Scan barcode
Reviews
A Tale of Two Murders: Guilt, Innocence, and the Execution of Edith Thompson by Laura Thompson
milojean_reads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
mnboyer's review against another edition
1.0
Note: I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley, the publisher, and the author in exchange for an honest review.
I love true crime, and I was initially very excited about this title. It has a pretty cover, it involves true crime (set in the 1920s, which is always an interesting decade), promises a discussion of morality (should we have the death penalty?), and aims to suggest an otherwise innocent woman was compelled by a man (thus getting into some gender issues!). This all sounds really exciting. But then I started reading and everything became rather glum.
To begin, the writing throughout is tedious. First and foremost, the author tends to over-write, meaning that Thompson tends to use 10 pages to say something that could have been summarized in 2-3 sentences. Arguably, some of the things that she spent time explaining were not necessary. The first pages discuss the 1920s and how women struggled in these times: they weren't supposed to have jobs, and if they did the jobs sucked, they had to get married, contraception was bad, abortions were illegal (then legal, then illegal), you had to host parties, make dinner, there were all kinds of societal pressures... okay. This would be good information if (1) it was drastically paired down and (2) was really relevant to the case itself--which you don't hear about in any detail for some time because you're busy learning that for a long time States didn't want to execute women (because, women are fragile) but if you committed a crime they stripped you of your sexuality so you were really just a body...and you can hang any body you want.
Another issue with the writing was how droll it became, and I argue it became boring rather rapidly. I feel like the author was reading a lot of source material and ended up writing in the same style as those sources--so you end up with some awkward phrases that sound like they were written in the 1920s by a Victorian individual with a monocle. It just reads 'funny' throughout and is far too wordy when it does not need to be.
The focus of the story is Edith Thompson, who wants to divorce her husband. She's carrying on an affair with Freddy Bywaters (Eddie and Freddie, that would be a cute!)--documented in love letters--and the pair decides that if Edith cannot leave the marriage perhaps killing her husband will provide an answer. The letters are actually the only thing that link Edith to the crime, so perhaps she didn't know Freddy was going to kill her husband, Percy. But she definitely wanted Percy dead so she could carry on with Freddy, thus she gets arrested and faces trial for murder as well. There is a media circus and eventually both are sentenced to be executed. (There were two murders, see. Percy was murdered. But then Edith was murdered...because according to Thompson maybe she was innocent?).
The overarching theme of the book may be: Was Edith innocent? How do we feel about capital punishment if we're not 100% sure if someone is guilty of a crime?
Unfortunately, getting through this book is nearly impossible because of the sluggish writing. I'm all for research and source material, but it shouldn't weigh your subject down. A Kirkus review (which in part inspired me to request this book for review) suggests the book is "An exhaustive look into the passionate love affair that led to one of the most infamous murders in 1920s England." The book is indeed exhausting and the crime is indeed well-known, which means you should consider looking elsewhere for researching this case. I'm not trying to be harsh, but the Wikipedia page is easier to read through than this book.
This is all just my honest opinion though. If you're set on researching this case--pick this book up and give it a go!
I love true crime, and I was initially very excited about this title. It has a pretty cover, it involves true crime (set in the 1920s, which is always an interesting decade), promises a discussion of morality (should we have the death penalty?), and aims to suggest an otherwise innocent woman was compelled by a man (thus getting into some gender issues!). This all sounds really exciting. But then I started reading and everything became rather glum.
To begin, the writing throughout is tedious. First and foremost, the author tends to over-write, meaning that Thompson tends to use 10 pages to say something that could have been summarized in 2-3 sentences. Arguably, some of the things that she spent time explaining were not necessary. The first pages discuss the 1920s and how women struggled in these times: they weren't supposed to have jobs, and if they did the jobs sucked, they had to get married, contraception was bad, abortions were illegal (then legal, then illegal), you had to host parties, make dinner, there were all kinds of societal pressures... okay. This would be good information if (1) it was drastically paired down and (2) was really relevant to the case itself--which you don't hear about in any detail for some time because you're busy learning that for a long time States didn't want to execute women (because, women are fragile) but if you committed a crime they stripped you of your sexuality so you were really just a body...and you can hang any body you want.
Another issue with the writing was how droll it became, and I argue it became boring rather rapidly. I feel like the author was reading a lot of source material and ended up writing in the same style as those sources--so you end up with some awkward phrases that sound like they were written in the 1920s by a Victorian individual with a monocle. It just reads 'funny' throughout and is far too wordy when it does not need to be.
The focus of the story is Edith Thompson, who wants to divorce her husband. She's carrying on an affair with Freddy Bywaters (Eddie and Freddie, that would be a cute!)--documented in love letters--and the pair decides that if Edith cannot leave the marriage perhaps killing her husband will provide an answer. The letters are actually the only thing that link Edith to the crime, so perhaps she didn't know Freddy was going to kill her husband, Percy. But she definitely wanted Percy dead so she could carry on with Freddy, thus she gets arrested and faces trial for murder as well. There is a media circus and eventually both are sentenced to be executed. (There were two murders, see. Percy was murdered. But then Edith was murdered...because according to Thompson maybe she was innocent?).
The overarching theme of the book may be: Was Edith innocent? How do we feel about capital punishment if we're not 100% sure if someone is guilty of a crime?
Unfortunately, getting through this book is nearly impossible because of the sluggish writing. I'm all for research and source material, but it shouldn't weigh your subject down. A Kirkus review (which in part inspired me to request this book for review) suggests the book is "An exhaustive look into the passionate love affair that led to one of the most infamous murders in 1920s England." The book is indeed exhausting and the crime is indeed well-known, which means you should consider looking elsewhere for researching this case. I'm not trying to be harsh, but the Wikipedia page is easier to read through than this book.
This is all just my honest opinion though. If you're set on researching this case--pick this book up and give it a go!
jordanthebiblipohile's review against another edition
2.0
Overall: ☆☆(2.0)
Writing style: ☆☆
Entertainment :☆☆
Ending:☆☆
This book was the epitome of beating a dead horse. The same topics were covered over and over. There wasn't much delving into those involved, thus leaving it feeling very shallow. The main topic was the letters. Which were discussed over and over. Overall, very boring and took a long time to get through.
Writing style: ☆☆
Entertainment :☆☆
Ending:☆☆
This book was the epitome of beating a dead horse. The same topics were covered over and over. There wasn't much delving into those involved, thus leaving it feeling very shallow. The main topic was the letters. Which were discussed over and over. Overall, very boring and took a long time to get through.
bronwynmb's review against another edition
5.0
I’m not quite sure when I first heard about Edith Thompson. Given how much Christie, etc., I’ve read, it was probably a while ago though (this book even uses quotes from Christie and others that reference the case). I’ve watched Another Life, I have A Pin to See the Peepshow and Messalina of the Suburbs to read. There’s just something fascinating about this case, so when I heard about this book I knew had to read it.
This was really well done. I wish it was a bit more linear of a recounting, but the information is so well presented and the sources are used really well. (I can see why Laura Thompson’s new book is an edited compilation of the letters!) There’s so much detail here. You really get a feel for Edith and Freddy (though he less so). Highly recommend this if you like true crime and/or history.
This was really well done. I wish it was a bit more linear of a recounting, but the information is so well presented and the sources are used really well. (I can see why Laura Thompson’s new book is an edited compilation of the letters!) There’s so much detail here. You really get a feel for Edith and Freddy (though he less so). Highly recommend this if you like true crime and/or history.
suggestmeabook's review against another edition
1.0
This was overly long and highly biased. It doesn’t stay in topic and attempts to weave a meandering story that is simple uncompromising dull. It should have been a suspenseful story of love and murder. Instead it resorts to repeating the same phrases hundreds of times in the hopes you become sympathetic.
After 13 discs of an audiobook it abruptly ends and says This is part one of two. I will not be listening to that. I’ve wasted enough time.
Would not recommend.
After 13 discs of an audiobook it abruptly ends and says This is part one of two. I will not be listening to that. I’ve wasted enough time.
Would not recommend.
persey's review against another edition
3.0
I greatly enjoyed Laura Thompson's imaginative retelling of the lives of the Mitford sisters; I hadn't thought there was anything new to say about them, but she pulled it off. So I looked forward to this account of the Thompson-Bywaters case, expecting the same. Alas, this was overwrought and repetitive and insights were buried in platitudes. This was far too long and self-indulgent; perhaps Thompson was channeling her isonymous subject?
annmarie_reads's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted to like this book - a combination of true crime and feminism. Unfortunately the writing style bogs down the story and I was too bored.
kari_marie's review
1.0
This should have been an interesting story. It was not. Mainly because the author likes to take a chapter to make a simple point that could be said in a sentence. Way too many extra words. This book just sounded pretentious. I can use big words too. Thompson has very distinct writing style and after I started reading her book I knew I would not like this book. I like things that get straight to the point. I think Thompson does thorough research but that is all I can recommend about this book.
More...