Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress, and Dr. Crippen

I think you’d have to be REALLY interested in knowing literally everything about Dr. Crippen’s life to enjoy this very long book. It is extremely well-researched, but all the detail doesn’t bring us any closer to understanding him or his motives. Lots of information about Crippen's career before the murder was heavy going; I kept thinking the significance of all this is would be revealed later, but it never was. A little more insight to Ethel Le Neve perhaps, but even she remains inscrutable because she lied a lot, played to the gallery and there was no later life confession. Their victim, Belle Elmore, was clearly an extrovert who craved attention, and while we can admire her strength of character and entrepreneurial ventures, she comes across as superficial and narcissistic. There is some speculation about Le Neve’s involvement in the murder, but our author sticks to the facts and we are left feeling it is all just unknowable. The author’s other book, ‘The Five’ was so much more compelling and revealing. Both books do give us a window on to the past in terms of social history and cultural norms, but if you are going to focus on two of the most sensational murder stories in London, you had better give us something for our time. In ‘The Five’ that was most definitely the case; this one was a wet firework.

A brilliant researched book about the murder of Belle Elmore, the wife of Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen. This was one of the most infamous murders of the 20th century, almost a crime of passion. Crippen had fallen in love with his typist and wanted to marry her, but his second wife was standing in his way. The first part of Rubenholds book is packed with background behind this crime and its characters but with out this the second part would not be so exciting.

So disjointed and poorly written. Makes me realize I should write a book if even this dreck can be published. How hard can it be?

OKl, I've not finished it yet but it is turning out to be a terrific book with lots and lots of previously unpublished material. Is giving me a whole new complexion on a case that I have lectured about many times.

When I picked up this book I had known about the murder from reading another novel. Bell was merely a minor character in that novel. I realized I Knew little about the case but more about the lurid tale. Ms. Rubenhold did everyone a great service by telling this story and shining the proper light on Belle Elmore. The book focuses on the character of each individual involved. It also provides context to much of what we have been taught regarding this tragic case. I believe this book will be a great source of knowledge for future generations who are interested in reading about this case.

Excellent book . I’ve read so many true crime books that it’s a little hard at this point to find one this good. Very detailed story . Kept my interest throughout.This would be a great book for a true crime book group discussion.

When I was younger, I almost never put a book down before I finished it, but somewhere along the way I realized that I’d never get to books I really wanted to read if I spent time finishing books I didn’t like at all. So here I am in my late 70s, putting down book after book; I’m disappointed in myself, but I don;t feel so bad, given that I donate all books I don;t want to keep to a free library.Sorry for the long intro, but I couldn’t finish this one. I got about 150 pages into it, but it never caught. First, Ms. Rubenhold is one of those authors who does thorough research and feels that she must include what she finds in her book, even if it is irrelevant to the tale. That must take up a full third of the book.Second, there are so many instances when the facts she’s researched don’t prove anything, so she resorts to “he must have thought” or “it seems probable that,” and so on. That’s fiction, not non-fiction.Third, when you’ve read a third to a half of a book and you still havent gotten into the meat of the story, it’s time to put it down.BTW - I hate it when people rate a book but can’t take the time to explain their review.

A very interesting read, though I felt at times that the story was too long and detailed with many uninteresting facts.

Enthralling,beautifully written and one of the best books this year.Small niggle-the cutout front cover makes it tricky to hold

A fascinating examination of a well-known murder case from a different perspective, foregrounding the women involved rather than putting the infamous killer centre stage. Full of detail, well-told.

Packaged well, no problem!

Liked the book. Author gives a lot of historical background surrounding this murder.

I’m sure there’ll be many fine, detailed, academic reviews written about this work, but I’m afraid mine won’t be one of them. What I will say though, after reading a number of books on Crippen, is that this is by far the most in-depth, well-researched, page-turning, “Wow! I didn’t know that!”, study I’ve read. I thought I knew the story quite well. Turns out my knowledge had gaps; lots of ‘em! A triumph for Hallie Rubenhold.

I am a big fan of Stephen Birmingham’s work, about Jewish immigrants who came to New York during the 19th and 20th centuries and became a wealthy part of the threadwork of this nation (literally, writing about the upper echelon of New York society). So when I started Hallie Rubenhold’s Story of a Murder, I very much felt that I was at home with the book- that it was very relatable to Birmingham’s work, in the sense that it contained stories woven together to make one, presented through historical (or past) content albeit- Rubenhold’s book was about a murder and revolved around the same people (while Birmingham presented stories from several people and families, woven together to make one). Still, there is a lot to Story of a Murder that isn’t about murder- who all the characters in the book were and what they did before, after, and during the murder, much of the historical knowledge shared. It’s a vibrant and sad story, one of the best true crime books I have ever read- bringing to light how murder impacts the victim and all those who are connected to them.The real surprise and joy in this book comes (IMO) when readers meet the friends of the victim, Belle Elmore. Dr. Crippen and Belle had been married for some time when they moved to England, and she, his second wife (the first wife also mysteriously died young) had no family there (as they were all back in America). Being an artist, Belle always wanted to act and even though she never did much in the Arts she made many good friends with those in that society in England. So when Belle disappears, even when Dr. Crippen tells all her friends that she had traveled to America, that they don’t hear from Belle (because it seems, they always heard from Belle)- they become suspicious. The one thing that Dr. Crippen highly discounted was the love that Belle Elmore’s friends had for her- only because Dr. Crippen had none for the woman (if he ever had, or was capable of love, the man not even raising his own son after the death of his first wife).When Belle’s friends go to the police to report her mysterious disappearance they share that Dr. Crippen had been suspicious of what was told to them, along with the fact that Belle leaving and saying nothing to her friends was completely out of character. But the police in England don’t care and it takes a long time and lots of blustering until they do. At that time though, I don’t think society saw a lot of murders (or thought to) when it came to “quality” people, or within a family unit- or a husband who would murder his wife- and most especially, would have never been prepared- or expected- to find out what had really become of Belle Elmore. But Belle’s friends persist and they will either find Belle- or find out what happened to her. And because of this group that loved dear Belle Elmore, the whole world is involved in hearing what unravels about what happened to her- so shocking the whole story The Boston Globe, in 1910, coins the crime “The Greatest of the Century.”Hallie Rubenhold does a magnanimous job of investigating this murder and explaining what murder does to others. There are many victims when it comes to something like what happened to Belle Elmore, and the irony is that her closest loved one was the culprit. Wanting to include my favorite paragraph from the book, here is a sample of Rubenhold’s writing:“When Hawley Crippen committed his callus deed, he saw only the elimination of a problem. Without this obstacle in his path, there would be freedom for him and space for Ethel. The killing and unpleasant disposal would merely be a bridge to this place. He would replace the bricks on the cellar floor, then a spell of time would pass. The seasons would turn; she would dissolve into the ground, her memory eventually drifting away like a whisper. There would come a day when her friends would no longer grieve her absence. What he failed to imagine was the opposite outcome. That in removing Belle Elmore he was destabilizing the lives of many others, who in turn would upend his own. He failed to see how all the pieces aligned, that murder is never a single act of destruction, but experienced as a series of interconnected injuries, a spray of shrapnel scattered throughout the lives of all those in close proximity.” (page 254)Dr. Crippen, of course, had a reason to murder his wife- and she was young, she worked with Dr. Crippen for some time in England- and her name was Ethel. Although Rubenhold does a great job not condemning Ethel as a criminal in the tale, (as she presents the facts in this story and no opinions)- it was amazing to read about the evidence of the role that she did play and the police and their little expectation “that a woman could be involved with this”. From what the author shares about Ethel, as quickly as Ethel disposed of Belle’s things from the home, the way she gave them to friends and family, and Ethel, herself, forged Belle’s name on checks and cleaned out her bank account in person (and...

The story of Crippen and his wives, lovers, and shady background has been incredibly well researched. It is extraordinary how much detail has been discovered regarding the lives of the main character and the supporting "cast".The story may not make for comfortable reading, but it is nonetheless absorbing.What was previously a well-known, though sketchy, story is now a thoroughly detailed and absobing tale. Not neccessarily pleasant reading, but the book is well worth having.

Fantastic research. This would be five star novel but it’s a true story.

I don't think we, as a book loving society, give enough credit to historical true crime authors. Investigating crime is hard enough when it just happened. Trying to untangle names, aliases, and relationships and then presenting it to the reader in an understandable way is a tall task. When I saw that Hallie Rubenhold (who wrote The Five, one of the best historical true crime books of all time and yes, I said what I said) had a new book coming out, I was instantly excited. I was right to be!Story of a Murder is about Dr. Hawley Harvery Crippen, his wife Belle Elmore, and the "other" woman Ethel Le Neve. A good amount of the names I just mentioned are not their born names, but it just goes to show the links Rubenhold has to go to make this entire story readable. Crippen was constantly moving around, changing titles, names, and, well, wives. His record in marriages would make even Henry VIII blush.If you are looking for Rubenhold to turn the genre on its head once again like she did in The Five, then you will be disappointed. However, you shouldn't be. Rubenhold instead takes a notorious case and tells it completely. Each person is given the respect of a full backstory even if they don't deserve it. The first half of the book feels almost like a dual or even triple biography and then of course Belle disappears. What happened? Well, exactly what you expect. This isn't about whodunit. It is about understanding who these people are and how it happened. This narrative is thorough and readable. I highly recommend it.(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Dutton Books.)

After reading two of the author's previous books, I preordered this because I knew it would likely be exceptional like the others. I was right!! I raced through it because it really is that good. Reading this book was like stepping into a time machine too, plus the research needed must have been phenomenal. It's a brilliant book. Truly. Belle will always have a place in my heart now, and Ethel too in an odd and different way. Absolutely captivating and more

The book is well-written and expertly researched. Nonetheless, I can't wait to donate it to Goodwill. I do not want it on my bookshelves. The murder is so grotesque and the people so disturbing, I rather wish I hadn't purchased it. Here's a hint for potential wife-murderers: Don't wear bespoke pajamas when burying her remains in your basement. A fabric swatch will tell on you.

If you look up Dr. Hawley Crippen on Wikipedia you'll learn that his first wife, Charlotte, died of a stroke, that he worked for a prominent homeopath, and moved to London with his second wife. There, she had a brief affair with a fellow entertainer and, "in response," so did he with typist Ethel Le Neve. Until the very end, Dr. Crippen proclaimed his innocence of his wife's disappearance.This is the "tragic downfall" narrative that has been repeated and accepted since 1910, with Dr. Crippen's perspective and testimony firmly at the center. However, by re-examining the often dismissed statements of Belle's friends and family, Rubenhold reveals a much darker, more sinister Dr. Crippen.Crippen was kind and sympathetic, but also cunning and manipulative. He was a grifter, a professional liar, who used his medical knowledge to sell sugar pills under the guise of homeopathy. He put both his wives under the knife, the first for two botched abortions and the second with a forced sterilization. He often acted the submissive husband to satisfy inquiring neighbors.But besides Rubenhold's engaging, gripping narrative style - of which I have become a fan - I appreciate that they never twist, exploit or exaggerate the facts. Dr. Crippen's words and actions are still incorporated, but are verified and scrutinized rather than taken at face value. This is the story of a murder, not the murderer. I also appreciate that Rubenhold acknowledges the personal flaws of the victims, especially that of Ethel Le Neve, while still validating their experiences. To view them otherwise as pure and passive Edwardian maidens would be hypocritical. Another stellar read from one of my favorite authors!