Cambridgeshire Murders


Book Description

The cases covered here record the county's most fascinating but least-known crimes, as well as famous murders that gripped not just Cambridgeshire but the whole nation. From the mysterious barn fire at Burwell that killed seventy-six people to the unsolved murder of Cambridge shopkeeper Alice Lawton, and from poisoning in St Neots to the murder of a fifteen-year-old drummer boy whose ghost haunted the killer and drove him to confess, this is a collection of the county's most dramatic and interesting criminal cases. Alison Bruce has gone back to original records and documents to uncover the truth about these extraordinary crimes. Using contemporary illustrations and tracing the stories through the words of those who were actually there, she re-creates the drama of case and courtroom. Cambridgeshire Murders is a unique re-examination of the darker side of the county's past.




Bloody British History: Cambridge


Book Description

Death to students: The weird origin of the University! A plague on both your parishes: Black Death in Cambridge's streets! Off with his head: The bizarre true story of Oliver Cromwell's travelling skull! Gas! Gas! The secret research team behind WWI's deadliest weapon! The fifth man: The truth about the Cambridge Five, the Soviet spies who studied! Cambridge has some of the most violent history ever recorded. From invading hordes of Vikings, Saxons and Normans to the secret Allied plans of the Second World War, it will thrill, disgust and delight in equal measure!




Cambridgeshire Murders


Book Description

The cases covered here record the county's most fascinating but least-known crimes, as well as famous murders that gripped not just Cambridgeshire but the whole nation. From the mysterious barn fire at Burwell that killed seventy-six people to the unsolved murder of Cambridge shopkeeper Alice Lawton, and from poisoning in St Neots to the murder of a fifteen-year-old drummer boy whose ghost haunted the killer and drove him to confess, this is a collection of the county's most dramatic and interesting criminal cases. Alison Bruce has gone back to original records and documents to uncover the truth about these extraordinary crimes. Using contemporary illustrations and tracing the stories through the words of those who were actually there, she re-creates the drama of case and courtroom. Cambridgeshire Murders is a unique re-examination of the darker side of the county's past.










The Little Book of Cambridgeshire


Book Description

The Little Book of Cambridgeshire is a compendium full of information which will make you say, 'I never knew that!' Contained within is a plethora of entertaining stories about the county and its famous - and occasionally infamous - men and women, its literary, artistic and sporting achievements, its customs and traditions, its transport and leisure, and a few ghostly appearances. Compiled by two knowledgeable local historians, this is a reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage, the secrets and the enduring fascination of the county.




Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths In & Around The Fens


Book Description

Discover this coastal plain in England—and the crimes that have taken place there over the centuries. The Fens of England, thinly populated with isolated farmsteads, has been the setting for a number of popular crime novels—but it has also been the actual site of many horrific, bloody, and bizarre incidents. This book takes a gripping look at the darker side of the area’s history—from crimes of callous premeditation to those born of passion or despair. Included are tales of conspiracy, robbery, violence, cruelty, and murder that reveal a previously neglected side of Fenland society. Unforgettable cases are featured—a mother who murdered her son, a police officer who hid the body of his mother, a farmer brutally slain for his money, a dustman who killed a local girl, and the headless body of a woman who has never been identified. Covering a wide range of human weakness and wickedness, this chronicle of the hidden side of the Fens will be compelling reading for anyone who is interested in the sinister side of human nature and the social conditions that nurture it.




Napper


Book Description

Records the tragic circumstances which led to one man committing a sequence of vicious sexual assaults through to the murders of Rachel Nickell and Samantha and Jazmine Bisset. It has taken Alan Jackaman over 25 years to come to terms with what he experienced, but he now tells of his part in the downfall of serial killer Robert Napper. Reveals for the first time information not until now in the public domain and tells of the author’s tenacity as a lower-ranking officer in the face of dwindling resources and sometimes disparagement by more senior investigators. A straightforward account of the solving of heinous and complex crimes, it also delves into media fascination with serious offences and shows how the press may latch on to one murder whilst ignoring another, even more horrific, one. The author was an investigator on the Bisset case from day one through to seeing that case linked to London’s Green Chain Walk rapes and the discovery that Napper also killed Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common. The book tells for the first time the behind the scenes story of how the misguided targeting of Colin Stagg and rebuffing of the Bisset team’s suspicions allowed Napper to escape justice for 15 years. The book also looks at the mind of Robert Napper, his bizarre behaviour, family history and ‘doodlings’ (some reproduced in this book) and the fact that sheer ‘chance’ allowed him to remain free for so long. By the detective who arrested Napper. Looks at the emergence of criminal profiling. Enters the mind of a psychotic killer. Shows how media ‘obsession’ can hinder justice. Contains previously unpublished material. Extract: ‘To be able to properly investigate the murders of Samantha and Jazmine it was necessary to research the sequence of Green Chain Walk rapes. At first glance the string of offences bore the classic hallmarks of a psychopath who grew ever more cunning, yet reckless, but more importantly ever more violent. Studies of this type of offender clearly show they learn as they progress in their offending…’




Nursery Crimes - Crime and Punishment


Book Description

After he is unfairly dismissed after making a casual remark at a pre-Christmas function, 'Nursery Crimes - Crime' tells the story of how he takes his revenge on womankind by embarking on a year-long killing spree, with each fortnightly murder preceded by a nursery rhyme. After his wife leaves him just before Christmas, 'Nursery Crimes - Punishment' tells the story of a police liaison officer who finds himself spending the next year trying to locate and reconcile with his wife whilst at the same time trying to find and catch the 'Nursery Rhyme' serial killer.




A History of Cambridgeshire


Book Description