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Babes in the Wood
Babes in the Wood by Graham Bartlett with Peter James takes us to the heart of a murder case that shocked the nation. Both gripping police procedural and an insight into the motivations of a truly evil man, it is a unique account of what became a thirty-two year fight for justice.
On 9 October 1986, nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway went out to play on their Brighton estate. They would never return home; their bodies discovered the next day concealed in a small clearing in a local park. This devastating crime rocked their close-knit community and the whole country.
Following the investigation moment by moment, drawing on exclusive interviews with officers charged with catching the killer, former senior detective Graham Bartlett and bestselling author Peter James tell the compelling inside story of the murder hunt and the arrest of local man Russell Bishop. The trial that followed was one of the most infamous in the history of Brighton policing – a shock result sees Bishop walk free. ‘Not guilty.’
Three years later, Graham is working as a junior detective in Brighton CID. A seven year old girl is kidnapped and found wandering naked on the freezing South Downs. When Bishop’s name comes up as a suspect, it’s clear history had come close to repeating itself. With the law and science against them, the police are frustrated that, still, he would escape justice for the double murder.
Decades later detectives are handed a surprise second chance. Can Bishop finally be made to answer for his horrendous crimes?
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2020
89 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Graham Bartlett
5 books62 followersI am a best-selling author and crime and police procedural advisor to fiction and TV writers.
I was a police officer for thirty years and mainly policed the city of Brighton and Hove, rising to become a Chief Superintendent and its police commander. I started writing when I left the police in 2013 and, almost by accident, became a police procedural and crime advisor, helping scores of authors and TV writers (including Peter James, Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths, Anthony Horowitz, Ruth Ware, Claire McGowan and Dorothy Koomson) achieve authenticity in their drama.
I run online crime writing workshops and courses with the Professional Writing Academy and deliver inputs to Masters programmes at the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia as well as at the Crime Writing Certificate programme at West Dean College.
I live in Sussex with my wife Julie and, variously, my 24yr old triplets!
My debut crime novel, Bad for Good is now on pre-sale on Amazon. It asks the question:
How far would you go?
"The murder of a promising footballer and, crucially, the son of the Brighton's Chief Superintendent, means Detective Superintendent Jo Howe has a complicated and sensitive case on her hands. The situation becomes yet more desperate following devastating blackmail threats.
Howe can trust no one as she tracks the brutal killer in a city balanced on a knife edge of vigilante action and a police force riven with corruption."
The next chapter in the Jo Howe series is published in 2023
Aside from my new fiction career, I have two non fictions to my name, both co-written with 2015 Crime Writer’s Association Diamond Dagger Award winner, Peter James.
The first, a Sunday Times bestseller, "Death Comes Knocking. Policing Roy Grace's Brighton," is an account of what it is like to police one of the UK’s most cosmopolitan cities, Brighton and Hove. With real stories, drawn from my 30 year career we link the events, incidents and investigations I describe into the fictional world created by Peter in his Roy Grace novels.
The second, "Babes in the Wood," is described as a gripping police procedural with an insight into the motivations of a truly evil man, in what became a thirty-two-year fight for justice.
"On 9 October 1986, nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway went out to play on their Brighton estate. They would never return home; their bodies discovered the next day concealed in a local park. This devastating crime rocked the country.
With unique access to the officers charged with catching the killer, former senior detective Graham Bartlett and bestselling author Peter James tell the compelling inside story of the investigation as the net tightens around local man Russell Bishop. The trial that follows is one of the most infamous in the history of Brighton policing – a shock result sees Bishop walk free.
Three years later, Graham is working in Brighton CID when a seven-year-old girl is abducted and left to die. She survives . . . and Bishop’s name comes up as a suspect. Is history repeating itself? Can the police put him away this time, and will he ever be made to answer for his past horrendous crimes?"
I was a police officer for thirty years and mainly policed the city of Brighton and Hove, rising to become a Chief Superintendent and its police commander. I started writing when I left the police in 2013 and, almost by accident, became a police procedural and crime advisor, helping scores of authors and TV writers (including Peter James, Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths, Anthony Horowitz, Ruth Ware, Claire McGowan and Dorothy Koomson) achieve authenticity in their drama.
I run online crime writing workshops and courses with the Professional Writing Academy and deliver inputs to Masters programmes at the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia as well as at the Crime Writing Certificate programme at West Dean College.
I live in Sussex with my wife Julie and, variously, my 24yr old triplets!
My debut crime novel, Bad for Good is now on pre-sale on Amazon. It asks the question:
How far would you go?
"The murder of a promising footballer and, crucially, the son of the Brighton's Chief Superintendent, means Detective Superintendent Jo Howe has a complicated and sensitive case on her hands. The situation becomes yet more desperate following devastating blackmail threats.
Howe can trust no one as she tracks the brutal killer in a city balanced on a knife edge of vigilante action and a police force riven with corruption."
The next chapter in the Jo Howe series is published in 2023
Aside from my new fiction career, I have two non fictions to my name, both co-written with 2015 Crime Writer’s Association Diamond Dagger Award winner, Peter James.
The first, a Sunday Times bestseller, "Death Comes Knocking. Policing Roy Grace's Brighton," is an account of what it is like to police one of the UK’s most cosmopolitan cities, Brighton and Hove. With real stories, drawn from my 30 year career we link the events, incidents and investigations I describe into the fictional world created by Peter in his Roy Grace novels.
The second, "Babes in the Wood," is described as a gripping police procedural with an insight into the motivations of a truly evil man, in what became a thirty-two-year fight for justice.
"On 9 October 1986, nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway went out to play on their Brighton estate. They would never return home; their bodies discovered the next day concealed in a local park. This devastating crime rocked the country.
With unique access to the officers charged with catching the killer, former senior detective Graham Bartlett and bestselling author Peter James tell the compelling inside story of the investigation as the net tightens around local man Russell Bishop. The trial that follows is one of the most infamous in the history of Brighton policing – a shock result sees Bishop walk free.
Three years later, Graham is working in Brighton CID when a seven-year-old girl is abducted and left to die. She survives . . . and Bishop’s name comes up as a suspect. Is history repeating itself? Can the police put him away this time, and will he ever be made to answer for his past horrendous crimes?"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 28, 2020
On the night of 9 October 1986, 9 year old friends Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway were murdered in a local park close to their homes, this is the devastating true story of a 32 year fight for justice as the perpetrator Russell Bishop was acquitted the following year.
I'm too young to remember the initial impact of this hideous crime, but I can always see the memorial layed out around the Hawthorne tree whilst taking the dog for a walk over Wild Park.
This book not only gives a definitive account of the events of that tragic day but also explains through various police procedures of the time exactly how Bishop escaped justice.
The advancement of DNA and how the police are able to gain vital information was quite an eye opener.
The subject is of course tough to read but handled brilliant, there's an overriding sense of the emotional impact this had on the community.
It's an important story to tell and I feel that I've got a better understanding as to why it took so long to finally convict a clearly guilty monster.
I'm too young to remember the initial impact of this hideous crime, but I can always see the memorial layed out around the Hawthorne tree whilst taking the dog for a walk over Wild Park.
This book not only gives a definitive account of the events of that tragic day but also explains through various police procedures of the time exactly how Bishop escaped justice.
The advancement of DNA and how the police are able to gain vital information was quite an eye opener.
The subject is of course tough to read but handled brilliant, there's an overriding sense of the emotional impact this had on the community.
It's an important story to tell and I feel that I've got a better understanding as to why it took so long to finally convict a clearly guilty monster.
March 23, 2022
My mind is blown! I DID NOT know this! England has a version of Double Jeopardy that can be prosecuted. Because of ONE PHRASE that was in a judgment document that set a precedent. It’s basically only for murder and its details are hair-pulling specific, but it can be done.
Where are you red robes and wigs when USA has a double jeopardy trial? RIP Brenda Sue Schaffer
My heart goes out to these families. Esp Fellows. What pain that daddy went through. I didn’t cry! No stop lying!
Where are you red robes and wigs when USA has a double jeopardy trial? RIP Brenda Sue Schaffer
My heart goes out to these families. Esp Fellows. What pain that daddy went through. I didn’t cry! No stop lying!
June 18, 2022
I was living in Brighton in 1986 when two nine year olds, Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, were murdered in a local park in a sex crime. I also clearly remember suspect Russell Bishop's surprising acquittal having been charged with the crime.
Babes in the Wood (2020) by Graham Bartlett is an excellent account of the murder, the investigations, and what happened afterwards. Graham Bartlett, a retired police officer, is able to provide an authoritative insiders's account.
Needless to say it often makes for grim reading but it is also a tale of persistence, hard work, frustration, pain and quiet heroism. It's a humbling history - engrossing and very worthwhile.
4/5
On 9 October 1986, nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway went out to play on their Brighton estate. They would never return home; their bodies discovered the next day concealed in a local park. This devastating crime rocked the country.
With unique access to the officers charged with catching the killer, former senior detective Graham Bartlett and bestselling author Peter James tell the compelling inside story of the investigation as the net tightens around local man Russell Bishop. The trial that follows is one of the most infamous in the history of Brighton policing – a shock result sees Bishop walk free.
Three years later, Graham is working in Brighton CID when a seven-year-old girl is abducted and left to die. She survives . . . and Bishop’s name comes up as a suspect. Is history repeating itself? Can the police put him away this time, and will he ever be made to answer for his past horrendous crimes? Both gripping police procedural and an insight into the motivations of a truly evil man, Babes in the Wood by Graham Bartlett with Peter James is a fascinating account of what became a thirty-two year fight for justice.
Babes in the Wood (2020) by Graham Bartlett is an excellent account of the murder, the investigations, and what happened afterwards. Graham Bartlett, a retired police officer, is able to provide an authoritative insiders's account.
Needless to say it often makes for grim reading but it is also a tale of persistence, hard work, frustration, pain and quiet heroism. It's a humbling history - engrossing and very worthwhile.
4/5
On 9 October 1986, nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway went out to play on their Brighton estate. They would never return home; their bodies discovered the next day concealed in a local park. This devastating crime rocked the country.
With unique access to the officers charged with catching the killer, former senior detective Graham Bartlett and bestselling author Peter James tell the compelling inside story of the investigation as the net tightens around local man Russell Bishop. The trial that follows is one of the most infamous in the history of Brighton policing – a shock result sees Bishop walk free.
Three years later, Graham is working in Brighton CID when a seven-year-old girl is abducted and left to die. She survives . . . and Bishop’s name comes up as a suspect. Is history repeating itself? Can the police put him away this time, and will he ever be made to answer for his past horrendous crimes? Both gripping police procedural and an insight into the motivations of a truly evil man, Babes in the Wood by Graham Bartlett with Peter James is a fascinating account of what became a thirty-two year fight for justice.
March 3, 2020
On the evening of 10th October 1986 I was driving from my office in Crawley to my home in Brighton. When I reached the junction of Ditchling Road and Coldean Lane I found myself, along with hundreds of other motorists in a police 'lock-down'. All roads around the Wild Park were included in this cordon where many police officers were on duty questioning every occupant of every car, myself included. "Have you by any chance seen two young girls aged around nine, on your journey?" It was a couple of days later when I learned the full horror of what had occurred. Nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway had gone out to play on their Brighton estate, which borders the Wild Park. Their bodies were discovered the next day concealed in the park. This devastating crime rocked the country and I was horrified.
In this book Babes in The Wood former senior detective Graham Bartlett and bestselling author Peter James tell the compelling inside story of the investigation to apprehend the killer, as the net tightens around local man Russell Bishop. The trial that followed is one of the most infamous in the history of Brighton policing - a shock result sees Bishop walk free.
Three years later a seven-year-old girl is abducted and left to die. She survives and Bishop's name comes up as a suspect. Can the police put him away this time? This is a fascinating account better than any fiction. A police procedural and court room drama, based on access to the officers charged with catching the killer and courtroom transcripts, an account of what became a thirty-two-year fight for justice, to finally convict one of the most evil pedophiles and finally grant closure to the families involved.
In this book Babes in The Wood former senior detective Graham Bartlett and bestselling author Peter James tell the compelling inside story of the investigation to apprehend the killer, as the net tightens around local man Russell Bishop. The trial that followed is one of the most infamous in the history of Brighton policing - a shock result sees Bishop walk free.
Three years later a seven-year-old girl is abducted and left to die. She survives and Bishop's name comes up as a suspect. Can the police put him away this time? This is a fascinating account better than any fiction. A police procedural and court room drama, based on access to the officers charged with catching the killer and courtroom transcripts, an account of what became a thirty-two-year fight for justice, to finally convict one of the most evil pedophiles and finally grant closure to the families involved.
July 4, 2020
What a sad story, of the loss of two young girls and the near loss of another. Add to this the lies that the culprit told and the things he put their families through, I am just so grateful that he finally got nailed. However, as a book to read this just didn't really hold my attention very well. Not sure why, whether it was my mood at the time or not, but I just didn't really engage with it like I expected to.
June 3, 2020
What I like most about this book is that it is written by a retired police officer who lived through the entire period from before the horrific murders up until the eventual conviction of Bishop, yet was, as he put it, on the periphery. He has a deep understanding of the facts and knows, and had access to, all the people who were ever involved, so that makes him an authority. This makes the account even better than an account by somebody who was deeply involved.
Graham Bartlett was well-supported in the creation of this account by many people, not least prolific crime fiction writer, Peter James, who Graham has supported in the writing of his own novels with correct police procedural consultancy.
When the horrific murders of two nine-year-olds, Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, occurred in Brighton in October 1986, Graham was a police constable stationed at London Gatwick airport. By the time the perpetrator of these evil crimes was finally brought to justice, thirty-two years later, he had risen through the ranks of West Sussex police to the top level.
This is a very detailed account from the day of the murders to the eventual conviction and sentencing of local man, Russell Bishop.
The strongest thread that I picked up on throughout the book is that the procedures and technology in those days were almost prehistoric compared to today and that the author, and everybody associated with the case in any way, feel that there could have been very different outcomes if 'back then' could be 'these days.'
Quote: Had the science and technology we all now take for granted been available, then things might have been very different.
The author is not shy in relating the strengths and weaknesses, and even the failings, of the investigations over the years. Things were missed that would not have been overlooked today. Those missing links could have brought Bishop to justice within days rather than decades.
The frustrations of police and family members are also brought to the fore. One which often frustrates and angers me, is that the lawyers involved in serious cases often treat them as a game between prosecution and defence. Even though the defence team know full well that their defendant is guilty, they will try their best to find a weakness in the prosecution case to get their man or woman off the hook. The rules of their game are clear. It is the job of the prosecution to prove, beyond all reasonable doubt, that the person in the dock is guilty of the crimes, as charged. The defence team merely have to introduce enough doubt into the minds of the jurors to sway them to a not guilty verdict.
Quote from the second trial: The judge had had enough and reminded the experienced barristers, ‘This is a very serious trial. It is very nice to have games between the two of you, but don’t.’
The police, who have worked so hard and diligently to bring a criminal to trial are always nervous about the unpredictability of the jury, who, to be fair, are no experts.
The author has obviously learned from other authors, not least Peter James, that it is a good tactic to conclude a chapter with a “don’t turn off the light” moment. What I mean is that many bedtime readers say to themselves that they will get to the end of the chapter, turn off the light, roll over and go to sleep. If the author can finish on a sentence that compels that reader to turn the page to the next chapter, they have scored a victory. Graham comes up with two superb examples.
The first real drama came on day five.
It was all about to come crashing down.
I often skim through the acknowledgements at the end of a book, but I read every word of them at the end of this one. They were all obviously well-deserved. One hero of the whole piece, whom I had already identified as a person who deserved massive credit for locking Bishop away, is Jeff Riley. From the moment he was involved, his was diligent and on top of every minute detail, eliminating the risk of anything that could go wrong before it even had the chance to go slightly wrong.
In Graham’s words:
Special thanks and a huge well-done goes to Detective Superintendent Jeff Riley who not only led the successful investigation, but was a huge support in fact-checking and guiding us on what was appropriate for the public domain.
It is very rare that I award five stars to a book but this one really does deserve top rating.
It is exceptional!
Graham Bartlett was well-supported in the creation of this account by many people, not least prolific crime fiction writer, Peter James, who Graham has supported in the writing of his own novels with correct police procedural consultancy.
When the horrific murders of two nine-year-olds, Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, occurred in Brighton in October 1986, Graham was a police constable stationed at London Gatwick airport. By the time the perpetrator of these evil crimes was finally brought to justice, thirty-two years later, he had risen through the ranks of West Sussex police to the top level.
This is a very detailed account from the day of the murders to the eventual conviction and sentencing of local man, Russell Bishop.
The strongest thread that I picked up on throughout the book is that the procedures and technology in those days were almost prehistoric compared to today and that the author, and everybody associated with the case in any way, feel that there could have been very different outcomes if 'back then' could be 'these days.'
Quote: Had the science and technology we all now take for granted been available, then things might have been very different.
The author is not shy in relating the strengths and weaknesses, and even the failings, of the investigations over the years. Things were missed that would not have been overlooked today. Those missing links could have brought Bishop to justice within days rather than decades.
The frustrations of police and family members are also brought to the fore. One which often frustrates and angers me, is that the lawyers involved in serious cases often treat them as a game between prosecution and defence. Even though the defence team know full well that their defendant is guilty, they will try their best to find a weakness in the prosecution case to get their man or woman off the hook. The rules of their game are clear. It is the job of the prosecution to prove, beyond all reasonable doubt, that the person in the dock is guilty of the crimes, as charged. The defence team merely have to introduce enough doubt into the minds of the jurors to sway them to a not guilty verdict.
Quote from the second trial: The judge had had enough and reminded the experienced barristers, ‘This is a very serious trial. It is very nice to have games between the two of you, but don’t.’
The police, who have worked so hard and diligently to bring a criminal to trial are always nervous about the unpredictability of the jury, who, to be fair, are no experts.
The author has obviously learned from other authors, not least Peter James, that it is a good tactic to conclude a chapter with a “don’t turn off the light” moment. What I mean is that many bedtime readers say to themselves that they will get to the end of the chapter, turn off the light, roll over and go to sleep. If the author can finish on a sentence that compels that reader to turn the page to the next chapter, they have scored a victory. Graham comes up with two superb examples.
The first real drama came on day five.
It was all about to come crashing down.
I often skim through the acknowledgements at the end of a book, but I read every word of them at the end of this one. They were all obviously well-deserved. One hero of the whole piece, whom I had already identified as a person who deserved massive credit for locking Bishop away, is Jeff Riley. From the moment he was involved, his was diligent and on top of every minute detail, eliminating the risk of anything that could go wrong before it even had the chance to go slightly wrong.
In Graham’s words:
Special thanks and a huge well-done goes to Detective Superintendent Jeff Riley who not only led the successful investigation, but was a huge support in fact-checking and guiding us on what was appropriate for the public domain.
It is very rare that I award five stars to a book but this one really does deserve top rating.
It is exceptional!
October 14, 2021
This is another loaner from a friend and coworker. We share a love for reading true crime. This was a story I had no familiarity with, so I was eager to learn what happened.
It was a sad story of injustice for over three decades. Those poor little girls. It was slow-paced, the writing. But the story itself, I was so mad at the police and the justice system that I had to walk away from the book a few times. I have children. I couldn't imagine what those people went through for 31 years because of this monster.
I think I need a break from true crime for a minute. It's always tough when the stories involve kids.
It was a sad story of injustice for over three decades. Those poor little girls. It was slow-paced, the writing. But the story itself, I was so mad at the police and the justice system that I had to walk away from the book a few times. I have children. I couldn't imagine what those people went through for 31 years because of this monster.
I think I need a break from true crime for a minute. It's always tough when the stories involve kids.
May 24, 2020
An excellent read
A factual account about the tragic loss of innocent lives and worlds ripped apart. Graham has written this with immense respect and humility. An honest and open account that shows the dedication of the professionals involved in searching for justice. An insight into the determination of the suffering families who are rightly credited for campaigning for justice, something no parent should ever have to endure.
A factual account about the tragic loss of innocent lives and worlds ripped apart. Graham has written this with immense respect and humility. An honest and open account that shows the dedication of the professionals involved in searching for justice. An insight into the determination of the suffering families who are rightly credited for campaigning for justice, something no parent should ever have to endure.
April 4, 2020
An ABSOLUTE read
What a fantastically researched and written book.
This book is a true eye opener, and a must read.
I can openly admit that it brought genuine tears to my eyes.
It is only after reading that you get only a glimpse of the evil and tremendous courage that exists.
Thank you so much.
What a fantastically researched and written book.
This book is a true eye opener, and a must read.
I can openly admit that it brought genuine tears to my eyes.
It is only after reading that you get only a glimpse of the evil and tremendous courage that exists.
Thank you so much.
May 7, 2020
I have no idea why this was so HARD to get into or care about, it seemed to be written well and was a super dark crime and miscarriage of justice so. Why. Didn’t. I. Like. It.
I don’t even know. But after a week of trying so desperately to get into this book I thought....you know what - fuck it.
I don’t even know. But after a week of trying so desperately to get into this book I thought....you know what - fuck it.
January 26, 2021
A very informative book that deals with the tragic case very respectfully. However, I found this book to be quite drawn out, the book could have been shorter
August 19, 2020
Babes in the Wood is a true account of the murder of two 9-year-old girls, back in 1986. The book is written by one of the detectives. It takes us through what happened on the day of the girl's deaths and how the crime scene was found and the days afterwards.
Russell Bishop was their prime suspect, but when the case came to trial, he was let free.
Around 3 years later a 7-year-old girl is brutally attacked and she survives and Bishops name comes up at the suspect. He admits what he did but refuses to admit to the first two girls.
He is re-trialled for the Babes in the woods murders 32 years after they happened and he is found guilty. But to this day he says he didn't do it and it was Barry, one of the girls' dad.
I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a real eye-opener, as I had heard about this case on the news, but never really knew the details of it. In my opinion, I think that they have the right guy and I am glad justice has finally been served for the girls' families.
4/5 stars for me.
Russell Bishop was their prime suspect, but when the case came to trial, he was let free.
Around 3 years later a 7-year-old girl is brutally attacked and she survives and Bishops name comes up at the suspect. He admits what he did but refuses to admit to the first two girls.
He is re-trialled for the Babes in the woods murders 32 years after they happened and he is found guilty. But to this day he says he didn't do it and it was Barry, one of the girls' dad.
I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a real eye-opener, as I had heard about this case on the news, but never really knew the details of it. In my opinion, I think that they have the right guy and I am glad justice has finally been served for the girls' families.
4/5 stars for me.
January 8, 2023
This was such an interesting book. Thank god that pedofile finally was convicted and Karen and Nicola finally got justice after 32 years.
September 4, 2023
This was a case I wasn’t too familiar with but the details in this book are fantastic.
December 20, 2022
I was hooked from the start. A sad and human retelling of real events that puts the victims and their families first!!
June 15, 2022
True crime is not something I read a lot of, but this was fascinating reading about the thirty plus year fight to bring a killer to justice.
September 15, 2022
I think anyone who lived in the UK in 1986 will remember the case of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, two 9 yr old girls who went out to play and never came home, their bodies being found the following in shrubs alongside a local park.
This is the true story, written by a retired police officer, of what turned out to be a 32 year long fight for justice and truth. The book gives a detailed account from the day of the murders to the eventual conviction and sentencing of Russell Bishop.
We follow the police investigation at the time of the murder and the trial, the result of which shocked the community as Bishop walked free.
Although not directly involved in the initial investigation, the author was a police constable at the time and on the periphery of the investigation. He remembered it well and by the time Bishop was finally brought to trial at the Old Bailey, he was a senior police officer with West Sussex police. His unique access to, and understanding of, the facts of the case, courtroom transcripts, evidence, and the people involved make this quite a unique story and explains how he escaped justice at the first trial.
The author does not shy away from some of the weaknesses in the investigation, and does acknowledge that the world of police /crime scene investigation was still in its infancy as far as the scientific procedures go.
“Had the science and technology we all now take for granted been available, then things might have been very different.
When a 7 yr old girl is abducted & left to die just three years later, Bishop’s name again comes up as a suspect. Thankfully “Claire” (her real name has been protected legally) survived her ordeal and Bishop went on trial once again.
This is a very well researched book, with a unique insight, however I think I would have preferred to read this book rather than listen to the audiobook, as the narrator had a very authoritarian voice that became quite flat after a while. The pace was slow, no doubt mirroring the way the investigation unfolded, but it took quite a lot of concentration & the way that dialogue was done was … odd. It was very much read word for word off the page rather than narrated & it did not enhance the words. As such it felt like quite a feat of concentration to get to the end and I had to break it down into shorter chunks that I would usually listen to an audiobook.
It's not an easy read but one that really helps you to understand why it took so long to finally convict a clearly guilty man. Perhaps because we knew the outcome, and the book is very much written with hindsight, the story doesn’t flow like it might if it had been written in the first person.
It’s a tale of persistence, of believing that truth will ultimately win. At the end of the book, it was touching to note that the families of the girls had resolved that the next generation would continue the fight for justice if necessary. I hope that Nicola & Karen’s families finally have closure and that “Claire” has been able to live a successful and happy life.
This is the true story, written by a retired police officer, of what turned out to be a 32 year long fight for justice and truth. The book gives a detailed account from the day of the murders to the eventual conviction and sentencing of Russell Bishop.
We follow the police investigation at the time of the murder and the trial, the result of which shocked the community as Bishop walked free.
Although not directly involved in the initial investigation, the author was a police constable at the time and on the periphery of the investigation. He remembered it well and by the time Bishop was finally brought to trial at the Old Bailey, he was a senior police officer with West Sussex police. His unique access to, and understanding of, the facts of the case, courtroom transcripts, evidence, and the people involved make this quite a unique story and explains how he escaped justice at the first trial.
The author does not shy away from some of the weaknesses in the investigation, and does acknowledge that the world of police /crime scene investigation was still in its infancy as far as the scientific procedures go.
“Had the science and technology we all now take for granted been available, then things might have been very different.
When a 7 yr old girl is abducted & left to die just three years later, Bishop’s name again comes up as a suspect. Thankfully “Claire” (her real name has been protected legally) survived her ordeal and Bishop went on trial once again.
This is a very well researched book, with a unique insight, however I think I would have preferred to read this book rather than listen to the audiobook, as the narrator had a very authoritarian voice that became quite flat after a while. The pace was slow, no doubt mirroring the way the investigation unfolded, but it took quite a lot of concentration & the way that dialogue was done was … odd. It was very much read word for word off the page rather than narrated & it did not enhance the words. As such it felt like quite a feat of concentration to get to the end and I had to break it down into shorter chunks that I would usually listen to an audiobook.
It's not an easy read but one that really helps you to understand why it took so long to finally convict a clearly guilty man. Perhaps because we knew the outcome, and the book is very much written with hindsight, the story doesn’t flow like it might if it had been written in the first person.
It’s a tale of persistence, of believing that truth will ultimately win. At the end of the book, it was touching to note that the families of the girls had resolved that the next generation would continue the fight for justice if necessary. I hope that Nicola & Karen’s families finally have closure and that “Claire” has been able to live a successful and happy life.
April 20, 2025
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
Two girls murdered...a guilty man walks free...can the police get justice...?
I was just 14 at the time when nine year old Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway were cruelly taken from their lives and their families. I was also on the other side of the world and international crimes rarely made headlines in the 1980s as they do now. It was the age before the internet, mobile phones and social media. A time when children played on the street and their curfew were the streetlights coming on. A time of innocence.
Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway
I knew nothing of the Babes in the Wood murders at the time and even now, only recently heard of it when I came across a copy of this book. I like true crime and have read a couple of Peter James' Roy Grace novels (as well as watched the TV series) so the fact that he collaborated on this book piqued my interest.
I liked the fact that this book is written by someone who actually knows what they are talking about. He's a retired police officer himself, having headed up Brighton Major Crimes and was a Detective Superintendent, but at the time of the girls' murders he was just another young police officer on the periphery working his beat at Gatwick while the others did the hard yards. But having made the transfer to Brighton prior to the 1990 attack, Bartlett gained a deep understanding of the facts of not only the case he worked but that of the one their suspect was also suspected of but had since been acquitted.
Bartlett's account from start to finish is empathetic to the victims and their families and yet shrouded in the depth of his knowledge of both cases and that which lead them all the way from Lewes Crown Court to the Old Bailey some three decades later, make him a solid authority of all involved and all that these cases entailed. The justice system is by no means always fair and yet it is the only one we have so therefore we must respect it and Bartlett did so in his respect of the barristers, solicitors and the sitting judges overseeing each trial.
What this story is is incredibly sad. I cannot for one minute imagine the depth of heartache these families felt at the loss of their daughters and the subsquent failure of the system. While it is primarily an account of the behind-the-scenes look at the investigation process, the gathering and the elimination of evidence, the statements, the arrests, the trials and the long long process it all took to finally get justice for these two innocent little girls.
It's the story of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway. Two nine year girls from Brighton's Mouselcomb council estate who were best friends. They stayed out longer than they were allowed on this tragic night and had they returned when the lights came on, they may well have still been here today. But they were children. They were innocents. They were just out playing and having fun, eating chips and crossing into the forbidden Wild Park. Despite disobeying their parents' instructions none of that was their fault. What ensued beyond the time they left the chip shop, walked through the railway underpass at Mouselcomb station and up into Wild Park was all down to their depraved killer. A man who, for all intents and purposes, purported assistance in the search for the missing girls before the gruesome discovery. A man who, for three decades, continued to claim his innocence despite evidence to the contrary. A man who showed no remorse or guilt for his actions, thinking only of himself when cross-examined.
Russell Bishop, in 1986 and then in 2018
I must admit I found this hard going. Not just because of the crime but the procedural aspect as I felt bogged down by all the facts and the entire process that I was finding myself getting befuddled and had to re-read various excerpts because I found it hard to take in. Bartlett is a retired police officer so his account is written as such, which I did struggle to digest at times. That is not to say that it isn't well-written - it is. Very much so. I found the account almost endless so I cannot imagine how the police and the families felt at the entire drawn-out process for justice. That is not the fault of the author but rather the system, as it were. And the killer who lead authorities on a merry chase until they were finally able to corner him with irrefutable proof and evidence that he indeed was the killer of those girls. And even then, bowed out of proceedings like a coward. I was speechless.
I was moved throughout the entire account but none moreso than reading Nicola's father Barrie Fellows' cross-examination in court at the retrial. The harrowing allegations made of him was relentless and insensitive and I admit to shedding tears. As Bartlett said in the documentary (which I watched a couple of days ago), no one present could be unmoved by his evidence. I wasn't there and I was moved.
Barrie Fellows with Michelle Johnson, formerly Hadaway (left) and Susan Eismann, formerly Fellows (right)
As difficult a read as this book is, I highly recommend it as it highlights the failures of the system as well as the changes made since the 1980s to a more technological and scientific age where investigators have far more tools at their disposal to prosecute such crimes. At the time of Nicola and Karen's murders, DNA was in its infancy and not used in criminal cases and forensics was limited to fingerprinting and blood-typing. We have come a long way since then and sadly it took three decades to finally get justice for two girls who would be in their forties and have families of their own now, had they still been alive.
Banner displayed on entrance to Mouselcomb after Bishop was found guilty in 2018, ending a three decade pursuit for justice
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Two girls murdered...a guilty man walks free...can the police get justice...?
I was just 14 at the time when nine year old Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway were cruelly taken from their lives and their families. I was also on the other side of the world and international crimes rarely made headlines in the 1980s as they do now. It was the age before the internet, mobile phones and social media. A time when children played on the street and their curfew were the streetlights coming on. A time of innocence.
Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway
I knew nothing of the Babes in the Wood murders at the time and even now, only recently heard of it when I came across a copy of this book. I like true crime and have read a couple of Peter James' Roy Grace novels (as well as watched the TV series) so the fact that he collaborated on this book piqued my interest.
I liked the fact that this book is written by someone who actually knows what they are talking about. He's a retired police officer himself, having headed up Brighton Major Crimes and was a Detective Superintendent, but at the time of the girls' murders he was just another young police officer on the periphery working his beat at Gatwick while the others did the hard yards. But having made the transfer to Brighton prior to the 1990 attack, Bartlett gained a deep understanding of the facts of not only the case he worked but that of the one their suspect was also suspected of but had since been acquitted.
Bartlett's account from start to finish is empathetic to the victims and their families and yet shrouded in the depth of his knowledge of both cases and that which lead them all the way from Lewes Crown Court to the Old Bailey some three decades later, make him a solid authority of all involved and all that these cases entailed. The justice system is by no means always fair and yet it is the only one we have so therefore we must respect it and Bartlett did so in his respect of the barristers, solicitors and the sitting judges overseeing each trial.
What this story is is incredibly sad. I cannot for one minute imagine the depth of heartache these families felt at the loss of their daughters and the subsquent failure of the system. While it is primarily an account of the behind-the-scenes look at the investigation process, the gathering and the elimination of evidence, the statements, the arrests, the trials and the long long process it all took to finally get justice for these two innocent little girls.
It's the story of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway. Two nine year girls from Brighton's Mouselcomb council estate who were best friends. They stayed out longer than they were allowed on this tragic night and had they returned when the lights came on, they may well have still been here today. But they were children. They were innocents. They were just out playing and having fun, eating chips and crossing into the forbidden Wild Park. Despite disobeying their parents' instructions none of that was their fault. What ensued beyond the time they left the chip shop, walked through the railway underpass at Mouselcomb station and up into Wild Park was all down to their depraved killer. A man who, for all intents and purposes, purported assistance in the search for the missing girls before the gruesome discovery. A man who, for three decades, continued to claim his innocence despite evidence to the contrary. A man who showed no remorse or guilt for his actions, thinking only of himself when cross-examined.
Russell Bishop, in 1986 and then in 2018
I must admit I found this hard going. Not just because of the crime but the procedural aspect as I felt bogged down by all the facts and the entire process that I was finding myself getting befuddled and had to re-read various excerpts because I found it hard to take in. Bartlett is a retired police officer so his account is written as such, which I did struggle to digest at times. That is not to say that it isn't well-written - it is. Very much so. I found the account almost endless so I cannot imagine how the police and the families felt at the entire drawn-out process for justice. That is not the fault of the author but rather the system, as it were. And the killer who lead authorities on a merry chase until they were finally able to corner him with irrefutable proof and evidence that he indeed was the killer of those girls. And even then, bowed out of proceedings like a coward. I was speechless.
I was moved throughout the entire account but none moreso than reading Nicola's father Barrie Fellows' cross-examination in court at the retrial. The harrowing allegations made of him was relentless and insensitive and I admit to shedding tears. As Bartlett said in the documentary (which I watched a couple of days ago), no one present could be unmoved by his evidence. I wasn't there and I was moved.
Barrie Fellows with Michelle Johnson, formerly Hadaway (left) and Susan Eismann, formerly Fellows (right)
As difficult a read as this book is, I highly recommend it as it highlights the failures of the system as well as the changes made since the 1980s to a more technological and scientific age where investigators have far more tools at their disposal to prosecute such crimes. At the time of Nicola and Karen's murders, DNA was in its infancy and not used in criminal cases and forensics was limited to fingerprinting and blood-typing. We have come a long way since then and sadly it took three decades to finally get justice for two girls who would be in their forties and have families of their own now, had they still been alive.
Banner displayed on entrance to Mouselcomb after Bishop was found guilty in 2018, ending a three decade pursuit for justice
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 13, 2021
This is a tragic story. But the book focus a lot on the trials and dragged on. After reading 3/4 of the book I lost interest.
April 10, 2020
An in-depth account of a 32 year battle to convict the murderer of two young girls in Brighton in the 80’s, written by a senior police officer involved in the original investigation. I remember this horrifying case. So interesting to learn how policing has changed and, of course, forensic science.
June 11, 2021
This felt like it was written by Mark Corrigan.
Read
January 29, 2021𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Babes in the wood
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Graham Bartlett with Peter James
𝐆��𝐧𝐫𝐞: True crime
𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 352
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: N/a - fiction
𝐓𝐖: Murder detail
This was actually recommend to me by a work colleague who used to work with Bartlett in the police force and this was truly an amazing, heartbreaking read.
Written with such honesty and respect, @gbpoliceadvisor and @peterjamesuk bring us the tragic and detailed story from the day the two young girls are murdered to the eventual conviction of Russell Bishop. There is a huge amount of information in this book and I therefore appreciated the very short chapters, literally a couple of pages, which helped make this a fast-paced, unputdownable read. It’s very surreal that this happened so close to home.
This is, of course, a hard book to read given the horrific crimes that were carried out and the absolute devastation the family must have felt but it’s also fascinating to get such an detailed insight into the way the police work was carried out. What is also incredibly eye opening is how almost prehistoric the technology and procedures were in comparison to today and Bartlett also did not shy away from explaining the failings and things missed by the force which likely would not have happened “these days”.
There are a LOT of people introduced straight from the first page and I did get a little lost at first, having to flick between pages to remember who was who but this is obviously to be expected given how many people were involved. I was also intrigued by the mention of Dr Iain West, Britain’s leading forensic pathologist, after reading so much about him in 𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗦.
To summarise, this is a horrific story told with such compassion and integrity, and delivered so that even those of us without knowledge of police procedurals can follow easily. Most importantly of all, the families who lived through these evil events for so long, finally got justice delivered.
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Graham Bartlett with Peter James
𝐆��𝐧𝐫𝐞: True crime
𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 352
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: N/a - fiction
𝐓𝐖: Murder detail
This was actually recommend to me by a work colleague who used to work with Bartlett in the police force and this was truly an amazing, heartbreaking read.
Written with such honesty and respect, @gbpoliceadvisor and @peterjamesuk bring us the tragic and detailed story from the day the two young girls are murdered to the eventual conviction of Russell Bishop. There is a huge amount of information in this book and I therefore appreciated the very short chapters, literally a couple of pages, which helped make this a fast-paced, unputdownable read. It’s very surreal that this happened so close to home.
This is, of course, a hard book to read given the horrific crimes that were carried out and the absolute devastation the family must have felt but it’s also fascinating to get such an detailed insight into the way the police work was carried out. What is also incredibly eye opening is how almost prehistoric the technology and procedures were in comparison to today and Bartlett also did not shy away from explaining the failings and things missed by the force which likely would not have happened “these days”.
There are a LOT of people introduced straight from the first page and I did get a little lost at first, having to flick between pages to remember who was who but this is obviously to be expected given how many people were involved. I was also intrigued by the mention of Dr Iain West, Britain’s leading forensic pathologist, after reading so much about him in 𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗦.
To summarise, this is a horrific story told with such compassion and integrity, and delivered so that even those of us without knowledge of police procedurals can follow easily. Most importantly of all, the families who lived through these evil events for so long, finally got justice delivered.
April 4, 2021
I listened to this book rather than read it as it happened to be available on my library app. I had heard of the name of the murders but knew nothing else about it. Turns out, this is one of a few murders with this nickname but it’s the most well known one in the UK.
In Oct 1984 two 9 year old girls went missing in a town near Brighton. They were found hours later in the local woods. The search for their murderer was difficult from the start - hindered by the technology of the time, the locals dislike of police, inadequate recording of evidence and eventually the British legal system itself.
I learned so much about the development of forensic technology in this book, as well as information I didn’t know about the legal system, in particular the double jeopardy laws.
It’s an accessible book, clear and focused. One author is an ex-police officer and he is supported in the writing of this book by a crime author. The two seem to work well together. The narrator’s voice is calm and relaxing, and he does voices and accents that help you see the people a little more clearly while listening.
It’s great that this book has a conclusion, as I know a lot of people get frustrated with unsolved cases and the speculation of who the killer could be.
TW: murder, child murder, child sexual assault, paedophiles
In Oct 1984 two 9 year old girls went missing in a town near Brighton. They were found hours later in the local woods. The search for their murderer was difficult from the start - hindered by the technology of the time, the locals dislike of police, inadequate recording of evidence and eventually the British legal system itself.
I learned so much about the development of forensic technology in this book, as well as information I didn’t know about the legal system, in particular the double jeopardy laws.
It’s an accessible book, clear and focused. One author is an ex-police officer and he is supported in the writing of this book by a crime author. The two seem to work well together. The narrator’s voice is calm and relaxing, and he does voices and accents that help you see the people a little more clearly while listening.
It’s great that this book has a conclusion, as I know a lot of people get frustrated with unsolved cases and the speculation of who the killer could be.
TW: murder, child murder, child sexual assault, paedophiles
February 8, 2022
What this cover doesn't say is that this book was written by Peter James. Graham Bartlett became the Senior Detective of this case. Love his books and didn't realise he had written this non-fiction. It's not so pacy as his usual thrillers but normal policing isn't either. It took thirty-two years to get justice for those two little girls! Their families went through hell, one father was the main suspect and he was even arrested. Imagine that poor man, grieving for his daughter, then getting charged with her murder and molestation. Marriages seldom survive such trauma and these were no different.
This is a good book to give you an understanding how 'real' policing works. Methodical, thorough and double checking everything to make sure that nothing is missed. Over the years, detectives came and went and yet the parents were relentless in their demands for justice. How forensics changed from the actual crime to when the murderer was finally convicted, should give us hope that modern policing has much better tools now than in 1986.
This is a good book to give you an understanding how 'real' policing works. Methodical, thorough and double checking everything to make sure that nothing is missed. Over the years, detectives came and went and yet the parents were relentless in their demands for justice. How forensics changed from the actual crime to when the murderer was finally convicted, should give us hope that modern policing has much better tools now than in 1986.
November 15, 2024
Really fascinating read for me, as I’ve lived and worked in or near Brighton for the last 19 years. I was told about the murders by a friend who lives in Moulsecoomb as she knew I was interested in true crime. She also recommended this book and I can see why. In looking for this I stumbled across another book called The Babes In The Woods Murders by Paul Cheston, Weirdly I felt like the cover of that book made it seem like it was going to be more like this book ended up being, whereas the cover of this book - showing an image of the killer - is more in line with how the other book read. Definitely prefer this one even if I think the cover bears having a re-brand. Really well told, quick, short chapters means you get through it in no time, and it doesn’t get bogged down like the other book did on who said what. If you’re from Brighton or familiar with it, with an interest in true crime, this is an interesting if somewhat devastating read. I’m glad the killer of the two girls was finally brought to justice.
August 26, 2020
I had always been vaguely aware of this case but I had never read about it in detail. This is an amazing story of the determination of the families of two murdered nine-year-old girls, Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, never gave up their fight for justice. They knew who the killer was, the police knew who the killer was, but there was insufficient evidence in 1986 to convict him and a jury found him innocent. After the law was changed so that a person acquitted of a crime could be retried if new, compelling evidence to suggest their guilt was found, the police worked tirelessly to find that evidence and get justice for Nicola and Karen. This book not only explores the crime, it also looks at the effect that the murders had on the girls' families and the officers involved in the case. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true crime. I found the book particularly affecting because Nicola and Karen would now be the same age as me.
June 21, 2022
This is a long-winded account of the tragic murder of two young girls in Brighton in 1986. The author is a retired senior policeman who spent his career in the Sussex constabulary. He wasn’t involved in the case initially and by the time of final resolution he had retired. Nonetheless he knew well most of the key police officers involved and has a detailed knowledge of the case.
One of the problems with the book is that we know from the start the identity of the murderer and the eventual outcome. To help overcome this the book needed to be well-written. However, despite the involvement of Peter James, a crime novelist, it’s a clunky read, full of cliches and hackneyed phrases.
Disappointing.
One of the problems with the book is that we know from the start the identity of the murderer and the eventual outcome. To help overcome this the book needed to be well-written. However, despite the involvement of Peter James, a crime novelist, it’s a clunky read, full of cliches and hackneyed phrases.
Disappointing.
October 18, 2023
Hirveä keissi; tekstistä voisi mainita Bartlettin väkinäisesti esiin tuodun historian poliisivoimissa tapauksen "liepeillä", paatoksellisen kuvauksen (viattomat, puhtaat uhrit VS niljakas, pelkurimainen tekijä) ja loppua kohti kasvavan jaarittelun.
Huomiota herätti se, että sikäli mikäli tapauksen Wikipedia-sivun tiedot pitävät paikkansa, rikospaikkatutkijoiden kahta suurinta, kiistämätöntä mokaa ei mainita sanallakaan. Opin vasta wikin kautta, että ilmeisesti uhrien näkyviä vammoja (puristusjälkiä) ei mitattu vertailua varten, sormenjälkiä otettu vammoista tai ruumiiden löytöajankohdan lämpötilaa kirjattu. Ihmettelinkin sitä jatkuvaa vääntöä kuolinajasta, mutta näillä tiedoilla se käy järkeen.
Huomiota herätti se, että sikäli mikäli tapauksen Wikipedia-sivun tiedot pitävät paikkansa, rikospaikkatutkijoiden kahta suurinta, kiistämätöntä mokaa ei mainita sanallakaan. Opin vasta wikin kautta, että ilmeisesti uhrien näkyviä vammoja (puristusjälkiä) ei mitattu vertailua varten, sormenjälkiä otettu vammoista tai ruumiiden löytöajankohdan lämpötilaa kirjattu. Ihmettelinkin sitä jatkuvaa vääntöä kuolinajasta, mutta näillä tiedoilla se käy järkeen.
October 9, 2020
On Thursday 9th October 1986, two friends were seen playing in Wild park, Brighton. They would not be seen alive again. The bodies of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway were discovered by two local boys during a search which involved Sussex Police and local residents eager to help. Among them Russell Bishop, who would go on to be charged with their sexual assault and murders.
This book written by former Sussex senior Detective Graham Bartlett with top-selling author Peter James, gives a highly detailed account of the investigation, Russell Bishop's ever changing statements, his court case and shock acquittal. What follows is a 32 year fight for justice.
This was a difficult read because as a parent I could feel the families' pain, I had to stop a few times to gather my thoughts.
It was also compelling. The skillful writing of Peter James gives Graham Bartlett's knowledge a real narrative, and although you can start this book knowing how it ends, you feel a need to follow the investigations, and the families' fight for justice. I unreservedly recommend this book as an insight into a police investigation over the decades, and how they persevered in their fight to finally convict a truly evil man.
As I find myself writing this review on the 34th anniversary of their deaths, I am thinking of Nicola, Karen, and their families.
As usual comments are most welcome.
This book written by former Sussex senior Detective Graham Bartlett with top-selling author Peter James, gives a highly detailed account of the investigation, Russell Bishop's ever changing statements, his court case and shock acquittal. What follows is a 32 year fight for justice.
This was a difficult read because as a parent I could feel the families' pain, I had to stop a few times to gather my thoughts.
It was also compelling. The skillful writing of Peter James gives Graham Bartlett's knowledge a real narrative, and although you can start this book knowing how it ends, you feel a need to follow the investigations, and the families' fight for justice. I unreservedly recommend this book as an insight into a police investigation over the decades, and how they persevered in their fight to finally convict a truly evil man.
As I find myself writing this review on the 34th anniversary of their deaths, I am thinking of Nicola, Karen, and their families.
As usual comments are most welcome.
February 23, 2021
I am a true crime enthusiast and bought this book following a recommendation on a podcast. It was better than I expected and had me enthralled from start to finish and it was a long book which you don't realise when you are reading on Kindle.
I highly recommend this book.
It is written by somebody who knows what he is talking about and has the experience that is lacking by many. It is so good to hear about those that work so hard to get to the truth no matter how long it takes. It also makes you realise that the investigators live the investigation often from start to finish and it can affect their lives and the lives of their families as well as the lives of the families of the accused and the victims.
I highly recommend this book.
It is written by somebody who knows what he is talking about and has the experience that is lacking by many. It is so good to hear about those that work so hard to get to the truth no matter how long it takes. It also makes you realise that the investigators live the investigation often from start to finish and it can affect their lives and the lives of their families as well as the lives of the families of the accused and the victims.
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