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The Watchmaker's Revenge: The Incredible True Story of Murder, Suicide and Insanity in Victorian Coventry
"Last night considerable excitement was caused in Coventry by the report that a number of persons had been shot and seriously wounded by a man who was going about the town with a revolver."
The horrific actions of watchmaker Oliver Style on the evening of Thursday, 27th May 1880 are now long forgotten. But at the time the case was national - and international - news, and barely left the pages of local newspapers for six months.
He had walked into the Old Half Moon tavern on Coventry's Spon End and shot two customers and the landlady without saying a word, then just as suddenly left and made his way to Much Park Street, where he shot his wife, their infant son and his mother in law.
Think of Coventry's famous watchmaking industry, and the image which comes to mind is of a genial, skilled craftsman, hunched over a workstation, carrying out his work with infinite care to support his loving family. But scratch beneath the surface and tales of drunkeness, domestic abuse and infidelity are rife.
This book examines the long-forgotten case of Oliver Style and the harrowing aftermath of his actions, and reveals the real lives of the Coventry watchmaking community.
The horrific actions of watchmaker Oliver Style on the evening of Thursday, 27th May 1880 are now long forgotten. But at the time the case was national - and international - news, and barely left the pages of local newspapers for six months.
He had walked into the Old Half Moon tavern on Coventry's Spon End and shot two customers and the landlady without saying a word, then just as suddenly left and made his way to Much Park Street, where he shot his wife, their infant son and his mother in law.
Think of Coventry's famous watchmaking industry, and the image which comes to mind is of a genial, skilled craftsman, hunched over a workstation, carrying out his work with infinite care to support his loving family. But scratch beneath the surface and tales of drunkeness, domestic abuse and infidelity are rife.
This book examines the long-forgotten case of Oliver Style and the harrowing aftermath of his actions, and reveals the real lives of the Coventry watchmaking community.
187 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 3, 2022
3 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 1, 2022
Personally not to my taste, I prefer fiction. This book is too textbooky and has way too many numbers and facts it's overwhelming.
However to the right reader it would be amazing. It's incredibly factual with all facts substantiated. I love the historical pictures.
However to the right reader it would be amazing. It's incredibly factual with all facts substantiated. I love the historical pictures.
February 2, 2026
A fascinating and little known story but I occasionally struggled with trying to keep up with who was who and how they were related and occasionally having all the notes disturbed the flow of the story! However a good read.
February 9, 2026
The watchmaker’s revenge
A short true crime tale.
This is a shocking tale of drunkenness and social deprivation in Victorian times. A entire community involved in the watchmaking industry. The crimes are fully explained with clearly defined research.
Overall the book is a damning exposure of social deprivation, domestic violence in this time.
Quite shocking.
A short true crime tale.
This is a shocking tale of drunkenness and social deprivation in Victorian times. A entire community involved in the watchmaking industry. The crimes are fully explained with clearly defined research.
Overall the book is a damning exposure of social deprivation, domestic violence in this time.
Quite shocking.
November 6, 2021
Took me 2 days to read this fascinating book of where I live and grew up. Learnt a history of an area I know and have walked those streets where this story happened.
May 1, 2022
I loved all the day to day background details, as much as the murder itself. Really fascinating book for local residents to read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews