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Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress, and Dr. Crippen
This is the story of a murder, not a murderer . . .
In Story of a Murder, bestselling author of The Five and celebrated historian Hallie Rubenhold reexamines the events leading up to the infamous Crippen murder from the perspectives of the three women at the center of it all.
When Belle Elmore’s remains were discovered in the basement of London’s 39 Hilldrop Crescent in July 1910, the larger-than-life vaudevillian performer was launched into stardom she never achieved on the stage.
Story of a Murder provides an intricately plotted, intimate look into the lives of three multifaceted women living during a time of electric progress and stifling Crippen’s first wife, Charlotte, who died under mysterious circumstances; his mistress, Ethel, who claimed ignorance of his crime even as she escaped with Crippen disguised as his son; and Belle, the woman whose life Crippen took.
Throughout the twentieth century, the infamous Crippen murder was told in such a way as to cast doubt on Crippen's guilt and to victim-blame his wife Cora for her own murder. It also astonishingly depicted Crippen's younger mistress, Ethel, as innocent of any involvement in the killing of her love rival.
But new evidence unearthed by Rubenhold completely subverts this famous history, unravelling assumptions about the crime and deconstructing Edwardian beliefs about women, class aspiration, and the transatlantic world, ultimately proving that Charlotte, Belle, and Ethel were so much more than the passive victims history has portrayed them as.
In Story of a Murder, bestselling author of The Five and celebrated historian Hallie Rubenhold reexamines the events leading up to the infamous Crippen murder from the perspectives of the three women at the center of it all.
When Belle Elmore’s remains were discovered in the basement of London’s 39 Hilldrop Crescent in July 1910, the larger-than-life vaudevillian performer was launched into stardom she never achieved on the stage.
Story of a Murder provides an intricately plotted, intimate look into the lives of three multifaceted women living during a time of electric progress and stifling Crippen’s first wife, Charlotte, who died under mysterious circumstances; his mistress, Ethel, who claimed ignorance of his crime even as she escaped with Crippen disguised as his son; and Belle, the woman whose life Crippen took.
Throughout the twentieth century, the infamous Crippen murder was told in such a way as to cast doubt on Crippen's guilt and to victim-blame his wife Cora for her own murder. It also astonishingly depicted Crippen's younger mistress, Ethel, as innocent of any involvement in the killing of her love rival.
But new evidence unearthed by Rubenhold completely subverts this famous history, unravelling assumptions about the crime and deconstructing Edwardian beliefs about women, class aspiration, and the transatlantic world, ultimately proving that Charlotte, Belle, and Ethel were so much more than the passive victims history has portrayed them as.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2025
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13.6k people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 14, 2025
I don't think we, as a book loving society, give enough credit to historical true crime authors. Investigating crime is hard enough when it just happened. Trying to untangle names, aliases, and relationships and then presenting it to the reader in an understandable way is a tall task. When I saw that Hallie Rubenhold (who wrote The Five, one of the best historical true crime books of all time and yes, I said what I said) had a new book coming out, I was instantly excited. I was right to be!
Story of a Murder is about Dr. Hawley Harvery Crippen, his wife Belle Elmore, and the "other" woman Ethel Le Neve. A good amount of the names I just mentioned are not their born names, but it just goes to show the links Rubenhold has to go to make this entire story readable. Crippen was constantly moving around, changing titles, names, and, well, wives. His record in marriages would make even Henry VIII blush.
If you are looking for Rubenhold to turn the genre on its head once again like she did in The Five, then you will be disappointed. However, you shouldn't be. Rubenhold instead takes a notorious case and tells it completely. Each person is given the respect of a full backstory even if they don't deserve it. The first half of the book feels almost like a dual or even triple biography and then of course Belle disappears. What happened? Well, exactly what you expect. This isn't about whodunit. It is about understanding who these people are and how it happened. This narrative is thorough and readable. I highly recommend it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Dutton Books.)
Story of a Murder is about Dr. Hawley Harvery Crippen, his wife Belle Elmore, and the "other" woman Ethel Le Neve. A good amount of the names I just mentioned are not their born names, but it just goes to show the links Rubenhold has to go to make this entire story readable. Crippen was constantly moving around, changing titles, names, and, well, wives. His record in marriages would make even Henry VIII blush.
If you are looking for Rubenhold to turn the genre on its head once again like she did in The Five, then you will be disappointed. However, you shouldn't be. Rubenhold instead takes a notorious case and tells it completely. Each person is given the respect of a full backstory even if they don't deserve it. The first half of the book feels almost like a dual or even triple biography and then of course Belle disappears. What happened? Well, exactly what you expect. This isn't about whodunit. It is about understanding who these people are and how it happened. This narrative is thorough and readable. I highly recommend it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Dutton Books.)
April 2, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up. This is a true crime book and I wanted to read it as I really enjoyed the author’s “The Five� which was excellent and focused on the victims of Jack the Ripper. This one was similar in that it also concentrated on the women too, but the perp in question, Dr. Crippen, was a lot less compelling and notorious, which made it a harder read for me. It captivated back in the day, but now a days, killing a partner is sadly just so commonplace in the hellscape we live in. An incredible amount of research and work went into this one and the author really does an amazing job with that, and truly deserves accolades. I should probably do a bit more research myself before I delve into other true crime books LOL
February 4, 2025
I always go into non-fiction ready to be bored and am always happy when I'm not. This is another example of not being bored! I absolutely loved Hallie Rubenhold's "the Five", I really appreciated the life she was able to give back to the Jack the Ripper cases (something that is so rarely done). Seeing this book, and knowing it was going to be more victim-centered than perpetrator-centered I was ready to dive in. I love historical true crime, mostly cause it adds that extra layer of mystery and "will it ever really be solved", but having it told in a way that positively displays the victim is also so enlightening. Another thing I truly appreciated was in the epilogue, Rubenhold spent most of the time showing how Bell was usually labeled as a fiend, a harlot, a menace to society with her New Woman ways when in reality she was a progressive woman, a beloved sister and daughter who was robbed of her youth and life.
In terms of this book, there are only a few minor things I have fault with (please bear in mind that I was kindly provided with an uncorrected pre-proof so nothing is official yet). Firstly I. WANT. PICTURES. I had to go on the deep dark web (read: Wikipedia) so find photos of the cast of characters but I would have preferred seeing them as I was reading. I also found that Ethel was introduced a little too soon into the narrative and I was a little lost at who she and her sister Nina were and how they fit into the story. There were also a few spelling/grammar issues but I'm not too worried about that (unless they get published)
In terms of the story and my thoughts, Crippen totally did it. And if Ethel wasn't completely complicit she absolutely had some involvement. No woman is moving in with her lover after his wife ~mysteriously vanishes~ at an all too convenient time and doesn't think twice about it. Also, even if she didn't, after a while the very strange smell coming from the Unfinished Cellar� sure as heck would give something away. Not convinced still? Let's flee the country, but you need to dress as a boy!! For heaven's sake my girl, she knew something if not everything.
Thank you Netgalley for this super interesting read!!!
In terms of this book, there are only a few minor things I have fault with (please bear in mind that I was kindly provided with an uncorrected pre-proof so nothing is official yet). Firstly I. WANT. PICTURES. I had to go on the deep dark web (read: Wikipedia) so find photos of the cast of characters but I would have preferred seeing them as I was reading. I also found that Ethel was introduced a little too soon into the narrative and I was a little lost at who she and her sister Nina were and how they fit into the story. There were also a few spelling/grammar issues but I'm not too worried about that (unless they get published)
In terms of the story and my thoughts, Crippen totally did it. And if Ethel wasn't completely complicit she absolutely had some involvement. No woman is moving in with her lover after his wife ~mysteriously vanishes~ at an all too convenient time and doesn't think twice about it. Also, even if she didn't, after a while the very strange smell coming from the Unfinished Cellar� sure as heck would give something away. Not convinced still? Let's flee the country, but you need to dress as a boy!! For heaven's sake my girl, she knew something if not everything.
Thank you Netgalley for this super interesting read!!!
January 14, 2025
Dark, detailed and wonderfully written, Story of a Murder provides a brilliant micro history of the Crippens. Jam-packed with information, Rubenhold sheds light on the darker parts of the Edwardian world, through the actions of one man.
Rubenhold provides an uncensored account of the key characters in this murder. Using ample amounts of primary evidence, she shows the duality of them all. In particular, she works hard to highlight the complexities of Ethel, who, for many years, was easily dismissed as a naive young girl overcome with romantic notions. Instead, Rubenhold allows the evidence to speak for itself; that we may never truly know the truth, we can infer and build a better understanding of Ethel.
Similarly for Belle, Rubenhold puts right the years of lies and slander. In these pages, Belle becomes a living person who has dreams and ambitions. She isn’t perfect but feels incredibly human and deserving of being treated fairly. The impact that her disappearance on her friends reminds us that murder is an incredibly disruptive force, but also that she was loved by the people around her.
But more than just revealing the grim details of Belle Elmore’s murder, this book shows the start of deeper societal change in the Western World. Despite the patriarchal society that all they lived in, which prevented them from voting, doing jury service, or having a bank account, this book reveals how female agency was strong in Edwardian Britain. It was women of the MHLG that searched for the truth, who provided evidence at trial, and fought to preserve Belle’s memory. Their actions were proof that women were actors of their own stories.
Similarly underscoring this was the misogynist medical views of the last nineteen century. The sexist views on women’s bodies were not just confined to medical examinations, but were closely intertwined with everyday beliefs. It fuels Crippen’s low opinion of the women in his life, and gave him power over their bodies. It influenced the public’s opinion on Belle, and it disguised the role that Ethel played in the murder. Like a double-edged sword, it allowed for justice to never fully be served in this case.
Thank you to the publisher for this arc. All thoughts are my own.
Publishes: 25th March 2025
Rubenhold provides an uncensored account of the key characters in this murder. Using ample amounts of primary evidence, she shows the duality of them all. In particular, she works hard to highlight the complexities of Ethel, who, for many years, was easily dismissed as a naive young girl overcome with romantic notions. Instead, Rubenhold allows the evidence to speak for itself; that we may never truly know the truth, we can infer and build a better understanding of Ethel.
Similarly for Belle, Rubenhold puts right the years of lies and slander. In these pages, Belle becomes a living person who has dreams and ambitions. She isn’t perfect but feels incredibly human and deserving of being treated fairly. The impact that her disappearance on her friends reminds us that murder is an incredibly disruptive force, but also that she was loved by the people around her.
But more than just revealing the grim details of Belle Elmore’s murder, this book shows the start of deeper societal change in the Western World. Despite the patriarchal society that all they lived in, which prevented them from voting, doing jury service, or having a bank account, this book reveals how female agency was strong in Edwardian Britain. It was women of the MHLG that searched for the truth, who provided evidence at trial, and fought to preserve Belle’s memory. Their actions were proof that women were actors of their own stories.
Similarly underscoring this was the misogynist medical views of the last nineteen century. The sexist views on women’s bodies were not just confined to medical examinations, but were closely intertwined with everyday beliefs. It fuels Crippen’s low opinion of the women in his life, and gave him power over their bodies. It influenced the public’s opinion on Belle, and it disguised the role that Ethel played in the murder. Like a double-edged sword, it allowed for justice to never fully be served in this case.
Thank you to the publisher for this arc. All thoughts are my own.
Publishes: 25th March 2025
January 6, 2025
A worthy successor to the Five - and maybe that very rare thing with the follow up being better. It’s best not to know the story and just let it unfold. HB has done an amazing job researching and writing a story that is truly fascinating. My takeaway is that a group of women who were devoted to their friend and took no notice of the male authority figures uncovered a murder.
March 5, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
A fascinating deep dive into a murder case that’s over a century old, but still raises questions.
In Story of a Murder, Hallie Rubenhold revisits the 1910 murder of Belle Elmore and the trial of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen. It’s a case that had everything - a missing wife, a secret mistress, and a dramatic transatlantic manhunt.
I really liked how Rubenhold goes beyond the usual true crime retelling. She digs into the personal lives of Crippen, Ethel, and Belle, showing how their choices were shaped by the strict social norms of the time. She also highlights the flaws in the investigation and trial, raising some thought-provoking questions about what really happened.
I did wish there were more visuals, photos or maps would’ve brought the story to life, but the depth of research and fresh perspective more than make up for it.
I loved The Five and this is definitely a worthy successor.
A fascinating deep dive into a murder case that’s over a century old, but still raises questions.
In Story of a Murder, Hallie Rubenhold revisits the 1910 murder of Belle Elmore and the trial of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen. It’s a case that had everything - a missing wife, a secret mistress, and a dramatic transatlantic manhunt.
I really liked how Rubenhold goes beyond the usual true crime retelling. She digs into the personal lives of Crippen, Ethel, and Belle, showing how their choices were shaped by the strict social norms of the time. She also highlights the flaws in the investigation and trial, raising some thought-provoking questions about what really happened.
I did wish there were more visuals, photos or maps would’ve brought the story to life, but the depth of research and fresh perspective more than make up for it.
I loved The Five and this is definitely a worthy successor.
March 18, 2025
Hallie Rubenhold’s commitment to rewriting a history of women who have been unfairly treated by the chronicles of men is *chef’s kiss*
I adore her non-fiction books. The level of research and time and commitment to telling these stories is nothing short of astounding.
I hadn’t heard of this infamous true crime case before but I was gripped by her retelling, especially when it came to the court proceedings and the subsequent accounts of the events immortalised by various journalists, writers and thinkers since. I love the context Hallie Rubenhold gives to these various depictions of the characters in this case.
I’m going to read anything this women writes
I adore her non-fiction books. The level of research and time and commitment to telling these stories is nothing short of astounding.
I hadn’t heard of this infamous true crime case before but I was gripped by her retelling, especially when it came to the court proceedings and the subsequent accounts of the events immortalised by various journalists, writers and thinkers since. I love the context Hallie Rubenhold gives to these various depictions of the characters in this case.
I’m going to read anything this women writes
March 11, 2025
Compelling, emotional, and profoundly illuminating, ‘Story of a Murder� challenges the existing story of Dr Crippen by focusing instead on Charlotte, Belle and Ethel; the women whose stories have previously appeared as footnotes to the man who manipulated them.
Rubenhold has excavated these women from the confines of a deeply misogynistic history and offers a novel insight into their lives with all the mess and complexities of real people. This is a masterful work of narrative nonfiction and one I have found myself thinking about long after I had finished it.
Thank you to Penguin for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rubenhold has excavated these women from the confines of a deeply misogynistic history and offers a novel insight into their lives with all the mess and complexities of real people. This is a masterful work of narrative nonfiction and one I have found myself thinking about long after I had finished it.
Thank you to Penguin for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2025
People think they know the Dr Crippen case, but a lot of what is out there is legend, shaped by the social norms, prejudices and expectations of the time. This impacts how we perceive the victims, the crime and the perpetrator. It becomes entertainment and we can readily point blame at those who challenge norms. Hallie Rubenold turns this case on its head. As in The Five the victim, or more likely - victims, are front and centre. Their stories are powerfully reclaimed whilst the perpetrator is shown for the manipulative fraud he was.
This is a thoroughly researched, dramatic and compelling book that powerfully reorientates understands of the Crippen case and mercilessly critiques the society which allowed it to happen.
This is a thoroughly researched, dramatic and compelling book that powerfully reorientates understands of the Crippen case and mercilessly critiques the society which allowed it to happen.
February 28, 2025
Utterly phenomenal, as always Rubenhold's research is meticulous, especially in her unravelling of the inconsistencies surrounding the murders, identifying the biases of witnesses as well as the ever changing narratives created by Crippen and Ethel.
She captures the bleakness of humanity and an eerie sense of astonishment around Ethel in which her culpability seems undeniable and yet you seem to still know very little, a fascinating read. She brings life and beauty to the wives of Crippen and develops them as women with full lives, people they loved and affected, stories to tell, not merely bodies to be exhumed for titillation.
She captures the bleakness of humanity and an eerie sense of astonishment around Ethel in which her culpability seems undeniable and yet you seem to still know very little, a fascinating read. She brings life and beauty to the wives of Crippen and develops them as women with full lives, people they loved and affected, stories to tell, not merely bodies to be exhumed for titillation.
April 3, 2025
4.25
March 30, 2025
A well-executed piece of nonfiction, but I feel like it didn't have the same level of social commentary as the author's previous work.
March 30, 2025
“No murderer should ever be the guardian of their victim’s story, and yet this is the role that Hawley Harvey Crippen has always held.�
Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five, is back and this time deep diving into the North London Cellar Murder. This is a case that I had never heard of before picking up this book but was instantly sucked into once I started the story.
“Murders are horrific events� devastating, squalid and vicious. There is nothing that can mitigate the destructive impact of a life deliberately extinguished.�
Hawley Harvey Crippen was a homeopathic doctor, medicine dispenser, and swindler who was hanged in 1910 for the murder of his second wife, Cora Henrieetta Crippen, also known as Belle Elmore. Rubenhold takes us on a journey following Crippen’s life from his first wife, his second wife, his mistress, and his murder trial. She showcases the various levels of this story and all the different versions that have been told by publishers, and by Crippen and his mistress Ethel.
“Each account seems to contain at least a germ of truth, but the poetic license surrounding it makes it challenging to discern where the reality ends and the tall tale begins.�
This story sought to bring the truth about Belle Elmore to life, not just the fabricated lies that Crippen, Ethel, and others created after her murder to try and hide their crimes. It also challenged the possibility that Belle was not his first murder, his first wife Charlotte, died of a supposed stroke in 1892 at the age of 33. From the beginning, I was sucked into this tale of a medical doctor turned swindler and the murder that followed.
Belle Elmore was a very interesting woman. She was resilient and undaunted by what life threw at her. When Crippen convinced her to get an oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) and ruined her chances of having a family, she turned that passion into her career as a singer and entertainer. She joined the Music Hall Ladies� Guild and found a family who actually cared for her and it’s because of them that her murder was discovered. They didn’t give up or believe Crippen’s lies and they fought to find the truth which eventually led to the finding of her body. I really enjoyed learning about her story and how she made the best of her life. It does suck though that she has been sensationalized as a horrible woman who deserved her fate because of Crippen’s lies and those who believed his innocence's determination to cast her as such.
Ethel La Neve was Crippen’s typist and mistress for close to ten years. He basically groomed her into having an affair with him, which is so gross but sadly was common during that time. Ethel was an extremely interesting woman who wanted more from her life and potentially went to deadly lengths to get it. She was an accomplished liar and swindler, just like Crippen. She knew how to manipulate those around her in an attempt to get what she wanted. But, because she is such an unreliable narrator, it is very hard to determine from her many different versions of events what is true. Rubenhold does a great job at presenting these different versions and trying to parse out what might be the truth within.
While Ethel clearly had some part of this murder, she was acquitted of any wrongdoing because the inspectors really just wanted Crippen’s conviction, not hers. They viewed her as just a normal Edwardian woman who had been corrupted by Crippen and led astray. I was very surprised by this because I really thought after all the work they put into Crippen’s case that they would try to convict Ethel just as hard, but it was the opposite. Ethel lived a life after the trial and eventually would marry and have children, children who never knew about her past, which is very surprising. I really like that Rubenhold included Ethel’s life after the trial, especially considering she was interviewed multiple times afterwards and presented all new lies to the world.
Crippen’s trial was very well publicized and documented.. He really tried to sensationalize his love for Ethel in the hopes it would sway the courts to not hang him. This book provides quotes from his letters and the trial that really helped showcase the different sides of this man, especially that the man who didn’t really seem remorseful. Like everyone, there are multiple sides to each person and I think Rubenhold really does a great job at showcasing that for Crippen, Ethel, and Belle. She doesn’t just present one side of the story, she attempts to present all of it, which I think she sums up perfectly in this quote.
“It feels uncomfortable to acknowledge nuance in something so atrocious as a murder, but human beings are morally ambiguous creatures and therefore nothing is ever as straightforward as we would like it to be…Ethel was a devoted sister and mother; Crippen was once just a young man who wanted to be a doctor; and Belle was not perfect. However, she does not deserve to be depicted or remembered in the manner that she has been. Her murderer should not have the final word.�
Overall, just like her first book, I was absorbed into this story of murder and I couldn’t put it down. While I may have never heard of this murder before, I still loved getting sucked into all the different layers that lead to the death of a Belle. I highly recommend this book if you like reading about murders and true crime.
TW: abortion; murder; sterilization; grooming; miscarriage; disturbing medical discussions and procedures for women; domestic abuse;
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five, is back and this time deep diving into the North London Cellar Murder. This is a case that I had never heard of before picking up this book but was instantly sucked into once I started the story.
“Murders are horrific events� devastating, squalid and vicious. There is nothing that can mitigate the destructive impact of a life deliberately extinguished.�
Hawley Harvey Crippen was a homeopathic doctor, medicine dispenser, and swindler who was hanged in 1910 for the murder of his second wife, Cora Henrieetta Crippen, also known as Belle Elmore. Rubenhold takes us on a journey following Crippen’s life from his first wife, his second wife, his mistress, and his murder trial. She showcases the various levels of this story and all the different versions that have been told by publishers, and by Crippen and his mistress Ethel.
“Each account seems to contain at least a germ of truth, but the poetic license surrounding it makes it challenging to discern where the reality ends and the tall tale begins.�
This story sought to bring the truth about Belle Elmore to life, not just the fabricated lies that Crippen, Ethel, and others created after her murder to try and hide their crimes. It also challenged the possibility that Belle was not his first murder, his first wife Charlotte, died of a supposed stroke in 1892 at the age of 33. From the beginning, I was sucked into this tale of a medical doctor turned swindler and the murder that followed.
Belle Elmore was a very interesting woman. She was resilient and undaunted by what life threw at her. When Crippen convinced her to get an oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) and ruined her chances of having a family, she turned that passion into her career as a singer and entertainer. She joined the Music Hall Ladies� Guild and found a family who actually cared for her and it’s because of them that her murder was discovered. They didn’t give up or believe Crippen’s lies and they fought to find the truth which eventually led to the finding of her body. I really enjoyed learning about her story and how she made the best of her life. It does suck though that she has been sensationalized as a horrible woman who deserved her fate because of Crippen’s lies and those who believed his innocence's determination to cast her as such.
Ethel La Neve was Crippen’s typist and mistress for close to ten years. He basically groomed her into having an affair with him, which is so gross but sadly was common during that time. Ethel was an extremely interesting woman who wanted more from her life and potentially went to deadly lengths to get it. She was an accomplished liar and swindler, just like Crippen. She knew how to manipulate those around her in an attempt to get what she wanted. But, because she is such an unreliable narrator, it is very hard to determine from her many different versions of events what is true. Rubenhold does a great job at presenting these different versions and trying to parse out what might be the truth within.
While Ethel clearly had some part of this murder, she was acquitted of any wrongdoing because the inspectors really just wanted Crippen’s conviction, not hers. They viewed her as just a normal Edwardian woman who had been corrupted by Crippen and led astray. I was very surprised by this because I really thought after all the work they put into Crippen’s case that they would try to convict Ethel just as hard, but it was the opposite. Ethel lived a life after the trial and eventually would marry and have children, children who never knew about her past, which is very surprising. I really like that Rubenhold included Ethel’s life after the trial, especially considering she was interviewed multiple times afterwards and presented all new lies to the world.
Crippen’s trial was very well publicized and documented.. He really tried to sensationalize his love for Ethel in the hopes it would sway the courts to not hang him. This book provides quotes from his letters and the trial that really helped showcase the different sides of this man, especially that the man who didn’t really seem remorseful. Like everyone, there are multiple sides to each person and I think Rubenhold really does a great job at showcasing that for Crippen, Ethel, and Belle. She doesn’t just present one side of the story, she attempts to present all of it, which I think she sums up perfectly in this quote.
“It feels uncomfortable to acknowledge nuance in something so atrocious as a murder, but human beings are morally ambiguous creatures and therefore nothing is ever as straightforward as we would like it to be…Ethel was a devoted sister and mother; Crippen was once just a young man who wanted to be a doctor; and Belle was not perfect. However, she does not deserve to be depicted or remembered in the manner that she has been. Her murderer should not have the final word.�
Overall, just like her first book, I was absorbed into this story of murder and I couldn’t put it down. While I may have never heard of this murder before, I still loved getting sucked into all the different layers that lead to the death of a Belle. I highly recommend this book if you like reading about murders and true crime.
TW: abortion; murder; sterilization; grooming; miscarriage; disturbing medical discussions and procedures for women; domestic abuse;
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
March 12, 2025
I have read a lot of true crime so I must admit I wasn’t sure what Hallie Rubenhold would find to say on the subject of Dr Crippen, wife murderer. I suspected it was a case that been well covered already. Of course I was wrong and Hallie Rubenhold found so many new aspects of the case to write about.
Firstly Belle Elmore became more of a real person. She was a woman who had at least three different names, she was a queen of reinvention. When she married Dr. Crippen he ensured that children would not be in their future. Belle came to terms with that by setting her sights on becoming an opera singer. When that didn’t work for her she became a music hall singer instead. She was flamboyant and put herself forward. She was the epitome of the new women who were gaining a small particle of independence for themselves. Her time in the music halls played a big part in her story because it meant she became part of the Music Hall Ladies Guild. A group of organised women who were the ones to notice when she went missing. These women were the ones who weren’t put off by Crippen’s excuses and forged letters. They continued to ask what had happened to their friend, where exactly was she, and why is her husband was out at social gatherings his typist who wearing Belle’s jewellery.
Secondly Hallie Rubenhold tackles Ethel Le Neve, Crippen’s typist. A woman who presented herself as quiet and meek but who nonetheless had an affair with her employer over the course of years. The authors uncovering of Ethel’s character is really fascinating. Her life after the events of the 1910’s was an interesting addendum.
Remarkably this tale of violence and death was traditionally seen as a romance between two people in love but kept apart by a loud brash unlikable woman. Reports were so skewed that eventually it came to be viewed that It was best for everyone that Belle should die. Rubenhold pins down the origin of this impression and she calls it out for what it was a romanticisation of an all too common tale of uxoricide.
This book is such an eye opening read. I should never have doubted the author.
Thank you very much to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
Firstly Belle Elmore became more of a real person. She was a woman who had at least three different names, she was a queen of reinvention. When she married Dr. Crippen he ensured that children would not be in their future. Belle came to terms with that by setting her sights on becoming an opera singer. When that didn’t work for her she became a music hall singer instead. She was flamboyant and put herself forward. She was the epitome of the new women who were gaining a small particle of independence for themselves. Her time in the music halls played a big part in her story because it meant she became part of the Music Hall Ladies Guild. A group of organised women who were the ones to notice when she went missing. These women were the ones who weren’t put off by Crippen’s excuses and forged letters. They continued to ask what had happened to their friend, where exactly was she, and why is her husband was out at social gatherings his typist who wearing Belle’s jewellery.
Secondly Hallie Rubenhold tackles Ethel Le Neve, Crippen’s typist. A woman who presented herself as quiet and meek but who nonetheless had an affair with her employer over the course of years. The authors uncovering of Ethel’s character is really fascinating. Her life after the events of the 1910’s was an interesting addendum.
Remarkably this tale of violence and death was traditionally seen as a romance between two people in love but kept apart by a loud brash unlikable woman. Reports were so skewed that eventually it came to be viewed that It was best for everyone that Belle should die. Rubenhold pins down the origin of this impression and she calls it out for what it was a romanticisation of an all too common tale of uxoricide.
This book is such an eye opening read. I should never have doubted the author.
Thank you very much to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
March 24, 2025
Story of a Murder by Hallie Rubenhold offers a gripping and nuanced exploration of the lives of three women at the heart of one of history's most notorious criminal cases. Set against a backdrop of rapid societal change, the story delves into the lives of Charlotte, Crippen's first wife, whose mysterious death set off a chain of events; Ethel, his mistress, who feigned ignorance while fleeing with Crippen disguised as his son; and Belle, the woman whose life was tragically taken by Crippen.
For decades, the story of the Crippen murder was framed to cast doubt on his guilt and to blame his wife for her own demise. Shockingly, Crippen’s young mistress, Ethel, was often portrayed as an innocent bystander in the crime. However, new evidence uncovered by Rubenhold challenges these longstanding assumptions and reshapes the narrative, offering a radical rethinking of the case. This book reveals the untold stories of Charlotte, Belle, and Ethel, showing that they were far more than the passive victims history has long depicted. Through this reexamination, Story of a Murder also critiques Edwardian views on women, class, and society, reshaping our understanding of this infamous event.
This is an exceptionally well researched and well written book. It really turns this story around and presents the story of the women rather than the story of the murderer. It delves into the women's lives to provide context to their stories rather than relying on the narrative of a murderer. Really well done non-fiction that I gave 4.25 stars.
Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group Dutton for my advance reader copy. This book comes out on March 25, 2025.
For decades, the story of the Crippen murder was framed to cast doubt on his guilt and to blame his wife for her own demise. Shockingly, Crippen’s young mistress, Ethel, was often portrayed as an innocent bystander in the crime. However, new evidence uncovered by Rubenhold challenges these longstanding assumptions and reshapes the narrative, offering a radical rethinking of the case. This book reveals the untold stories of Charlotte, Belle, and Ethel, showing that they were far more than the passive victims history has long depicted. Through this reexamination, Story of a Murder also critiques Edwardian views on women, class, and society, reshaping our understanding of this infamous event.
This is an exceptionally well researched and well written book. It really turns this story around and presents the story of the women rather than the story of the murderer. It delves into the women's lives to provide context to their stories rather than relying on the narrative of a murderer. Really well done non-fiction that I gave 4.25 stars.
Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group Dutton for my advance reader copy. This book comes out on March 25, 2025.
March 3, 2025
Another must read from Hallie Rubenhold!
After reading The Five, I’ve eagerly anticipated another book from Rubenhold and Story of a Murder is well worth the wait.
Rubenhold’s writing makes for easy reading even if the subject matter is horrific. I particularly enjoy how the focus of her work is primarily on the victims and not the perpetrators as well as the amount of research done which is clearly evident in the list of references as well as the “cast� list at the beginning of the book.
For me, the only thing that let the book down was a lack of pictures which would have created additional depth to the story. Otherwise, an incredible book well worth reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC.
After reading The Five, I’ve eagerly anticipated another book from Rubenhold and Story of a Murder is well worth the wait.
Rubenhold’s writing makes for easy reading even if the subject matter is horrific. I particularly enjoy how the focus of her work is primarily on the victims and not the perpetrators as well as the amount of research done which is clearly evident in the list of references as well as the “cast� list at the beginning of the book.
For me, the only thing that let the book down was a lack of pictures which would have created additional depth to the story. Otherwise, an incredible book well worth reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC.
March 18, 2025
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
Hallie Rubenhold is excellent at crafting historical true crime stories, and exposing the humanity of victims and the people involved in these cases. As the book title says, this is the story of a murder, not a murderer, and it's really well done.
Hallie Rubenhold is excellent at crafting historical true crime stories, and exposing the humanity of victims and the people involved in these cases. As the book title says, this is the story of a murder, not a murderer, and it's really well done.
March 31, 2025
Hallie Rubenhold and Juliet Stevenson is a match made in heaven. Pick up the audiobook for this one!
April 3, 2025
A must read for true crime fans very detailed and easy to read
March 25, 2025
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.com.
First line: No murderer should ever be the guardian of their victim’s story, and yet this is the role of Hawley Harvey Crippen has always held.
Summary: Belle Elmore, wife of Hawley Harvey Crippen and vaudeville actress, was found buried in the basement of her home in July 1910. In Story of a Murder Rubenhold examines the women involved with the case and details out the events leading up to the arrest of Crippen for the murder of his wife. For years writers have placed the blame on Belle for her own death but Rubenhold gives back her story while breaking down the subjects of class, misogyny and the role of women in Edwardian society.
My Thoughts: As with The Five Rubenhold gives back the humanity to her subject. Her latest work dives deep into the Edwardian world and the murder case that captivated the masses on both sides of the Atlantic. I had never heard of the Crippen murder which gave me no preconceptions going into the narrative. The story starts out with Crippen’s life, education, work experience and first marriage. As she builds on these points we see the path leading us to the winter of 1910.
I find Rubenhold’s writing to be superb. I easily get drawn into the story as if I was reading fiction. Belle was not perfect and Rubenhold doesn’t try to portray her that way. She had flaws but nothing she did gave Crippen the right to do to her what he did. After Belle’s disappearance I loved how the research showed her friends doing all they could to find answers. The persisted against the male dominated world to try and find justice for their friend. It shows how much this woman meant to those around her.
The other woman the author examines is Crippen’s mistress, Ethel Le Neve. What did she truly know about the events surrounding the death of Belle Elmore? As the evidence is laid out and the narrative given for years is challenged, it leaves the reader questioning Ethel’s role in Belle’s death. We are taken through Ethel’s life and choices on her way to meeting Crippen. This new insight into the case gives a whole new dimension to the woman who was only considered a bystander at the time.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a true crime story and women’s history. After reading it let me know what you think! Are you convinced by Rubenhold’s assessment or do you stand with the courts of Edwardian England?
First line: No murderer should ever be the guardian of their victim’s story, and yet this is the role of Hawley Harvey Crippen has always held.
Summary: Belle Elmore, wife of Hawley Harvey Crippen and vaudeville actress, was found buried in the basement of her home in July 1910. In Story of a Murder Rubenhold examines the women involved with the case and details out the events leading up to the arrest of Crippen for the murder of his wife. For years writers have placed the blame on Belle for her own death but Rubenhold gives back her story while breaking down the subjects of class, misogyny and the role of women in Edwardian society.
My Thoughts: As with The Five Rubenhold gives back the humanity to her subject. Her latest work dives deep into the Edwardian world and the murder case that captivated the masses on both sides of the Atlantic. I had never heard of the Crippen murder which gave me no preconceptions going into the narrative. The story starts out with Crippen’s life, education, work experience and first marriage. As she builds on these points we see the path leading us to the winter of 1910.
I find Rubenhold’s writing to be superb. I easily get drawn into the story as if I was reading fiction. Belle was not perfect and Rubenhold doesn’t try to portray her that way. She had flaws but nothing she did gave Crippen the right to do to her what he did. After Belle’s disappearance I loved how the research showed her friends doing all they could to find answers. The persisted against the male dominated world to try and find justice for their friend. It shows how much this woman meant to those around her.
The other woman the author examines is Crippen’s mistress, Ethel Le Neve. What did she truly know about the events surrounding the death of Belle Elmore? As the evidence is laid out and the narrative given for years is challenged, it leaves the reader questioning Ethel’s role in Belle’s death. We are taken through Ethel’s life and choices on her way to meeting Crippen. This new insight into the case gives a whole new dimension to the woman who was only considered a bystander at the time.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a true crime story and women’s history. After reading it let me know what you think! Are you convinced by Rubenhold’s assessment or do you stand with the courts of Edwardian England?
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