The Ballroom Murder

by Leigh Straw

In August 1925, Audrey Jacob shot dead her former fiancé, Cyril Gidley, in full view of hundreds of guests at a charity ball in Perth’s Government House. When she was arrested, she still held the gun in her hand. It was a open and shut case of wilful murder—that is until Jacob assigned prosecutor Arthur Haynes to her defence. His ability to play the press and the jury for sympathy would lead to a sensational result. Not only did Jacob escape the gallows, she was found not guilty of Gidley’s murder. Straw, the author of a number of books about notable Australian female criminals, tells a story that is rich with first-hand newspaper accounts from the day.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2022

Reviews

[Julia James Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a page-turner! Such a great story and for me, particularly interesting because one of my great aunts was at the ball. This was a story handed down to me from my grandmother and I knew only snippets about the 'woman in the blue dress' who shot the 'cad who did her wrong'. A well researched, well written story and a must for anyone who lives in Perth to understand the city in the 1920s.

[Saskia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A delightful little book. It's an uncomplicated, quick read, offering a fascinating snapshot in time. The story sounds like something pulled straight from the plot of "Chicago": a beautiful young flapper shoots her former lover during a ball at Perth Parliament House in the middle of the roaring 20s, and is defended at trial by a shamelessly media manipulating lawyer determined to craft an innocent image. The author has researched well and presented the story without fuss, with occasional insightful observations.

The book itself is 178 pages long, but the last 42 pages consist of appendices, acknowledgements, notes and sources. This in itself is not an issue - gotta love a writer who cites their sources - but when the actual text is only 135 pages, it means that about a quarter of the page length of this already short book isn't part of the story. It all just feels a little brief, almost as if there wasn't enough in the historical record to build up a stand-alone book. For the $33 price tag, I feel they could have included at least a couple of pages of black and white photos, too.

Finally, there are a handful of typos, particularly in the first 50 pages, which would indicate more thorough editing was needed.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Fremantle Press, for the opportunity to read and review Western Australia’s true crime story “The Ballroom Murder” by Leigh Straw. Non-fiction not usually being my first genre of choice, but, I was so intrigued by this story and Leigh Straw has done an incredible amount of research in bringing this story to life.

It was so interesting reading the first hand newspaper articles of the event that took place in 1925, and the power of the press to influence, and the master manipulation game played by the editors, even down to careful positioning of accompanying photos of both Audrey and Cyril stretched across the front pages, with the added benefit of nothing like a ‘good murder’ to increase a newspapers circulation.

Admittedly I did see that outcome coming, but It certainly did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. This book was an easy read, an enjoyable way to spend a couple of afternoons ensconced in a WA bygone era steeped in rich history.

Glancing through Leigh’s back catalogue, which I can’t wait to get stuck into, I notice with intrigue it predominantly features the life and crimes of femme fatales of the Australian underworld.

[Anne Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific story. It's hard to believe The Ballroom Murder is relatively recent history. A jilted woman shoots her lover in front of a hundred witnesses and is found not guilty. At a time when the death penalty was, if you will pardon the pun' In full swing' the jury clearly was moved by the defendants story, hence the not guilty verdict. A very good read indeed.

[Rebecca Larsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting telling of a relatively unknown murder case and trial in Perth. I had never heard of Audrey Jacob until reading this book and found it really intriguing. Makes you want to go and google!! The only detraction, for me, was repetition. The last few chapters are basically a re-telling of what you have already read. But, overall, an enjoyable read.

[Tracy Mackay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Fremantle Press for my copy.
I'm from Perth and have never heard anything about this case.
A well researched and written account of a murder that took place on the dance floor in Government House in front of many witnesses with an interesting outcome.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember hearing about this via a podcast or another murder mystery book.
Certainly not as detailed as others but the original story does get lost in a few moments.
And WHY aren’t photos included?!?!

[Simona · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight of that night and the trial. Wonderfully researched.

[Paula Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put down the book. Straw draws us into another time and place, leaving us wondering if justice was served.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Academic but not dry. Good read. The picture of flapper Perth was well drawn. The legal themes were simultaneously dated & very familiar.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive. Struggled to finish it.

[Kimberley Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Western Australian historical true crime.
Very well researched and nicely written.

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about average for a book of this genre. I did learn about a new culture and how some of the things are the same and others differ from my own. Foe that ot was worth the read to me.

[Bridget Gaynor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really got me hooked I was very surprised by the outcome.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interestingly written piece of courtroom history. It is astonishing to think that a jury could find a verdict of "non guilty" when the accused fired a gun pointed at the victim standing a few feet away in a crowded ballroom with multiple witnesses.

[Helen Hagemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 3 days! Such an interesting crime thriller and explicit facts about the truth behind the murder. Can highly recommend this one to readers of crime.