A Dream of Death: How Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s Dream Became a Nightmare and a West Cork Village Became the Centre of Ireland’s Most Notorious Unsolved Murder

by Ralph Riegel

The brutal killing of Sophie Toscan du Plantier just days before Christmas in 1996 has proved to be Ireland’s highest-profile, most baffling and controversy-stalked murder mystery.

In this definitive account of Ireland’s most notorious unsolved crime, Ralph Riegel, who has covered the case from the very beginning, delves into the facts of the murder that caused shockwaves across both Sophie’s native France and the quiet Cork countryside where her dream turned into a nightmare.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2020

About the author

Ralph Riegel lives in Cork. He has worked as a journalist for several newspapers including The Cork Examiner, The Evening Echo, The Evening Herald and The Sunday Independent and is the southern correspondent for The Irish Independent. He is also a regular contributor to RTE, BBC and TV3 and to British newspapers including the (London) Independent and The Daily Telegraph.

Reviews

[Krystelle (based on the novel by Stephen King)]

I think there’s always value in a book written about a crime, but sometimes there’s more to be said for a book focused on a trial than a death. This is not a book for Sophie, the victim here. It’s a book about the long trial and sordid history of the way that people face the justice system.

I think the saddest thing about this case is that it remains unsolved. There’s such a dearth of clues and indications here- it’s like an empty slate with the trial taking up a corner of a blank painting. I struggled with this book in that the crime and the trial feel so disconnected- it’s not an easy topic to write about, but it was done reasonably well.

[Ryan]

A really succinct, concise account of everything you need to know about one of the most intriguing murder cases in Irish history, as told by a journalist who has covered the case for more than 20 years. From the chaotic early hours of the body being found to the explosive revelations in both the libel and wrongful arrest court cases, to the withdrawing of key witness statements and profiles of all the main players, this is the most clearly chronicled and up to date account you'll read of a tragic case which shows no signs of reaching a conclusion.

[Thomas Harte]

This is not the first book written about this particular case but it is the most up to date and meticulous in its outlining of all the twists and turns that surround this incident. It leaves the reader to make up his or her mind as to guilt or innocence. Twenty six years later and this case still intrigues and divides.

[Anne]

Detailed despite its fairly short length, insightful and very fair to all concerned. The only decent English language book on the tragic murder - Death in December being the other one, which is basically a quick summary then fictional hypothesis.

[Sean Hennessy]

Well written and balanced in presenting both sides of this awful story. The chronological approach is good and now I feel the need to listen to the audible podcast and watch the Jim Sheridan Documentary series and maybe the Netflix one also.

[Éilis Treacy]

Very factual easy to read account of this awful murder. Still left with many questions though!

[Mary Hennessy]

An interesting detailed read in chronological order, imoartial but informative

[Sheila]

I could not finish this book.

[Anna]

I found this thought provoking. I read it quickly and may return and read it again. It is the first thing that has made me seriously question my assumptions about this case. It is fairly balanced.....giving the reader a good sense of the suffering on both 'sides' of this tragedy. It demonstrated to me how the personalities involved and the layering of events and of actions and counteractions have taken on a life of their own and can serve to obscure the awful crime of Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder. There are further legal processes in train around the EAW issue later this month...July 2020.
For anyone interested in this case I would recommend this book. I think I must now listen to the West Cork podcast. Will we ever know the truth?