To Catch A Killer: My Hunt for the Truth Behind the Doorstep Murder

by Peter Bleksley

On 28 November 2004, banker and father-of-two Alistair Wilson was shot three times on his doorstep in a killing more commonly associated with inner city gang wars than a sleepy seaside town in the Scottish Highlands. Almost fifteen years later, the question why? Who would wish to kill this respectable husband and family man in such a brutal fashion? Was it simply a tragic case of mistaken identity, or did someone have reason to end the thirty-year-old's life? And what was the significance of the envelope handed to him before he was fatally wounded? Over the years, leads have been investigated and dismissed, gossip has spread, theories offered and rumours debated at length. And yet, so long after Alistair's death, no arrest has ever been made and precious few leads have been made public. In this gripping true crime investigation, Peter Bleksley, a former Met Police undercover cop, crime and policing expert and The Chief on Channel 4's Hunted, strives to uncover the truth and hunt down Alistair's killer. He travels to Nairn, speaks to experts, and draws on his own investigative experience in order to offer new leads and insight into Scotland's most mysterious murder case.

Genres: True Crime, Crime

304 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2018

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first came across the author, a former undercover officer for London’s Metropolitan Police, when reading his autobiography, The Gangbuster. Since then I’ve read his contributions to other works, such as Neil Wood’s Drug Wars, and followed him on Twitter. Most readers might be familiar with him from his contribution to the show Hunted, though I confess to never having watched it myself.

After his autobiography, The Gangbuster, the author wrote another book examining unsolved murders. Titled On The Run, each chapter focused on a different unsolved killing. To Catch a Killer is his third book and was supposed to follow the format of the previous title - examine a number of murders - but in the end chose just one, the shooting of Alistair Wilson on his doorstep in Nairn in 2004.

I was not aware of the Alistair Wilson’s killing until reading this book and the author does a good job of summarising and introducing his readers to this appalling crime. Alistair was a banker and family man with a wife and two children. On the evening of 28th November a man called at his house asking for him. Alistair’s wife, Veronica, answered the door and called her husband. When Alistair came to the door the man handed him an envelope which was empty. After discussing this with his wife who had gone back upstairs, Alistair returned to the front door where he was shot dead. This murder has never been solved and there has never been an arrest.

I’ve seen some reviewers on Amazon say the author spends as much time discussing his own career and credentials as he does the murder. This in my opinion is unfair. There are some chapters where he discusses his own career, but they are solely to give his fascination with the Alistair Wilson killing context and the vast majority of the book is focused on the crime and theories as to its motive.

The theories as to why Alistair was killed are numerous, though most focus on his work in banking. The author examines all the various theories and meets with sources to discuss them and garner new information. Unfortunately, Police Scotland (the murder occurred in the jurisdiction of the Northern Constabulary, but all Scottish police constabularies have since been amalgamated), Alistair’s employer, the Bank of Scotland, and his wife, Veronica Wilson, all refused to be interviewed which complicates matters. That said, the author, makes a good effort at getting to the truth and while he doesn’t solve the crime (a big ask for any book) he does come up with some interesting ideas.

If I have one criticism of To Catch a Killer, it’s that at some points the narrative is a bit too chatty and informal. Perhaps as an ex-police officer he was keen not to avoid “bureaucratise”, that dry language police and other officials tend to use when making public pronouncements, or perhaps he was just trying to be more approachable. To my mind though, a book like this desires a more authoritative journalistic tone. I stress this is not a criticism of the book’s content, or the author, just a minor quibble with the tone of voice it’s written in.

That said, To Catch a Killer is a good account and examination of an intriguing and disturbing case and one I’m grateful to the author for bringing to my attention. Apparently, Peter Bleksley is set to write another book examining another case. On the strength of To Catch a Killer, I look forward to reading it.

[Malone]

It started well with all the facts of the case being methodically laid out then it somehow meandered in all sorts of directions involving the authors life which i skimmed. I stopped half way through but maybe i will pick it up later and finish.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really a Non-Fiction reader but as this book is about an unsolved murder in a town 37 miles away and remember hearing about this murder on the news back in 2004. Over 14 years later, the mystery behind this doorstep murder is still unsolved and this book gives you some angles you would never think of but would all make sense.

It is a great shame that neither the Police nor Alistair Wilson's wife (Veroniva) will come forward and speak to the author Peter Bleksley to help solve this ongoing case.

I remember something about the gun coming from, possibly, Germany and I didn't come across this in the book but I may have dreamed that.

I'm sure Veronica has her reasons to stay at the family home where the murder took place and I admire her for that.

I particularly liked the letter to the culprit at the end and I won't give anything away but it is a good idea to appeal to the murderer.

Anyway it is a book well worth reading if you remember the case or like true crime non fiction.

[Simone Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Peter Bleksley investigates the doorstep murder of Alastair Wilson, a banker who lived in Nairn. Years on, the case is still unsolved. I lived nearby at the time so have an interest in the case.

I wasn’t sure what the book would be like, sometimes true crime books try to sensationalise what happened and don’t consider the victims or their families. Peter is clearly passionate about the case and has put a lot of effort into investigating it as best he can, to try and get justice for Alastair’s family.

I wouldn’t say enjoyed is the right word for this book, but I found it accessibly written and interesting. I found out some things I didn’t know about the case and it definitely gives you a lot to think about. Some parts of the book are a bit about Peter and other cases he’s worked on, but the majority focuses on the murder of Alastair.

I really hope that the family get justice. If you’re interested in true crime, or the case specifically, I would recommend this book.

[michelle Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally fascinated by this case and I really hope Peter (or the police) have a breakthrough and catch the murderer.

Peter has an easy to read writing style and I intend to read his other books.

If true crime interests you in any way this is definitely a book for you.

[Darren Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read about the murder of Alistair Wilson in Nairn. I knew little about the murder before reading despite it being fairly local to me. Very interested to see if there are any developments as a result of this book.

Didn't want to put it down after half way through.

[Trevor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit of an odd one this as it's essentially about an unsolved case. You'd have thought you'd write a book like this when it's solved, I mean it's hardly a Jack the Ripper type of a case.

It jumps around into Peter's own world of TV etc, it's not the greatest book I've ever read!

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very compelling read about a murder that's been unsolved for years. The pain and anguish that must cause is unimaginable. Peter Bleksley writes with honesty and sometimes black humour and is well worth reading.

[Freya Snook · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about the case but felt the book dragged quite a lot. I felt it wasn’t necessary to include all the details from all the interviews with all the interviewees. I became bored at the end and started skipping pages. I didn’t feel the book was written very well.

[Paula Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read.. hope they find who do this… I am surprised that the wife doesn’t want to talk about it thou..

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good read

[laura.B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad case, I feel so sad for the family.