9th September, 7.30pm - Hallie Rubenhold, Story of A Murder: The Crime Of The Century Retold By The Women History Forgot

Backstory, 71 Balham High Rd, SW12 9AP

Historian and bestselling author of The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed By Jack The Ripper discusses the women in Doctor Crippen's life and the background to his crimes.   

About the book:

In this gripping examination of one of the most infamous murders of the twentieth century, prizewinning social historian Hallie Rubenhold gives voice to those who have never properly been heard – the women. 

On 1 February, 1910, vivacious music-hall performer, Belle Elmore, suddenly vanished from her north London home, causing alarm among her circle of female friends, the entertainers of the Music Hall Ladies’ Guild who demanded an immediate investigation. They could not have known what they would provoke: the unearthing of a gruesome secret, followed by a fevered manhunt for the prime suspect: Belle’s husband, medical fraudster, Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen.

Hiding in the shadows of this evergreen tale is Crippen’s typist and lover, Ethel Le Neve – was she really just ‘an innocent young girl’ in thrall to a powerful older man as so many people have since reported?

PRAISE FOR STORY OF A MURDER: 'Gripping and eye-opening' I-news, Book to Watch Out For 'Reads like a great thriller. I inhaled it' Bella Mackie, bestselling author of How to Kill Your Family 'A unique combination of sleuthing, storytelling and compassion' Lucy Worsley, bestselling author and historian 'Fascinating. It's about time Belle became the hero of her own story' Val McDermid, bestselling author of the Karen Pirie series 'As compelling as any crime drama' S J Parris, bestselling author of the Giordano Bruno series 'I had my hand over my wide-open mouth…I can’t recommend it more: I will be thinking about it for a very long time.' Rachel Joyce, bestselling author of The Homemade God 'Takes us beyond the world of Dr Crippen into the lives impacted by him and the society in which he moved. Terrific' Ian Rankin, bestselling author of the Rebus series 'Compelling to the very last page' Denise Mina, award-winning author of Reese’s Book Club pick, Conviction 'Does for the Crippen Murder case what THE FIVE did for the victims of Jack the Ripper. Forensic research and insistent sympathetic writing.  I loved it' PROFESSOR DAVID WILSON, BBC 1, The CrimeSquad 'Breathtaking. Rubenhold has not only produced a thrilling reassessment of a notorious crime, but an impressive portrait of an age' Spectator

Tickets Available:

Ticket only - £15 (This ticket does not include a copy of the book. You can decide to buy a copy on the night, but this will be charged in addition, at the full price of the book.)

Ticket & book  (RRP £10.99) - £21 (To collect on the night.)