Excellent true crime saga about dark period in London's illustrious history. Well written and researched!

My thanks to both NetGalley and Penguin Group The Penguin Press for an advance copy of this book of true crime and history that looks at a shocking series of murders that rocked London in the early 50's, a crime that might have sent an innocent man to the gallows, a case that involved two prominent writers, a journalist and a novelist, both investigating in their own ways.

True crime has never been one of my favorite genres. Most of the books speak more of the times and feelings and feel exploitive to me. However many might feel that way about the books I read, so if one enjoys it, keep reading. The books that I like are the ones that look at crime in a larger sense. The failure of the system to protect its people, or the failure to do their due diligence when prosecuting cases. I like stories that look at the world around the crime, what was going on, what changed, say a Queen's Coronation, and the rise of salacious media. I also like true crime stories that are well written,ask questions and present information that I never thought of. Which is why I enjoy the books by Kate Summerscale. The Peepshow: The Murders at Rillington Place is a tale of muder, a media sensation, failures in the system, racism, misogyny, and maybe the execution of an innocent man for a horrible crime.

The book begins with a tenent picking up some extra money cleaning a suddenly vacant apartment. While cleaning the man notices a strange piece of wallpaper covering what looks like a hole in the wall. Removing the paper the man is shocked to find a human body. The police soon find not just one body, but three in the wall, one under the floorboards and bones in the backyard, all female. A manhunt is set up for the owner of the flat whose wife is one of the bodies found, an ex-police man by the name of Reg Christie. A reporter, Harry Proctor, one of the big men of Fleet Street arrives to cover the murder, and comes to a strange realisation. Procter had been in this house before, a year earlier, covering another murder. A man was accused of killing his wife and child, a crime he confessed to, and was executed for. And Reg Christie was the one who had told Procter all about the crime. Christie is soon caught, but the media speculation is just beginning. Christie keeps changing his story, citing his damage from the First World War, for not remembering what happened, and why these women were even near his house. Another writer Fryn Tennyson Jesse soon takes interest in the case, trying to determine the reasons why, and if an innocent man paid the price for Christie's crimes. As the Coronation of the Queen is broadcast on TV, others are enthralled by a trial of a century, a case that even after a verdict still leaves many questions.

Another very strong book from Summerscale, a book that spends much on the victims, and never really gets too salacious. Summerscale is a very good writer, and even more a very good researcher. Many of the women killed lived lives of sorrow and pain, and in no way deserved the fate that Christie gave them. Summerscale gives their lives meaning. Also in Summerscale's research, the author came across documents that again raise doubt about certain parts of the case. Memorandum and reports show a culpability in hiding uncomfortable facts that could cause political embarrassment. Along with this, Summerscale details the changes in London, as people from the West Indies moved to London, and the rise of racism in these neighborhoods. Summerscale never loses the narrative able to balance these issues, along with a large cast, and keep the story moving. A very interesting look at a changing city.

Fans of the author will enjoy this, as will new ones who come for the true crime, but learn a lot more. I have read quite a few books by Summerscale, and I always learn alot, and come away with a new way of looking at crime, and their victims. I look forward to more books by Summerscale.

This book was a fascinating and in-depth look at a single true crime case. It was a case that I was not familiar with, so diving in was a treat. The author clearly cared about the subject and lovingly researched and laid out the facts, weaving and incredible story.

I found this book very robotic. All of the information was there, but there was no emotion behind any of it.