Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake) | 364.1523 COL | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Park Grove Library (Cottage Grove) | 364.1523 COL | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
He boarded a first-class carriage on the 9:45 pm Hackney service of the North London railway. At Hackney, two bank clerks discovered blood in the seat cushions as well as on the floor, windows, and sides of the carriage. A bloodstained hat was found on the seat along with a broken link from a watch chain. The race to identify the killer and catch him as he fled on a boat to America was eagerly followed by the public on both sides of the Atlantic. Kate Colquhoun tells a gripping tale of a crime that shocked the era.
Author Notes
Kate Colquhoun is the author of The Busiest Man in England , The Thrifty Cookbook , and Taste . As well as writing for several newspapers and magazines, she appears regularly on national radio and television. She lives in London with her husband and two sons.
Reviews (3)
Kirkus Review
The Thrifty Cookbook, 2011, etc.) examines the murder of Thomas Briggs in July 1864 as he was traveling on the North London railway. Violently attacked, Briggs was discovered near death on the train tracks, his compartment soaked in blood. The evidence was slim; only a bloodstained hat and a broken watch chain found in the compartment provided any clues for the investigation into the killer. Colquhoun's narrative takes readers from London to New York City and then back again as the police race to identify Briggs' murderer and bring him to justice. The author's suspenseful writing style and clear prose make the tale easy to read, but occasionally the story can become dry due to the amount of information packed into the book. Colquhoun includes quotes from the historical record and seamlessly weaves them into her story, but at times these details can become overwhelming--e.g., the author's account of the extradition hearing is unnecessarily long. However, Colquhoun expertly places the murder within the larger context of British, Continental European and American history. The book ends with a look at the changes wrought by Briggs' killing and the ensuing trial. Despite the occasional slow spots, Colquhoun successfully balances suspense with historical accuracy.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Colquhoun recounts the investigation and solution of the Victorian era's ultimate locked-room mystery. On July 9, 1864, a man's black hat, a cane, a black leather bag, a link from a watch chain, and copious amounts of blood were found in a private compartment of the North London Railway train. The compartments were separated, isolated, and locked. Side windows were barred with heavy brass rods. At some point, investigators concluded, a man had been bludgeoned to death in this compartment between Hackney and North London, but no screams had been heard at any point. The body of the elderly banker who had booked the compartment had been disposed of on the tracks. Journalist Colquhoun has crafted a marvelously suspenseful account of the investigation, a trans-Atlantic manhunt, and the ensuing trial. This is an intriguing story about emerging forensics and also an engaging social history, focusing on how a spectacular crime, the first on a British railroad, riveted public attention.--Fletcher, Connie Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Colquhoun (A Thing in Disguise: The Visionary Life of Joseph Paxton) details a true "crime of the century." In 1864, banker Thomas Briggs was the first person to be murdered on a British train. To mitigate public outcry and panic, Scotland Yard moved swiftly to identify the suspect, German tailor Franz Muller. Colquhoun details the transatlantic pursuit. Though Muller left for New York a few days after the murder, two groups of detectives and witnesses followed swiftly, and both arrived well before the suspect. News also traveled slowly as it, too, went via ship. Muller was extradited to London, tried, convicted, and hung, his case based on strong circumstantial evidence. Foreshadowing O.J. Simpson's famous glove, this case revolved around hats-Muller ended up in possession of Briggs's hat, while his own hat may have been the one left in Briggs's locked first-class rail carriage. VERDICT Interested readers might also enjoy Andrew Martin's "Jim Stringer" series of railway mysteries. Colquhoun's narrative will appeal to British, rail, and legal historians. She does an excellent job of describing the case and the times. Highly recommended.-Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
