If I liked Suspicions of Mr Whicher

[glamourousindierockandroll]

What other recommendations could wise mumsnet bookworms offer? I love these books that kind of reopen cold cases or possible miscarriages of justice and examine the evidence and try to piece together what happened. Preferably historical but open to some more modern ones.

I have already read and loved The Five by Hallie Rubenfold and His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnett.

Anyone else like this genre too?

Anything else by Kate Summerscale! Wicked Boy is a good one. Also Mrs Robinsons Disgrace.

There was one about a murder on a train. Mr Something's Hat.
Sorry I have forgotten the actual title and written.

In Cold Blood, Truman Capote.
Brilliant.

Thank you! Definitely adding these to my wish list!

A bit left of field but I’m going to suggest The Immortal life of Henrietta Lack - not a whodunnit, but a compelling medical/history/ethics story of how the unauthorized harvesting of a poor woman’s cells in 1951 led to medical breakthroughs and the impact on the family etc. I’ve read Mr. Whicher and I think you’d also like this.

It's been a while since I read them but I really enjoyed A Commonplace Killing and The Cruel Mother by Sian Busby. They aren't really cold case reviews but are examinations of how social pressures drove female crime in the past -at least one of them is actually based on the true story of a female relative of the author. Sian Busby was a really good writer who died far too soon 🙁

@Needmorelego just searched for this. Mr Briggs Hat. Sounds interesting

Supper With the Crippens by David James Smith is ace.

@notawittyname1954 yes that is the one 🙂
Warning....the photos in the middle of the book kind of give the end away. So don't look at them until after reading.

Murder At The Priory by James Ruddick

An account of the death of Charles Bravo and the suspicion that clung to Florence Ricardo, his wife.
Truly intriguing

That should be Death at the Priory
Sorry!

Google Madeleine Smith and you will find listed books about her and some articles online. In my humble opinion hers was the greatest trial for murder of the 19th century. The story has everything: Victorian values; xenophobia; stern father; French lover; scandalous love letters (all Glasgow took to their smelling salts when they were produced);raw passion...
I can't say more without giving away the end. But you will never be disappointed in Madeleine sitting calmly drinking cocoa in her basement bedroom.
There is a good account of the story in a book called 'Square Mile of Murder' by Jack House. There are 4 famous Glasgow cases in the book, including Madeleine's. The others are Jessie McLachlan's (what a trial); Dr. Pritchard's(horrifying); Oscar Slater's(changed the law forever).

@Needmorelego Thank you

Checkmate by Mark Russell about the Julia Wallace murder case looks interesting. Its a case that has fascinated me.

How about The Damnation of John Donellan by Elizabeth Cooke and The Magnificent Spilsbury and the Brides in the Bath by Jane Robins?

How about The Unseeing by Anna Mazzola? (Also based on a Victorian murder.)

The Twyford Code perhaps?

It's an interesting read as it's meant to be a transcript of spoken records, so it contains errors like Miss Isles, becomes missiles etc.

Midnight In Peking

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Peking-Murder-Haunted-China-ebook/dp/B007TB5WE2/ref=sr11_1?crid=2VJAFG3P5TARE&keywords=Midnight+in+peking&qid=1673869083&sprefix=midnight+in+peking%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

I think you might enjoy The Appeal by Janice Hallett.