An interesting cold-case, a well researched and informative book that can be read as a novel. Liked it
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"Throughout the land wherever news is read.
Intelligence of their sad end has spread.
Those now who talk of far-famed Greenfield hills.
Will think of Bill o’ Jack’s and Tom o’ Bills"

The Moor Cock, or more commonly Bill O’ Jacks pub was owned by William Bradbury (Bill) aged 84 who lived there with his son Thomas (Tom) aged 46. The name Bill O’ Jacks came from William whose father was named Jack, thus he became Bill (the son of) Jacks – Bill O’ Jacks. Later, the pub was aka Bills O’ Jacks.The pub was situated high above Yeoman Hey Reservoir and long before Dovestone reservoir was built. On the early evening of Monday 2nd April 1832, Tom returned from a day on the moors and was relaxing with his friend and pub regular Reuben Platt. They were walking down the road from the pub to Greenfield where Tom was to buy some groceries and Reuben going to his home.Just after they set off they met Bill on his way to the pub and Tom gave his father the door key. Tom and Reuben carried on and some way down they met three men resting at the side of the road. One of the men asked them, in an Irish accent, how long was it to Holmfirth to which they replied about 8 miles. Tom said to Reuben that he was uneasy about these men and was worried about his father being on his own at the pub.After reaching Greenfield the two men parted and, after getting his groceries, Tom returned to go back to the pub. After this, nothing was really known.On Tuesday morning, Bill’s granddaughter, Amelia, was sent to the pub to fetch some yeast from her grandfather.On arriving at the pub she saw somebody she could not recognise (Tom) lying in a pool of blood on the floor. She ran upstairs to find her grandfather lying on a bed also soaked in blood.Running to the nearest house at Binn Green, she told the neighbour, James Whitehead who dashed to the scene and sent for a surgeon Mr Higginbottom, who eventually arrived from Uppermill.Tom and William were brutally murdered, with Tom dying that day, and William dying the next day but not before incoherently muttering "Pats" or "Platts".

Theories ranging from robbery, to revenge abound,but the case has remained unsolved and has since been consigned to legend.

In , “The Murders at Bill’s O’Jack’s”, Giles Wilcock masterfully resurrects one of history’s most perplexing unsolved crimes, weaving a narrative that is as haunting as it is meticulously researched. With an eye for detail and a talent for storytelling, Wilcock brings the characters and atmosphere of Saddleworth Moor to life, guiding readers through a labyrinth of clues, motives, and dead ends. Though the mystery remains unsolved, this book offers profound insights into the social tensions, fears, and intrigue that shrouded the case, leaving readers both riveted and reflective. A must-read for true crime enthusiasts and history lovers alike, “The Murders at Bill O’Jack’s” keeps the suspense alive while respecting the enigma that endures to this day.

What a story! For most of my generation, Saddleworth Moor will always be associated with the Moors murderers, Brady and Hindley. I’ve never heard of this true crime case which was infamous and remains unsolved. If I ever visit the area, I’d make a point of visiting the grave at Saddleworth church where the bodies of both victims are buried and the stone has an intriguing inscription.

The author gives a detailed and apparently meticulously researched account of events from start to finish. Father and son were brutally murdered. One survived long enough to utter a couple of words but their meaning was unclear. The case gained notoriety and a huge reward was offered for information about the killer, but to this day it remains unsolved. This reads like a fast paced adventure; well written and detailed with every aspect of the crime and its aftermath considered. It’s shocking now and difficult to imagine how it must have affected a small and close knit community in Georgian England. Intriguing, and it was amazing to learn about a case I’d never come across before. A must for anyone interested in true crime, but it also presents a very particular slice of social history as the account is placed in context of the time. I loved it.

ARC provided by Pen & Sword in exchange for an honest review.

The Bill’s o’Jack’s Murders offers a gripping dive into one of the most chilling and unsolved double murders of the early 19th century. The book intricately weaves together the story of a family tragedy, the societal context of Georgian England, and the birth of a local legend that persisted for over a century.

From the start, readers are plunged into the macabre scene of 1832: a young girl stumbling upon her brutally injured grandfather and uncle at Bill’s o’Jack’s public house, surrounded by blood and unanswered questions. The vivid retelling of this moment, alongside the detailed examination of how the case shocked the Saddleworth Moor community, immediately grabs the reader’s attention.

What makes this book stand out is its careful historical research, particularly in connecting the murders to larger societal changes, such as political reform, the rise of newspapers, and the shifting economic landscape. The author does an excellent job of placing the crimes in their historical context, making the book feel as much a history lesson as a true crime retelling.

One of the book's most fascinating elements is the exploration of how the murders evolved into legend over the years. The author effectively shows how, as time passed, the facts of the case blurred with myth, culminating in a local tale that lived on long after Bill’s o’Jack’s was demolished. This transformation from crime to folklore is especially intriguing, highlighting how stories are shaped by their communities over time.

However, at times, the level of detail in historical context can feel overwhelming. While it enriches the narrative, some readers might find the pace slowing down as the author delves deeply into the Georgian era’s political and social issues.

Overall, The Bill’s o’Jack’s Murders is a well-researched and atmospheric retelling of a tragic, unsolved mystery. It will particularly appeal to fans of true crime, local legends, and those interested in the intersection of history and folklore.

Official Publication Date - Sep. 30 2024

The unsolved 1832 murders of William and Thomas Bradbury at Bill’s o’Jack’s public house in Saddleworth Moor became a local legend, persisting for nearly a century. This book reconstructs the events surrounding the crime, exploring the lives of those involved and the historical context of the era, tracing the transformation of the real-life tragedy into enduring folklore.

This is a fascinating story, though a bit frustrating in that the murder was never solved. The author explores the possible suspects and the mythology that grew up around the murder. The gives a good picture of how crimes in the countryside were handled in Georgian Britain.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Murders At Bill So Jacks, The murders that stunn Georgian Britain by Giles Wilcox, in 1832 the 12 year old granddaughter of Bill’so Jack was sent to fetch yeast but what she found was her grandfather and uncle Tom’so bill on the verge of death. They would eventually pass on soon after in this book talks all about it. It talks about the inquest the zeitgeist at that time political and social pressures the financial stability in the area and about other crimes that happened around the same time. What it doesn’t tell you and can’t tell you is about the Bradberrys there’s not much known about the victims of the crime nor was the crime solved .what it did do was maintain its place locally. I do believe whatever is known about the crime and its victims, that Mr. Wilcock has found it and definitely put it in this book. I love historical True Crime but I’m not a big fan of unsolved mysteries especially those without good suspects but I also love history and this book is chock full of it. If this sounds like something you love you should definitely give this a read. #NetGalley, #PenAndSwordTrueCrime,,#Giles Wilcox, #TheBillSoJackMurders

I received a free copy of, The Murders at Bill's O'Jack's, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Its April of 1932 an there has been a murder. A young lady has found her grandfathers and uncles bloody bodies, what a horrible sight for a twelve year old. This was a very interesting read.

I was expecting a true crime book about the crime of “Bill’s oJack’s” but received not only that, it also gave a brief history lesson of Georgian England time period that I knew very little about about. The brief history helped with the flow of the story and gave me a “sense” of being there and feeling what it was like to live in Georgian England. Being in the states, that topic is barely covered In grade school, I will encourage anyone into true crime, crime pertaining to Georgian England to grab a copy and read it.