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The Mile End Murder
In 1860, a 70 year old widow turned landlady named Mary Emsley was found dead in her own home, killed by a blow to the back of her head. What followed was a murder case that gripped the nation. The murder is the frame for the book; newspapers at the time were fascinated and furiously debated the character of the victim, potential suspects and the possible motives. During the police investigation there were several twists and dramatic discoveries and eventually, one of the last public executions at Newgate. Years later the case caught the attention of Arthur Conan Doyle, who was convinced that the wrong man had been convicted and executed. In The Mile End Murder, bestselling author Sinclair McKay investigates the case, expertly searching through archives to present the evidence in this intriguing case.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 7, 2017
38 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Sinclair McKay
54 books176 followersSinclair McKay writes regularly for the Daily Telegraph and The Secret Listeners and has written books about James Bond and Hammer horror for Aurum. His next book, about the wartime “Y” Service during World War II, is due to be published by Aurum in 2012. He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
October 15, 2017
Although this book is sub-titled, “The Case Conan Doyle Couldn’t Solve!” this is really a tenuous link. Yes, Conan Doyle wrote an article on the case, and he may have been intrigued by it, but if this is the reason you are interested in reading this, you may be disappointed. That said, if you like historical true crime, then you will find this an interesting account of a case which caused must press speculation at the time.
Mrs Mary Emsley was a wealthy widow of seventy, who was living in the East End of London in 1860. Her life was unusual for the time, as she lived alone, without even one live in servant – and not because she could not afford to pay for help. Although she had married twice, her only child died very young and was not particularly close to her two step-daughters. Known for being thrifty, Mary Emsley was not afraid of confrontation and worked hard. She rented out many properties, mostly in the slum areas of East London near her home in Stepney, and often collected rents herself. When she was discovered murdered in her house, with no signs of a break in, the possibility that she had been targeted for her money was foremost in the suggestions of why she had been killed.
This is a fair account of the events around Mary Emsley’s life, the investigation into her murder and the trial of the accused. Obviously, I do not wish to give spoilers, but this is not only worth reading for the crime itself anyway, but also paints a good portrait of the time and place the crime occurred in. Mrs Emsley was interesting for her role as a landlady, who was capable and clever, but still needed to rely on others at times. She was thought by many to be sharp, unyielding and unsympathetic, but others suggest a witty, somewhat shy lady, who did the best she could to be independent. This is also a tale of London itself; with the Old Bailey, Newgate Prison, the slums, courtyards, workhouses and streets of the City themselves acting as characters in a sad and mournful story.
Mrs Mary Emsley was a wealthy widow of seventy, who was living in the East End of London in 1860. Her life was unusual for the time, as she lived alone, without even one live in servant – and not because she could not afford to pay for help. Although she had married twice, her only child died very young and was not particularly close to her two step-daughters. Known for being thrifty, Mary Emsley was not afraid of confrontation and worked hard. She rented out many properties, mostly in the slum areas of East London near her home in Stepney, and often collected rents herself. When she was discovered murdered in her house, with no signs of a break in, the possibility that she had been targeted for her money was foremost in the suggestions of why she had been killed.
This is a fair account of the events around Mary Emsley’s life, the investigation into her murder and the trial of the accused. Obviously, I do not wish to give spoilers, but this is not only worth reading for the crime itself anyway, but also paints a good portrait of the time and place the crime occurred in. Mrs Emsley was interesting for her role as a landlady, who was capable and clever, but still needed to rely on others at times. She was thought by many to be sharp, unyielding and unsympathetic, but others suggest a witty, somewhat shy lady, who did the best she could to be independent. This is also a tale of London itself; with the Old Bailey, Newgate Prison, the slums, courtyards, workhouses and streets of the City themselves acting as characters in a sad and mournful story.
September 23, 2018
Netgalley #76
Many thanks go to Sinclair McKay, Aurum Publishing, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
So I'm assuming McKay tied the mystery of the killer to Conan Doyle to get the story some Ooomph, but it just came across as rather silly because the links were rather tenuous. It really was not necessary. For us diehard true crime fans, especially of this era, we will read it regardless. And enjoy it.
Many thanks go to Sinclair McKay, Aurum Publishing, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
So I'm assuming McKay tied the mystery of the killer to Conan Doyle to get the story some Ooomph, but it just came across as rather silly because the links were rather tenuous. It really was not necessary. For us diehard true crime fans, especially of this era, we will read it regardless. And enjoy it.
August 15, 2018
This is a fascinating Victorian murder that has remained unsolved for many years. McKay sets out the case and all it's flaws then works through it dismissing some elements and expanding on others until we find out who really 'dunnit' and committed the murder.
It's a brilliant read and I couldn't put it down. If you like true crimes, you'll love this one.
Free arc from netgalley
It's a brilliant read and I couldn't put it down. If you like true crimes, you'll love this one.
Free arc from netgalley
April 7, 2018
very interesting book about a 1860 murder Conan Doyle couldn't solve many years later but the author looks at the evidence and comes up with his ideas of who the murderer was which Conan Doyle missed.
August 19, 2018
The subtitle of this book is what grabbed my attention and I was sorely disappointed that it was the reader version of "click bait". Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is mentioned a handful of times and his connection to the murder being discussed is tenuous at best, a flagrant attention grab and lack of truth in advertising at the worst.
That being said, it wasn't a bad book. It was written very well and took you to the time and place of 1860s England very well. The book was well researched, but it wasn't a bunch of facts shoved down the reader's throat, which I appreciated. I'm not a big reader of true crime anymore, I'm a bit too squeamish now, but it wasn't overly graphic and in your face, so I was able to handle it. The historical perspective was the best part and was the true main character of the story as far as I am concerned.
I felt badly for Mullins. He was most definitely railroaded. He wasn't innocent of crime, but his crimes didn't warrant death, IMHO. Though trying to pin the blame on an innocent man to get the reward money is a pretty crappy thing to do, especially if the innocent man was found guilty, because back then, the penalty for murder was pretty much instant death, with very little chance for appeal. So he DID attempt murder for money in a roundabout way, so pretty crappy thing to do, but not sure it was worth death.
If Mullins didn't try to get rich quick in the way he did, he probably would have been fine. If Mrs. Emsley hadn't been quite so mean/unsympathetic to others and their struggles, she would have quite possibly lived longer than she did. Very sad. I don't usually like to read true crime because it makes me sad, for the victim, their loved ones and for the person/s who committed the act and their loved ones as well. The violence never needed to happen, yet the perfect storm of instances put together creates havoc. So sad.
Also sad is the fact that the true murderer was probably not Mullins and was never punished for their crime.
*SPOILERS FOLLOW*
The author theorizes that the murder was really the pastor, Briggs, that he just snapped and did it, but there is no evidence to support the theory, other than circumstantial as with Mullins himself. Not a bad theory, very plausible, but not enough to hang a man over. Just like with most mysteries, this is something we may never know the answer to. Sad, because this time, 1860, was about when the science of forensics was starting to come into being. If this had happened a few years later, there may have been more usable evidence to find the true killer. Then again, maybe not.
So sad book. Well written and great peek into the time of 1860 and the place of London England. 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3, because the subtitle is HUGELY misleading and I didn't appreciate that. If it wasn't for that, it would be closer to a four. Recommended if you like historical true crime, where the killer isn't necessarily found.
My thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Aurum Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
That being said, it wasn't a bad book. It was written very well and took you to the time and place of 1860s England very well. The book was well researched, but it wasn't a bunch of facts shoved down the reader's throat, which I appreciated. I'm not a big reader of true crime anymore, I'm a bit too squeamish now, but it wasn't overly graphic and in your face, so I was able to handle it. The historical perspective was the best part and was the true main character of the story as far as I am concerned.
I felt badly for Mullins. He was most definitely railroaded. He wasn't innocent of crime, but his crimes didn't warrant death, IMHO. Though trying to pin the blame on an innocent man to get the reward money is a pretty crappy thing to do, especially if the innocent man was found guilty, because back then, the penalty for murder was pretty much instant death, with very little chance for appeal. So he DID attempt murder for money in a roundabout way, so pretty crappy thing to do, but not sure it was worth death.
If Mullins didn't try to get rich quick in the way he did, he probably would have been fine. If Mrs. Emsley hadn't been quite so mean/unsympathetic to others and their struggles, she would have quite possibly lived longer than she did. Very sad. I don't usually like to read true crime because it makes me sad, for the victim, their loved ones and for the person/s who committed the act and their loved ones as well. The violence never needed to happen, yet the perfect storm of instances put together creates havoc. So sad.
Also sad is the fact that the true murderer was probably not Mullins and was never punished for their crime.
*SPOILERS FOLLOW*
The author theorizes that the murder was really the pastor, Briggs, that he just snapped and did it, but there is no evidence to support the theory, other than circumstantial as with Mullins himself. Not a bad theory, very plausible, but not enough to hang a man over. Just like with most mysteries, this is something we may never know the answer to. Sad, because this time, 1860, was about when the science of forensics was starting to come into being. If this had happened a few years later, there may have been more usable evidence to find the true killer. Then again, maybe not.
So sad book. Well written and great peek into the time of 1860 and the place of London England. 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3, because the subtitle is HUGELY misleading and I didn't appreciate that. If it wasn't for that, it would be closer to a four. Recommended if you like historical true crime, where the killer isn't necessarily found.
My thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Aurum Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
June 24, 2019
THE MILE END MURDER was the ultimate cold case, until now, when author Sinclair McKay reveals who actually committed the sensational murder in 1860 of a 70-year-old widow. Not even Conan Doyle could solve the case, rife with a host of suspects and shocking revelations, which ended in one of the final public executions at Newgate. Highly recommended for fans of true crime, Conan Doyle and the allure of solving cold cases. 5/5
Thanks to the author, Quarto Publishing Group - Aurum Press, and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for my true review.
#TheMileEndMurder #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, Quarto Publishing Group - Aurum Press, and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for my true review.
#TheMileEndMurder #NetGalley
July 11, 2018
This is a fascinating case for lovers of true crime and Victorian London. McKay does an excellent job of painting a backdrop of a sinister, crime ridden city. I especially loved the ending, with the description of the raucous crowds at the gallows. What a time to be alive!
The way this book was written was very clever, in that the mystery was "solved" quite quickly, and a man put to death over the crime. However, as we all know, juries 150 years ago would hang you for much less than suspected murder. This case is no exception. McKay does a great job at pointing out the flaws of the case. I appreciated that he drew his own conclusions based on the evidence, and that he shared his hypotheses with us readers. I admit, his theory on the his own accused murderer was pretty far fetched to me, but he did make some great points that I do agree with, even if I don't agree with his suspect being the perp.
The way this book was written was very clever, in that the mystery was "solved" quite quickly, and a man put to death over the crime. However, as we all know, juries 150 years ago would hang you for much less than suspected murder. This case is no exception. McKay does a great job at pointing out the flaws of the case. I appreciated that he drew his own conclusions based on the evidence, and that he shared his hypotheses with us readers. I admit, his theory on the his own accused murderer was pretty far fetched to me, but he did make some great points that I do agree with, even if I don't agree with his suspect being the perp.
May 10, 2020
(Audiobook)
When wealthy and eccentric widow Mary Emsley is found dead at her home on 17th August 1860, the resulting murder inquiry grips the nation. Faced with several suspects, the police home in on two individuals, finally narrowing it down to one man – James Mullins. Convicted and hanged for the killing, the Mullins case left the public baying for justice, convinced the police had the wrong man. But if Mullins didn’t kill Mrs Emsley, who did?
Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about this case many years later but even he seemed unable to come up with a solution to the mystery. Charting the events leading to the murder and its aftermath, Sinclair McKay creates an absorbing and highly-detailed account, exploring every possible angle. Though occasionally lapsing into social history (which nevertheless helps create a complete picture of the times), the author also provides a solution to the murder.
Narrated by Lewis Hancock, this is an interesting and thought-provoking account of a murder that remains unsolved.
When wealthy and eccentric widow Mary Emsley is found dead at her home on 17th August 1860, the resulting murder inquiry grips the nation. Faced with several suspects, the police home in on two individuals, finally narrowing it down to one man – James Mullins. Convicted and hanged for the killing, the Mullins case left the public baying for justice, convinced the police had the wrong man. But if Mullins didn’t kill Mrs Emsley, who did?
Arthur Conan Doyle wrote about this case many years later but even he seemed unable to come up with a solution to the mystery. Charting the events leading to the murder and its aftermath, Sinclair McKay creates an absorbing and highly-detailed account, exploring every possible angle. Though occasionally lapsing into social history (which nevertheless helps create a complete picture of the times), the author also provides a solution to the murder.
Narrated by Lewis Hancock, this is an interesting and thought-provoking account of a murder that remains unsolved.
April 13, 2020
This was an excellent true crime book, but a surprising bonus was that it was also an excellent social history of London's east end during the 1850's and 60's. An old lady is battered to death in her home and a week later a suspect is charged found guilty and hanged. 40 yrs later Arthur Conan Doyle writes a piece for a newspaper and believes the wrong man was hanged. Mckay takes a fresh look at the case but perhaps even more importantly he gives us a view of the often dreadful conditions of the peole who lived and worked here. An excellent read.
July 28, 2018
I fear the popularity of this book may suffer from poor publicity. The silhouette of Conan Doyle on the cover and subtitle "The case that Conan Doyle couldn't solve!" is misleading - Doyle's involvement throughout this novel is minimal and has no bearing on this true crime novel.
I found the extreme attention to historical detail stifling at times. Halfway through the book and we hadn't even made it to trial yet!!! Whilst no doubt exceptionally well researched and accurate I wish it had been confined to a page or two and not pages upon pages spent on tangential links to the key players...
For lovers of historical crime novels - this is for you.....
I found the extreme attention to historical detail stifling at times. Halfway through the book and we hadn't even made it to trial yet!!! Whilst no doubt exceptionally well researched and accurate I wish it had been confined to a page or two and not pages upon pages spent on tangential links to the key players...
For lovers of historical crime novels - this is for you.....
October 7, 2018
Sinclair McKay re-examines a crime right at the heart of the Victorian era in 1860. A murder that was committed against an elderly woman in her own home in the East End of London.
Mrs Emsley was no cuddly granny-type lady though, she was a miser worthy of a part in one of Charles Dickens (more of him later) novels. Born in the East End of London under the bells of St Anne’s in Stepney she came from humble beginnings but by the time she met her end she’d been married twice and amassed an enormous amount of wealth in the form of housing stock. Although she employed some men to collect her substantial rents she also visited the hovels packed with families who lived close by to her own home, not known for her compassion she would frequently evict her struggling tenants if they were even a week behind with their payments. She was therefore fairly universally disliked. All in all the best kind of murder victim for a good mystery; anyone and everyone can be a suspect.
Mrs Emsley had bought some wallpaper which she was attempting to sell and so it came to be that her badly bludgeoned body was found in her house with the rolls of precious wallpaper close by. For a woman known to be suspicious of visitors the lack of forced entry suggests that she admitted her killer herself. The only clue was a a bloody footprint on the landing when the body was discovered by one of her rent collectors by which time it had attracted some maggots for good measure!
The police were called and soon fixed on a suspect and indeed this man was hung for the crimes committed. Unsurprisingly, and those of you who have read my previous reviews of Victorian true crimes will also detect a theme developing here, dear old Charles Dickens was apparently one of the 20,000 people who attended the public hanging while of course decrying the ghoulishness of those citizens eager for a bit of excitement.
In a twist to the tale in 1901 Arthur Conan Doyle took a look at the case as he wasn’t sure that the man who hung deserved his fate, his thoughts were published as a serialised book The Debatable Case Of Mrs. Emsley. In 2017 Sinclair McKay took up the baton and went back to the evidence and builds a case for another perpetrator entirely.
This is an incredibly readable book of the type I enjoy most in this sub-genre; Sinclair McKay keeps a running commentary of the social history alongside the background to the victim, the suspect and the resultant trial and hanging. There is also a substantial information on how relatives came out of the woodwork to claim her fortune and to keep it out of the hands of Queen Victoria since our miserly widow had not made a will.
I found it a fascinating read and whilst I have to admit that the author has perhaps hit upon a more worthy suspect than that of the police, I wasn’t altogether convinced that he had a watertight case either, but coming up with a credible alternative at the distance of more than 150 years is no mean feat.
Mrs Emsley was no cuddly granny-type lady though, she was a miser worthy of a part in one of Charles Dickens (more of him later) novels. Born in the East End of London under the bells of St Anne’s in Stepney she came from humble beginnings but by the time she met her end she’d been married twice and amassed an enormous amount of wealth in the form of housing stock. Although she employed some men to collect her substantial rents she also visited the hovels packed with families who lived close by to her own home, not known for her compassion she would frequently evict her struggling tenants if they were even a week behind with their payments. She was therefore fairly universally disliked. All in all the best kind of murder victim for a good mystery; anyone and everyone can be a suspect.
Mrs Emsley had bought some wallpaper which she was attempting to sell and so it came to be that her badly bludgeoned body was found in her house with the rolls of precious wallpaper close by. For a woman known to be suspicious of visitors the lack of forced entry suggests that she admitted her killer herself. The only clue was a a bloody footprint on the landing when the body was discovered by one of her rent collectors by which time it had attracted some maggots for good measure!
The police were called and soon fixed on a suspect and indeed this man was hung for the crimes committed. Unsurprisingly, and those of you who have read my previous reviews of Victorian true crimes will also detect a theme developing here, dear old Charles Dickens was apparently one of the 20,000 people who attended the public hanging while of course decrying the ghoulishness of those citizens eager for a bit of excitement.
In a twist to the tale in 1901 Arthur Conan Doyle took a look at the case as he wasn’t sure that the man who hung deserved his fate, his thoughts were published as a serialised book The Debatable Case Of Mrs. Emsley. In 2017 Sinclair McKay took up the baton and went back to the evidence and builds a case for another perpetrator entirely.
This is an incredibly readable book of the type I enjoy most in this sub-genre; Sinclair McKay keeps a running commentary of the social history alongside the background to the victim, the suspect and the resultant trial and hanging. There is also a substantial information on how relatives came out of the woodwork to claim her fortune and to keep it out of the hands of Queen Victoria since our miserly widow had not made a will.
I found it a fascinating read and whilst I have to admit that the author has perhaps hit upon a more worthy suspect than that of the police, I wasn’t altogether convinced that he had a watertight case either, but coming up with a credible alternative at the distance of more than 150 years is no mean feat.
December 4, 2020
One of the best reads of 2020 for me! Wonderfully written, with no spoilers on the book jacket, in the photo section OR in the text itself. You need to read the book carefully to know where the author is going with the information. On top of this being a fine true-crime story it almost amounts to time travel. The author does an outstanding job of taking the reader back to daily life in Victorian times, anchoring the story in the surrounding circumstances of the creation of London's present-day urban sprawl, the seething social and political movements of the time and a number of other interesting crimes. Don't miss this one, if you love history, true stories that read like fine fiction, or of course Victoriana.
August 2, 2018
A deeply intricate account of a murder where the evidence is flimsy and the guilt of the accused far from certain. The social commentary that goes alongside is fascinating for someone interested in Victorian history, although the "conclusion" to McKay's reasoning may be a stretch to some people. On balance of motive and subsequent behaviour, I'm inclined to accept it.
June 15, 2021
I got this book for a few reasons: 1) the cover is cool, 2) it’s a true crime unsolved mystery, and 3) the words “The Case Conan Doyle Couldn’t Solve” was printed prominently on the cover. Put all three together and I basically had to read the book.
The Mile End Murder covers the murder of Mrs Mary Emsley, an old woman who owned a lot of property, and the trial of the man accusing her, James Mullins. Mrs Emsley was found murdered in pretty horrific circumstances and because of the amount of attention her case had (plus some unsolved elements), the police were under a lot of pressure to find the culprit. The man they eventually accused was James Mullins, a former member of the police force but who, after a very bad time as a spy in Ireland and some horrific injuries back in London, was pensioned off on a sum too small for his and his family to live on.
By the way, though Conan Doyle’s name appears on the cover, he barely appears in the book. Doyle’s connection to the case comes from the fact that he wrote about it once, after Mullins’ trial. If you’re looking for a mystery where Doyle actually played an active part, The Man Who Would Be Sherlock covers those cases in detail.
For most of the book, The Mile End Murder is focused on telling the story of how Mrs Emsley’s corpse was discovered and the subsequent investigation and trial. Although there is a lot of information about the time period, especially about how Mrs Emsley managed to become so wealthy and how James Mullins went from a promising police officer to murder suspect, the book remains easy to understand, if a little melodramatic.
Now for the most important question: did Mullins murder Mrs Emsley? I don’t think so, and that may be because McKay doesn’t think so. The argument for Mullins as the murderer doesn’t sound very plausible – especially since there wasn’t much in terms of forensic technology back then. The most I think Mullins is guilty of is trying to frame someone (the argument for that is much stronger), but I don’t think he did it. McKay does give us his theory of who he thinks the murderer is at the end of the book, but apart from a nice motive, there isn’t much evidence pointing to that person either. Given the amount of time that has passed since the murder, I don’t think we’ll ever know who really killed Mrs Emsley.
Overall, this was a very easy to read true crime book about a mysterious murder that, although technically solved in the eyes of the law, still has a lot of questions about it.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
The Mile End Murder covers the murder of Mrs Mary Emsley, an old woman who owned a lot of property, and the trial of the man accusing her, James Mullins. Mrs Emsley was found murdered in pretty horrific circumstances and because of the amount of attention her case had (plus some unsolved elements), the police were under a lot of pressure to find the culprit. The man they eventually accused was James Mullins, a former member of the police force but who, after a very bad time as a spy in Ireland and some horrific injuries back in London, was pensioned off on a sum too small for his and his family to live on.
By the way, though Conan Doyle’s name appears on the cover, he barely appears in the book. Doyle’s connection to the case comes from the fact that he wrote about it once, after Mullins’ trial. If you’re looking for a mystery where Doyle actually played an active part, The Man Who Would Be Sherlock covers those cases in detail.
For most of the book, The Mile End Murder is focused on telling the story of how Mrs Emsley’s corpse was discovered and the subsequent investigation and trial. Although there is a lot of information about the time period, especially about how Mrs Emsley managed to become so wealthy and how James Mullins went from a promising police officer to murder suspect, the book remains easy to understand, if a little melodramatic.
Now for the most important question: did Mullins murder Mrs Emsley? I don’t think so, and that may be because McKay doesn’t think so. The argument for Mullins as the murderer doesn’t sound very plausible – especially since there wasn’t much in terms of forensic technology back then. The most I think Mullins is guilty of is trying to frame someone (the argument for that is much stronger), but I don’t think he did it. McKay does give us his theory of who he thinks the murderer is at the end of the book, but apart from a nice motive, there isn’t much evidence pointing to that person either. Given the amount of time that has passed since the murder, I don’t think we’ll ever know who really killed Mrs Emsley.
Overall, this was a very easy to read true crime book about a mysterious murder that, although technically solved in the eyes of the law, still has a lot of questions about it.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
May 29, 2025
[28 May 2025] An historical murder in Victorian London recreated from the existing records and brought to live in a vivid dramatic retelling. An extremely well written true-crime book which is an easy read, moves with pace, has strong characterisation of those involved and an absolutely beautiful description of the growth of the East End of London, possibly one of the the best I've read. The research is meticulous and detailed and the narrative is strong. There is limited imposition of twentieth century morals and standards - it is told as it was.
For me,' the case Conan Doyle couldn't solve' was a slight irrelevance - one wonders why it was added at all -if not to appeal to the Sherlock Holmes fans. He mentioned it briefly - didn't seem to think too much about it and certainly reached no firm conclusions either way. He popped up in the final chapter and I was unconvinced he 'investigated it in any detail.'
I liked the follow-up, but would have liked more - the descendants of Mullins the man who was hanged for the murder would have a treasure trove of thoughts and feelings about the event. I was also left thinking the alternative version presented was an interesting theory, but was confusingly presented as 'the truth' when it was an untested hypothesis.
An interesting, easy read about a Victorian murder and particularly strong for the historical context.
For me,' the case Conan Doyle couldn't solve' was a slight irrelevance - one wonders why it was added at all -if not to appeal to the Sherlock Holmes fans. He mentioned it briefly - didn't seem to think too much about it and certainly reached no firm conclusions either way. He popped up in the final chapter and I was unconvinced he 'investigated it in any detail.'
I liked the follow-up, but would have liked more - the descendants of Mullins the man who was hanged for the murder would have a treasure trove of thoughts and feelings about the event. I was also left thinking the alternative version presented was an interesting theory, but was confusingly presented as 'the truth' when it was an untested hypothesis.
An interesting, easy read about a Victorian murder and particularly strong for the historical context.
August 13, 2018
The Mile End Murder covers in exacting detail the case of the murder of Mary Emsley, an elderly landowner living in the East End of London during the Victorian era. It's a fascinating read, incredibly well researched and potently written, evoking the sights, sounds and smells of one of London's most combustible eras.
The book's subtitle is "The Case Conan Doyle Couldn't Solve," and as the story progresses, it's easy to understand how that might have infuriated Doyle. McKay deftly weaves the social and political aspects of Victorian London, forging a rich backdrop that gives context to the murder. There are a few interesting reveals about pertinent suspects, artfully unfurled to propel the story forward. McKay even presents his own theory on the murderer, and his take on how the murder unfolded is one of the strongest sections of the book.
If you like true crime stories, tales of Victorian London--if the Ripper murders were ever a personal source of fascination--you'll enjoy The Mile End Murder.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aurum Press for an ARC.
The book's subtitle is "The Case Conan Doyle Couldn't Solve," and as the story progresses, it's easy to understand how that might have infuriated Doyle. McKay deftly weaves the social and political aspects of Victorian London, forging a rich backdrop that gives context to the murder. There are a few interesting reveals about pertinent suspects, artfully unfurled to propel the story forward. McKay even presents his own theory on the murderer, and his take on how the murder unfolded is one of the strongest sections of the book.
If you like true crime stories, tales of Victorian London--if the Ripper murders were ever a personal source of fascination--you'll enjoy The Mile End Murder.
Thanks to NetGalley and Aurum Press for an ARC.
August 31, 2018
In short...
Enticing secondary title to entice the reader in ... Check.
Interesting sections on true crime ... Check.
Victorian London ... Check.
Mention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ... Check.
I think that if you like a handful of these enticements then you will be in for reading this book, and whilst I did enjoy this book I feel that this book only got it's interest because of the mention of Conan Doyle, which brings this book a great injustice and also doesn't help you focus truly on the authors works.
Now the work itself, gives off highly researched information into the murder and of course enough to close the case butttt I don't know, something didn't sit well with me, I found it.. a bit tactless toward Conan Doyle as it's quite personal to be underhanded in the things you cannot do, but there was little involvement on his part and I just don't like the jab towards him to be honest. The other thing is as interesting as alllll the historical "back filler" is, I did find it a little too tedious in the end because of this.
Enticing secondary title to entice the reader in ... Check.
Interesting sections on true crime ... Check.
Victorian London ... Check.
Mention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ... Check.
I think that if you like a handful of these enticements then you will be in for reading this book, and whilst I did enjoy this book I feel that this book only got it's interest because of the mention of Conan Doyle, which brings this book a great injustice and also doesn't help you focus truly on the authors works.
Now the work itself, gives off highly researched information into the murder and of course enough to close the case butttt I don't know, something didn't sit well with me, I found it.. a bit tactless toward Conan Doyle as it's quite personal to be underhanded in the things you cannot do, but there was little involvement on his part and I just don't like the jab towards him to be honest. The other thing is as interesting as alllll the historical "back filler" is, I did find it a little too tedious in the end because of this.
August 23, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Sadly this book was boring. Some parts were fascinating and interesting, sure. Especially the description of London in the period the book is set. It shows that the author did a lot of research and that this is a topic of interest to him. And those were fascinating and rich, almost alive. But the parts that are relative to the murder and to the investigation were not so engaging. I think that the main problem, for me, was the writing, or the way in wich all things are presented. It was like reading some dispassionate list of things and... yes, it is not really my thing. It's not that this was a bad book, but I was mostly bored while reading it, sadly.
Sadly this book was boring. Some parts were fascinating and interesting, sure. Especially the description of London in the period the book is set. It shows that the author did a lot of research and that this is a topic of interest to him. And those were fascinating and rich, almost alive. But the parts that are relative to the murder and to the investigation were not so engaging. I think that the main problem, for me, was the writing, or the way in wich all things are presented. It was like reading some dispassionate list of things and... yes, it is not really my thing. It's not that this was a bad book, but I was mostly bored while reading it, sadly.
April 29, 2018
This book presents a real murder case of Mary Emsley. It is clearly a very diligently researched book and presents details of investigation and trial from Victorian London, as well as provides some additional speculations into things that may have been missed. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how different the world was back then. Though parts of the book read like a novel, at times the book seemed to drag on and felt a bit repetitive, especially since many different investigations and trials were so similar.
May 13, 2018
This true crime book read like a novel. McKay presented an alternative theory to the murder of property baron Mary Emsely that definitely raised a reasonable doubt that the correct man was found guilty, and hanged. I found the police and courtroom procedures of the day (1860) very interesting, and it left me grateful that evidence and oral arguments are handled so much more carefully today. Victorian criminal procedure was a bit slapdash (at least in this case).
June 30, 2022
The narrative of the crime and trial is fantastic. Where it fails is the tenuous connection to Doyle and the wild speculation about who may have done it with, IMO, even less evidence than the original trial/accused had against them. Also, while there was a good portion devoted to the probating of the will, McKay never follows it to the end. Who did get the majority of the victim's estate?
Read
January 25, 2025كتاب اخر اوثقه ولن اقيمه كي لا انسى
واقعة اخرى وجريمة قتل اخرى حدثت فعلا وهزت المجتمع البريطاني في القرن 19 وكان لها دور تاريخي كبير في تغيير القوانين البريطانية وخلق محاكم الإستىناف
القصة حول موت السيدة ايمسلي
وقد نظر ارثر كونان دويل بنفسه في تفاصيل القضية
كتبها للاذاعة الكويتية يوسف العساف
استمعت لها على يوتيوب نافذة على التاريخ
واقعة اخرى وجريمة قتل اخرى حدثت فعلا وهزت المجتمع البريطاني في القرن 19 وكان لها دور تاريخي كبير في تغيير القوانين البريطانية وخلق محاكم الإستىناف
القصة حول موت السيدة ايمسلي
وقد نظر ارثر كونان دويل بنفسه في تفاصيل القضية
كتبها للاذاعة الكويتية يوسف العساف
استمعت لها على يوتيوب نافذة على التاريخ
June 23, 2018
Even if this the account of a true crime this book can be read like a murder.
The title can be misleading as there's just a tenuous link to Conan Doyle but it's well researched and gives a complete picture of who the victim was and how lived and of the general historical environment.
A fascinating read that I recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC
The title can be misleading as there's just a tenuous link to Conan Doyle but it's well researched and gives a complete picture of who the victim was and how lived and of the general historical environment.
A fascinating read that I recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC
August 10, 2018
When an elderly woman is found murdered in her home, everyone wonders if they hung the right man. The evidence is far from conclusive and the witnesses seem to contradict each other. The case of the murder of Mrs Elmsley has no shortage of suspects.
The book is rich in atmosphere and history as well as a curious murder. Wrote like a true murder mystery and you have to remind yourself it's a true murder.
The book is rich in atmosphere and history as well as a curious murder. Wrote like a true murder mystery and you have to remind yourself it's a true murder.
January 24, 2018
Billed as the case that Conan Doyle couldn't solve, this is a great telling of the 1860's murder of a Mrs Emsley in Mile End London. Well told,you never know if the person charged with her murder actually committed the crime or not. A good read.
January 15, 2020
The silhouette of Mr. Sherlock Holmes is on the cover, but this crime took place when his creator was two years old. But Arthur Conan Doyle was very interested in the macabre, in tales of murders in supposedly locked rooms, in strange happenings in strange houses in strange locations, and in criminal justice cases where the convicted person didn't seem to him to be the perpetrator of the crime. In May 1901, when "The Hound of the Baskervilles" was about to be published, [quoting from page 2 of this book] "Conan Doyle examined an unsettling case that, to his mind, was never satisfactorily solved.
"It was a murder that had been committed in the East Eng some forty years previously in 1860. At the time, the killing and subsequent police investigation had caused a national sensation; the repercussions had been felt all the way up to Whitehall and the Treasury. There was a particular ferocity about the slaying of a rich old lady called Mary Elmsley that seemed, to some, to symbolize a wider savagery about the streets near the docks. This was a world of pitiless landlords and rent collectors, of labourers who were never more than a few pennies away from the workhouse, of stolid, uninspired policemen, and of highways haunted by violent predators."
Mrs. Elmsley had grown up in the East End. A shoemaker's youngest child, she knew poverty and the mean streets. When she was a girl in the late 18th century, the murders of two families just east of her street had shocked and scared London. Now she was over seventy. Her late husband (her second) was a corset manufacturer who had speculated in land development when Stepney and surrounding areas were turned from market-garden suburbs to industrial factories and tenement housing. (It reminded me of the Astors becoming the developers and slum landlords of New York City.) Mrs. Elmsley collected lots of rent, both through her agents and personally. She was shrewish and shrewd. She did not have a live-in servant and she would not open her door to anyone she did not recognize as a business contact. Yet there she was, bludgeoned to death in her "lumber room" [her closet of odds and ends]. No sign of forced entry.
Sounds like one of Sherlock Holmes' cases.
Who did it? One of her rent collectors? An angry tenant? An evicted tenant? Her step-children? (Her first husband was also a local land speculator as well as a shoemaker, and she had a life-interest in his property. I think her second husband grew that business as well as his own after they married.) Her nephew and niece? Unacknowledged relatives?
I found interesting social history bits this book. How crimes were detected by the police in the 1860s. The trial of the man convicted of the murder (John Mullins, a former Metropolitan police sergeant and spy against the Irish republican radicals in Dublin, who was reduced to being a handyman in Mrs. Elmsley's business. [Inspiration for "The Valley of Fear"?]) Others of Mrs. Elmsley's workforce. The undercover work against the "Ribbonmen" (the proto-Fenians) in Ireland. Life in the East End: it wasn't all slums and misery. I found it juicy background stuff.
"It was a murder that had been committed in the East Eng some forty years previously in 1860. At the time, the killing and subsequent police investigation had caused a national sensation; the repercussions had been felt all the way up to Whitehall and the Treasury. There was a particular ferocity about the slaying of a rich old lady called Mary Elmsley that seemed, to some, to symbolize a wider savagery about the streets near the docks. This was a world of pitiless landlords and rent collectors, of labourers who were never more than a few pennies away from the workhouse, of stolid, uninspired policemen, and of highways haunted by violent predators."
Mrs. Elmsley had grown up in the East End. A shoemaker's youngest child, she knew poverty and the mean streets. When she was a girl in the late 18th century, the murders of two families just east of her street had shocked and scared London. Now she was over seventy. Her late husband (her second) was a corset manufacturer who had speculated in land development when Stepney and surrounding areas were turned from market-garden suburbs to industrial factories and tenement housing. (It reminded me of the Astors becoming the developers and slum landlords of New York City.) Mrs. Elmsley collected lots of rent, both through her agents and personally. She was shrewish and shrewd. She did not have a live-in servant and she would not open her door to anyone she did not recognize as a business contact. Yet there she was, bludgeoned to death in her "lumber room" [her closet of odds and ends]. No sign of forced entry.
Sounds like one of Sherlock Holmes' cases.
Who did it? One of her rent collectors? An angry tenant? An evicted tenant? Her step-children? (Her first husband was also a local land speculator as well as a shoemaker, and she had a life-interest in his property. I think her second husband grew that business as well as his own after they married.) Her nephew and niece? Unacknowledged relatives?
I found interesting social history bits this book. How crimes were detected by the police in the 1860s. The trial of the man convicted of the murder (John Mullins, a former Metropolitan police sergeant and spy against the Irish republican radicals in Dublin, who was reduced to being a handyman in Mrs. Elmsley's business. [Inspiration for "The Valley of Fear"?]) Others of Mrs. Elmsley's workforce. The undercover work against the "Ribbonmen" (the proto-Fenians) in Ireland. Life in the East End: it wasn't all slums and misery. I found it juicy background stuff.
May 14, 2018
The author manages to make the account engaging, filling out the pages with relevant social/economic commentary. Having lived in Stepney Green for a few years I was familiar with the area which added to my interest. Mrs Emsley, a wealthy but miserly widow, is brutally murdered and there are few clues to the perpetrator. Somebody is convicted and hanged on the basis of some very circumstantial evidence, and they would almost certainly not be found guilty in the court system of today. The author holds out the hope that the true murderer will be revealed at the end of the book, but there is no real evidence against the proposed killer either, which was disappointing.
July 16, 2019
The MILE END MURDER was the ultimate cold case, until now, when author Sinclair McKay reveals who actually committed the sensational murder in 1860 of a 70-year-old widow. Not even Conan Doyle could solve the case, rife with a host of suspects and shocking revelations, which ended in one of the final public executions at Newgate. Highly recommended for fans of true crime, Conan Doyle and the allure of solving cold cases. 5/5
Thanks to the author, Quarto Publishing Group - Aurum Press, and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for my true review.
#TheMileEndMurder #NetGalley
Thanks to the author, Quarto Publishing Group - Aurum Press, and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for my true review.
#TheMileEndMurder #NetGalley
November 21, 2017
I received this book as a gift from my wife, so I felt compelled to read it. I think she got it for me because I am a Sherlock Holmes fan and the dust jacket cites Cohan Doyle as someone who was alleged to be involved in the case. He was not.
The book is a bit draggy, hardly a "page turner". One thing that the book raised for me, however, was the fact that the underclasses of society still have a significant disadvantage in the justice system, whether it be in the UK or the US.
The book is a bit draggy, hardly a "page turner". One thing that the book raised for me, however, was the fact that the underclasses of society still have a significant disadvantage in the justice system, whether it be in the UK or the US.
October 31, 2023
A fascinating bit of social history, shining a light into the darkest corners of Victorian London, through the lens of the flawed investigation of a brutal murder. But if you think you're in for a long-lost Sherlock Holmes story about the "one that got away," you'll be sadly disappointed.
Twenty-odd years before Jack the Ripper, the Limehouse area of London was the scene of another cause célèbre: the brutal murder of wealthy and eccentric widow Mary Emsley. The lady's anti-social habits, and the scene of the crime, suggested that she knew her murderer. The fact that only odds and ends were taken-- when it was well-known that she might have substantial amounts of money squirrelled away around the house -- suggested that theft wasn't the primary motive. And her prominence as a local personality -- a landlord, who owned property all over the East End, and fearlessly collected her own rents -- meant that the pressure on the local constabulary to find her murderer ran dangerously high.
It was all an ideal scenario for hasty arrests, a case based on circumstantial evidence, an emotional prosecution and a verdict so dubious that even the presiding judge expressed his doubts about it when handing down the inevitable sentence of death. Forty years later, Arthur Conan Doyle indulged in some amateur sleuthing, one of a series of essays on true crime that he wrote for the Strand Magazine while he was waiting for the dust to settle after shoving Holmes off the Reichenbach Falls
It's a fascinating case, in a fascinating context, and McKay is a clear, articulate guide to the intricacies of Mary Emsley's life, the lives of those who because tangled up in her death, and the dynamics of London neighbourhoods that, within the space of her lifetime, had morphed from little villages on the fringes of a big city, gobbled up by the growing metropolis. As the subtitle suggests, Conan Doyle echoed the contemporary doubts that the right man had hanged for the crime, but didn't go so far as offering an alternative. McKay isn't so shy, and offers a couple of alternative scenarios: superficially plausible, yet based on circumstantial "evidence," prejudices and gut-feelings that are every bit as flimsy as the testimony that hanged James Mullins in 1860.
If I had one criticism of the book it was that the long chapters relating to the trial were necessarily point by point repetition of the circumstances of the death of Mrs. Emsley, and the movements of those accused -- details that we'd already heard about as McKay followed the police investigation. But otherwise, this was well-worth reading as social history
Twenty-odd years before Jack the Ripper, the Limehouse area of London was the scene of another cause célèbre: the brutal murder of wealthy and eccentric widow Mary Emsley. The lady's anti-social habits, and the scene of the crime, suggested that she knew her murderer. The fact that only odds and ends were taken-- when it was well-known that she might have substantial amounts of money squirrelled away around the house -- suggested that theft wasn't the primary motive. And her prominence as a local personality -- a landlord, who owned property all over the East End, and fearlessly collected her own rents -- meant that the pressure on the local constabulary to find her murderer ran dangerously high.
It was all an ideal scenario for hasty arrests, a case based on circumstantial evidence, an emotional prosecution and a verdict so dubious that even the presiding judge expressed his doubts about it when handing down the inevitable sentence of death. Forty years later, Arthur Conan Doyle indulged in some amateur sleuthing, one of a series of essays on true crime that he wrote for the Strand Magazine while he was waiting for the dust to settle after shoving Holmes off the Reichenbach Falls
It's a fascinating case, in a fascinating context, and McKay is a clear, articulate guide to the intricacies of Mary Emsley's life, the lives of those who because tangled up in her death, and the dynamics of London neighbourhoods that, within the space of her lifetime, had morphed from little villages on the fringes of a big city, gobbled up by the growing metropolis. As the subtitle suggests, Conan Doyle echoed the contemporary doubts that the right man had hanged for the crime, but didn't go so far as offering an alternative. McKay isn't so shy, and offers a couple of alternative scenarios: superficially plausible, yet based on circumstantial "evidence," prejudices and gut-feelings that are every bit as flimsy as the testimony that hanged James Mullins in 1860.
If I had one criticism of the book it was that the long chapters relating to the trial were necessarily point by point repetition of the circumstances of the death of Mrs. Emsley, and the movements of those accused -- details that we'd already heard about as McKay followed the police investigation. But otherwise, this was well-worth reading as social history
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