquhar to him is in no way meant to cast him in Burn's shadow. Farquhar has found his own voice and it speaks with confidence and clarity.
Unlike much recent writing of this type which descends into a schmaltzy podcast 'my investigation led me to find out something profound about myself' this books concentrates on facts and they are presented with a frightening vividity.
Books like these are the rollercoaster ride of the writing world, we want to be scared but still we want to know that everything is fine and we are safe. Farquhar lets the crimes and the subsequent investigations speak for themselves and the chills and revelations do not feel overwrought or cheapened like a penny dreadful, they are real insights into awful crimes and I found myself not speculating on the lives of the killers but feeling real empathy for the fear and terror the victims went through. This is to Farquhar's credit.
Realy the only other writer who has hit that button for me is Gordon Burn, to compare Farquhar to him is in no way meant to cast him in Burn's shadow. Farquhar has found his own voice and it speaks with confidence and clarity.
January 11, 2025
I read a lot of true crime (i never read fiction) and have read all the supposed 'best' books on the subject some do but most do not live up to the hype.
I was trying to think of a good reason why not to give this five stars and there isn't a reason. It is brilliantly written, diligently researched, very sad, respectful and a kind of homage to his own father who led the investigation, my own father was a worthless wretch that sold the roof over his families head when i was 12 years old i could only wish for a Father like this author had.
I have mentioned in other reviews that i believe British authors write the best non fiction books in the world, well at least compared to US authors who seem to write film scripts in book form whereas British authors write books that can become film scripts. And this book a fine example.
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PS,and the best true crime books always leave you forearmed because they forewarn.
I was trying to think of a good reason why not to give this five stars and there isn't a reason. It is brilliantly written, diligently researched, very sad, respectful and a kind of homage to his own father who led the investigation, my own father was a worthless wretch that sold the roof over his families head when i was 12 years old i could only wish for a Father like this author had.
I have mentioned in other reviews that i believe British authors write the best non fiction books in the world, well at least compared to US authors who seem to write film scripts in book form whereas British authors write books that can become film scripts. And this book a fine example.
.
PS,and the best true crime books always leave you forearmed because they forewarn.
January 14, 2019
I don't usually read modern true crime, but picked this up on a whim as I was familiar with the author's writing from The Guardian newspaper. I'm glad I did, despite the harrowing subject matter, as Farquhar expertly and sensitively narrates the story of how London detectives, including his father, worked together to bring two of the UK's worst rapists and killers to justice. I was particularly struck by his clear sympathy for the victims, and the strong contrast between his own recollections of his father, a dedicated copper who insulated his family from the horror of his daily work, with the toxic "masculinity" of the killers during their escalating spiral of misogynistic violence. Recommended.
April 5, 2018
Completely compelling read. I've never read a true crime book that so deeply captured the story of the victims, detectives, and perpetrators so deeply. Thoroughly researched and sensitively told, this recounts the story not just of the vicious crimes, but also the people involved, and the context of the city, police department, and state of evolving technology and detective work, and how that all came together over such a long course of years from the beginning until Mulcahey and Duffy were finally brought to justice. Lovingly told by the son of a lead detective on the case, it interweaves a a biography of his late father into the story.
Definitely recommend this to any true crime fans.
Definitely recommend this to any true crime fans.
September 24, 2021
Detailed
A really good read with plenty of detail which I was previously unaware of. From start to finish, I had feelings of revulsion at the loathsome pair of subhumans who carried out these atrocities.
My only negative about the book is the eulogising by the author of his father and the investigating detectives: they were doing what they were paid to do, and it grated on me that they were portrayed as beyond reproach, and that they solved the case(s) entirely through their own efforts because, as with all enquiries, luck played a significant part. It'd be 5 stars without this reservation.
A really good read with plenty of detail which I was previously unaware of. From start to finish, I had feelings of revulsion at the loathsome pair of subhumans who carried out these atrocities.
My only negative about the book is the eulogising by the author of his father and the investigating detectives: they were doing what they were paid to do, and it grated on me that they were portrayed as beyond reproach, and that they solved the case(s) entirely through their own efforts because, as with all enquiries, luck played a significant part. It'd be 5 stars without this reservation.
January 7, 2019
What a great read this was. Because of so many disappointments while reading a lot of `new` true crime books I am so pleased when somebody does get it right. Simon Farquhar did!
An excellent true crime book. I loved the footnotes that were added in the kindle version. I was never bored. The author showed how the police managed to catch 2 very cruel killers. He had a personal state in tis because his dad was a police agent who had also done great discoveries about the case.
Highly recommend!
An excellent true crime book. I loved the footnotes that were added in the kindle version. I was never bored. The author showed how the police managed to catch 2 very cruel killers. He had a personal state in tis because his dad was a police agent who had also done great discoveries about the case.
Highly recommend!
August 23, 2017
Story of two evil men
we never know when evil may strike.There was nothing in the backgrounds of these two men that predicted the evil monsters they would become.A very good account written by the son of the detective in charge of the case at the time.These men were guilty of many rapes and 3 murders and we shoud all feel safer with them in jail for the rest of their natural lives.
we never know when evil may strike.There was nothing in the backgrounds of these two men that predicted the evil monsters they would become.A very good account written by the son of the detective in charge of the case at the time.These men were guilty of many rapes and 3 murders and we shoud all feel safer with them in jail for the rest of their natural lives.
June 11, 2020
What a great book. Sympathetically and extremely well written it's one of the best books I have reading a long while. I knew about these cases and about who the killers were but didn't know half if it. The author is the son of one of the detectives in charge of one of the cases and it is really very interesting reading. May the victims who were murdered by this pair rest in peace and may the survivors be able to get on with their lives in some sort of normality.
November 1, 2025
The writing style is not gripping at all. Besides the author like to talk about random stuff which I usually allow it with good author but this one is such annoying to read because it wasn't told in an interesting way. It's like reading wikipedia but it could never get to the point.
Before the book even begin with the case, you had to read 30 pages of his dad's history in the most bland way.
Before the book even begin with the case, you had to read 30 pages of his dad's history in the most bland way.
September 25, 2018
What a really well researched and fascinating book.
I never knew much about these two evil men but I do now. Simon adds in extra information which is relevant and interesting and makes the book flow beautifully.
A heartbreaking but very good page turner.
I never knew much about these two evil men but I do now. Simon adds in extra information which is relevant and interesting and makes the book flow beautifully.
A heartbreaking but very good page turner.
February 16, 2019
Emotive and fascinating
Beautifully written, fantastic narrative. It bought tears to my eyes when the author spoke about this late father. A true life horror story about the sins of men.
Beautifully written, fantastic narrative. It bought tears to my eyes when the author spoke about this late father. A true life horror story about the sins of men.
June 15, 2025
Chilling in light of Adolescence. Makes one think of Hannah Arendt and the banality of evil. As a son, it's not surprising that Farquahar paints a rosy picture of the police successes rather than the many ways they continue to fail rape victims.
June 21, 2018
Gripping
Well written factual book that drips with respect and love for the authors dad. Great details and respectfully written for the victims and family.
Well written factual book that drips with respect and love for the authors dad. Great details and respectfully written for the victims and family.
January 14, 2020
A must read
A brilliant narrative of a horrendous episode of criminality. Once started could not put book down. Brilliant police work from both senior and junior CID ranks
A brilliant narrative of a horrendous episode of criminality. Once started could not put book down. Brilliant police work from both senior and junior CID ranks
October 20, 2020
Brilliant book
Brilliant read and very informative book well worth buying been well researched thanks simon farquhar you must be so proud of your dad
Brilliant read and very informative book well worth buying been well researched thanks simon farquhar you must be so proud of your dad
November 8, 2024
A quite brilliant account by the son of one of the detectives involved in this case. Duffy and Mulcahy were plain evil and justice finally prevailed when Duffy's conscience got the better of him.
June 28, 2022
A chilling but fascinating examination of the heinous crimes perpetrated by Duffy & Mulcahy & the subsequent investigation led by the author's own father.
November 8, 2016
Excellently written by Simon Farquhar who has skilfully picked his way through screeds of information about two men metaphorically joined at the hip, who initially went on raping sprees then went on to commit murders.
October 15, 2019
An excellent exploration by an author with close ties to the case.
April 3, 2017
A very good account
I remember the reports of the murders of the three women included in this book but couldn't recall who had been found guilty so this made very interesting reading for me in that respect and to learn of the additional horrendous attacks on other innocent women they were guilty of. The two perpetrators were truly evil in their treatment of their victims both separately and alone and thank goodness they will never be out in society again.
I remember the reports of the murders of the three women included in this book but couldn't recall who had been found guilty so this made very interesting reading for me in that respect and to learn of the additional horrendous attacks on other innocent women they were guilty of. The two perpetrators were truly evil in their treatment of their victims both separately and alone and thank goodness they will never be out in society again.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews