Simon Schuster The Hunt for the Silver Killer The Shocking True Story of a Murderer who Remains at Large.

by David Collins

1

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook

272 pages, Paperback

Published April 27, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This page has collected the miscellaneous items unattributed to specific David Collinses.

For the 18th-19th century Australian legislator, see David^^^^^^^Collins

Reviews

[Tony The Bookmark62 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was unsure about this book as the subject matter is a true crime cold case
The police say that the crimes are now closed as they have been solved in their viewpoint but after listening to this book I am at a loss to understand why the police are not looking at the forensic evidence again
The author leaves the book with more questions to be answered after he interviews a suspect but is unable to write about him
This is a must Read or listen to if you are a true crime book reader

[Emily Carter-Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read about the killings in Wilmslow many moons ago. I followed the newspaper reports which seemed to peter out to nothing. I decided to read this book so I could follow the trail as it were without long periods of nothing being reported. It’s a well written book which exposes potential shortcomings within the police/coroner service. The upshot of the whole sorry affair which began over 20 years ago is several fold not least of all that families have believed for over two decades that their Father/Grandfather was a murderer which may not in fact be true. Potentially there is a killer at large who has literally got away with murder and a well respected, highly commended member of the coroner service had a a distinguished career potentially left it tatters.
I’m no murder expert but even with my limited knowledge there are glaring discrepancies that should be re investigated. It’s a fascinating book, well researched, well documented and one that highlights some potentially huge issues

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read and one that left me with more questions than answers. Do I think that all the cases here are related? Maybe not all of them. But sure as hell some of them weren't murder-suicide cases.

The forensic evidence presented here shows that at least some of them should have been re-opened and I still don't understand why they weren't. There are discrepancies that even for my layman (laywoman?)'s mind are obvious, I mean, a man suffering from a Parkinson's so advanced that he wasn't able to hold a cup managed to bestow a brutal attack on his wife, and later stabbed himself and wrap a wire hanger around his neck? It doesn't seem credible.

The ending, though... that was a low blow, completely unnecessary and overly dramatic :/

[SB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put simply, the best true crime book I've ever read.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost bypassed this true crime book because of the title which seemed slightly frivolous and more akin to a tabloid (the book latterly reveals that the "Silver Killer" label was thought up by The Sun).. As a result, I almost missed out on an excellent read, reminiscent of The Blooding in its Middle England setting and the Middle English characterisations of the main people in the story. I don’t mean this as an insult either - this is more an account of professional people caught up in extraordinary circumstances which brings the best of their talents to the fore. The everyday nature of the people and place contrasts sharply with the horrific crimes confronted in a leafy, affluent suburb of Manchester.
I felt the book was really well researched and written, and I finished it in two gulps. As this is a true story I didn't expect it all to neatly tie together, but the expediency and tunnel vision of the Cheshire police is almost shocking. They quickly decided these cases were murder-suicides and then collated the facts, and lack of any contrary evidence, to support their narrative. The characterisation of the people who challenged that view is the crux of the book and does them credit. As the subtitle of the book describes, the person who committed these crimes is still at large while the Cheshire police refuse to reopen the case. Given the weight of analysis in this book of the crimes, I was left feeling that someone, somewhere is resultantly getting away with murder.

[Kelly Grice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book about a spate of murder/ suicides in the Cheshire/ Manchester area. I find hurst and Davies the two investigating coroners exemplary in their work. They showed due diligence whereas the Cheshire police are inept.
Looking at the evidence within the book, it certainly points to an outside factor playing a hand in the deaths, especially the blood spatter patterns. I’ve lost all faith in the police and their victimisation of Stephanie Davies for trying to find the truth.
Friends and family of the victims have been led to believe that it was a simple straight forward man kills wife then commits suicide but so many things just don’t add up.
The author has done superbly well in noting all the evidence and family, friends statements in the book. It’s a must read for people interested in mystery, truth and corruption. Seems the police like to play big brother regardless of what clear evidence is staring them in the face.
Definitely needs a thorough investigation.

[Alison Latham · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some interesting and worthy points raised regards the investigations. There were credible points made for Police to probe.

However it seems at best naive for anybody with a background in law enforcement in any capacity not to grasp such detailed disclosure in the public domain may prejudice any potential prosecution in the future.

The tone of the book was tiresome at points with Hurst and Davies being portrayed as moral crusaders, almost martyrs. The descriptions of them were unnecessarily twee for example “blue eyed baby faced” and a bizarre venture into Hurts holiday sun tan?! This seemed inappropriate and jarring given the subject matter.

Sceptical of anything endorsed by Jeremy Clarkson.

[Julie Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure, from the evidence presented, that this is a double murder and not a suicide/murder as decided by the courts at the time. And truly unbelievable that the coroner ended up being arrested for trying to expose the truth. This is surely another police cover up, much like Hillsborough.

Slightly disappointing end in that the writer knocks on the door of the person suspected of being the killer ... but can say no more. Did he kill them? Can any evidence gleaned be used in further developments on the case? Did they confess to the double murders? Was it someone known to the victims? Maybe it would have been better to say nothing about that. Unless there's to be a sequel ... What Happened When I Knocked on the Door of Who is Suspected of Being the Silver Killer.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hunter forthe Silver Killer is unlike most true crime I have read. Not only the killer is still at large but it shows the crack in the system that is so easily see. I am impressed with the coroner officer’s tenacious search for the truth and really root for her. I hope one day I will be able to read about these cases being reinvestigated and finally being able the catch the killer at the end.

[Carol Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an astonishing investigative account about true crime in the North of England, which reads like a gripping thriller. This was unputdownable!
The writer has painstakingly researched the cases involved to attempt to solve this mystery.
As a reader I was captivated and appalled in this story by one woman's quest to find justice and risked her reputation and career.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read about some fairly local crimes I never knew happened, and also interested in the fact that the police are unwilling to reconsider their previous assumptions, according to the author, essentially to save face.
My only issue with the book is that it occasionally felt a little stilted with a fair bit of repetition between chapters.

[Andy Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating in-depth look at five double murder/suicides of old couples in Cheshire and the north-west of England. Eye-opening, revelatory and intense, you’re left feeling that it’s quite clear that a serial killer that targeted older people was roaming the country and attempts to investigate this have been/are being prevented by the police for reasons unknown.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book. I don't think I've ever read a true crime book so detailed. It was a chilling and thoroughly engaging read. A real page-turner which at some points was hard to believe wasn't fiction.
I would completely recommend for any true crime fans.

[Airlia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a lot of true crime however I found this one to be unnecessarily repetitive of the gory details of each crime. I think it would have worked best therefore as a novella length piece or long-form journalism.

[Ruth Blunden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enraging and heartbreaking. I will be thinking about it for a long, long time. I hope one day to see justice done.

[Andrew Markos · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fantastic book. Cheshire police should be ashamed of how they treated Stephanie Davies and she should be proud of the stand she took.

[Kate Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

[Simon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning true crime book. Heavy on procedure and forensics but never boring. This tale is a real shocker on more than one level.

[Mark Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible true story of not just an unsolved crime but a crime the police won’t even recognise as having been committed.
Both baffling and brilliant and you won’t want it to end.

[Siobhan Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, how has this not been reopened as a case!

[Glenda Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insight into murder investigation.

[Cearuillin Ni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[mouser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most terrifying thing I’ve ever read.

My heart goes out to the victims and their poor families.

Couldn’t put this down.

[Mark Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a comfortable read. Less a whodunit than a forensic dissection of official blindness. I also appreciated the non-sentimental way the victims were humanised and memorialised.