Customer Reviews:
 Bloated August 10, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Summerscale has interesting material, but sinks her work by throwing in much, too much superfluous detail and digression (Melville you're not). The book would have been very good if chopped by 50% or so, had she had a competent editor or seen to this herself. More importantly, it would have dramatically improved the clarity of presentation. Yes, by God, we get it, Constance is "stout" (in quotes over and over again). Also, you see, the public is fascinated by this new phenomenon, the detective (Summerscale provides numerous contemporary novel quotes, which are at best dimly illuminating and, taken in aggregate, annoyingly irrelevant). In addition, the brother William, whose role in the killing is poorly substantiated, is not so interesting a character, at least with regard to the case, to justify the volume of prose and photos.
The author tries to argue what a uniquely Victorian situation this was, when in fact deadly sibling rivalry is older than Cain and Abel. I will give her credit for delineating the creepy, calm, blank stillness of Constance. Also, the addition of a photograph (and these are quite well done) of a St. Paul's mosaic, which may or may not have been created by Constance, is indeed chilling.
 Good, but at times a bit slow. August 10, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Comparing it to a book I recently read in the same genre, this one is somewhat less interesting. There are many good bits of information about the society at the time, especially of interest to a historian. And it is clear that the author spent a great deal of time researching the case and the historical period. The case itself, however, seems less interesting. Given that most people will buy the book because they want to read about the case itself, I would not recommend this book. Not that it is bad, but there are so many other better books out there to read and so little time . . .
 Painfully Boring August 7, 2008
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
This book is supposed to concern the murder of a 3 year old boy. I thought. However, the book seems to be about everything in the 1800's which the author wants to write about - what the policeman wore, how it's possible the detective had a child (like I really care), and how seemingly every writer in the 1800's based their detectives on this wonderful Mr. Whicher. So says she.
Halfway through the book the murderer comes forward. As for the "sensational" trial, it lasted 20 minutes and consisted of a confession - how sensational can that be? What the author does not tell: how did her family feel about her confession? What were their thoughts? Did they go out of their way to attend the trial to see her sentenced for her crime, or were they there for moral support? How did her step-mother feel about her beloved son being murdered in order to devastate her life? Well, the author is not going to tell us the important stuff. We must learn about the murderer's brother's interest in coral reefs.
What most people would like to know (me) is how can someone go from being a cold-blooded murderer (could you slit a little child's throat?) to being a "normal," helpful member of society? It would have been a lot better if the author had gotten more background on what the murderer was really like (other than being quiet, nervous, etc.) She got a lot more on what the brother's personality was like.
As much as she went into detail about various 1800's things (why cops are called cops) she does not explain why a hospital was called an almshouse, and why someone living in an almhouse would have plenty of money to leave when they died.
There is far too much (possibly 3/4's of the book) regarding authors such as Poe and Dickens and what they wrote about. Towards the end of the book the author even admits she got so wrapped up in going off on other tangents that she forgot that Saville, the murdered child, had actually been a person with his own life. The only thing I can think is it was 150 years ago and next to impossible to find personal information which would help us to understand this family. So the author decided to fill in space with everything else.
This book didn't make me feel like I was "there," only that I was being forced to read about what the author found fascinating.
So don't go into it thinking you're going to read a fascinating in-depth murder mystery or you will be very disappointed.
 3.5 out of 5: Jumbled but Entertaining August 6, 2008
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher is one-third a true crime book about a famous murder in the English countryside in 1860, one-third a history of the English detective profession in general, one-third a biography of Jonathan Whicher, one of the first English detectives, and one-third a literary history of the English detective novel. If you're good at math, undoubtedly you have calculated that Mr. Whicher includes more subjects than can fit comfortably in a single book. Some readers will find this quirky mix of elements to be confused or unfocused. I found it charming and entertaining. I am fascinated with the development of the English novel as a form of literature in the 1700s and 1800s, including the early detective novels by authors like Wilkie Collins. Although not necessary, having some background and interest in literary history makes Mr. Whicher a more absorbing read. The studious tone adopted by Summerscale may be a bit dry for some, but I found the tone to be a perfectly appropriate accompaniment to the subject matter(s) of the book. All in all, a varied, informative, and entertaining read.
Interesting but tedious read August 6, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
I was thinking this was a novel based upon the style, artwork, and overall presentation of this book. I imagined a whodunit novel with twists and turns and clues to piece together as I read it. I was excited to say the least at the prospect of reading this book.
Instead, I found out about 60 pages in that this is in fact a history book! Not even historical fiction, real history! I kept wondering as I read this book when the story was going to start, but once I got into the frame of mind that I was reading a well researched history book the reading became a bit more manageable as I changed my expectations.
If the names Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes excite you, then this book would be a great addition to your library as it expands upon the early development of detective work and the origins of procedures, terminology, and the fascination with such work and the authors who write the stories.
At the core of the book however is a real story about a real detective and a real little boy who gets murdered. Along the way readers are sure to pick up a plethora of knowledge and a deeper appreciation and understanding of the birth of modern day detectives.
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