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The Acid Alchemist
In July 1909 John George Haigh was born into a strictly religious household. As a young child his life was shaped by his parent’s extreme beliefs. Little did he know that the recurring nightmares of his early life would lead to one of the most horrific cases in British criminal history. Other than his obsession with cleanliness, John George Haigh was described by his acquaintances as someone who was as normal as any young man during the 1940s in England. In fact, most people said he was a true gentleman with exceptional manners and a profound love for classical music. However, in the back of John’s crisp mind was a much darker side; a craving for wealth combined with a lust for blood… After spending many years in prison for fraud and theft, John Haigh concluded that the only reason he always got caught was because people talked. What if I can make them disappear? he thought one evening. What if I can stop them from talking to the police? Using his scientific knowledge (and a tiny bit of the legal system he had read about while in prison) he derived a new sinister plan to get rich. That was the disturbing turning point in his life. That was the point when John The Gentleman became John The Serial Killer. This is the true story of the notorious Acid Bath Murderer, a cold-blooded murderer who imagined he was above the law. A man who believed he could literally get away with murder… The material in this publication has a strong adult theme and is intended for an adult audience. Reader discretion is advised.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2020
212 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Robert Brown
14 books5 followersRobert Brown is an author and former freelance journalist in is mid-forties from California. Having been born and raised in the UK he moved to the US as a teenager with his family where he now lives with his wife and two children.
Robert has always been intrigued by true crime which led in part to his previous career of a freelance journalist writing for local publications primarily about unsolved murders. It was obvious to Robert that his passion for this genre would lead to him writing his first book "Deadly Illusions" in 2017.
Apart from writing Robert loves to spend time with his family and to indulge his other passion of the great outdoors. Having been raised in the UK it's no surprise that Robert is also a keen anglophile which is also reflected in his writing.
Robert has a unique writing style that uses both his UK and US backgrounds that creates stories that can be enjoyed by readers on both sides of the pond. Keep an eye out for further publications from Robert soon.
Robert has always been intrigued by true crime which led in part to his previous career of a freelance journalist writing for local publications primarily about unsolved murders. It was obvious to Robert that his passion for this genre would lead to him writing his first book "Deadly Illusions" in 2017.
Apart from writing Robert loves to spend time with his family and to indulge his other passion of the great outdoors. Having been raised in the UK it's no surprise that Robert is also a keen anglophile which is also reflected in his writing.
Robert has a unique writing style that uses both his UK and US backgrounds that creates stories that can be enjoyed by readers on both sides of the pond. Keep an eye out for further publications from Robert soon.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 1, 2022
Based on a true story. Great read!
August 31, 2020
“This was a man who reduced six human bodies to sludge yet loved good music; cared for people who depended on him; and never forgot a birthday. A monster, rubber gloved, wearing a mask, disposing of his victims at night; a chorister, a lover of nature and to his friends, gentle, kind, thoughtful. In short, a contradiction in terms, a baffling, intriguing, yet frightening enigma.”
This quote sums up this man's entire life.
This is the biography of a man named John George Haigh, who in the 1940s England, took to killing off wealthy folks and taking over their fortunes. His MO was to lure them to his shop, kill them either with a blow to the head or a gunshot, then disposing of them by liquefying them in a drum of sulphuric acid. It was a misunderstanding of the law that was his undoing, after killing about a half dozen people. He was under the impression that he could not be convicted of murder without there being a body.
This is the true story of the notorious Acid Bath Murderer, a cold-blooded murderer who imagined he was above the law. A man who believed he could literally get away with murder…
This quote sums up this man's entire life.
This is the biography of a man named John George Haigh, who in the 1940s England, took to killing off wealthy folks and taking over their fortunes. His MO was to lure them to his shop, kill them either with a blow to the head or a gunshot, then disposing of them by liquefying them in a drum of sulphuric acid. It was a misunderstanding of the law that was his undoing, after killing about a half dozen people. He was under the impression that he could not be convicted of murder without there being a body.
This is the true story of the notorious Acid Bath Murderer, a cold-blooded murderer who imagined he was above the law. A man who believed he could literally get away with murder…
August 20, 2020
Choir Member, Organist, and Pianist!
John George Haigh was born to John, Sr. and Emily Haigh in 1908 in Cardiff. He was raised with very little interaction with the outside world inside an ultra conservative Protestant sect called the Plymouth Brethren. He couldn’t have friends, celebrate Christmas, dance, listen to radio, or read newspapers.Haigh sang in a church choir and played both organ and piano in services. He began his life of deception with forging his mother’s signature on notes to the school’s headmaster that he was ill. He also forged a note from his teacher saying that he was required to have a chemistry set for science class which his mother promptly purchased.
Robert Brown has researched Haigh’s life thoroughly from childhood through his crimes to his unmasking. To learn more about John George Haigh’s nefarious deeds read The Acid Alchemist!
♥️✝️🐑✡️♥️
John George Haigh was born to John, Sr. and Emily Haigh in 1908 in Cardiff. He was raised with very little interaction with the outside world inside an ultra conservative Protestant sect called the Plymouth Brethren. He couldn’t have friends, celebrate Christmas, dance, listen to radio, or read newspapers.Haigh sang in a church choir and played both organ and piano in services. He began his life of deception with forging his mother’s signature on notes to the school’s headmaster that he was ill. He also forged a note from his teacher saying that he was required to have a chemistry set for science class which his mother promptly purchased.
Robert Brown has researched Haigh’s life thoroughly from childhood through his crimes to his unmasking. To learn more about John George Haigh’s nefarious deeds read The Acid Alchemist!
♥️✝️🐑✡️♥️
August 8, 2022
Silly Mistakes.
My enjoyment of this book was marred by a lot of silly mistakes, a prime example being that the UK seems to have adopted decimal currency before the end of the Second World War! Whilst I agree that it is acceptable to use some license to pad out a story, an author must always be mindful that things which are a matter of fact cannot and must not be changed.
I had heard of the "acid bath killer" and thought the book would be an interesting read. However, this author has made so many silly mistakes I'm not now sure whether he researched things properly. I feel I have wasted my time.
My enjoyment of this book was marred by a lot of silly mistakes, a prime example being that the UK seems to have adopted decimal currency before the end of the Second World War! Whilst I agree that it is acceptable to use some license to pad out a story, an author must always be mindful that things which are a matter of fact cannot and must not be changed.
I had heard of the "acid bath killer" and thought the book would be an interesting read. However, this author has made so many silly mistakes I'm not now sure whether he researched things properly. I feel I have wasted my time.
February 5, 2020
Even though the title says it's a true story, it took me a while to realize this wasn't a work of someone's sick imagination. Or another serial killer novel with a sick twist to it.
The fact that a human being could be so cold and calculating out of selfishness and desire for 'things' is utterly repulsive when you realize the depths that person would go to ti fulfill those desires.
Was he mentally I'll, as he claimed to be? Did he deserve to be hanged for his crimes, or thrown into a psychiatric facility forever?
You can decide, then weigh it against the judge's decision in the end.
The fact that a human being could be so cold and calculating out of selfishness and desire for 'things' is utterly repulsive when you realize the depths that person would go to ti fulfill those desires.
Was he mentally I'll, as he claimed to be? Did he deserve to be hanged for his crimes, or thrown into a psychiatric facility forever?
You can decide, then weigh it against the judge's decision in the end.
June 7, 2020
This is the biography of a man named John Haigh, who in the 1940s England, took to killing off wealthy folks and taking over their fortunes. His MO was to lure them to his shop, kill them either with a blow to the head or a gunshot, then disposing of them by liquifying them in a drum of sulfuric acid. It was a misunderstanding of the law that was his undoing, after killing about a half dozen people. He was under the impression that he could not be convicted of murder without there being a body. So he was a bit bolder than he should have been. It's an interesting, if somewhat dark story.
February 7, 2020
Dry
Most of the book is very dry. The accounts of his life until he started killing are long with too much detail. After he starts killing, the book goes from from one victim to the next with little indication of time.
The book finally gets good when the police start investigating. However, this feels very rushed; I would have liked to have read more about the work the police did.
Overall not a bad book, just not as good as it could have been.
Most of the book is very dry. The accounts of his life until he started killing are long with too much detail. After he starts killing, the book goes from from one victim to the next with little indication of time.
The book finally gets good when the police start investigating. However, this feels very rushed; I would have liked to have read more about the work the police did.
Overall not a bad book, just not as good as it could have been.
March 2, 2020
The acid Alchemist
I love true crime and the story of John Haigh is mind boggling. How one human can drink the blood of his victims and not loose any sleep is crazy. This book was A fast pace book and the author did a great job showing the character o Jon Haigh. Great read for those like me who love true crime books.
I love true crime and the story of John Haigh is mind boggling. How one human can drink the blood of his victims and not loose any sleep is crazy. This book was A fast pace book and the author did a great job showing the character o Jon Haigh. Great read for those like me who love true crime books.
March 22, 2020
The Curate's Egg
Such a pity, a good read, but spoilt by a lack of knowledge of British Law and legal procedure prevailing at that time. Also, a lot detail that couldn't possibly have been known together with some corny Americanism's and some inaccuracies spoil what could have been really good book
Such a pity, a good read, but spoilt by a lack of knowledge of British Law and legal procedure prevailing at that time. Also, a lot detail that couldn't possibly have been known together with some corny Americanism's and some inaccuracies spoil what could have been really good book
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October 30, 2020Amazing telling of a true story that will give you chills
The writing of this true story is both mesmerizing and chilling! I could not stop reading this book and finished it in one day. The fact that there was an actual person detached enough from his emotions to do these horrible things is mind boggling!!
The writing of this true story is both mesmerizing and chilling! I could not stop reading this book and finished it in one day. The fact that there was an actual person detached enough from his emotions to do these horrible things is mind boggling!!
June 1, 2020
Excellent Read
This was an excellent, easy book to read, which is why I gave it five stars! It speaks to the reader on their level, in layman's term, written much like a storytelling novel. I love the author's style of writing. He will be one of my new favorite crime writers!
This was an excellent, easy book to read, which is why I gave it five stars! It speaks to the reader on their level, in layman's term, written much like a storytelling novel. I love the author's style of writing. He will be one of my new favorite crime writers!
June 10, 2020
Unbelievable
It appears that a narcissistic personality, without a conscience, was able to do what most human beings would find disgusting. Murdering and desecrating six human bodies.
It was an interesting story but it felt like it was truncated.
It appears that a narcissistic personality, without a conscience, was able to do what most human beings would find disgusting. Murdering and desecrating six human bodies.
It was an interesting story but it felt like it was truncated.
June 21, 2020
Interesting
This book reads like fiction and tells a story that unfortunately is true. I liked the way the author wrote and liked reading this story about one of history's most gruesome killers.
This book reads like fiction and tells a story that unfortunately is true. I liked the way the author wrote and liked reading this story about one of history's most gruesome killers.
February 28, 2021
You will need a strong stomach!
You will need a strong stomach for this one! Wanting to be rich but not have to work, the Acid Alchemist, kills his victims merely for their money! It is very interesting how the police catch him! He got sloppy of course! Great read!
You will need a strong stomach for this one! Wanting to be rich but not have to work, the Acid Alchemist, kills his victims merely for their money! It is very interesting how the police catch him! He got sloppy of course! Great read!
April 13, 2021
This started out a little slow. I almost gave up but decided to keep going. This was really one sick person. WTH is wrong with people that they would ever act this way. Glad he wasn't found to be insane and thank goodness for a speedy execution.
June 10, 2021
This was written more like fiction than non-fiction, so I’m not sure how much was factual. It was still an interesting story. There were a few sentences with at least one missing word, which made them hard to interpret.
September 17, 2021
What a con man! This book is very good. Not nearly as gory as I expected which is why I put off reading it for some time. Background with the facts and imagined conversations, I recommend the book.
February 8, 2020
Historical True Crime
I had never heard of the acid bath killer so I found this book very interesting. I like the author's writing style. It read like a novel.
I had never heard of the acid bath killer so I found this book very interesting. I like the author's writing style. It read like a novel.
July 16, 2020
This book was chilling in many places. The fact that it is based on a true story makes it all the more chilling.
August 31, 2020
It always amazes me how some people have no regard for human lives. Unfortunately this is a gruesome true story that took place across the pond. No matter in what country serial killers are the same.
November 14, 2021
This book was quite terrifying. I am glad he got caught.
June 4, 2020
I am stumped...shaking...I can't even wrap my brain around this and yet, it is real and there are people like John Haigh. I would like to know what really happened. The thing that really makes me ponder he and many others is that they have these really strict religious backgrounds. Are they blaming religion for their lack of humanity? Brown's writing is very thorough. His writing built to a conclusion without being scattered all over the place. I'd be interested in reading more of his works. This book left me queasy.
November 12, 2020
A well research non fiction book
Before I read this book, I went to Google to do some quick research on John Haigh, so that I could validate the information given by the author. And I was impressed by the accuracy on the information in the book.
The book reads like a fiction book (I sometimes stir away from nonfiction because they can be tedious). Everything is in this book, from his parents to how he selected, killed and disposed of his victims. Also, the reason he started drinking their blood.
He got caught because he got greedy and thought his method was infallible. His last victim was a very well known and loved lady and one of her friends didn't believe that she left for a vacation.
He also believed that because he destroyed all his victims, he couldn't be convicted. So he confessed to everything but forgot about something very important: forensic evidence.
And once he was convicted, Mr. Haigh was executed in less than three months by hanging.
Why I didn't rated the book a five star is because the author could have given us more information about his parents and his victims.
He was bad but not mad
Before I read this book, I went to Google to do some quick research on John Haigh, so that I could validate the information given by the author. And I was impressed by the accuracy on the information in the book.
The book reads like a fiction book (I sometimes stir away from nonfiction because they can be tedious). Everything is in this book, from his parents to how he selected, killed and disposed of his victims. Also, the reason he started drinking their blood.
He got caught because he got greedy and thought his method was infallible. His last victim was a very well known and loved lady and one of her friends didn't believe that she left for a vacation.
He also believed that because he destroyed all his victims, he couldn't be convicted. So he confessed to everything but forgot about something very important: forensic evidence.
And once he was convicted, Mr. Haigh was executed in less than three months by hanging.
Why I didn't rated the book a five star is because the author could have given us more information about his parents and his victims.
He was bad but not mad
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews