The Mysterious Mrs Hood
A True Victorian Mystery of Scandal, Arson, Murder & Betrayal
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The Mysterious Mrs Hood
Buy Now for £17.94
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Narrated by:
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Lucy Scott
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By:
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Kim Donovan
Summary
'A gripping story of a cold-blooded murder... This is true crime at its best' Wendy Moore
'Drama so addictive it should be illegal' Sam Christer
A true Victorian murder mystery...
Great Yarmouth, September 1900: A young woman is found dead on the beach, a bootlace tied tightly around her neck. Despite her death attracting national attention in the press, nobody claims her. Detective Inspector Robert Lingwood of the Great Yarmouth police force declares he will not rest until the mystery of the young woman's death is solved. But it's only once the case has been referred to Scotland Yard that the layers of mystery start to peel away...
'Mrs Hood' was in fact Mary Jane Bennett, and this is her story.
Following clues and tracking red herrings leads the police to close in on their one and only suspect. With arson, fraud, an affair and a sensation-hungry press, the murder gripped the nation in one of the most eagerly anticipated trials of the early twentieth century. Author Kim Donovan finally tells her great-great-aunt's story and the truth of evil duplicity in Victorian England.
'As atmospheric and absorbing as any murder mystery... A combination of your favourite whodunnit and your favourite true crime podcast. A real triumph!' Books by Your Bedside blog
*A fascinating historical true crime case perfect for fans of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and The Five*
interesting story
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Very interesting
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Fascinating
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Well paced, intriguing and ultimately enthralling
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I remember reading about the murder a few years ago but couldn’t recall anything of the police investigation or the subsequent court case. In this book, the dead woman’s great-great niece, Kim Donovan, tells the story in a fascinating account of a Victorian murder that flummoxed police and led to one of the twentieth centuries most notorious trials. Police suspected that Mary’s killer was her own husband, Herbert, but bringing him to justice wasn’t easy. What is most interesting is the distinctly odd life the couple led, moving around the country, fabricating insurance scams and taking trips to South Africa, as well as casting a web of lies that didn’t show either of them in a good light. Herbert also began another relationship, keeping quiet about his marriage while making plans for a new life with his younger mistress. The level of detail and research really bring the story to life, especially in the second half of the book which focuses on the trial. Defended by renowned barrister Edward Marshall Hall, Herbert produced a surprise witness at the last minute which threatened to discredit the prosecution’s case. But as with all murder cases, the guilty parties were certain to get their comeuppance in the end. Having said that, another very similar murder twelve years later, suggested that the police may have nabbed the wrong man…
Narrated by Lucy Scott, this is an enthralling book that lifts the lid on a fascinating case.
An enthralling book
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