Torso Murder: The Untold Story of Evelyn Dick

by Brian Vallée

A fresh and fascinating look at the Evelyn Dick murder trial and the intriguing mystery of her disappearance.

The "torso" murder trial of young attractive Evelyn Dick grabbed headlines in 1946 and 1947. Her husband John's head and limbs had been sawed from his body and burned up in her furnace. After she was sentenced to hang, up-and-coming lawyer J.J. Robinette appealed her case, won her a new trial and then an acquittal. But, when police found the decayed remains of Evelyn's newborn baby encased in cement in a suitcase in her attic, the best Robinette could do for her was a manslaughter conviction and eleven years in prison.

Evelyn Dick was released with a new identity in 1958. Since then, rumors, stories and sightings have abounded. Where did she go and what happened to her? Writer producer Brian Vallee, after crisscrossing the country, conducting several dozen interviews and tirelessly researching old newspaper files and thousands of pages of transcripts and police reports, answers many of the questions that surround this mysterious case. The result is a lively, spine-tingling account of the case itself and Evelyn Dick's surprising new life. With much of the material never before published, The Torso Murder is a captivating, chilling true story.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2001

Reviews

[Linh · Rating 3 out of 5]

having grown up in Hamilton, it eerie knowing exactly where everything in the book was. interestly, my best friend that i've had forever lives a block away from where they used to live on Carrick street in Hamilton and my buddy's grandma used to ride the bus to school with Emily Dicks.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. The story originally unfolded in the mid-1940s in Ontario, and the province is still buzzing about it to this day. The story starts when a man's torso is found on a hillside by some kids out to roast weenies, and suspicion quickly falls on his wife of just a few days. The story is full of bizarre elements and unlikely twists, and as a little added fillip, the prime suspect talks like a character out of a ten-cent noir mystery novel. Not to be missed.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: the trial of Evelyn Dick grabbed headlines in Hamilton and across Canada in the late 1940s. Her husband's torso was all that was found.

[Keira Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Havent read this book in a long time but I remember really enjoying it since it happened so close to home. Makes it a little more eerie what you know where the locations are. I intend to read this one again in the near future.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good if you like true crime drama - written like a fiction novel.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serviceably written, interesting but not compelling. Not much more to add, really. It was okay.