Blog Tour: The Murder of Harriet Monckton by Elizabeth Haynes, Book Review

On November 7^th 1843 a young woman is found poisoned in Bromley, Kent, yet no one was ever arrested for this murder. This is an intriguing historical case the author Elisabeth Haynes uncovered while doing research at the National Archives in Kew for a different project. As a well-regarded author of novels and psychological thrillers, this compelling and well-written version of this true crime is a departure for her. 

Drawing on coroner’s reports and witness statements, Haynes tries to reconstruct what actually happened on that fateful day, who might have been the perpetrator and the possible reason for this murder. In the process she creates a fascinating cast of characters all based on real people who knew Harriet, a victim in so many ways.  

I don’t often come across murder mysteries where the murderer gets away with it. But that’s what happens more often than we like to admit, and even more so in the 19^th Century when forensic techniques were still in their infancy. I believe one of the reasons for the popularity of crime fiction is that it satisfies our innate sense of justice, we experience an order that often doesn’t exist in reality. 

Over 150 years later someone has finally stood up for justice for Harriet and in the process gifted us a fascinating novel. If you like mystery and secrets and thoughtful historical crime novels set in the Victorian period, then you will find The Murder of Harriet Monckton captivating.  

(review: T Forsyth-Moser)

Published September 28^th 2018 by Myriad, £14.99.