The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

Kate Summerscale's true account of a shocking murder in Victorian England is a great read for fans of true crime and/or Victorian mysteries. Early one morning in 1860, in a small village near Bath, the Kent family awoke to find their 3-year-old son missing from his crib. After a search of the house and grounds, the little boy was found at the bottom of the outhouse with his throat cut. Almost immediately it was determined that the murderer must have come from inside the house. The family members and their servants all became suspects. When the local police could not determine the identity of the killer, they requested help from Scotland Yard. The first detective force was formed in England in 1842, and consisted of eight officers. Jonathan Whicher, one of the original detectives, was sent to investigate the crime. Whicher immediately suspected Constance Kent, a daughter from Mr. Kent's first marriage. Constance was arrested, but the local magistrates decided not to try her, due to lack of evidence. Defeated, Whicher returned to London, where he was subjected to scrutiny and criticism. The crime went unsolved for several years, casting a shadow of suspicion on several people. The crime captivated England and even influenced detective fiction, including the writings of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins' detective novel The Moonstone. Summerscale uses police reports, court testimonies, letters and press releases to provide detail, re-create dialogue and court room scenes, and give insight into the "characters' " lives. The story is intriguing and as captivating as a great mystery novel.