Book recommendations.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Just finished a good one (received as Christmas gift) Marshall Hall: A Law Unto Himself by Sally Smith. A brilliant, well written biography of The Great Defender. Marshall Hall is one of those people that I’d have loved to have seen in real life (like Samuel Johnson) especially speaking in court. Apparently a recording was made of his voice when he appeared in a Dickens radio play but it’s never been found and possibly no longer exists.

Ive just started The Irish Assassins: Conspiracy, Revenge and the Murders that Stunned an Empire by Julie Kavanagh. It’s about the Phoenix Park murders.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Hiya Herlock, nil desperandum, don't pack it in just yet. Many of us thought the case was solved with your aardvark theory, but months later, here we are still.

A book suggestion on the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III. "A Gallant Company - The True Story of the Great Escape" by Jonathon F. Vance. This book gives biographies of all the POWs who passed through the tunnel, particularly the 50 who were murdered by the Gestapo.

https://www.amazon.com/Gallant-Company-Story-Great-Escape/dp/0739442422/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1YCLZI5FOBJBU&keywords=A+Gallant+Company&qid=1698620941&sprefix=a+gallant+company%2Caps%2C339&sr=8-2

Thanks for that one. It sounds an interesting read.

[Enigma]

That’s that solved then. Been nice knowing you all.

Hiya Herlock, nil desperandum, don't pack it in just yet. Many of us thought the case was solved with your aardvark theory, but months later, here we are still.

A book suggestion on the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III. "A Gallant Company - The True Story of the Great Escape" by Jonathon F. Vance. This book gives biographies of all the POWs who passed through the tunnel, particularly the 50 who were murdered by the Gestapo.

https://www.amazon.com/Gallant-Company-Story-Great-Escape/dp/0739442422/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1YCLZI5FOBJBU&keywords=A+Gallant+Company&qid=1698620941&sprefix=a+gallant+company%2Caps%2C339&sr=8-2

[Herlock Sholmes]

I skim read the book that Ms D mentioned as I was on a coach going to London. On the positive side the author retells the basics fairly well but he makes more deductive leaps than a particularly hyperactive kangaroo. Anyway……spoiler alert….the ripper was a female doctor and feminist called Sophie Jex Blake aided by up to three other members of a coterie of man-hating lesbians.

That’s that solved then. Been nice knowing you all.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Thanks Herlock!

I will heed your advice.

Another hairbrained half-arsed theory then.

I'm almost tempted to scribe a book myself outlining the groundbreaking aardvark hypothesis, just to see if it would get printed.

It’s still more likely than the theory that Cross was the killer though.

[Ms Diddles]

I have it on Kindle but I haven’t read it yet. I bought it in a moment of boredom induced insanity. All I know is that it appears to theorise that JTR was a woman or a group of women. One of the later chapters is called Covert And Cult Like Lesbianism. I get the impression that the theory is in some way connected to women wanting to train in the medical profession. I might get around to reading it but I wouldn’t waste your hard earned on it Ms D. I’d say that spending the money on a pint would be money better spent. I’ll let you know when I’ve read it. I suspect that it’s complete tripe.

Thanks Herlock!

I will heed your advice.

Another hairbrained half-arsed theory then.

I'm almost tempted to scribe a book myself outlining the groundbreaking aardvark hypothesis, just to see if it would get printed.

[Herlock Sholmes]

Has anyone read this book?

https://www.amazon.com.be/-/en/Zero-Baby/dp/139993483X?language=en_GB

I just stumbled across it, but I feel a little disinclined to read anything written by an author called Zero Baby if I'm honest!

Anyone familiar with it?

I have it on Kindle but I haven’t read it yet. I bought it in a moment of boredom induced insanity. All I know is that it appears to theorise that JTR was a woman or a group of women. One of the later chapters is called Covert And Cult Like Lesbianism. I get the impression that the theory is in some way connected to women wanting to train in the medical profession. I might get around to reading it but I wouldn’t waste your hard earned on it Ms D. I’d say that spending the money on a pint would be money better spent. I’ll let you know when I’ve read it. I suspect that it’s complete tripe.

[Ms Diddles]

Has anyone read this book?

https://www.amazon.com.be/-/en/Zero-Baby/dp/139993483X?language=en_GB

I just stumbled across it, but I feel a little disinclined to read anything written by an author called Zero Baby if I'm honest!

Anyone familiar with it?

[Ms Diddles]

Hello Ms. Diddles,

Yeah, I have had my eye on The Executioner's Song for some time. I do need to read it.

Have you seen the In Cold Blood movie? Filmed in black and white to make it even more chilling. Excellent acting.

c.d.

Hi c.d.

Yeah, I saw the film back when I was reading the book for A Level.

I recall liking it, but that was thirty years ago now, so it's probably worth another viewing!

In more recent years I've watched the Philip Seymour Hoffman film "Capote" and also "Infamous" with Toby Jones as Truman Capote and Daniel Craig as Perry Smith.

They're both worth a look too if you haven't already seen them.

I would absolutely recommend The Executioner's Song.

It's a seriously impressive piece of work, and really compelling reading.

[c.d.]

Hello Ms. Diddles,

Yeah, I have had my eye on The Executioner's Song for some time. I do need to read it.

Have you seen the In Cold Blood movie? Filmed in black and white to make it even more chilling. Excellent acting.

c.d.

[Ms Diddles]

In Cold Blood - This came out some time ago but it is excellent. As is the movie as well.

The book has almost 20,000 reviews on Amazon. Highly recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Blood-Truman-Capote/dp/0679745580/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23KMVC03ZA43T&keywords=in+cold +blood&qid=1679333393&sprefix=in+cold+bloo d%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1

c.d.

Yeah, c.d.

It's a classic.

It was on our syllabus for A Level English Lit when I first read it.

That and Jane Eyre kicked the @rse off of DH bloody Lawrence as I recall!

If you haven't already read it, I'd recommend Norman Mailer's The Executioner's Song.

It's a similar idea and also extremely well written, although that one had passed me by until I read it last year.

If you like In Cold Blood, it's a dead cert!

[c.d.]

In Cold Blood - This came out some time ago but it is excellent. As is the movie as well.

The book has almost 20,000 reviews on Amazon. Highly recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Blood-Truman-Capote/dp/0679745580/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23KMVC03ZA43T&keywords=in+cold+blood&qid=1679333393&sprefix=in+cold+blood%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1

c.d.

[Herlock Sholmes]

"Silent Witnesses" by Nigel McCrery is a history of forensic science which is very readable.

He's the guy who came up with the tv shows "Silent Witness" and "New Tricks" too.

I just popped into the library Colin to keep me going while I’m waiting for a couple of books that I’ve ordered and I noticed that one on the shelf. I’ll make a note and grab it next time. Cheers.

[Bridewell]

"Silent Witnesses" by Nigel McCrery is a history of forensic science which is very readable.

He's the guy who came up with the tv shows "Silent Witness" and "New Tricks" too.

[Bridewell]

"Penguins Stopped Play" by Harry Thompson