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FINDING SUZY: The Hunt for Missing Estate Agent Suzy Lamplugh and 'Mr Kipper'
How can someone just disappear?
Step inside a real-life, missing person investigation in this compelling, true crime must-read.
Uncover what happened to missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, as David Videcette takes you on a quest to unpick her mysterious disappearance and scrutinise the shadowy 'Mr Kipper'.
One overcast Monday in July 1986, 25-year-old estate agent Suzy Lamplugh vanished whilst showing a smart London property to a mysterious ‘Mr Kipper’.
Despite the baffling case dominating the news and one of the largest missing persons cases ever mounted, police failed to find a shred of evidence establishing what had happened to her.
Sixteen years later, following a second investigation and under pressure from Suzy’s desperate parents, police named convicted rapist and murderer John Cannan as their prime suspect. However, the Crown Prosecution Service refused to charge him, citing a lack of evidence.
High-profile searches were conducted, yet Suzy’s body was never found; the trail that might lead investigators to her, long since lost.
Haunted by another missing person case, investigator and former Scotland Yard detective, David Videcette, has spent five years painstakingly reinvestigating Suzy’s cold case disappearance.
Through a series of incredible new witness interviews and fresh groundbreaking analysis, he uncovers piece by piece what happened to Suzy and why the case was never solved.
People don't just disappear...
Step inside a real-life, missing person investigation in this compelling, true crime must-read.
Uncover what happened to missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, as David Videcette takes you on a quest to unpick her mysterious disappearance and scrutinise the shadowy 'Mr Kipper'.
One overcast Monday in July 1986, 25-year-old estate agent Suzy Lamplugh vanished whilst showing a smart London property to a mysterious ‘Mr Kipper’.
Despite the baffling case dominating the news and one of the largest missing persons cases ever mounted, police failed to find a shred of evidence establishing what had happened to her.
Sixteen years later, following a second investigation and under pressure from Suzy’s desperate parents, police named convicted rapist and murderer John Cannan as their prime suspect. However, the Crown Prosecution Service refused to charge him, citing a lack of evidence.
High-profile searches were conducted, yet Suzy’s body was never found; the trail that might lead investigators to her, long since lost.
Haunted by another missing person case, investigator and former Scotland Yard detective, David Videcette, has spent five years painstakingly reinvestigating Suzy’s cold case disappearance.
Through a series of incredible new witness interviews and fresh groundbreaking analysis, he uncovers piece by piece what happened to Suzy and why the case was never solved.
People don't just disappear...
356 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2021
33 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
David Videcette
4 books133 followersAs an investigator David Videcette has chased numerous dangerous criminals and interviewed thousands of witnesses. He is a former Scotland Yard detective with expertise in the fields of counter-terror operations and organised crime.
David puts his policing knowledge to good use investigating cold cases in his true crime series, Investigations by David Videcette. He is also the author of the Detective Inspector Jake Flannagan thrillers.
When he is not writing, he consults on security operations for high-net-worth individuals and is a media commentator for broadcasters and newspapers around the world.
To get email updates on David's new releases, subscribe at: http://www.davidvidecette.com/title-r...
David puts his policing knowledge to good use investigating cold cases in his true crime series, Investigations by David Videcette. He is also the author of the Detective Inspector Jake Flannagan thrillers.
When he is not writing, he consults on security operations for high-net-worth individuals and is a media commentator for broadcasters and newspapers around the world.
To get email updates on David's new releases, subscribe at: http://www.davidvidecette.com/title-r...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 9, 2021
July 1986 and Suzy Lamplugh goes missing, there isn’t many people my age and older who won’t remember it happening and continue to recognise her name with a wistful ‘I wonder what DID happen to her’, my age group kinda grew up alongside the story, it has always fascinated and horrified people in equal measure, testament to that is the recent Netflix documentary and even yesterday I saw a press headline that the family are requesting a notorious criminal is interviewed re the case
I remember ( many years ago ) as a BT Directory Enquiry call handler being asked for the number of the ‘Suzy Lampugh Trust’ and dining out on the call for days from co-workers and friends wanting to discuss the call
So I started this book already captive and eager to see the author’s conclusions
And there IS a conclusion ( I was relieved as so many books like this promise much and don’t deliver ) the author 100% believes the countless hours and painstaking work he has undertaken have culminated in his theory of what happened
Obviously I won’t divulge the theory only to say after reading the book and the points leading to this conclusion very thoroughly I would say it is more than plausible and on that score I really hope the one thing that could prove it is done, and quickly ( will make sense when you read it )
There is criticism of the police and their handling of the case and also of the families interference in matters balanced with praise for all sides when things are done well
There is irrefutable evidence of mistakes made that show the case was not as shown to us the public and it is made sure these points are laboured to us the reader as to why and upon discovering them you really cannot argue with some of the ‘key’ points made showing this
It is a fascinating book, the case remains so, I hope someone in authority realises that to prove ( or as they may see it disprove ) the authors theory a relatively simple action can be undertaken
Kudos to the author for the sheer willpower and effort and work gone into this book, the dedication to his cause can only mean it’s a
10/10
5 Stars
I remember ( many years ago ) as a BT Directory Enquiry call handler being asked for the number of the ‘Suzy Lampugh Trust’ and dining out on the call for days from co-workers and friends wanting to discuss the call
So I started this book already captive and eager to see the author’s conclusions
And there IS a conclusion ( I was relieved as so many books like this promise much and don’t deliver ) the author 100% believes the countless hours and painstaking work he has undertaken have culminated in his theory of what happened
Obviously I won’t divulge the theory only to say after reading the book and the points leading to this conclusion very thoroughly I would say it is more than plausible and on that score I really hope the one thing that could prove it is done, and quickly ( will make sense when you read it )
There is criticism of the police and their handling of the case and also of the families interference in matters balanced with praise for all sides when things are done well
There is irrefutable evidence of mistakes made that show the case was not as shown to us the public and it is made sure these points are laboured to us the reader as to why and upon discovering them you really cannot argue with some of the ‘key’ points made showing this
It is a fascinating book, the case remains so, I hope someone in authority realises that to prove ( or as they may see it disprove ) the authors theory a relatively simple action can be undertaken
Kudos to the author for the sheer willpower and effort and work gone into this book, the dedication to his cause can only mean it’s a
10/10
5 Stars
November 14, 2021
The Hunt for Missing Estate Agent Suzy Lamplugh and 'Mr Kipper'
In 1986, Real Estate Agent Suzy Lamplugh vanished without a trace while showing a house to a man who gave his name as Mr. Kipper. She was never seen nor heard from again.
investigator and former Scotland Yard detective, David Videcette ( the author) and his researcher have spent years looking at this with fresh eyes. There are incredible new witness interviews and potential new evidence that they have presented to law enforcement. Through intensive investigation, Videcette uncovers piece by piece what happened to Suzy and why the case was never solved.
The question remains ... will Scotland Yard ever re-open this cold case ....
This is a True Crime well worthy of any aficionado of this genre.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of FINDING SUZY. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
In 1986, Real Estate Agent Suzy Lamplugh vanished without a trace while showing a house to a man who gave his name as Mr. Kipper. She was never seen nor heard from again.
investigator and former Scotland Yard detective, David Videcette ( the author) and his researcher have spent years looking at this with fresh eyes. There are incredible new witness interviews and potential new evidence that they have presented to law enforcement. Through intensive investigation, Videcette uncovers piece by piece what happened to Suzy and why the case was never solved.
The question remains ... will Scotland Yard ever re-open this cold case ....
This is a True Crime well worthy of any aficionado of this genre.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of FINDING SUZY. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 22, 2021
Heartbreaking
I’m flabbergasted by the lies, cover-ups and the obstinacy of those in authority during such cases. The utter torment and torture Suzy’s parents must have gone through since her death.
This case has always held a morbid fascination for me, I have no idea how the officers working on this high-profile case can sleep at night after blatantly failing to investigate and search for the truth. How the hell would they feel if Suzy was a member of their family?
I’m incensed that a woman can go missing and never be found. If the ending is true then shame on the police for not doing the right thing.
I’m flabbergasted by the lies, cover-ups and the obstinacy of those in authority during such cases. The utter torment and torture Suzy’s parents must have gone through since her death.
This case has always held a morbid fascination for me, I have no idea how the officers working on this high-profile case can sleep at night after blatantly failing to investigate and search for the truth. How the hell would they feel if Suzy was a member of their family?
I’m incensed that a woman can go missing and never be found. If the ending is true then shame on the police for not doing the right thing.
September 11, 2021
London estate agent Suzy Lamplugh was 25 when she suddenly disappeared on 28 July 1986 whilst at a property appointment with the infamous ‘Mr Kipper’. I was only around a year younger than Suzy at the time and remember this case so well. I can recall her face even now without needing to Google, it was a such high profile news item at the time. The thought that a young woman could just disappear whilst doing her job was too awful. Following her daughter’s disappearance, her mother, Diana Lamplugh became a forceful campaigner for personal safety, setting up the Suzy Lamplugh Trust
Ex detective David Videcette has spent years and his own money in carrying out his own investigations into what actually happened that day and what he has discovered shows an apparent flawed police investigation too heavily influenced by other people.
Each chapter begins with a date and a countdown to how many years/months Suzy has been missing and sometimes also includes a timeline reference to other news at the time. Much of the story recalls how David and his colleague Caroline spent years attempting to track down surviving witnesses many of whom had long since moved away or retired, including members of the original police investigation team, often being rebuffed or ignored, asking questions as well as carrying out their own research in an attempt to piece together a true picture of events. Of course, with many witnesses now deceased, this was no easy task. The writing is honest and the author admits that there are there were times when people just didn’t want to speak to him, or he just couldn’t engage with them for some reason.
This is an extremely detailed account written with balance and sensitivity, sometimes perhaps more minute detail is included than is strictly necessary but the resulting narrative is thought provoking and fascinating. Whether you remember the case or not, as an insight into investigating a cold case and picking apart previous misconceptions, this is excellent and if it were a fiction book, the reader would be utterly gripped and waiting for the ‘ta-da’ conclusion. Sadly this is a real life story but even so, seeing how the way the police, the media and certain family members were all involved in the various investigations over the years, was a real eye-opener.
The author puts forward a credible and compelling case for coming to his own theory behind Suzy’s disappearance. Whether he is correct or not, it is astounding that the police appear to have closed their eyes to any other possibility other than the one they have fixated on for the past 35 years and seemingly will not investigate any other conclusion. The case has been re-opened more than once but previous information and witness statements seem to have been ignored in favour of following another narrative. This to me is unforgivable and doesn’t help in the search for Suzy or bring any closure to her family. What is so sad is both Suzy’s parents died without ever knowing what happened to their daughter. I do hope that somebody in the police authority with any influence in the investigation reads this book and reconsiders their decision.
Ex detective David Videcette has spent years and his own money in carrying out his own investigations into what actually happened that day and what he has discovered shows an apparent flawed police investigation too heavily influenced by other people.
Each chapter begins with a date and a countdown to how many years/months Suzy has been missing and sometimes also includes a timeline reference to other news at the time. Much of the story recalls how David and his colleague Caroline spent years attempting to track down surviving witnesses many of whom had long since moved away or retired, including members of the original police investigation team, often being rebuffed or ignored, asking questions as well as carrying out their own research in an attempt to piece together a true picture of events. Of course, with many witnesses now deceased, this was no easy task. The writing is honest and the author admits that there are there were times when people just didn’t want to speak to him, or he just couldn’t engage with them for some reason.
This is an extremely detailed account written with balance and sensitivity, sometimes perhaps more minute detail is included than is strictly necessary but the resulting narrative is thought provoking and fascinating. Whether you remember the case or not, as an insight into investigating a cold case and picking apart previous misconceptions, this is excellent and if it were a fiction book, the reader would be utterly gripped and waiting for the ‘ta-da’ conclusion. Sadly this is a real life story but even so, seeing how the way the police, the media and certain family members were all involved in the various investigations over the years, was a real eye-opener.
The author puts forward a credible and compelling case for coming to his own theory behind Suzy’s disappearance. Whether he is correct or not, it is astounding that the police appear to have closed their eyes to any other possibility other than the one they have fixated on for the past 35 years and seemingly will not investigate any other conclusion. The case has been re-opened more than once but previous information and witness statements seem to have been ignored in favour of following another narrative. This to me is unforgivable and doesn’t help in the search for Suzy or bring any closure to her family. What is so sad is both Suzy’s parents died without ever knowing what happened to their daughter. I do hope that somebody in the police authority with any influence in the investigation reads this book and reconsiders their decision.
August 4, 2021
I vaguely remember the case of Suzy Lamplugh although I was only twelve at the time of her disappearance but seem to recall seeing things on the news in previous years since then. Being a lover of true crime books, I was definitely intrigued to know more. More so due to the author’s own background in the force, I couldn’t imagine anyone better to investigate the case and having written fiction novels under his belt also, the fact that he had written the book himself held a great appeal also.
One of the things I can struggle with, with non fiction books is that the writing really needs to grab me. Sometimes in true crime books especially, you can get drowned with facts etc that make me start to lose focus. The way this book is written though, the author has made it every bit as compelling as a fiction novel and I was hooked as soon as I picked it up.
The chapters flick between different time frames of how long Suzy has been missing. The author goes into detail of the day that Suzy disappears as well as the police investigation at the time. A lot of it focuses on present day with David and his ongoing investigation along with Caroline who is helping him in his quest. It shows a great deal of determination from the pair and how passionate they are in discovering the truth.
Finding Suzy gives the reader a closer look into this unsolved case. As with cases such as these, there were things missed by police or things that should and could have been done differently and I could feel David and Caroline’s frustrations at some of the things they were uncovering as well as a few of their interviews with witnesses. As a parent, to have a child go missing, regardless of age, the never knowing of what happened must be absolutely awful for the family left behind. I thought that David wrote this book quite sensitively towards Suzy’s family and whilst there are no concrete answers as to Suzy’s disappearance, I think the author has proven a good account of what more than likely did happen on that fateful day. This is certainly one of the best true crime books I have read and is a must read for anyone who enjoys this genre of book.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
One of the things I can struggle with, with non fiction books is that the writing really needs to grab me. Sometimes in true crime books especially, you can get drowned with facts etc that make me start to lose focus. The way this book is written though, the author has made it every bit as compelling as a fiction novel and I was hooked as soon as I picked it up.
The chapters flick between different time frames of how long Suzy has been missing. The author goes into detail of the day that Suzy disappears as well as the police investigation at the time. A lot of it focuses on present day with David and his ongoing investigation along with Caroline who is helping him in his quest. It shows a great deal of determination from the pair and how passionate they are in discovering the truth.
Finding Suzy gives the reader a closer look into this unsolved case. As with cases such as these, there were things missed by police or things that should and could have been done differently and I could feel David and Caroline’s frustrations at some of the things they were uncovering as well as a few of their interviews with witnesses. As a parent, to have a child go missing, regardless of age, the never knowing of what happened must be absolutely awful for the family left behind. I thought that David wrote this book quite sensitively towards Suzy’s family and whilst there are no concrete answers as to Suzy’s disappearance, I think the author has proven a good account of what more than likely did happen on that fateful day. This is certainly one of the best true crime books I have read and is a must read for anyone who enjoys this genre of book.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
August 14, 2021
In July 1986, Suzy Lamplugh left the estate agents she worked at and disappeared, never to be seen again.
The author has written an informative and interesting book, having spent some years researching this case. The chapters flow effortlessly between the time periods involved.
If there is one piece of advice I can give you, it’s to take everything you think you know about the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh and read this as if you’re reading about it for the first time.
I was 14 when Suzy went missing and I can recollect the newspapers and television stories, every day, Suzy was in the news. Who was the mysterious Mr Kipper? We all wanted to know what had happened.
The book is thought provoking and I found it quite surprising at how many people weren’t prepared to help the author to try and solve the case. The police handling of the case could have been so much better, would it not make sense to investigate the authors research and see if Suzy is where he has suggested? The answers in the book make complete sense.
Surely the chance to lay Suzy to rest must be the overriding thought of everyone involved. It’s not about saving face - it’s about giving a family the peace they deserve. #FindingSuzy
The author has written an informative and interesting book, having spent some years researching this case. The chapters flow effortlessly between the time periods involved.
If there is one piece of advice I can give you, it’s to take everything you think you know about the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh and read this as if you’re reading about it for the first time.
I was 14 when Suzy went missing and I can recollect the newspapers and television stories, every day, Suzy was in the news. Who was the mysterious Mr Kipper? We all wanted to know what had happened.
The book is thought provoking and I found it quite surprising at how many people weren’t prepared to help the author to try and solve the case. The police handling of the case could have been so much better, would it not make sense to investigate the authors research and see if Suzy is where he has suggested? The answers in the book make complete sense.
Surely the chance to lay Suzy to rest must be the overriding thought of everyone involved. It’s not about saving face - it’s about giving a family the peace they deserve. #FindingSuzy
August 4, 2021
Unlike a lot of true crime books David Videcette hasn’t written Finding Suzy to create controversy, neither has he cobbled together facts from other crime books on the subject, and presented them as an ‘exclusive’. The disappearance of 25-year-old Suzy Lamplugh remains one of life’s mysteries. She disappeared without a trace back in July 1986 whilst showing a London property to a mysterious ‘Mr Kipper’. Police failed to find a shred of evidence establishing what had happened to her.
David Videcette with the help of fellow investigator Caroline, spent five years painstakingly re-investigating Suzy’s cold case disappearance. The author reveals some shocking fresh evidence that beggars belief, evidence that leaves gaping holes in the original police narrative (I will not reveal the evidence in any shape or form in my review, as it would be unfair to the author). The investigation appears to have been based in parts on assumption and supposition and brings to light the numerous failings by the police.
Unlike some true crime thrillers, the author has written an account that isn’t bogged down by facts and references, his style of writing is compelling and he writes in away that shows a great deal of sensitivity and empathy to Suzy and her family. David Videcette offers the reader a theory, as he outlines a chain of events that differ from that of the police investigation. I believe the events he sets out and the discrepancies in the original investigation hold a great deal of credibility. I would like to think the powers that be will take note and investigate his claims, not only for Suzy but for her family. This has to be one of the best crime books I’ve read in a long time and one I would highly recommend to those who enjoy a true crime read.
David Videcette with the help of fellow investigator Caroline, spent five years painstakingly re-investigating Suzy’s cold case disappearance. The author reveals some shocking fresh evidence that beggars belief, evidence that leaves gaping holes in the original police narrative (I will not reveal the evidence in any shape or form in my review, as it would be unfair to the author). The investigation appears to have been based in parts on assumption and supposition and brings to light the numerous failings by the police.
Unlike some true crime thrillers, the author has written an account that isn’t bogged down by facts and references, his style of writing is compelling and he writes in away that shows a great deal of sensitivity and empathy to Suzy and her family. David Videcette offers the reader a theory, as he outlines a chain of events that differ from that of the police investigation. I believe the events he sets out and the discrepancies in the original investigation hold a great deal of credibility. I would like to think the powers that be will take note and investigate his claims, not only for Suzy but for her family. This has to be one of the best crime books I’ve read in a long time and one I would highly recommend to those who enjoy a true crime read.
September 12, 2021
I was intrigued with this case , Suzy Lamplugh, the estate agent who went missing all those years ago and have often thought about it. Finding Suzy was therefore a must read book for me. The investigation by the author and his assistant was thorough and very credible . I truly hope that the findings of this investigation are followed up.
January 13, 2022
I haven't heard of this case earlier so I had no idea what I was going into. But I love true crime so that was a major motive for me to pick this book.
In 1986, a 25-year-old real estate agent named Suzy goes missing. Her last contact, Mr. Kipper, is also suspiciously untraceable. This book covers the investigation that has been closed and reopened multiple times over the years to no result. Suzy still remains missing.
The book goes over how much the initial investigators managed to miss, how much they overlooked due to their obstinacy. It made me so angry to see that people who were able to do something were sitting about pushing paperwork.
In the end, the author, himself a former Scotland Yard officer, brings up a theory about what he thinks might have happened. It is relieving to read that at least one person is concerned about what could have happened instead of putting on blinders and not willing to see what is front of their eyes.
I was also sad to read that Suzy's parents have passed away. After so many years of appeals and dead-ends, I can only imagine what they felt.
4 stars.
In 1986, a 25-year-old real estate agent named Suzy goes missing. Her last contact, Mr. Kipper, is also suspiciously untraceable. This book covers the investigation that has been closed and reopened multiple times over the years to no result. Suzy still remains missing.
The book goes over how much the initial investigators managed to miss, how much they overlooked due to their obstinacy. It made me so angry to see that people who were able to do something were sitting about pushing paperwork.
In the end, the author, himself a former Scotland Yard officer, brings up a theory about what he thinks might have happened. It is relieving to read that at least one person is concerned about what could have happened instead of putting on blinders and not willing to see what is front of their eyes.
I was also sad to read that Suzy's parents have passed away. After so many years of appeals and dead-ends, I can only imagine what they felt.
4 stars.
August 3, 2021
This book, written and researched by a retired detective from the Metropolitan Police, is a real eye-opener. I don’t want to give too much away, but what David and a fellow researcher did was to go right back to the witnesses, those still alive, and take the case back to basics. It appeared that when the case was re-opened, this wasn’t done. You have to have the greatest sympathy for the parents who lost a daughter, but, in retrospect, their activities were very unhelpful. It would appear that Suzy Lamplugh’s body could be found but nobody is willing to take that last step, for fear it might bring the whole case and its original methodology tumbling down. A really gripping read for any true crime fan.
October 14, 2021
I knew something of the author's credentials and ability to take on an investigation as complex as the Suzy Lamplugh case, and for that reason, I slowed my reading pace down to enable me to absorb as many of the fine points of this story as I could. Some of the revelations were bolts from the blue, whilst others seemed to be of lesser significance but when you add them up, collectively, they turn the previous misconceptions, brought about from the police and the media, inside and out and back to front.
The book is written is such a way, that I felt as if I was part of the investigation team, largely because, when I put the book down, I found myself frequently in a state of cogitation, brooding over new leads, clues, and the many possibilities that were unearthed by the author's meticulous and painstaking work, involving what seems to be thousands of hours and miles, tracking down witnesses more than thirty years after the case had gone cold.
The Suzy Lamplugh case illustrates the multitude of dilemmas facing a cold-case investigator, which thirty years on would seem an impossible task, faced with having to speak to witnesses and former police officers, uncertain where they were or even if they were still alive. Finding witnesses and turning up on their doorsteps did not always bring about the response that the investigator would always want.
For me, I shared the author's frustration at having to deal with senior police officers who refused to acknowledge plausible evidence to officially reopen the case.
I just hope for the sake of justice and the victim's family, that 'Finding Suzy' is read by someone who has the authority to take this to the highest level of the Metropolitan Police and/or government to ensure a follow-up investigation commences based on the conclusions of this book.
The book is written is such a way, that I felt as if I was part of the investigation team, largely because, when I put the book down, I found myself frequently in a state of cogitation, brooding over new leads, clues, and the many possibilities that were unearthed by the author's meticulous and painstaking work, involving what seems to be thousands of hours and miles, tracking down witnesses more than thirty years after the case had gone cold.
The Suzy Lamplugh case illustrates the multitude of dilemmas facing a cold-case investigator, which thirty years on would seem an impossible task, faced with having to speak to witnesses and former police officers, uncertain where they were or even if they were still alive. Finding witnesses and turning up on their doorsteps did not always bring about the response that the investigator would always want.
For me, I shared the author's frustration at having to deal with senior police officers who refused to acknowledge plausible evidence to officially reopen the case.
I just hope for the sake of justice and the victim's family, that 'Finding Suzy' is read by someone who has the authority to take this to the highest level of the Metropolitan Police and/or government to ensure a follow-up investigation commences based on the conclusions of this book.
January 14, 2025
The disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh in 1986 continues to create fear because she was not the kind of person who would just vanish. She came from a middle-class family, and was enjoying life as a young, free and single woman with her own apartment, a good job working for an estate agent's in a nice part of London, and a lively but not dangerous social life.
The media has made much of the fact that she had many casual relationships, including at least one married man, and that she kept her relationships a secret from her parents, but the author of this book points out that Suzy's parents were strict Methodists so there is probably nothing to read into the fact that she kept her sexual relationships a secret from them.
What is shocking is the way the police focused on one suspect and one set of easily discounted "facts", such as the narrative that Suzy vanished while meeting a client. The author reveals that the house in question had just one key - and it was still in the estate agent's office. The client, "Mr Kipper" was clearly Suzy's excuse to leave work early. She probably wasn't even meeting her married lover; Suzy simply wanted to leave work early to pick up some belongings she had left at a pub, change her clothes and head off to play tennis that afternoon.
The pub seems to be the key to this story if the author is right - and he certainly has done a lot of digging along with a friend who, like him, previously worked for the police.
His meticulous research and his analysis based on experience in the London Metropolitan Police gives this book the edge.
This book is valuable not just for its potential to help solve this decades-old mystery; the author's damning expose of the inadequacy of the investigation, the tunnel-vision approach, and the many inexcusable mistakes made, should serve as a lesson to all investigators whether they are police or journalists.
Similar mistakes have been exposed in other cases (I'm thinking of the Rachel Nickell case in London, but there are many more).
The media has made much of the fact that she had many casual relationships, including at least one married man, and that she kept her relationships a secret from her parents, but the author of this book points out that Suzy's parents were strict Methodists so there is probably nothing to read into the fact that she kept her sexual relationships a secret from them.
What is shocking is the way the police focused on one suspect and one set of easily discounted "facts", such as the narrative that Suzy vanished while meeting a client. The author reveals that the house in question had just one key - and it was still in the estate agent's office. The client, "Mr Kipper" was clearly Suzy's excuse to leave work early. She probably wasn't even meeting her married lover; Suzy simply wanted to leave work early to pick up some belongings she had left at a pub, change her clothes and head off to play tennis that afternoon.
The pub seems to be the key to this story if the author is right - and he certainly has done a lot of digging along with a friend who, like him, previously worked for the police.
His meticulous research and his analysis based on experience in the London Metropolitan Police gives this book the edge.
This book is valuable not just for its potential to help solve this decades-old mystery; the author's damning expose of the inadequacy of the investigation, the tunnel-vision approach, and the many inexcusable mistakes made, should serve as a lesson to all investigators whether they are police or journalists.
Similar mistakes have been exposed in other cases (I'm thinking of the Rachel Nickell case in London, but there are many more).
April 6, 2024
An account of the 1986 disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh by an ex-officer turned writer and his colleague. The book seems promising enough but I felt there was too much waffle and attempts to meet a word count that contributed very little to the book. It’s clear he is very passionate about the case and is eager to see it resolved, but as a fiction writer he is trying too hard to insert his own experiences. Describing in minute detail the conversations he has, or attempts to have, with witnesses, right through to what he has for lunch on a particular day.
I applaud anyone who embarks on a journey to aid in the resolution of unsolved missing persons cases. The authors heart is in the right place, I just feel he missed the mark in the composition of this book. I finished not understanding the case more than I had when I started. The author proposes some interesting observations and possible events that occurred on the day of Suzy’s disappearance. With so little able to be proven about this case, some is speculative and others feels more credible. There were major failings with how the police conducted their investigation into Suzy’s disappearance and likely murder - the perhaps one universally agreed upon fact.
I applaud anyone who embarks on a journey to aid in the resolution of unsolved missing persons cases. The authors heart is in the right place, I just feel he missed the mark in the composition of this book. I finished not understanding the case more than I had when I started. The author proposes some interesting observations and possible events that occurred on the day of Suzy’s disappearance. With so little able to be proven about this case, some is speculative and others feels more credible. There were major failings with how the police conducted their investigation into Suzy’s disappearance and likely murder - the perhaps one universally agreed upon fact.
August 31, 2021
Intriguing
Really enjoyed reading this and the thoroughness with which David investigated the case. It would be awfully good if the Met decided to use his research and reinvestigate certain places ( not saying which, because spoilers).
A sad event made worse by the fact that the case had not been satisfactorily solved. I think many many people of a certain age would remember all of this happening.
Really enjoyed reading this and the thoroughness with which David investigated the case. It would be awfully good if the Met decided to use his research and reinvestigate certain places ( not saying which, because spoilers).
A sad event made worse by the fact that the case had not been satisfactorily solved. I think many many people of a certain age would remember all of this happening.
August 15, 2021
A compulsive page-turner on a real-life mystery! At last we know what happened to Suzy Lamplugh
It's hard to put this down. The detailed re-investigation by David Videcette and colleague Caroline of what almost certainly happened to Suzy Lamplugh makes for a compelling read. It explains how early Met Police errors led to incorrect assumptions that grew into a fragile house of cards that the authorities protected in order to preserve their reputations. And there were so many external factors pushing the police investigation along that it's no wonder the case hasn't been solved ....until now? It's a great read with a sobering conclusion - Suzy's death wasn't properly investigated and there's a highly plausible explanation regarding why and how and where she lies today
It's hard to put this down. The detailed re-investigation by David Videcette and colleague Caroline of what almost certainly happened to Suzy Lamplugh makes for a compelling read. It explains how early Met Police errors led to incorrect assumptions that grew into a fragile house of cards that the authorities protected in order to preserve their reputations. And there were so many external factors pushing the police investigation along that it's no wonder the case hasn't been solved ....until now? It's a great read with a sobering conclusion - Suzy's death wasn't properly investigated and there's a highly plausible explanation regarding why and how and where she lies today
October 7, 2021
Thought Provoking
The author certainly asks some searching questions of the police investigation and offers an intriguing new possibility. Only time will tell if the police swallow their pride.
The author certainly asks some searching questions of the police investigation and offers an intriguing new possibility. Only time will tell if the police swallow their pride.
August 3, 2021
Wow! This book is absolutely brilliant and I couldn't put it down. I'm a huge fan of David Videcette's fiction books so just try and stop me reading his non-fiction, true crime account of the Suzy Lamplugh case. I remember Suzy's disappearance in the summer of 1986 as we were given personal attack alarms at school. If Suzy had had a personal attack alarm, would this be a different story today or would anybody have been around to hear it?
The Suzy Lamplugh 'story' is well known: estate agent Suzy went to show a house to Mr Kipper one lunchtime and never returned. You may have noticed that I put 'story' in inverted commas as David Videcette's investigation proves that the story we know of Suzy's disappearance might as well be a work of fiction.
David, along with his fellow investigator Caroline, look at the Suzy Lamplugh case with fresh eyes. I loved the dynamic between David and Caroline, regularly playing good cop (David) and bad cop (Caroline) and it is clear that David has a lot of respect for his fellow investigator, which is more than can be said for some of the people that they interviewed. Re-interviewing witnesses and asking the right questions, David Videcette sheds new light on to what may have happened to Suzy that day. I'm not going to release any spoilers here but what I read is completely jaw-dropping and totally eye-opening.
David's investigation is impeccable, leaving no stone unturned (and no cake uneaten) in his search for Suzy. It's no surprise (and therefore not a spoiler) that the police haven't shown an ounce of interest in what David has found. I wonder if Suzy's parents had been alive today, whether the police would be more inclined to take notice. Paul and Diana Lamplugh were heavily involved in the case, perhaps far too much as their desperation to find their daughter led to misrepresentations and false accusations.
Of course I could write so much more about this fantastic book but I don't want to let anything slip. David's writing is completely flawless and you'd be forgiven for forgetting that this is true crime, if the subject matter wasn't one of the UK's most famous unsolved cases. It's a tragedy that Suzy's family never found out what happened to her, but they were never going to find her if they were looking in the wrong place.
Finding Suzy is absolutely brilliant, it's unputdownable, jaw-dropping and eye-opening. It's the must-read book of the year, if not the decade. Breathtaking true crime that's not to be missed. So very highly recommended.
Many thanks to David Videcette for sending me a digital ARC to read and review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The Suzy Lamplugh 'story' is well known: estate agent Suzy went to show a house to Mr Kipper one lunchtime and never returned. You may have noticed that I put 'story' in inverted commas as David Videcette's investigation proves that the story we know of Suzy's disappearance might as well be a work of fiction.
David, along with his fellow investigator Caroline, look at the Suzy Lamplugh case with fresh eyes. I loved the dynamic between David and Caroline, regularly playing good cop (David) and bad cop (Caroline) and it is clear that David has a lot of respect for his fellow investigator, which is more than can be said for some of the people that they interviewed. Re-interviewing witnesses and asking the right questions, David Videcette sheds new light on to what may have happened to Suzy that day. I'm not going to release any spoilers here but what I read is completely jaw-dropping and totally eye-opening.
David's investigation is impeccable, leaving no stone unturned (and no cake uneaten) in his search for Suzy. It's no surprise (and therefore not a spoiler) that the police haven't shown an ounce of interest in what David has found. I wonder if Suzy's parents had been alive today, whether the police would be more inclined to take notice. Paul and Diana Lamplugh were heavily involved in the case, perhaps far too much as their desperation to find their daughter led to misrepresentations and false accusations.
Of course I could write so much more about this fantastic book but I don't want to let anything slip. David's writing is completely flawless and you'd be forgiven for forgetting that this is true crime, if the subject matter wasn't one of the UK's most famous unsolved cases. It's a tragedy that Suzy's family never found out what happened to her, but they were never going to find her if they were looking in the wrong place.
Finding Suzy is absolutely brilliant, it's unputdownable, jaw-dropping and eye-opening. It's the must-read book of the year, if not the decade. Breathtaking true crime that's not to be missed. So very highly recommended.
Many thanks to David Videcette for sending me a digital ARC to read and review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
September 13, 2024
I have been waiting for this book patiently but impatiently for a very long time. It was definitely worth the wait though.
After reading this book, I have come to the conclusion that cold cases should be investigated by completely impartial people with no connection whatsoever to the original inquiry team, preferably from another force if possible. It is obvious that if a new team follows the old tracks they are going to arrive at the same destination. David Videcette and his research colleague have proved that it is vital to start from the beginning with no preconceptions.
It would seem that the author has directly transcribed many of his interviews with various people which gives it authenticity. It does mean however that occasionally the reader has to work hard to understand what is being said but it is clear that, at times, David also had to work out what exactly the person being interviewed was really saying.
There is nothing dry and dusty about this book but neither is it in any way sensationalist. Whilst he doesn’t go so far as to actually put a name to a suspect I think the author gives enough information to give the reader a clear idea of of who is probably responsible for Suzy's disappearance. Especially as he is explicit about where he believes her remains will be found if a search were to be made.
I have not swallowed everything unthinkingly and do have a query about something which is stated as a fact, and accepted as such by those involved, but even if that fact was wrong it wouldn’t make any difference at all to the suggested chain of events.
I do recommend this book as an engrossing read in its own right, it is immensely readable, informative and impactful, but also as a more plausible explanation of an enduring mystery than the one which has been put forward by the Metropolitan Police since the turn of the century.
After reading this book, I have come to the conclusion that cold cases should be investigated by completely impartial people with no connection whatsoever to the original inquiry team, preferably from another force if possible. It is obvious that if a new team follows the old tracks they are going to arrive at the same destination. David Videcette and his research colleague have proved that it is vital to start from the beginning with no preconceptions.
It would seem that the author has directly transcribed many of his interviews with various people which gives it authenticity. It does mean however that occasionally the reader has to work hard to understand what is being said but it is clear that, at times, David also had to work out what exactly the person being interviewed was really saying.
There is nothing dry and dusty about this book but neither is it in any way sensationalist. Whilst he doesn’t go so far as to actually put a name to a suspect I think the author gives enough information to give the reader a clear idea of of who is probably responsible for Suzy's disappearance. Especially as he is explicit about where he believes her remains will be found if a search were to be made.
I have not swallowed everything unthinkingly and do have a query about something which is stated as a fact, and accepted as such by those involved, but even if that fact was wrong it wouldn’t make any difference at all to the suggested chain of events.
I do recommend this book as an engrossing read in its own right, it is immensely readable, informative and impactful, but also as a more plausible explanation of an enduring mystery than the one which has been put forward by the Metropolitan Police since the turn of the century.
August 29, 2021
I don’t normally do true crime books as much as I used to. As a teenager I was obsessed with true crime, books of murderous couples, femme fatales and forensic scientists. I’ve come to prefer the escape to the imaginary criminal world irrespective of how influenced or inspired authors are by the real world. However, having read (and loved) Videcette’s series featuring DI Jake Flannagan (swoon), I was keen to read his non-fiction offering.
I’ll admit, I didn’t know anything about the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh before I read this book. I was only 6 when she went missing and surprisingly enough I wasn’t as news-aware as I am now. In a way this is a good thing, I came to this book without any preconceptions of what I’d read in the press at the time of the initial or subsequent reinvestigations.
What I read over the course of two evenings was a seriously compelling book. Videcette’s training as a police officer shown through his personal investigation, his knowledge of procedure and the status quo at the time of Suzy’s disappearance. His tenacity for the truth, despite the disappearance being so long ago, pushed the investigation along. The way Videcette narrated his journey over the five years was natural, I felt I was there shadowing him as he followed every lead he could.
Videcette’s writing really kidnapped me, I was invested in his findings. Would he find that key lead that was so desperately needed to find this missing woman? This thought kept me hooked on this case that covered such a long period of time with so little evidence in the past investigations. I’d highly recommend this to any true crime fan – actually I’d recommend it to anyone who loves any sort of crime book and anyone who relishes a damn good read!
I’ll admit, I didn’t know anything about the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh before I read this book. I was only 6 when she went missing and surprisingly enough I wasn’t as news-aware as I am now. In a way this is a good thing, I came to this book without any preconceptions of what I’d read in the press at the time of the initial or subsequent reinvestigations.
What I read over the course of two evenings was a seriously compelling book. Videcette’s training as a police officer shown through his personal investigation, his knowledge of procedure and the status quo at the time of Suzy’s disappearance. His tenacity for the truth, despite the disappearance being so long ago, pushed the investigation along. The way Videcette narrated his journey over the five years was natural, I felt I was there shadowing him as he followed every lead he could.
Videcette’s writing really kidnapped me, I was invested in his findings. Would he find that key lead that was so desperately needed to find this missing woman? This thought kept me hooked on this case that covered such a long period of time with so little evidence in the past investigations. I’d highly recommend this to any true crime fan – actually I’d recommend it to anyone who loves any sort of crime book and anyone who relishes a damn good read!
March 13, 2022
This was a fascinating book and one that has made me curious about reading more true crime accounts, especially if they’re not gory. Thanks to Jill @Jill’s Book Cafe for highlighting this in one of her Kindle Bargains posts recently.
I remember this case from 1986, mainly because it was all over the news at the time, and probably because it was very scary that a woman could just disappear in London in broad daylight! 😱
I enjoyed following the author and Caroline, his research assistant as the looked through the old police investigations, and then went onto to interview numerous witnesses themselves to try and shed new light on the case. It was fascinating but also concerning that so many leads weren’t followed up and assumptions were made about what happened to Suzy back in 1986. I was shocked so many times as I read more and more about police incompetence and the way Suzy’s parents seemed to be running the whole investigation from the sidelines!
The whole case really reminded me of New Tricks a TV series about a fictional group of retired policemen re-opening cold cases and getting results. It’s one of my favourites TV programmes as it’s very funny, but also has some fabulous stories too. Sadly this case is not funny at all but heartbreaking.
As David Videcette says near the end of the book ” There can be no victory, for anyone of any type, all the time Suzy remains from her poor parents’ side. All the time she is missing, that she is lost, and never properly laid to rest in a location of her family’s choice – no one should be patting themselves on the back and believing they’ve done a good job.”
I definitely recommend if you remember the case and or enjoy true crime.
I remember this case from 1986, mainly because it was all over the news at the time, and probably because it was very scary that a woman could just disappear in London in broad daylight! 😱
I enjoyed following the author and Caroline, his research assistant as the looked through the old police investigations, and then went onto to interview numerous witnesses themselves to try and shed new light on the case. It was fascinating but also concerning that so many leads weren’t followed up and assumptions were made about what happened to Suzy back in 1986. I was shocked so many times as I read more and more about police incompetence and the way Suzy’s parents seemed to be running the whole investigation from the sidelines!
The whole case really reminded me of New Tricks a TV series about a fictional group of retired policemen re-opening cold cases and getting results. It’s one of my favourites TV programmes as it’s very funny, but also has some fabulous stories too. Sadly this case is not funny at all but heartbreaking.
As David Videcette says near the end of the book ” There can be no victory, for anyone of any type, all the time Suzy remains from her poor parents’ side. All the time she is missing, that she is lost, and never properly laid to rest in a location of her family’s choice – no one should be patting themselves on the back and believing they’ve done a good job.”
I definitely recommend if you remember the case and or enjoy true crime.
November 13, 2021
Suzy Lamplugh's name was vaguely familiar to me as I vaguely remember seeing something about them reopening the case when I was a teenager, but I didn't really know the ins and out before reading this book.
The case was an intriguing one. A young estate agent goes missing after supposedly meeting with a mysterious 'Mr Kipper'. The trail went cold quickly and to this day hasn't been solved, even though there was a lot of speculation over the years and even a prime suspect.
With the help of his researcher Caroline, David Videcette uses his years as an investigator to put forward where the original and subsequent police investigations may have gone wrong and give a credible theory to what he thinks may have happened to Suzy.
Reading this story both horrified and fascinated me. Imagine a loved one just disappearing and never being found? I know in the UK there's over two thousand missing persons cases each year, a fact which is quite scary when you think about it.
I enjoyed how the story unfolded, told in a mostly first person narration like you were there seeing the story through the author's eyes and getting his insights.
You can honestly see the painstaking work that went into the book, tracking down people from over thirty years ago, probing into the memories and conducting detailed interviews.
I found occasionally the story didn't flow as well; it got a little bogged down in minor details, which in the long run didn't matter too much to the story, but that didn't spoil my overall enjoyment.
Finding Suzy was an informative and gripping read that if you love true crime documentaries, I think you will love this.
The case was an intriguing one. A young estate agent goes missing after supposedly meeting with a mysterious 'Mr Kipper'. The trail went cold quickly and to this day hasn't been solved, even though there was a lot of speculation over the years and even a prime suspect.
With the help of his researcher Caroline, David Videcette uses his years as an investigator to put forward where the original and subsequent police investigations may have gone wrong and give a credible theory to what he thinks may have happened to Suzy.
Reading this story both horrified and fascinated me. Imagine a loved one just disappearing and never being found? I know in the UK there's over two thousand missing persons cases each year, a fact which is quite scary when you think about it.
I enjoyed how the story unfolded, told in a mostly first person narration like you were there seeing the story through the author's eyes and getting his insights.
You can honestly see the painstaking work that went into the book, tracking down people from over thirty years ago, probing into the memories and conducting detailed interviews.
I found occasionally the story didn't flow as well; it got a little bogged down in minor details, which in the long run didn't matter too much to the story, but that didn't spoil my overall enjoyment.
Finding Suzy was an informative and gripping read that if you love true crime documentaries, I think you will love this.
August 2, 2021
“Forget everything you thought you knew about this cold case. People don't just disappear”
For those of a certain age- when Suzy Lamplugh disappeared without trace was something we remember but never found out what really happened. David has spent many years (and thousands of his own money) to research and find out what really happened on that day back in July 1986 with the assistance of Caroline- a researcher. Suzy was officially declared dead in 1994 and both her mother and father sadly died without ever knowing what happened to her daughter and had both received an OBE for their work. The case remains open to this day. The Suzy Lamplugh trust was set up by her mother “ to ”highlight the risks people face and to offer advice, action and support to minimise those risks”. How we all knew about “ Mr Kipper” whom she was supposed to be showing around a house and that he was the main suspect. Never were we given any idea that other factors could have come into play to lead to her disappearance.
Oh wow! I couldn't put this down. How David and Caroline were so tenacious and detailed in their workings and travelling hundreds of miles to try and track down and interview anyone who could have been linked however tenuous. That Suzy has misplaced some items a couple of days beforehand and that as inconsequential as it may seem could lead to some groundbreaking information. A work of determination and skill and of seeing what is really there. A truly brilliant read that I can’t recommend highly enough
For those of a certain age- when Suzy Lamplugh disappeared without trace was something we remember but never found out what really happened. David has spent many years (and thousands of his own money) to research and find out what really happened on that day back in July 1986 with the assistance of Caroline- a researcher. Suzy was officially declared dead in 1994 and both her mother and father sadly died without ever knowing what happened to her daughter and had both received an OBE for their work. The case remains open to this day. The Suzy Lamplugh trust was set up by her mother “ to ”highlight the risks people face and to offer advice, action and support to minimise those risks”. How we all knew about “ Mr Kipper” whom she was supposed to be showing around a house and that he was the main suspect. Never were we given any idea that other factors could have come into play to lead to her disappearance.
Oh wow! I couldn't put this down. How David and Caroline were so tenacious and detailed in their workings and travelling hundreds of miles to try and track down and interview anyone who could have been linked however tenuous. That Suzy has misplaced some items a couple of days beforehand and that as inconsequential as it may seem could lead to some groundbreaking information. A work of determination and skill and of seeing what is really there. A truly brilliant read that I can’t recommend highly enough
September 16, 2021
I had read David's other books which I loved but this one is in a class of its own. Ihad no idea until I read this what a flawed investigation the police had conducted and along with so much in this day and age, just who do you trust? David's meticulous search for clues and evidence pays dividends and shatters the illusion of everything you have heard in the media, this investigation bears no resemblance to what the media would have had us believe. This book supports the fact that the Investigation needs opening and David's findings to be tested and followed, there needs to be answers to the questions raised. Its a book that begs to be read, it's a case that demands finality, people need to see what they havent been told set down here in a compelling narrative. Its written in a way that draws you in and keeps you compelled, its astounding. This week ITV are doing a documentary on the Wests David and Caroline deserve the same air time, the should be heard. Utter brilliance and I would urge anyone for whom this case intrigues, this is a book you MUST read.
October 12, 2021
The disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh in 1986 was huge news, so much so it penetrated the minds of much younger females, a truly shocking event. Who would have thought that a young woman could go to work, meet a client and disappear with no leads whatsover.
Suzy's parents, did their best to keep the story in the headlines in the hope that someone, somewhere would come forward to enable her to be found, but all these years later and she is still missing.
David Videcette is an ex Police Officer who has spent his time and money re-examining the evidence but alongside a narrative - the most startling of which is about Mr Kipper himself, the client Suzy was supposedly meeting.
I found the book compelling both in terms of reading and in support of a strong theory although sometimes the tone jarred when discussing Suzy's family but perhaps understandably so....
It is rare to find a book involving a 'true crime' not only with convincing research but also that is readable!
Suzy's parents, did their best to keep the story in the headlines in the hope that someone, somewhere would come forward to enable her to be found, but all these years later and she is still missing.
David Videcette is an ex Police Officer who has spent his time and money re-examining the evidence but alongside a narrative - the most startling of which is about Mr Kipper himself, the client Suzy was supposedly meeting.
I found the book compelling both in terms of reading and in support of a strong theory although sometimes the tone jarred when discussing Suzy's family but perhaps understandably so....
It is rare to find a book involving a 'true crime' not only with convincing research but also that is readable!
August 12, 2021
This is an extremely interesting read about the case of the missing Estate Agent Suzy Lamplugh. Over many years and spending thousands of pounds of his own money, the author along with his researcher Caroline have doggedly researched this case and in doing so have blown away the conclusions and evidence presented by the original and subsequent police investigations. I am at a loss to understand why, when presented with this new evidence, the police have not re-opened the case and searched the location that the author has presented them with. Only time will tell if this will happen and the victim can be laid to rest. Thanks to the author for all his time and effort in researching and writing this book and I hope his perseverance will be rewarded by getting the right result and getting the case closed.
June 15, 2022
After reading the book I wrote a glowing 5-star review on Amazon, convinced the police had slipped up badly, jumped to conclusions then set off after a phantom called ‘Mr Kipper’. Sparking my interest in the case, I watched and re-watched the Oct ’86 Crimewatch reconstruction on Youtube. Which is when it became apparent there were crucial differences with the book. So who was right?
Comparing (A) a Crimewatch/police reconstruction 2-3 months after the event, using the actual witnesses, and (B) an investigation over 30 years later relying on people’s recollections for fresh insights, I have to say the former must be definitive. Here are some points which, I’m afraid, derail the author’s conclusions:
Key to No. 37 Shorrold Rd.
The cornerstone of the author’s case is that the key never left Suzy’s office, proving she didn’t go to the viewing, because there never was a Mr Kipper. And that the police used it next day during the search for her, to get into the property. But this has a fatal flaw - in the Crimewatch program the key was still missing - the policeman heading the investigation confirmed it had never been recovered. On that basis it seems pretty clear Suzy did take the key - but somehow the author ignores this. The staff went to viewings armed with a very large yellow key fob and a copy of the sale sheet, but the author’s theory requires Suzy, having carefully invented a viewing to provide cover, to then leave the office very conspicuously empty-handed - a dead giveaway in itself - and also to drive off in completely the opposite direction, nowhere near No.37. Which would be pretty boneheaded, and unthinkable for someone as bright as Suzy.
Next-door neighbour identifying Suzy
The author seems to establish, from a relative of the now-deceased neighbour at No.35, that Suzy was never positively identified by him - which he takes as further evidence she did not go to No.37. But Crimewatch shows what actually happened - at 1pm, hearing the front door of No.37 being closed, the neighbour looks up from his newspaper to see a man and a woman walk out onto the pavement. Which confirms that No.37 was visited, making it irrelevant whether the neighbour identified Suzy or not. It’s a reasonable assumption it was her - who else could it have been - a point the author does not address.
Other Shorrold Road sightings
Crimewatch show two more sightings: Suzy waiting alone on the doorstep at 12.50. Then about 1pm, Suzy outside on the pavement and a man standing in the road with a bottle of champagne. These three sightings at No.37 show Suzy did go there - but was not abducted there.
Most reliable sighting
Crimewatch introduce a friend of Suzy’s who saw her at 2.45pm, driving north through Fulham, talking to a man in the passenger seat. This friend knew Suzy very well and was 100% certain it was her. Despite spending huge amounts of time tracking down more doubtful witnesses, the author completely ignores this sighting, and does not mention it in his book.
The Prince of Wales pub
The author believes Suzy went straight from her office to the pub - anxious to retrieve her secret pocket diary, mislaid there the previous evening - and met her end there. Which is directly contradicted by the three sightings at No.37, and her friend seeing her at 2.45pm. Also, the pub had been open since midday - how would she come to grief with customers around? The person who told the author that Suzy rang him about collecting her diary also told him she never turned up. A point the author does not pursue.
All the evidence shows Suzy did go to Shorrold Road - a brief ‘viewing’ only for show - to ensure her story about meeting a customer there stayed watertight back at the office.
On Crimewatch the police stated the two knew each other, and all the evidence points to exactly that. Subsequently there were sightings of a man and woman arguing in that area and later arguing/fighting a mile away in and around Stevenage Road, where her car was later found.
Prior to publication of The Suzy Lamplugh Story in 1988, written with access to the police investigation and Suzy’s larger, more detailed, diaries there was fevered tabloid speculation about her ‘lifestyle’ - Faber & Faber rejected an offer of £250K from the News of the World for the serialisation rights. Having seen a draft, Diana Lamplugh took legal action to prevent it being published. When this failed, the author refusing to budge, she dissociated herself from it. But the disclosures in the book were only the tip of the iceberg. Amidst the controversy, the managing director of Faber & Faber maintained the author had actually been very responsible: - “He has left out some incredibly difficult stuff - material that would have been better suited to, let’s say, the News of the World than Faber & Faber.”
With no shortage of admirers, Suzy juggled suitors constantly and indulged herself to the full. But kept them in the dark about the stiff competition they faced in her hectic love life - frequent dumping being the order of the day to free up space for fresh contenders.
Consequently, in just that final weekend period there were a lot of men. First, she saw her boyfriend Adam on Fri night. Possibly somebody else at a Sat night party, from which Adam had been excluded. She saw him briefly Sun afternoon but then side-lined him again and that evening went to another man’s flat, from which she rang him for a brief chat. On Monday, next up was ‘Mr Kipper’ - so urgent she broke all the rules and invented the viewing at No.37. They then spent some hours talking, then arguing, and eventually fighting. But in him she overstepped the mark with the wrong man - and it finally caught up with her.
Comparing (A) a Crimewatch/police reconstruction 2-3 months after the event, using the actual witnesses, and (B) an investigation over 30 years later relying on people’s recollections for fresh insights, I have to say the former must be definitive. Here are some points which, I’m afraid, derail the author’s conclusions:
Key to No. 37 Shorrold Rd.
The cornerstone of the author’s case is that the key never left Suzy’s office, proving she didn’t go to the viewing, because there never was a Mr Kipper. And that the police used it next day during the search for her, to get into the property. But this has a fatal flaw - in the Crimewatch program the key was still missing - the policeman heading the investigation confirmed it had never been recovered. On that basis it seems pretty clear Suzy did take the key - but somehow the author ignores this. The staff went to viewings armed with a very large yellow key fob and a copy of the sale sheet, but the author’s theory requires Suzy, having carefully invented a viewing to provide cover, to then leave the office very conspicuously empty-handed - a dead giveaway in itself - and also to drive off in completely the opposite direction, nowhere near No.37. Which would be pretty boneheaded, and unthinkable for someone as bright as Suzy.
Next-door neighbour identifying Suzy
The author seems to establish, from a relative of the now-deceased neighbour at No.35, that Suzy was never positively identified by him - which he takes as further evidence she did not go to No.37. But Crimewatch shows what actually happened - at 1pm, hearing the front door of No.37 being closed, the neighbour looks up from his newspaper to see a man and a woman walk out onto the pavement. Which confirms that No.37 was visited, making it irrelevant whether the neighbour identified Suzy or not. It’s a reasonable assumption it was her - who else could it have been - a point the author does not address.
Other Shorrold Road sightings
Crimewatch show two more sightings: Suzy waiting alone on the doorstep at 12.50. Then about 1pm, Suzy outside on the pavement and a man standing in the road with a bottle of champagne. These three sightings at No.37 show Suzy did go there - but was not abducted there.
Most reliable sighting
Crimewatch introduce a friend of Suzy’s who saw her at 2.45pm, driving north through Fulham, talking to a man in the passenger seat. This friend knew Suzy very well and was 100% certain it was her. Despite spending huge amounts of time tracking down more doubtful witnesses, the author completely ignores this sighting, and does not mention it in his book.
The Prince of Wales pub
The author believes Suzy went straight from her office to the pub - anxious to retrieve her secret pocket diary, mislaid there the previous evening - and met her end there. Which is directly contradicted by the three sightings at No.37, and her friend seeing her at 2.45pm. Also, the pub had been open since midday - how would she come to grief with customers around? The person who told the author that Suzy rang him about collecting her diary also told him she never turned up. A point the author does not pursue.
All the evidence shows Suzy did go to Shorrold Road - a brief ‘viewing’ only for show - to ensure her story about meeting a customer there stayed watertight back at the office.
On Crimewatch the police stated the two knew each other, and all the evidence points to exactly that. Subsequently there were sightings of a man and woman arguing in that area and later arguing/fighting a mile away in and around Stevenage Road, where her car was later found.
Prior to publication of The Suzy Lamplugh Story in 1988, written with access to the police investigation and Suzy’s larger, more detailed, diaries there was fevered tabloid speculation about her ‘lifestyle’ - Faber & Faber rejected an offer of £250K from the News of the World for the serialisation rights. Having seen a draft, Diana Lamplugh took legal action to prevent it being published. When this failed, the author refusing to budge, she dissociated herself from it. But the disclosures in the book were only the tip of the iceberg. Amidst the controversy, the managing director of Faber & Faber maintained the author had actually been very responsible: - “He has left out some incredibly difficult stuff - material that would have been better suited to, let’s say, the News of the World than Faber & Faber.”
With no shortage of admirers, Suzy juggled suitors constantly and indulged herself to the full. But kept them in the dark about the stiff competition they faced in her hectic love life - frequent dumping being the order of the day to free up space for fresh contenders.
Consequently, in just that final weekend period there were a lot of men. First, she saw her boyfriend Adam on Fri night. Possibly somebody else at a Sat night party, from which Adam had been excluded. She saw him briefly Sun afternoon but then side-lined him again and that evening went to another man’s flat, from which she rang him for a brief chat. On Monday, next up was ‘Mr Kipper’ - so urgent she broke all the rules and invented the viewing at No.37. They then spent some hours talking, then arguing, and eventually fighting. But in him she overstepped the mark with the wrong man - and it finally caught up with her.
August 8, 2021
Be prepared to be completely gobsmacked by Finding Suzy. The lengths that David Videcette and his dogged companion, Caroline, have gone to in their efforts to find answers in this most mind-boggling of cases, seem to know no bounds. It almost beggars belief that the original investigation was so flawed but with incredible generosity of spirit, Mr Videcette finds plausible and understandable reasons for the errors that compounded the mistakes over many years. The reader is left with a feeling of deep sorrow for all and a glimmer of hope that Suzy Lamplugh's family may yet receive the truth.
August 7, 2021
An interesting read and a plausible thesis as to what happened to Suzy and where she ended up. However, the evidence the author gives is not as conclusive as he appears to state in the final chapters. It would appear to give a location which is at least worth an examination by the police as it is just as probable if not more than the areas already searched by them.
October 22, 2021
This is a very well written account on the disappearance of estate agent suzy lamplugh, researched by a retired police officer. Having followed the case over the years I found it fascinating to read more about it and discover the darker side of the lies and deceit by those in authority investigating the case. Overall a great and sobering read.
October 18, 2021
An excellent read for fans of true crime novels. The story of Suzy is one most of us know but this book opened my eyes to what I actually knew and how I knew it.
An absolutely riveting read that I just had to finish.
An absolutely riveting read that I just had to finish.
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