What do you think?
Rate this book
Mary Ann Cotton: Dark Angel: Britain's First Female Serial Killer
A true crime account of the life, trial, death, and aftermath of Britain’s first female serial killer.
A female thief, with four husbands, a lover and, reportedly, over twelve children, is arrested and tried for the murder of her stepson in 1872, turning the small village of West Auckland in County Durham upside down. Other bodies are exhumed and when they are found to contain arsenic, she is suspected of their murder as well. The perpetrator, Mary Ann Cotton, was tried and found guilty and later hanged on 24 March 1873 in Durham Gaol. It is claimed she murdered over twenty people and was the first female serial killer in England.
With location photographs and a blow-by-blow account of the trial, this book challenges the claim that Mary Ann Cotton was the “The West Auckland Borgia,” a title given to her at the time. It sets out her life, trial, death, and the aftermath and also questions the legal system used to convict her by looking at contemporary evidence from the time and offering another explanation for the deaths. The book also covers the lives of those left behind, including the daughter born to Mary Ann Cotton in Durham Gaol.
Mary Ann Cotton’s crimes were the subject of the 2016 ITV drama, Dark Angel , starring Joanne Froggatt.
Praise for Mary Ann Cotton, Dark Angel
Recommended as one of the Evening Standard ’s “Best biographies and memoirs to read in 2016”
“For true crime historians, fans of intriguing crime tales, and those interested in how criminal justice operated in the Victorian era, this is a well-presented book on a complex case. Furthermore, it is a book which explores all the evidence available and questions whether or not the conviction and execution of Mary Ann Cotton in 1873 was the correct outcome.” — Crime Traveller
A female thief, with four husbands, a lover and, reportedly, over twelve children, is arrested and tried for the murder of her stepson in 1872, turning the small village of West Auckland in County Durham upside down. Other bodies are exhumed and when they are found to contain arsenic, she is suspected of their murder as well. The perpetrator, Mary Ann Cotton, was tried and found guilty and later hanged on 24 March 1873 in Durham Gaol. It is claimed she murdered over twenty people and was the first female serial killer in England.
With location photographs and a blow-by-blow account of the trial, this book challenges the claim that Mary Ann Cotton was the “The West Auckland Borgia,” a title given to her at the time. It sets out her life, trial, death, and the aftermath and also questions the legal system used to convict her by looking at contemporary evidence from the time and offering another explanation for the deaths. The book also covers the lives of those left behind, including the daughter born to Mary Ann Cotton in Durham Gaol.
Mary Ann Cotton’s crimes were the subject of the 2016 ITV drama, Dark Angel , starring Joanne Froggatt.
Praise for Mary Ann Cotton, Dark Angel
Recommended as one of the Evening Standard ’s “Best biographies and memoirs to read in 2016”
“For true crime historians, fans of intriguing crime tales, and those interested in how criminal justice operated in the Victorian era, this is a well-presented book on a complex case. Furthermore, it is a book which explores all the evidence available and questions whether or not the conviction and execution of Mary Ann Cotton in 1873 was the correct outcome.” — Crime Traveller
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2012
92 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 21, 2024
Mary Ann Cotton was known as the Poisonous Serial killer in the late 1800’s. She was tried, convicted and hanged for the murder of her stepson. It is believed she poisoned (murdered) approximately 21 relatives and friends.
August 5, 2016
For this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
*** NOTE: It should be understood that the title of this piece is somewhat misleading as Mary Ann Cotton was not Britain's First Female Serial Killer. For more information on her predecessors, please click here.
Mary Ann Cotton - Dark Angel Britain's First Female Serial Killer by Martin Connolly looked interesting from the start. I’m fascinated with true crime stories and female serial killers aren’t exactly common, so I requested an ARC and was pretty excited when a copy of the book landed in my inbox. Unfortunately, for me though, that enthusiasm was short lived.
In the introduction, Martin notes that he chose to write this biography/case study in response to queries he received after publishing The Potted History of West Auckland. He explains that Mary Ann’s story generated a lot of interest and he felt compelled to put together a more complete picture of her life. That’s great and quite generous in a way, but I think this admission has a lot to do with the difficulties I experienced while reading Connolly’s finished work.
I’d never heard of Mary Ann Cotton, but the author was catering to an audience who had and that disconnect impacted my experience. I didn’t understand the basics of the case and long story short, I found Connolly’s narration intensely difficult to navigate. The author jumps about the timeline on the assumption that his audience knows all the players, understands the crime, and has a general awareness of how events will unfold.
I ended up supplementing my reading with a fair amount of virtual research just to finish the book and found myself thinking the finished book more trouble than it’d been worth. The material is interesting, but I felt much of its power lost in the telling and would have difficulty recommending this one to all but ardent enthusiasts.
*** NOTE: It should be understood that the title of this piece is somewhat misleading as Mary Ann Cotton was not Britain's First Female Serial Killer. For more information on her predecessors, please click here.
Mary Ann Cotton - Dark Angel Britain's First Female Serial Killer by Martin Connolly looked interesting from the start. I’m fascinated with true crime stories and female serial killers aren’t exactly common, so I requested an ARC and was pretty excited when a copy of the book landed in my inbox. Unfortunately, for me though, that enthusiasm was short lived.
In the introduction, Martin notes that he chose to write this biography/case study in response to queries he received after publishing The Potted History of West Auckland. He explains that Mary Ann’s story generated a lot of interest and he felt compelled to put together a more complete picture of her life. That’s great and quite generous in a way, but I think this admission has a lot to do with the difficulties I experienced while reading Connolly’s finished work.
I’d never heard of Mary Ann Cotton, but the author was catering to an audience who had and that disconnect impacted my experience. I didn’t understand the basics of the case and long story short, I found Connolly’s narration intensely difficult to navigate. The author jumps about the timeline on the assumption that his audience knows all the players, understands the crime, and has a general awareness of how events will unfold.
I ended up supplementing my reading with a fair amount of virtual research just to finish the book and found myself thinking the finished book more trouble than it’d been worth. The material is interesting, but I felt much of its power lost in the telling and would have difficulty recommending this one to all but ardent enthusiasts.
August 2, 2016
With a new drama series being aired later this year (2016) about Mary Ann Cotton, I was intrigued to read this new edition of a book about Britain’s first female serial killer, by local historian Martin Connolly. Mary Ann Robson was born in 1932, to Methodist parents in a mining community. It would be some time before she became Mary Ann Cotton and, in her life, she would have a number of bewildering name changes, and husbands, over the years.
Connolly is obviously a great source of local history and he has done his research in tracking Mary Ann’s progress through various jobs, marriages and the births – and deaths – of her many children. He is scrupulously fair in his reporting and so Mary Ann is certainly not painted in a bad light, and her guilt is not assumed. One of the problems is that in the early section of the book, what we have are facts, dates and lists of births and deaths. I found it quite a frustrating read, trying to keep track of who was who; especially as Mary Ann had some very favoured names and several children were named Margaret or Robert.
Although it is good to keep an open mind, the number of deaths surrounding Mary Ann and, often her behaviour, is – to put it kindly – highly suspicious. Still, it is obvious that Connolly wants to be fair and so he is always giving other possible reasons for events. Still, the first half of this book is fairly dry and I will admit to struggling with this. There are, though, a number of news articles and reports from newspapers at the time, which help give a sense of place and time. I did not feel though that I knew Mary Ann very well, or what motivated her; aside from her desire for money and security, which, considering her relatively poor background is quite understandable.
If you can stay with this book until you get to the trial, then it certainly becomes more interesting. There are many of Mary Ann’s letters from prison (although these are typed and it would have been nice to have seen reproductions), plus a good examination of the evidence. This is a rather dry, if interesting, read, which would have been improved had the author managed to show us more of what made Mary Ann Cotton into the person she became, rather than just giving us the facts about her life. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Connolly is obviously a great source of local history and he has done his research in tracking Mary Ann’s progress through various jobs, marriages and the births – and deaths – of her many children. He is scrupulously fair in his reporting and so Mary Ann is certainly not painted in a bad light, and her guilt is not assumed. One of the problems is that in the early section of the book, what we have are facts, dates and lists of births and deaths. I found it quite a frustrating read, trying to keep track of who was who; especially as Mary Ann had some very favoured names and several children were named Margaret or Robert.
Although it is good to keep an open mind, the number of deaths surrounding Mary Ann and, often her behaviour, is – to put it kindly – highly suspicious. Still, it is obvious that Connolly wants to be fair and so he is always giving other possible reasons for events. Still, the first half of this book is fairly dry and I will admit to struggling with this. There are, though, a number of news articles and reports from newspapers at the time, which help give a sense of place and time. I did not feel though that I knew Mary Ann very well, or what motivated her; aside from her desire for money and security, which, considering her relatively poor background is quite understandable.
If you can stay with this book until you get to the trial, then it certainly becomes more interesting. There are many of Mary Ann’s letters from prison (although these are typed and it would have been nice to have seen reproductions), plus a good examination of the evidence. This is a rather dry, if interesting, read, which would have been improved had the author managed to show us more of what made Mary Ann Cotton into the person she became, rather than just giving us the facts about her life. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
August 3, 2016
Mary Ann Cotton was born in South Hetton, England in 1832 to a mining family. Her father, a bound miner, was contracted for one year receiving a deplorable family dwelling and meager wages. Upon contract completion, a mining family was displaced unless the breadwinner renewed for the subsequent year. Miners were forced to work in dangerous, unhealthy mines that might flood or collapse.This miserable existence was further complicated by rampant diseases such as typhoid, cholera and gastric flu. It was no surprise that Mary Ann's father died in a mine shaft accident and the family lost their income and housing.
Leaving home at 16 years old, Mary secured a job as a nurse for mine owner Edward Potter. When the Potter children left for boarding school, Mary's taste of a rich lifestyle abruptly ended. Mary was determined, despite
her strict Methodist upbringing, to use her feminine wiles to find a rich husband. In this quest she married four times and had twelve or more children. Most suffered untimely deaths while Mary collected money from their life insurance policies. Were the deaths caused by disease, natural causes or the work of a murderer?
Thoroughly researched and meticulously presented one can view birth records, death certificates, and census records of Mary Cotton's various living arrangements. Author Martin Connolly makes the true crime story of "Mary Cotton-Dark Angel" come to life. The reader experiences the 1870's arrest, incarceration and murder trial of Mary Cotton. A fascinating, totally engrossing read.
Thank you Pen and Sword Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Mary Ann Cotton-Dark Angel".
Leaving home at 16 years old, Mary secured a job as a nurse for mine owner Edward Potter. When the Potter children left for boarding school, Mary's taste of a rich lifestyle abruptly ended. Mary was determined, despite
her strict Methodist upbringing, to use her feminine wiles to find a rich husband. In this quest she married four times and had twelve or more children. Most suffered untimely deaths while Mary collected money from their life insurance policies. Were the deaths caused by disease, natural causes or the work of a murderer?
Thoroughly researched and meticulously presented one can view birth records, death certificates, and census records of Mary Cotton's various living arrangements. Author Martin Connolly makes the true crime story of "Mary Cotton-Dark Angel" come to life. The reader experiences the 1870's arrest, incarceration and murder trial of Mary Cotton. A fascinating, totally engrossing read.
Thank you Pen and Sword Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Mary Ann Cotton-Dark Angel".
May 29, 2018
I like true crime but this is also a bit of a mystery. Skimmed through some of this as it was highly repetitious.
June 5, 2020
Boring
It was so dry and bland I could not finish it. Wish I had not wasted my time or money
It was so dry and bland I could not finish it. Wish I had not wasted my time or money
April 17, 2024
Very interesting book!!!
September 4, 2016
Timed to coincide with the launch of new ITV television drama “Dark Angel” this book chronicles the life and times of Mary Ann Cotton, the first convicted female serial killer in England. I have to confess to being interested in this story on several different levels. Female serial killers are a rare beast so it is always interesting to find out a bit more about what made her tick and to speculate on why she set out on the path that she did. I also find it fascinating from a social history point of view as well. The mining community that she grew up in also housed a few of my husband’s ancestors. It would be interesting to know what they had thought about the celebrity in their midst.
The writing style will be fairly familiar to anyone who has ever done any family history research. Connolly has opted for a factual trip through the official documentation that proves various events in Mary Ann’s life. Beautifully illustrated by photos and maps of the local area he includes copies of local census entries and birth marriage and death records from the local Methodist churches. I originally had a digital copy of the book as my review copy from the publisher but ended up buying the printed version because of these superb photos and illustrations.
Connolly does take a very fair approach to the story refusing to speculate on what might have happened – leaving much of that to the excerpts from local newspapers etc. The inclusion of some of these sensationalist reports is interesting and gives you an idea of what Mary Ann was up against in her attempt to defend herself.
This was a time with high infant mortality and outbreaks of typhoid and cholera were frequent as well as the childhood diseases like measles and chicken pox. Any family history research in this area and at this time will reveal high numbers of children not making it to adulthood although in Mary Ann’s case it is particularly damning. A female thief with four husbands, a lover and over twelve children she was only arrested after the death of her step son. After this accusation other bodies were exhumed and the case against her began to build.
It is a fascinating story of the English legal system in the nineteenth century and indeed the tabloid style newspaper coverage that was clamouring for her head long before any conviction. This is a riveting read and one that will leave you with as many questions as there are answers.
Supplied by Net Galley and Pen and Sword in exchange for an honest review.
The writing style will be fairly familiar to anyone who has ever done any family history research. Connolly has opted for a factual trip through the official documentation that proves various events in Mary Ann’s life. Beautifully illustrated by photos and maps of the local area he includes copies of local census entries and birth marriage and death records from the local Methodist churches. I originally had a digital copy of the book as my review copy from the publisher but ended up buying the printed version because of these superb photos and illustrations.
Connolly does take a very fair approach to the story refusing to speculate on what might have happened – leaving much of that to the excerpts from local newspapers etc. The inclusion of some of these sensationalist reports is interesting and gives you an idea of what Mary Ann was up against in her attempt to defend herself.
This was a time with high infant mortality and outbreaks of typhoid and cholera were frequent as well as the childhood diseases like measles and chicken pox. Any family history research in this area and at this time will reveal high numbers of children not making it to adulthood although in Mary Ann’s case it is particularly damning. A female thief with four husbands, a lover and over twelve children she was only arrested after the death of her step son. After this accusation other bodies were exhumed and the case against her began to build.
It is a fascinating story of the English legal system in the nineteenth century and indeed the tabloid style newspaper coverage that was clamouring for her head long before any conviction. This is a riveting read and one that will leave you with as many questions as there are answers.
Supplied by Net Galley and Pen and Sword in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2016
The Mary Ann Cotton case is one which has featured repeatedly in history. A female serial killer of Victorian England who followed the profile of a ‘black widow’, poisoning her husbands and her children for financial reward.
In Mary Ann Cotton: Dark Angel author Martin Connolly who lived in the same village as her crimes were thought to have taken place, explores the life of Mary Ann Cotton and her murder trial in remarkable detail. Including photographs and excerpts from newspapers of the time, her own personal letters and the trial itself, this book is an extensive account of an intriguing case. Mary Ann Cotton was found guilty and hanged on 24 March 1873 at Durham Country Gaol by executioner William Calcraft. The question is however, how many people did she actually murder if, she was guilty of murder at all?
While the level of detail and the complexity of the case can be confusing in places, Martin Connolly has provided a well-presented and thoroughly researched narrative alongside raising his own questions on the credibility of her conviction and the evidence held against her. He uses his research skills to highlight plausible defence theories in the case of Mary Ann Cotton. He, for example, discovers the article published in respected medical publication The Lancet which discusses deaths which have occurred due to the arsenic present in green wallpaper. Arsenic which can be released into the air when such wallpaper is heated through the presence of a fireplace in the room.
Mary Ann Cotton: Dark Angel is quite heavy reading with a great deal of information to digest. In later chapters which cover the trial of Mary Ann, this level of detail does work better giving an insight into how a criminal trial proceeded in 1873 and the full proceedings against the accused. These chapters include excerpts of witness testimony and prosecution statements alongside examples of the obvious trial by media that was taking place around Durham and surrounding England through the fascination of newspapers and the public in the case of the ‘West Auckland Borgia'.
A good read for the true crime history fan and an excellent resource on a famous case that few can forget.
Read my full review of Mary Ann Cotton Dark Angel on Crime Traveller at: http://www.crimetraveller.org/2016/11...
December 3, 2018
Conoscevo la storia di Mary Ann Cotton solo superficialmente, avendo visto qualche docufiction su di lei.
Il libro racconta sommariamente della sua vita, dei numerosi figli e mariti e, soprattutto, delle morti che le sono state imputate, 21 in tutto (tutte per avvelenamento con arsenico). Parla, più che altro, dei vari processi che la donna ha subito, imputata solo per l'ultimo omicidio che avrebbe commesso.
Le varie fasi del processo, stralci di testimonianze, la messa in evidenza del scarso lavoro di difesa eseguito dai legali, non sempre per loro colpa, e il lavoro dei media e del passaparola che, più delle prove (solo circostanziali) l'hanno effettivamente condannata.
Mary Ann si è sempre professata innocente, incolpando il caso (utilizzo di prodotti a base di arsenico, inquinamento ambientale - documentato ai tempi, o prodotti adulerati da altri) e la sfortuna.
L'autore mette in evidenza il fatto che tutti gli esperti della accusa ignoravano la documentazione che parlava degli avvelenamenti per colpa dell'arsenico presente in un certo titpo di carta daparati (come quella in casa della donna), e il fatto che l'accusatore più attivo fosse il rivenditore di prodotti naturali che, in alcune ipotesi, avrebbe venduto la sostanza inquinata dall'arsenico.
Di fatto Mary Ann venne trovata colpevole del solo caso ascrittole, l'ultimo figlio adottivo che aveva in cura, e impiccata, senza appello e senza una corretta difesa.
Nell'immaginario comune è una sorta di vedova nera, nella realtà non si sarà mai la verità. Se veramente colpevole di tutte le morti ascrittele o solo vittima del caso.
Il libro racconta sommariamente della sua vita, dei numerosi figli e mariti e, soprattutto, delle morti che le sono state imputate, 21 in tutto (tutte per avvelenamento con arsenico). Parla, più che altro, dei vari processi che la donna ha subito, imputata solo per l'ultimo omicidio che avrebbe commesso.
Le varie fasi del processo, stralci di testimonianze, la messa in evidenza del scarso lavoro di difesa eseguito dai legali, non sempre per loro colpa, e il lavoro dei media e del passaparola che, più delle prove (solo circostanziali) l'hanno effettivamente condannata.
Mary Ann si è sempre professata innocente, incolpando il caso (utilizzo di prodotti a base di arsenico, inquinamento ambientale - documentato ai tempi, o prodotti adulerati da altri) e la sfortuna.
L'autore mette in evidenza il fatto che tutti gli esperti della accusa ignoravano la documentazione che parlava degli avvelenamenti per colpa dell'arsenico presente in un certo titpo di carta daparati (come quella in casa della donna), e il fatto che l'accusatore più attivo fosse il rivenditore di prodotti naturali che, in alcune ipotesi, avrebbe venduto la sostanza inquinata dall'arsenico.
Di fatto Mary Ann venne trovata colpevole del solo caso ascrittole, l'ultimo figlio adottivo che aveva in cura, e impiccata, senza appello e senza una corretta difesa.
Nell'immaginario comune è una sorta di vedova nera, nella realtà non si sarà mai la verità. Se veramente colpevole di tutte le morti ascrittele o solo vittima del caso.
August 18, 2016
I became interested in Mary Ann Cotton after hearing an episode about her on the Things You Missed In History podcast. First off, dang that woman gave birth to a lot of children! How come no one has considered postpartum depression in their modern revisits to the crimes? Well, that is assuming that she committed them. Mr. Connolly does an excellent job of questioning whether she should have been convicted (poor or completely absent defense and lack or evidence) and whether Mary Ann actually did poison all those people. What I felt Mr. Connolly didn't do a good of job at was making his writing friendly to the regular reader. I am not saying we are simpletons and he needed to dumb down what he wrote, but he was rather wordy and seemed to enjoy clever phrases such as "led to an urgent need to get married" instead of telling us the woman was pregnant. Also, because of the presentation style, going over the events as they took place and then moving on to the court case, the book became very repetitive. Quotes and even a letter were included more than once. When this happens I wonder if the author doesn't feel like they have enough information to work with. Or perhaps do they think we won't remember that they said the same thing 30 pages prior? All in all, I did like the subject matter and all the copies of census reports and photos Mr. Connolly included. It is very evident that he did his research. I wish it had been presented in a more "user friendly" manner.
A preview copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Pen & Sword in exchange for an honest review.
A preview copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Pen & Sword in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2016
Positive
Absolutely brilliant read,liked the way everything was put in sections. made it easier to read from beginning to end.highly recommend
Absolutely brilliant read,liked the way everything was put in sections. made it easier to read from beginning to end.highly recommend
November 21, 2020
Not all serial killer cases are black and white. Especially in the late 1800s, back when there was no DNA and nothing of the technology which arms law enforcement nowadays to take down these cold-hearted people.
I heard it once said that the Jack the Ripper case was the first to use what is now called “criminal profiling”, but truly, analyzing killer behaviour was once all detectives had. It’s why I find cases from that era so fascinating. Before Jack the Ripper terrorized Whitechapel in 1888, another suspected serial killer left behind a long string of rumours that would finally catch up to her.
In this book, Martin Connolly diligently traces the life, tragedy, and suspected crimes of Mary Ann Cotton. Connolly, through old census, birth, marriage and death records, takes us back to a time when the only way women could move up in life, financially and in status, was through marriage. With attention to detail and a keen eye for what was clearly a flawed trial, Connolly takes us through Mary Ann Cotton’s multiple marriages and the trail of death that seemed to follow her. She is suspected of killing over 20 people, including her own mother, her children and husbands. She was convicted of the murder of her stepson, accused of poisoning him with arsenic. This is not uncommon in female serial killers – many kill their own family members in their own homes, often posing as caregiver or loving wife or mother, many even using poison.
The evidence produced in this book sheds light on how unfair and ludicrous Cotton’s trial was, but also leaves you asking… did she do it? In a mystery as enigmatic as Jack the Ripper would be 15 years after Cotton’s execution, behaviour analysis becomes critical while still showing a conflict in evidence. While justice was, in the eyes of the law, served, this book leaves the reader wondering if it was, indeed, justice, or if Cotton was a victim of circumstance and the cruelty of rumours.
Normally, when I finish a true crime book, I have a solid stance on the verdict handed down. But this time? I can’t even say. Mary Ann Cotton was mysterious; either a cold, sadistic psychopath, or a woman plagued by tragedy and stigma. While this book was a bit of a dry and slow read at times, I commend the author on his research, attention to detail and objectivity in writing this book. He comes at it from a balanced, journalistic standpoint, leaving it open to whatever opinion the reader might form. A brilliant read for true-crime fanatics who are intrigued by this era of murder.
I heard it once said that the Jack the Ripper case was the first to use what is now called “criminal profiling”, but truly, analyzing killer behaviour was once all detectives had. It’s why I find cases from that era so fascinating. Before Jack the Ripper terrorized Whitechapel in 1888, another suspected serial killer left behind a long string of rumours that would finally catch up to her.
In this book, Martin Connolly diligently traces the life, tragedy, and suspected crimes of Mary Ann Cotton. Connolly, through old census, birth, marriage and death records, takes us back to a time when the only way women could move up in life, financially and in status, was through marriage. With attention to detail and a keen eye for what was clearly a flawed trial, Connolly takes us through Mary Ann Cotton’s multiple marriages and the trail of death that seemed to follow her. She is suspected of killing over 20 people, including her own mother, her children and husbands. She was convicted of the murder of her stepson, accused of poisoning him with arsenic. This is not uncommon in female serial killers – many kill their own family members in their own homes, often posing as caregiver or loving wife or mother, many even using poison.
The evidence produced in this book sheds light on how unfair and ludicrous Cotton’s trial was, but also leaves you asking… did she do it? In a mystery as enigmatic as Jack the Ripper would be 15 years after Cotton’s execution, behaviour analysis becomes critical while still showing a conflict in evidence. While justice was, in the eyes of the law, served, this book leaves the reader wondering if it was, indeed, justice, or if Cotton was a victim of circumstance and the cruelty of rumours.
Normally, when I finish a true crime book, I have a solid stance on the verdict handed down. But this time? I can’t even say. Mary Ann Cotton was mysterious; either a cold, sadistic psychopath, or a woman plagued by tragedy and stigma. While this book was a bit of a dry and slow read at times, I commend the author on his research, attention to detail and objectivity in writing this book. He comes at it from a balanced, journalistic standpoint, leaving it open to whatever opinion the reader might form. A brilliant read for true-crime fanatics who are intrigued by this era of murder.
October 12, 2025
This is a must read for any true crime fans.
Mary was executed for the murder of her son. She wasn't tried for any other murders although she was suspected of many more of the members of her family.
This book goes into great detail of her life and the deaths of many children by arsenic poisoning.
The poor victims died in absolute agony, the youngest victim being just 10 months old.
We also get to read in great detail exactly what happened at the trial. Mary had little defense and there were unreliable witnesses. The author does not believe that Mary killed all the victims and is unsure as to the verdict at the trial.
Arsenic was easy to get hold of in the 19th century with it even being on the wallpaper and in cleaning soap.
Nobody saw her give any poison and with it being in the wallpaper it is argued that is how the victims could have got sick. But the defense didn't press this argument and she was found guilty and hanged. But she did protest her innocence until the end.
This is a truly heartbreaking story and a very difficult read. But as with true crime it is very fascinating.
I agree with the author that it does seem she is guilty of murder although there is doubt there.
Mary was executed for the murder of her son. She wasn't tried for any other murders although she was suspected of many more of the members of her family.
This book goes into great detail of her life and the deaths of many children by arsenic poisoning.
The poor victims died in absolute agony, the youngest victim being just 10 months old.
We also get to read in great detail exactly what happened at the trial. Mary had little defense and there were unreliable witnesses. The author does not believe that Mary killed all the victims and is unsure as to the verdict at the trial.
Arsenic was easy to get hold of in the 19th century with it even being on the wallpaper and in cleaning soap.
Nobody saw her give any poison and with it being in the wallpaper it is argued that is how the victims could have got sick. But the defense didn't press this argument and she was found guilty and hanged. But she did protest her innocence until the end.
This is a truly heartbreaking story and a very difficult read. But as with true crime it is very fascinating.
I agree with the author that it does seem she is guilty of murder although there is doubt there.
September 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, especially since it actually gave Mary Ann Cotton a fair trial - far fairer than she got in real life. So many books that include her story don't touch on the legal incompetence during her time in court and are very happy to label her a villain. She might be a serial poisoner, but it was never proven beyond reasonable doubt. As the author rightfully said, we can't really apply today's legal proceedings and mindset to this case. It's far too difficult to remove the surrounding circumstances - the wallpaper, the soap, the rampant illness, the position of women in society - from the case's core. But the modern world enjoys Mary Ann Cotton as a villain too much to allow for the reasonable doubt to be mainstream, even though it exists. She probably did it, but it was never adequately proven, so the whole things remains largely unsolved. Thank you, Martin Connolly, for this wonderful story about a woman who never got a fair trial in life and even less of one in death.
September 16, 2021
Very interesting story! This is the first and only book I have read on Mary Ann Cotton, so I don't have a lot to go on, but this book makes the case that she was mostly innocent and possibly completely innocent of the murder she was hung for and others she has been blamed for. The possibility is left open that she may have been guilty, but it stands in opposition to everything I have read online concerning Mary Ann Cotton. Most of the other information I have read states that she is guilty and there is no other question, yet the evidence given in this book shows many mistakes that were made that would not have allowed for a death sentence in our courts today.
June 11, 2022
I am a huge fan of old serial killers. The old kind gets me intrigued. I came across this one and started reading it right away. I was enjoying it but then lost interest. It dragged on and on. Plus I would've liked it if the author would make Mary Ann Cotton's words clearer. It was hard for me to understand, like place clear writing on what May Ann stated. I did not finish it all sadly. My interest faded immensely. My apologizes.
August 31, 2017
I found this book a little boring and hard to pick up. Being a family historian myself I could tell where all the facts and figures came from, so would have enjoyed just a little more 'meat on the bones'.
I was interested to learn about the green wallpaper though, I had no idea about that.
The fact that Martin was no where near certain that Mary was guilty was a refreshing change.
I was interested to learn about the green wallpaper though, I had no idea about that.
The fact that Martin was no where near certain that Mary was guilty was a refreshing change.
June 5, 2017
I was intrigued by this book because of the PBS dramatization and the fact that my great-great grandfather worked at the police station in West Auckland where Mary Ann Cotton was arrested. The book is a bit dry, but I appreciated the author's recounting of the details of her life and trial.
December 5, 2017
The editing was awful (every time I read gaol as 'goal' I cringed) but the story was great. Very in-depth and I learned much more about her character and I must say I came to the same conclusion that the author did.
January 4, 2020
In the 1800s, Mary used arsenic to kill her first husband for the insurance money. Then she started doing the same with her own and her stepchildren and subsequent husbands. She was eventually put on trial and hanged. A morbid tale, not very well written. The movie was probably better.
January 3, 2021
I watched the PBS movie years ago and finally got around to reading this book. You can definitely see both sides, and it leaves you with enough reasonable doubt about if she murdered as many as she is reported to have murdered. Quick read and good for true crime fans.
June 18, 2021
I appreciated another viewpoint on the case of Mary Ann Cotton, but Martin Connolly was unable to convince me of reasonable doubt. However flawed the defense counsel and trial testimony might have been, I still believe justice prevailed.
November 22, 2025
Fascinating
This book was very detailed and facinating as to the fanaticism of people and what kengrthas they will go to villianize a person, and not serve proper justice. This author does a very excellent job of presenting the facts in this case very objectively.
This book was very detailed and facinating as to the fanaticism of people and what kengrthas they will go to villianize a person, and not serve proper justice. This author does a very excellent job of presenting the facts in this case very objectively.
July 17, 2017
Extremely interesting read. So many rumours about this case to this day
November 27, 2018
Interesting book with a much more objective look at the crimes and trial than the PBS series called Mary Ann Cotton.
November 18, 2019
It was interesting, mainly reading about the things that happened in places I know but some of it was a bit long winded.
March 1, 2024
A serial killer I hadn’t heard of before. Very factual and detailed writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews