Elizabeth Is Missing: One of the Eighteenth Century's Greatest Mysteries—Solved!

by Lillian de la Torre

The true story of the eighteenth-century English maidservant at the center of a fascinating criminal mystery.

On New Year’s Day, 1753, Elizabeth Canning disappeared. An eighteen-year-old girl, she was unremarkable in every respect, from her appearance to her disposition, but she was about to become the most famous person in London. When she reappeared one month later, starving and ill, she claimed she had been abducted and held captive by a woman named Susannah Wells, who wanted Elizabeth to work for her as a prostitute. Based on Elizabeth’s testimony, Wells was arrested, tried, and convicted—but the case was just getting started.
 
Convinced the young woman was lying, the Lord Mayor of London set out to uncover the truth. What followed was one of the most celebrated criminal cases of the era. The controversy, which threatened to tear London apart, revolved around one frightened, mysterious girl.
 
Meticulously researched and irresistibly readable, Elizabeth Is Missing is the definitive account of one of the most unusual cases of the eighteenth century, a must-read for fans of historical true crime.
 

Genres: True Crime, History, Nonfiction, Mystery

297 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

Lillian de la Torre was an American novelist and a prolific writer of historical mysteries. Her name is a pseudonym for Lillian de la Torre Bueno McCue.

Her most popular works were in a series of stories she wrote about Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, under the title 'Dr. Sam: Johnson, Detector'. She also wrote numerous books, short stories for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, reviews for The New York Times Book Review, poetry and plays. She was a President of the Mystery Writers of America.

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author, Lillian de la Torre--takes a crack at an old true crime and gives it her best shot at what she believes is the answer to what really happened. She refutes a dozen other long-standing theories and gives us her own in this book, titled, ELIZABETH IS MISSING: ONE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY'S GREATEST MYSTERIES -- SOLVED! So, does she really have the right answer for what happened when 18-year-old English maidservant Bet Canning went missing for a month back on New Year's Day in 1753 on her way home? She was certainly kidnapped and was in terrible condition when she finally made her way home, as all will attest to. But what really happened to her? You'll have to read and decide for yourself if the author got it right! My thanks to NetGalley, Open Road Integrated Media, and the author for providing me with an ARC.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth is Missing

One of the Eighteenth Century's Greatest Mysteries—Solved!
by Lillian de la Torre

Open Road Integrated Media
True Crime

Pub Date 06 Jun 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Elizabeth is Missing through Open Road Integragated Media and Netgalley:

New Years Day 1753 Elizabeth Canning dissapeared and she did not reappear from the darkness until January.29th. She was eighteen years old and had not had much excitement, but after her dissapearance and reimmergence she would have a story that set London on its ears.

On January 29.1753 Mrs Canning heard the latch on the door, and worried at first it would be a burglar but quickly discovered it was there Betty. She was swollen and looked beaten but she was a live. She had been robbed on New Years night, and held against her will for four weeks in a house on Bedlam. She had been about ten or eleven miles from London.

This book asks us if Elizabeth told the truth, did she mix the truth with lies?

I give Elizabeth is Missing five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd likely give this closer to a 3.75. I really adore true crime, old and new (this sounds weird.) The author goes back in time to delve into the mystery of when an 18 year old went missing, in England, for a month. She seemed to have been kidnapped, but is that what really happened. I didn't know about this story before the book, and I was drawn in enough to look at some of the other online theories, etc. I thing de la Torre did a great job at capturing a time so long ago. Whether her theory is correct will remain a mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Tracy Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to start by saying that I accidentally read this book on the recommendation of a friend. Accidentally, since this was not actually the book that my friend reviewed, but rather one by the same title.

This book was engaging enough, the true story is told that the truth was rather riveting. However, the narrative style and archaic language used made it difficult for me to really follow all the details given. As the author delves deeper into the legal twists and turns, it becomes a bit less compelling.

I basically finished it just to finish. Not highly recommended, I'm afraid. Hoping to read the other Elizabeth is Missing soon.

[Nae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The case history of an abducted (or was she?) English servant who was missing for 28 days in the winter, then showed up at her mother's door with very little clothing on and suffering from exposure to the cold. Tracking down who did or did not do it and ensuring trial made for some really intersting reading.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 maybe 2.75.

Honestly it isnt a horrible book. I just found the writing style frustrating and the book hard to finish.

The story itself is interesting. The events make a compelling story. I just wasnt a fan of this version.

[Paulette Illmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a curious telling of a true crime that was never really solved, despite there being several trials and a conviction of the original victim. Many different theories are laid out, and the author's conclusion is as likely as any other, if not more so.

[Tara Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

[Kathy]

Riveting portrayal into the mind of someone with Dementia, who knows something is wrong but cannot communicate it. Moves forward and backward in time, gripping story.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to put this one in as re read Emma Healey's Elizabeth is Missing - could not reenter for this year

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrific book; I could not put it down. It held my attention from beginning to end. A must read, a quick read, an intense read!!