The Peepshow is an extremely well researched look at the infamous murders which took place in 10 Rillington Place and whether there was a miscarriage of justice leading to the execution of Timothy Evans for the murder of his wife and child rather than serial killer John Christie, who was responsible for the other deaths at the address. So much has already been said about the case, in print and film, that it’s difficult to find a new angle but Kate Summerscale does a good job.

The book looks at the murders themselves, at Christie and Evans personally and tells us some more about the victims (often treated as a faceless afterthought) but also looks at the media frenzy surrounding it. We look at a journalist who has had previous contact with Christie and is covering the story for a sensationalist newspaper, and at a true crime writer also writing about the case. Newspaper readership at the time was enormous and the story was everywhere so it’s easy to see a comparison between the way this story became a mass talking point and how such cases today go viral on social media. The true crime writer is doing a somewhat more nuanced take but her detachment from the victims themselves is striking and it’s interesting to see that even in the 1940s and 1950s, true crime held a strange fascination for many people.

Summerscale also does an excellent job of portraying the suffocating atmosphere of the time, especially for woman and those with less money. It’s a grim life for many of those involved and racism and poverty are everywhere. Christie himself is obviously shown as a very disturbing figure, but there is some very interesting detail about his own damage from injury in the First World War and the author does try to be even handed in her coverage. She’s also very careful to give a balanced view of arguments both for and against a miscarriage of justice and makes clear that the conclusion reached is her own and we’ll never really know for sure.

The book is very thorough but it’s also well written and fast moving so never felt like hard work to get through. It’s a horribly fascinating case and this book is an excellent addition to the works about it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review. I will be adding this review to Goodreads, Amazon and Waterstones on publication day.

I've always had a morbid fascination with the Rillington Place murders even since I watched the film 10 Rillington Place many years ago. This was a completely different view of these murders though, told from the perspective of a journalist, Harry Proctor who reported on and looked into the Timothy Evans and John Christie trials. I thought I knew a lot about these murders, but this book added so much more information which I haven't heard of before. It's obvious that the author has done a huge amount of research into this and we don't only get to hear about the murders but the wrongful execution of Timothy Evans and the miscarriage of justice that this was. I also really liked how we got to hear about the other women murdered, the other occupants of Rillington Place and the neighbourhood in general, both during and after Christie's arrest.

A fascinating read and definitely one for the true crime fans!

It is hard to find a fresh slant and perspective on the Reg Christie/Rillington Place murder and his connection to the Timothy Evans conviction but acclaimed journalist and historian Kate Summerscale has succeeded in doing so.

This is an impeccably researched history of the case which endeavours to explain and put them into the social context of post war London as well as provide an analysis of how the cases have subsequently been covered and written about.

We learn as much about tabloid journalist Harry Procter and writer Fryn Tennyson Jess and their coverage of Christie and how their views changed as more evidence became known.

Christie too is marvellously well depicted in all his horror and evil and the book is a fascinating if macabre read which really made me think.

The Peepshow is an immaculately researched retelling of the horrors of 10 Rillington Place and a terrible miscarriage of justice. The author skilfully conveys the dark and gloomy period of Britain just after the war. It felt as though I was there. It was shocking to read the casual racism and misogyny that was common at the time. Political events and the Queen's coronation add historical context.
A must-read for fans of true and historical crime.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Kate Summerscale's books are always meticulously researched and well[-presented The Peepshow is no exception. In this, her latest novel she puts 10 Rillington Place under the microscope as she examines the lives of those who lived in the now infamous boarding house.

Given the number of books, films and TV shows featuring the murders this book offers a fresh perspective on the case that gripped 1950s London. The narrative is intricately woven, presenting a multi-layered account that goes beyond the surface of the crimes committed by Reg Christie.

One of the standout features of this book is its unique presentation of the research through the eyes of Harry Proctor, a crime reporter. Proctor’s perspective adds a compelling layer to the story, as he delves into the murky depths of the case, driven by a quest for redemption after he had interviewed Christie at the time of Timothy Evans court case. His journalistic approach provides a gritty, real-time feel to the unfolding events, making the reader feel as though they are uncovering the truth alongside him. In parallel we have the author Fryn Tennyson Jess fascinated by the case and determined to come to a conclusion about whether Timothy Evans was guilty of his wife and daughter's murders, or not.

Summerscale’s meticulous research shines through, as she not only recounts the chilling details of the murders but also examines the broader societal implications, including the miscarriage of justice that led to the wrongful execution of Timothy Evans. The backdrop of 1950s politics and the Queen’s coronation adds a rich historical context that enhances the narrative.

The book is a thought-provoking read, challenging the reader to consider the complexities of justice and the impact of media on public perception. Summerscale’s ability to blend true crime with historical analysis makes The Peepshow a standout in the genre, offering both a gripping story and a profound commentary on the era.

For fans of true crime and historical mysteries, The Peepshow is a must-read, providing a deeply engaging and insightful look into one of Britain’s most notorious criminal cases.

For fans of true crime and historical mysteries, The Peepshow is a must-read, providing a deeply engaging and insightful look into one of Britain’s most notorious criminal cases.

As someone who loves true crime books and dramas, I was really looking forward to this book. I found it to be well researched, almost to its detriment, and chocked full of information. I feel though that there was too much detail, and not written in a logical order, so that at times it became hard to follow and remember who the various names belonged to. This book will likely be turned into a tv drama or documentary, which I feel it would make a great basis for, but as a book, it just wasn’t written in a way that made it easy for the reader to follow and maintain interest in

10 Rillington Place is the story of Reg Christie and how he almost got away with murder.

Reg was a odd character, he had a knack of decieving people and making people think he was better than he actually was.

He carried out abortions on his kitchen table, abortion was illegal at that time but he had grand ideas of being a doctor.

This is a well told account of Christie. Even though i know the story i was still intrigued by the facts and I enjoyed my reading time

Possible spoilers

Christie was the first serial killer I was aware of, having watched the Attenborough film at a too young age.
I've read a few books over the years, but nothing as in depth researched as this one, giving not just the facts of the crimes, but of the feeling of the nation as a whole.
You get a real feeling for the neighbourhood, and for Christie himself I believe.

It's fascinating the way the Evans case was portrayed, and how some evidence not used....
I was left at the end with more questions than I went in with.