1953 and whilst the country prepares for the coronation of a new queen, a series of horrific finds in a down at heel house shock the nation. In the dock for the murders of seven women is John Reginald Christie, a slight, bespectacled middle-aged man. As the case throws up lots of prejudice in British coiety, a fading novelist and a sensationalist reporter try to get to the truth.
I was aware of the murders at 10 Rillington Place through popular folklore but this is the first exploration of the subject that I have read. In the capable hands of Summerscale, this becomes more that a recounting of the horrible crimes, but explores more of society as a whole. The mores of the nation regarding race and prostitution throw light on post-war London and the restrictions placed on women. It is sensible not shocking and very carefully played which is nothing more than I'd expect of an author who is so accomplished.

When I first saw the title of Kate Summerscale’s new true crime book, I wondered if it dealt with the Thompson/Bywaters murder case, the subject of A Pin to See the Peepshow by F. Tennyson Jesse. Then I saw the subtitle and knew this was a book about a different crime – the John Reginald Christie murders at 10 Rillington Place in London. However, I was partly right, because Tennyson Jesse herself was actually involved in this case as well and appears in this book in her role as author and journalist.

In March 1953, John Reginald Christie was arrested following a seven-day manhunt after the bodies of three women were found in his kitchen alcove. The body of his wife, Ethel, was then discovered under the floorboards, as well as the remains of two more women in the garden. Christie admitted to being responsible for all of these deaths and was hanged in July 1953. However, just three years earlier, Timothy Evans, another tenant at the same address, was believed to have killed his wife and baby daughter and was also hanged. Evans had changed his story several times and after withdrawing a confession he had made to the police, he accused Christie of committing both murders. Did the jury get it wrong and hang an innocent man, allowing Christie to go on killing more people?

The Peepshow is a detailed and thorough account of the Rillington Place murders – sometimes a bit too detailed, for example where we are given the personal histories of the most minor of characters or a list of every single reported sighting of Christie in a seven day period. In general, though, it’s all interesting information that adds up to a full picture of not just the crime itself but also the state of British society in the early 1950s. Some of Christie’s victims were prostitutes or from deprived backgrounds and Summerscale spends a lot of time discussing their stories and the sequence of events that brought them into contact with their killer. She also explores the racist attitudes of the period – it seemed that many of the white residents of Rillington Place were so busy complaining about living amongst black people, they failed to notice that they were also sharing the building with at least one murderer. Other topics Summerscale touches upon include illegal abortions (Christie carried these out in his rooms at Rillington Place) and the poor living conditions in multiple-occupancy housing.

To give the book a more personal touch, Summerscale focuses on two people who were investigating the murders from different perspectives. One was Harry Procter, star reporter with the Sunday Pictorial, who arrived at Rillington Place to report on the discovery of the bodies in the kitchen – and remembered that three years earlier he had visited the same house to interview Christie about the Timothy Evans case. Now, with more information available, Procter became convinced that he – and the police – made a terrible mistake and that it was in fact Christie who was responsible for the murders of Beryl and baby Geraldine.

Procter’s theory was shared by the author Fryn Tennyson Jesse, who was researching the case for a new book in the Notable British Trials series. Fryn was dealing with morphine addiction and poor eyesight, but was determined to attend Christie’s trial, where she came to the same conclusion as Procter. However, there was very little appetite from the authorities to look again at the Evans case – the police didn’t want to admit that they failed to identify the correct culprit and it’s believed that the Tory government of the time didn’t want to cast doubt on the justice system as it would strengthen opposition to the death penalty. Although Timothy Evans has now been posthumously pardoned, it seems that we still don’t know for certain what happened to Beryl and Geraldine Evans and if you’re hoping for answers or lots of new evidence, you’re not going to find anything conclusive in The Peepshow. I was left feeling confused about the whole thing, which isn’t really Summerscale’s fault – the confusion was caused by both Evans and Christie confessing to various murders, then changing their stories – but it’s not very satisfying if you prefer everything to be neatly wrapped up at the end of a book.

I did find this an interesting read, although I think it needed more structure; it seemed to jump around a lot, from one topic to another and backwards and forwards in time, which stopped it from flowing as well as it could have done. Still, it was good to learn more about this complex true crime and the social conditions that may have contributed to it.

This was my very first read of a Kate Summerscale book and I was hugely impressed by it; my wife has been telling me for ages to read her books as she is already a fan.

I knew very little about this case owing to my birth being a few years later than the events detailed in this excellent and compelling book. What I did know was limited to my one viewing - many years ago - of the 1971 film starring Richard Attenborough and much of that knowledge has been lost to me in the intervening years.

However, Ms Summerscale splendidly evokes the post-war era and the prevailing social mores, grinding poverty and racial tensions in which Christie was able to commit his murders.

The writing is crisp; the various differing characters vividly detailed and portrayed. This is a terrific read about a truly terrible series of crimes.

* After finishing this book, I immediately sought out and read one of Ms Summerscales earlier books, "The Wicked Boy", which I also thoroughly enjoyed.

The Peepshow is the 3rd Kate Summerscale book I've read, and it is outstanding. Just like The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher and The Wicked Boy, Summerscale translates a massive amount of research into an incredibly readable story.

The Peepshow is about John Reginald (Reg) Christie and his trial for a series of murders carried out at 10 Rillington Place, in a working-class area of London, in the 1940s and early 1950s. It's a story that holds perennial fascination for true crime aficionados, not least because at the heart of it lies a potential miscarriage of justice. It's still not known whether two of the murders — of Beryl Evans and her infant child Geraldine — were committed by Christie or by Tim Evans, Beryl's husband. Tim Evans was executed in 1950 for Beryl's murder. Christie murdered at least 8 people, and confessed to having committed more.

"... a grotesque cartoon of the old-fashioned Englishman. Like many of his class and generation, [Christie] had seemed to adhere to a rigid moral code: he was emotionally reserved, courteous, disapproving of immigrants, prostitutes, pubs and strong liquor, devoted to his pets and his garden, deferential to his social betters, admiring of the police and the army."

It's a multilayered book that not only delves into the murders but also addresses a wide range of themes such as the criminal legal system, populist journalism, crime voyeurism, prostitution, poverty, domestic abuse, racism and various forms of social prejudice. The events are told largely from the perspective of Harry Proctor, chief reporter for a sensationalist newspaper, the Sunday Pictorialist.

Summerscale's writing style has been described (in The Guardian) as "dispassionate" and even "doggedly unscintillating". I'm not sure they meant it as a compliment, but it's what I love about Summerscale; she could write a book about taking the bins out and turn it into a gripping story. It's like lounging on a comfortable sofa with a friend as they reveal dark secrets in a banal tone over tea and biscuits.

It is this very gravitas that illuminates this book. Just as Christie's crimes of vicious sexual predation, rape and murder are exposed from behind his ordinary appearance and conservative behaviour, so too does a depth of meticulously researched, vivid and even gory detail emerge from Summerscale's sober narration.

As in her other books, Summerscale frequently sidetracks into minute details about the many people involved. In so doing, she constructs a vivid picture of the victims, the era and setting. She also portrays the victims with insight and empathy, and highlights the impact of each victim's death on the families who mourned them.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bloomsbury Publishing and the author for the advance review copy of this book. All of my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter how I acquire the book.

The Peepshow is a horrificly interesting read, told with great respect to the victims and their families. I had never heard of 10 Rillington Place before, so I came at this novel with fresh eyes. Really interesting, but heartbreaking at the same time,. A must read for true crime fans

I DNF this unfortunately. I just could not get into it and I can’t put my finger on why. We just didn’t blend well together, I guess.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book though - I really appreciate it.

Riveting…
A riveting and remarkably detailed delve into the murders at Rillington Place whilst shining a spotlight on to the lives of the victims themselves. Researched in a clear and impeccable fashion, providing the reader with an insight into way more than the crimes themselves and also into the time, place and highlighting a slice of social and economic history. Whilst this book may not provide answers, it does highlight evidential considerations which the reader can weigh up for themselves.

A fascinating read, not just about the horrific murders at Rillington Place but at the culture and society at the time. As true crime books go this is one I’d highly recommend.

Okay - so this was not at all the book I expected and yet, I found myself turning page after page, it isn't generally the type of book I read usually, but it is very, very good. I couldn't put it down, it's written clearly, elegantly revealing victims, crime and murderer - a very, very good read.
Thank you to the publishers for my advance copy.

In 1953, residents in Rillington Place, Notting Hill, were filled with horror when the bodies of three women were found concealed in a wall at number 10. This was followed by the discovery of another body beneath the floorboards and human bones in the garden. While there appeared to be no doubt that the tenant of the house, Reg Christie, was the killer, those with longer memories felt a sense of unease: three years earlier there had already been a double killing at this property and a man was convicted and hanged. Did they get the wrong man?

The story of 10 Rillington Place is one of the most well-known in British crime history yet in The Peepshow, Kate Summerscale has managed to tell the story from a whole new perspective, unearthing fascinating information in the process. This is not simply a retelling of what is already an infamous series of killings but instead, a look at the case from the eyes of others who were involved. By telling the story from the view of Harry Procter, a tenacious reporter, we see a completely different side of the case and also how determined he was to see justice for Timothy Evans, the man who was accused of the murder of his wife and daughter three years earlier.

As in all of Kate Summerscale’s books, this is incredibly well researched, the author giving us a great insight into life in 1950s Notting Hill. What I found particularly fascinating was her research into prostitution at that time. Sex workers are traditionally portrayed as women compelled to sell their bodies out of desperation but here we see women in control of their own lives, earning more money than they would in other place of work. Of course, we also see the flip side with some of the women finding themselves never leaving 10 Rillington Place.

If you are expecting a definitive answer as to whether Tim Evans did, indeed, kill his wife and daughter or whether their deaths were at the hands of Christie, you will not find in in The Peepshow. What Kate Summerscale has done is provide the evidence in a thought-provoking way, leaving you to weigh up the options yourself.

Ever since reading The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, I have always eagerly anticipated anything else by Kate Summerscale and in The Peepshow, she has written another top notch book.

A considered and curious investigation into a case I'd never previously heard of. While not a Whicher, this was a diverting enough story to keep my attention although the last section of the book felt overly drawn out.

As expected, v well researched. A brutal series of murders are presented with compassion. Summerscale explores a possible miscarriage of justice linked to the Christie murders, the justice system's reluctance to revisit the Evans trial in case it provided fuel for those campaigning to abolish the death penalty, and media involvement in sensationalising crime reporting. She also centers the lives (and deaths) of women in post-war Britain and the vulnerabilities of women forced to seek illegal abortions. The human side is never ignored, with time given to consideration of the effects of murders on the families who lost their lived ones, the impact on a reporter who covered the case, and the life of a true crime writer who attended the trial. Quality writing about a difficult subject.

Fascinating tale made even more so by the fact that it is true. It is definitely the case that truth sometimes appears stranger than fiction. Some of the elements to this case are strangely familiar as they bear similarities to other cases, such as a male perpetrator feeling inadequate or mocked by his victim’s demographic, in this case women. Other aspects are strangely unheard of and unique so overall the case certainly piques interest and makes you pay attention. The joint aspect of telling the story through the eyes of a contemporary journalist is definitely a great angle. There is a very immersive feeling of the opinions and social status of the time with difficult topics such as racism and homophobia broached and explained in the context of that time so as a piece of social history this is also very informative. A lot of people love to hate the methods of journalism yet the public are the force driving their very work which is food for thought. The topic of capital punishment is also represented well due to the uncertainties in this case and the possibility that it had not served well in this instance. This was presented very well and enlightened me from any preconceptions re journalism and crime and punishment in general. A thoroughly interesting and poignant read.

The Peepshow is the latest book from Kate Summerscale who always writes fantastic books about historical crimes. This time we're in the pea-soup fog of 1950's London as John Reginald Halliday Christie carries out his sinister murders of women at 10 Rillington Place.

A well written account which is sensitive to the victims and their stories. A recommended read.

In The Rillington Place Murders, Kate Summerscale delves into one of the most notorious true crime cases of 1950s London. Set against the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the story begins when police discover the bodies of three women hidden in the walls of 10 Rillington Place, a shabby house in Notting Hill. Further investigation reveals more bodies under the floorboards and human remains in the garden. But there's a twist: the police had already investigated a double murder at the same address three years prior, and the supposed killer had been hanged. Did they convict the wrong man?

A nationwide manhunt begins for Reg Christie, the soft-spoken former policeman living in the flat. The case grips the nation, and crime reporter Harry Procter and celebrated writer Fryn Tennyson Jesse become entangled in the race to uncover the truth. The sensational nature of the murders, paired with the rise of the tabloid press, transforms the investigation into a public spectacle. But the deeper they dig, the more they realize the horror of Christie's crimes, including the possible wrongful execution of another man.

Summerscale expertly reconstructs the lives of Christie’s victims and the tabloid frenzy that followed, all while highlighting the social and political context of the time. The story touches on significant issues, such as violent racism, the demonization of sex workers, and the misogyny that allowed Christie to evade justice for so long. Summerscale also provides a detailed account of how political forces and legal loopholes shielded Christie, particularly regarding the earlier execution of Tim Evans, wrongly convicted for murders Christie likely committed.

This meticulously researched book offers a nuanced exploration of the flawed justice system and the dark undercurrents of 1950s Britain. While it may not provide the tidy conclusion some true crime readers seek, The Rillington Place Murders is a thought-provoking and engaging read. Highly recommended for those interested in historical true crime that doesn't shy away from the complexities of the case.

The case of 10 Rillington Place has peaked my interest for a number of years so I was very intrigued to read this book which gave me the ability to find out more about and behind the murders.

Well researched and fascinating. I learned lots of facts about the case I had never heard before.

Lots of other details to give the reader an idea of what England was like in the 40’s and 50’s. Depressingly a lot of the issues that were abundant in society then still exist today i.e racism and sexism.

Would recommend for any true crime fans.

A very interesting and expansive account of the Rillington Place murders. Told, in large part, through the stories of those killed, those who lost loved ones, and those whose work brought Reg Christie to justice, this is an engaging true crime read that never looses sight of the real people impacted by these crimes.

I would recommend this for anyone interested in true crime, but especially for those who have also engaged with discussions about the problematic areas of the genre - Summerscale proves that you do not need to take advantage of victims to produce something engaging and truthful.

It feels strange to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book because of the subject matter but I did. It was very well researched and I liked how the author tied in other events that were happening in the UK at that time.
John Reginald Christie was the last serial killer to be hanged in the UK. He was a racist, a bully and he preyed on vulnerable women. It is known that he murdered seven women and one child. It was interesting to get the background information on the victims, they were no longer faceless victims. They had families and friends who loved them very much.
In 1949 Christie murdered Beryl Evans and her young daughter Geraldine. Timothy Evans, her husband was wrongfully convicted and hanged for the murder of his daughter Geraldine. I felt the author was very compassionate about the Evans family.
Harry Proctor was a journalist for a national newspaper who was investigating Christie. He had previously met Christie during the Evans trial. Proctor carried a lot of guilt about how he never picked up on Christie. I liked learning about Proctor's career and how this case affected him. Fryn Tennyson was a crime writer who was also following the case. Fryn could be very detached from the case and had lots of opinions. I found it very interesting how like now people are so very fascinated with crime.
The casual racism and misogyny, I did expect but naively I didn't expect it to be that bad. I think this helped Christie hide in plain sight
Overall this is a fascinating read and I highly recommend it. This book could be turned into an amazing documentary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the opportunity.

📚 Book Review 📚

This intense and wonderfully researched book is all about the minute details attached, collated and presented about the last serial killer to be hung in this country.

There is so much here to take on board, aside from the already well documented life of the murderer Reg Christie.

He was racist, sexist as well as a narcissistic killer who preyed carefully and with intent upon those he considered to be vulnerable and worthless. His murders coincided with the shifting perspective of post war Britain, a country where women who had held down paid work during the war, wanted to continue working; a country where some women chose to work in prostitution because they would earn more money than their partners and a country that people from African countries started to settle and call home.

The racism and demonisation of sex workers at this time was massive, I had no idea how bad it was and these factors all culminated in Christie’s ability to melt into the shadows. From the pathologist who reported on the bodies taken from Christie’s kitchen wall saying these girls “were bound to end up meeting violent ends” to the couple who looked for lodging in Rillington Place who noticed a smell in Christie’s flat saying “we noticed a bad smell, but we thought it was just the blacks.”

So much evidence was ignored, particularly over the deaths of Beryl Evans and her baby, Geraldine.

This is a fascinating and engaging read which is purely and absolutely based on fact, there is no dramatisation. This is fantastic introduction for me to this author. If you like true crime, this is a must.

I’d like to thank Bloomsbury PublishingUK, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 3rd October 2024

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