Enigma of the Dark: The Case of the Claremont Serial Killer

by Tim Clarke

Three young women snatched from the streets. From their lives, friends, and family. Two of them - Jane Louise Rimmer and Ciara Eilish Glennon - brutally slain. The third, the youngest - Sarah Ellen Spiers - still missing, but presumed dead. Assumed murdered by the same man.The hunt for their killer had already spanned two decades and three continents, confounding detectives who had never given up but had nothing to show for their endless years of searching. But now, at just after 7am on December 22, 2016, all those hours, all those tears, all that fear had led to this entirely unremarkable front door in Kewdale, south-east of the city. Behind it lived Bradley Robert Edwards - telecommunications technician, Little Athletics stalwart, computer buff, stepfather, husband, brother, son. Could he be the enigma of the dark who had stalked Perth's western suburbs in the 1990s? Could he be the man who had taken Sarah, and murdered Jane and Ciara? Could he be the Claremont serial killer?

Genres: True Crime

288 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2020

Reviews

[Jen Mactaggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a succinct and gripping account of the case of the Claremont serial killer. This was my 'coming of age' murder story when I was at high school and Perth being Perth I had some loose connections to one of the victims who was only a few years older than me. I had always hoped this case would be solved in my lifetime and was astonished when it turned out the perpetrator lived the next suburb over from me and a few streets away from where I used to regularly run on my own before sunrise.

The author has skillfully distilled an astonishing amount of information into this very readable account with right balance of background information, summary and analysis. I learnt much I didn't know, especially about the victims who weren't murdered. It's been put together at an impressive speed post the trial but does not seem at all rushed. I imagine it will remain a definitive account and useful to have been composed so soon after the events (before the sentencing). Best wishes to the victims and their families.

[Aimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well detailed that I had to keep reminding myself that this is a very real story and not the result of a crime fiction writer's wild imagination. Highly recommended for anyone with even remote ties to these cases, or anyone looking for a good true crime read.

[Myles Parish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a single afternoon. It is by turns harrowing, outrageous, and heartbreaking. I foresee this being a very important primary text about this case in years to come; no doubt the first of many to follow.

It also lends some interesting insights into the operation of the WA Police at the time, and will be useful when considered in concert with other books about other major cases of the same era.

Clarke’s writing style is factual but still has hefty emotion attached, making it very readable and engaging.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really detailed informative account about the Claremont Serial Killings. Simply written and easy to understand. I thought I knew everything about the case but how they eventually apprehended Bradley fascinated me

[Jaimee P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable, the lives of Sarah, Jane and Ciara - young women such as myself - have forever got a place in the minds of everybody in Perth and beyond. Their names and faces are something I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget, this book brings to light the impact of this case upon all of Perth and the massive response to bringing those responsible to justice. As someone who followed the case closely, this book taught me a lot about the case that I didn’t already know and it provided an unsettling reminded to confront how raw and close to home these events were and still are on the community. I liked this book.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Succinct. I would recommend this book if you want to get a good overview of the case. It's an easy and quick read that covers all the pertinent details. However I prefer a lot more detail and preferred "Stalking Claremont" as it delves more into the personalities caught up in this drama and those who were unfairly targeted by the police. It also looked more into the failures and errors made in the investigation. This book is much more forgiving of the Macro Taskforce and didn't really add anything of interest to me. Perhaps if I'd read it first I'd think differently. Neither book give much insight into Edwards. Still I give it 3.5 stars for what it is.

[Annie Booker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biggest tragedy of the Bradley Edwards case is that he wasn't found guilty of the murder of Sarah Spiers and that her body has never been found. At least they got him for the other Claremont murders and rapes. This book gives good insight into the case and also the missteps that meant it took so many years to arrest this serial killer and rapist.

The format of the book is a little odd with very short paragraphs but I think that's because it was originally published as a series of newspaper articles.

[Rhiannan Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a fairly comprehensive and detailed recount of the killings of Claremont serial killer. I followed this case from the start (when I was old enough I suppose) given I was only a little kid when it occurred and I was fairly invested in the trial so I knew most what happened. This book would be fantastic for someone who doesn’t know about the Claremont serial killer or knows little. It is written very well.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a huge part of my life growing up - even though I wasn't personally involved, Perth is a small place and Im just a few months younger than one of the girls who's life was cut tragically short by a monster who we took waaaay too long to catch.

Thank you for a very respectfully written account of this case Tim.

[Nicole Renshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to reading this. I have followed this case since the girls went missing. As a teenager at the time, it had a massive impact on my social life. No taxis, no strange guys, no walking alone.
Following the case and the podcast, Tim Clarke has a detailed knowledge, and has summarised it well. Definitely worth a read, no matter your knowledge on the case.

[Wendy Sice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book that answers all the questions you ever had about the Claremont Serial Killer investigation and why the trial took so long to come to a conclusion. I was surprised by some of the detail that wasn’t made public and was intrigued to discover how much work was put into the case, particularly the investigation of thousands of very fine particles taken from bodies, clothes and cars over the years. A fascinating story that played a part in the lives of many West Australian residents. The only disappointment for me was the editing of this book: it is presented with very short, one or two sentence paragraphs all the way through and I noticed a few full stops missing. This made the book feel self-published and yet it was published by The West Australian newspaper. Pretty embarrassing really. Still, it’s worth the read just to find out the details of one of the most impactful murder mysteries in WA history.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim has done such a wonderful job of documenting these horrific crimes and the journey to justice succinctly and with so much respect to the victims.

[Erin Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who have followed the case, this book is a must read.

[Iarfhlaith O'Scannaill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and engaging...the ending a little rushed?

I have been fascinated by this case since watching the crime Investigation are-enactment on Foxtel in 2008, and hearing the excellent Casefile podcast that dealt with the case. It served as excellent reminder of the detail laid out in the Clermont podcast, an exhaustive day-by-day account of the trial, to which the author was central.

There was additional gruesome detail about the deaths as well as the number of instances where women’s clothing had gone missing, homes intruded upon and women viciously assaulted.

My only query is I wonder if the final chapter of the book was rushed? It is, of course, important to get it published for Christmas markets and so waiting for the sentencing was not an option, but the detail and control over the writing seemed to waiver.

All in all, an excellent book reflecting Tim Clarke’s level of detail and involvement in reporting on the longest WA criminal investigation recorded.