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The Murder of the Whitechapel Mistress: Victorian London’s Sensational Murder Mystery
£20.00£23.80 (-16%)
This is the true story of respected businessman, Henry Wainwright, who had everything he needed in 1871: a loving wife and five children, a delightful London townhouse and successful family business, but just one year later, Henry’s life would be turned upside down. He embarked on a risky affair, setting his mistress, Harriet Lane, up in lodgings with an allowance to look after herself and the couple’s two children as they pretended to be husband and wife. It was at this time that Henry’s finances tumbled out of control; with gambling debts and a failing business, bankruptcy loomed. His world started to crumble and what happened next as he tried to regain control involved a scandalous conspiracy which ended in murder and ruined the lives of three families. This fast-moving story will transport the reader to the East End of Victorian London, revealing information on the lives of those involved and detailing the police investigation and the subsequent Old Bailey trial. Fourteen years before the infamous Jack the Ripper Murders, it was the original ‘Whitechapel Mystery’ and probably the most sensational criminal case of the 1870s. It’s a story of love, weakness and devious, desperate liars.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Pen & Sword True Crime (21 Sept. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 256 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1399049747 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1399049740 |
| Dimensions | 24.1 x 2.7 x 16.5 cm |
by Phil
Really excellent account of an angel eyed and smooth tongued monster who fed his own indulgence by womanising and gambling … that is, until his lifestyle finally caught up with him.
Neil Watson has researched this macabre true story with the meticulousness that one would expect from the best of academics.
What really sets this book apart for me however, is how Watson’s 30 years of policing experience shine through, to bring to life the pressure faced by lead investigator, Inspector Fox, who is ‘married to The Job.’
Fox has to put together the pieces of a jigsaw in order to solve a murder that was already a year old when he took on the case. This, in Victorian England, with no DNA science to help him.
Watson’s policing insight teleports us into a world of murder and intrigue in Victorian London in a way that few others could.
Highly recommended.
by Abigail Davies
I enjoyed reading this true crime book. With vivid descriptions that helped me visualise Victorian London clearly during this dark time. Great to see this side before Jack The Ripper.
by craftylady
This was an amazing read of a true crime. I did not know about this crime but I supect that it was overshadowed by all the stories just after this of Jack the Ripper.. Victorian England was not kind to women or inded the poorer folk but this story emphasises the life of women. I was absorbed by foloowing the evideence and the trial itself and loved the fact that the faces and emotions of those in the courtroom and on the stand was detailed so clearly.What a difference life in Victorian England was for women, having to be totally dependant upon a man, acceting that he could do as he liked and have mistresses or mistreat his wife if he liked. The actresses who were forced by finance to accept being a mistress in order to survive was sad . The trial also highlights the fact that women were not allowed to serve on a Jury and furthermore they were ushered out when the details of the corpse was described as they would be to fragile to hear aboout it. The sad thing is that Queen Victoria was one of the main people who pushed that women needed the protection of men as they were the weaker sex andwere not able to make their own decisions in life but only to do as told.
Anamazing read showing very detailed research and I look forward to reading more by this very talented author.