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The Mouthless Dead
A powerful and gripping crime novel based on the Wallace Murder, a national cause célèbre of the 1930s and still unsolved today, by the author of Curtain Call and Our Friends in Berlin
One night in 1931 William Wallace was handed a phone message at his chess club from a Mr Qualtrough, asking him to meet at an address to discuss some work. Wallace caught a tram from the home he shared with his wife, Julia, to the address which turned out, after Wallace had consulted passers-by and even a policeman, to not exist.
On returning home two hours later he found his wife lying murdered in the parlour. The elaborate nature of his alibi pointed to Wallace as the culprit. He was arrested and tried, found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang, but the next month the Court of Criminal Appeal overturned the verdict and he walked free.
Fifteen years on, the inspector who worked the case is considering it once more. Speculation continues to be rife over the true killer's identity. James Agate in his diary called it 'the perfect murder', Raymond Chandler said 'The case is unbeatable. It will always be unbeatable'. And on a cruise in 1947, new information is about to come to light.
One night in 1931 William Wallace was handed a phone message at his chess club from a Mr Qualtrough, asking him to meet at an address to discuss some work. Wallace caught a tram from the home he shared with his wife, Julia, to the address which turned out, after Wallace had consulted passers-by and even a policeman, to not exist.
On returning home two hours later he found his wife lying murdered in the parlour. The elaborate nature of his alibi pointed to Wallace as the culprit. He was arrested and tried, found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang, but the next month the Court of Criminal Appeal overturned the verdict and he walked free.
Fifteen years on, the inspector who worked the case is considering it once more. Speculation continues to be rife over the true killer's identity. James Agate in his diary called it 'the perfect murder', Raymond Chandler said 'The case is unbeatable. It will always be unbeatable'. And on a cruise in 1947, new information is about to come to light.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2025
29 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Quinn
16 books128 followersAnthony Quinn was born in Liverpool in 1964. Since 1998 he has been the film critic of the Independent. His debut novel The Rescue Man won the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award. His second novel Half of the Human Race was released in spring 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 16, 2025
I finished this book last month shortly after starting it -- the truth is that I couldn't put it down. It was that good.
between a 4 and a 4.5
full post is here at my reading journal:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2025/05/...
I don't remember how I happened upon this book, but I was hooked from the moment I read the blurb and knew I had to have it. For one thing, it turns out to be a novel based on the brutal murder of Mrs. Julia Wallace that happened in Liverpool back in 1931, which was blamed on her husband, and I love historical crime, both fact and fiction. The other thing that piqued my interest is that despite all of my ramblings in true crime from the UK, I had never heard of this case before, so while I was waiting for my book to arrive I spent quite a bit of time doing some research. It was a case which Raymond Chandler regarded as "unbeatable. It will always be unbeatable" and about which he also said that it was an "impossible murder because Wallace couldn't have done it and neither could anyone else." So now I'm hooked and my book isn't even here yet. By the time it actually arrived I was already primed, ready to dive in, and I was not disappointed. Not at all.
In the Acknowledgments section of the book, the author notes that he "owes this book to a conversation" he'd had that had "triggered" a childhood memory. He remembered his parents talking about it once, likely because his family had lived very close to Menlove Gardens, where Wallace was supposed to go to meet the mysterious Mr. Qualtrough. As he says, "the story came out like a revenant from the darkness of forgetting, and I knew I had to retell it." The author's done a great job here, bringing in the historical record of the Wallace case complete with police work and materials from the trials, solidly landing the reader back in 1930s Liverpool. However, the real genius at work here is that the retelling is offered to us via the fictional Key's perspective, suffusing the narrative with an unexpected intensity, so much so that I could not put this book down.
The Mouthless Dead is both a gripping, engrossing tale and a keenly observed study of character, one that I can recommend very highly to readers who enjoy historical crime fiction or well-written, intelligent crime novels. It's also a book I won't soon forget. Very well done.
between a 4 and a 4.5
full post is here at my reading journal:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2025/05/...
I don't remember how I happened upon this book, but I was hooked from the moment I read the blurb and knew I had to have it. For one thing, it turns out to be a novel based on the brutal murder of Mrs. Julia Wallace that happened in Liverpool back in 1931, which was blamed on her husband, and I love historical crime, both fact and fiction. The other thing that piqued my interest is that despite all of my ramblings in true crime from the UK, I had never heard of this case before, so while I was waiting for my book to arrive I spent quite a bit of time doing some research. It was a case which Raymond Chandler regarded as "unbeatable. It will always be unbeatable" and about which he also said that it was an "impossible murder because Wallace couldn't have done it and neither could anyone else." So now I'm hooked and my book isn't even here yet. By the time it actually arrived I was already primed, ready to dive in, and I was not disappointed. Not at all.
In the Acknowledgments section of the book, the author notes that he "owes this book to a conversation" he'd had that had "triggered" a childhood memory. He remembered his parents talking about it once, likely because his family had lived very close to Menlove Gardens, where Wallace was supposed to go to meet the mysterious Mr. Qualtrough. As he says, "the story came out like a revenant from the darkness of forgetting, and I knew I had to retell it." The author's done a great job here, bringing in the historical record of the Wallace case complete with police work and materials from the trials, solidly landing the reader back in 1930s Liverpool. However, the real genius at work here is that the retelling is offered to us via the fictional Key's perspective, suffusing the narrative with an unexpected intensity, so much so that I could not put this book down.
The Mouthless Dead is both a gripping, engrossing tale and a keenly observed study of character, one that I can recommend very highly to readers who enjoy historical crime fiction or well-written, intelligent crime novels. It's also a book I won't soon forget. Very well done.
February 10, 2025
The murder of Julia Wallace in Liverpool in 1931 remains unsolved and has been declared by many to be ‘the perfect murder’. Her husband was tried and sentenced to death for the crime but later cleared at the court of appeal. Many writers, including PD James, have investigated the case and have published books detailing their own theories about who the murderer was. Although there is an outstanding candidate, he is now dead and so the truth is unlikely ever to be known.
Anthony Quinn has written a fictional account of the murder in which he creates a new, very unlikely, suspect. We join ex DI Key on a transatlantic cruise in the 1940s during which he discusses his involvement in the investigation with a young would-be film director who wants to make a movie about the case. This results in the young man’s suspicions being raised as to Key’s role in the crime. My credibility became more and more stretched as events unfolded but I was interested enough to follow through to the end, mainly due to the book being based on actual events.
This isn’t a great read but it’s interesting inasmuch as it recounts the murder trial and subsequent appeal and introduced me to a case of which I was only vaguely aware. It becomes a bit silly towards the end though and I really couldn’t take it seriously. That’s just my personal reaction, of course, and I can appreciate that other, less cynical, readers will be able to suspend their disbelief more successfully!
With thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a review copy.
Anthony Quinn has written a fictional account of the murder in which he creates a new, very unlikely, suspect. We join ex DI Key on a transatlantic cruise in the 1940s during which he discusses his involvement in the investigation with a young would-be film director who wants to make a movie about the case. This results in the young man’s suspicions being raised as to Key’s role in the crime. My credibility became more and more stretched as events unfolded but I was interested enough to follow through to the end, mainly due to the book being based on actual events.
This isn’t a great read but it’s interesting inasmuch as it recounts the murder trial and subsequent appeal and introduced me to a case of which I was only vaguely aware. It becomes a bit silly towards the end though and I really couldn’t take it seriously. That’s just my personal reaction, of course, and I can appreciate that other, less cynical, readers will be able to suspend their disbelief more successfully!
With thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a review copy.
March 19, 2025
The Mouthless Dead is inspired by a real case - the murder of Julia Wallace in 1931. It's a crime which remains unsolved to this day. Quite a few people, including the author P. D. James, have had a go at trying to identify the culprit without ever coming up with a definitive answer. I had never heard of the case but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. Frankly, the author could have invented the case and the book would still have made a gripping read.
Although many of the characters are real and events such as the trial follow the historical record, the author has created a fictional character, Detective Inspector Key who was involved in investigating the case many years before but has now retired from the police force. It is from his point of view the story unfolds as he ponders writing a memoir about the case, for his own personal satisfaction rather than with any intention it should be published.
What is particularly brilliant is the detailed back story the author creates for Key. The cruel treatment he suffered whilst a pupil of a Jesuit college. His traumatic experiences during the First World War during which he lost comrades in the most dreadful fashion. His personal life, that has been a series of disappointments, leaving him living alone. He misses the camaraderie of the police force and, although a keen member of a chess club, he has time on his hands. Hence his decision to take a transatlantic cruise to New York.
On board he meets a young woman, Lydia Tarrant, who is travelling with her rather over-protective mother and they strike up a friendship. Two becomes three when aspiring film maker, Teddy Absolom, joins their conversations around the swimming pool. Discovering Key's involvement with the celebrated Wallace case, both Teddy and Lydia are eager to learn more about it. It soon emerges that Key has an unique perspective on the case. But how much of what he reveals is the truth and how much the product of his imagination born out of a desire to impress Lydia or provide Teddy with the perfect screenplay for a suspense film?
It's difficult to say more for fear of spoilers but safe to say the author will keep you guessing until the end. Possibly even after that.
The Mouthless Dead is an imaginative and compelling take on a true crime story. It's also a fascinating social history of middle-class life in Liverpool in the 1930s.
Although many of the characters are real and events such as the trial follow the historical record, the author has created a fictional character, Detective Inspector Key who was involved in investigating the case many years before but has now retired from the police force. It is from his point of view the story unfolds as he ponders writing a memoir about the case, for his own personal satisfaction rather than with any intention it should be published.
What is particularly brilliant is the detailed back story the author creates for Key. The cruel treatment he suffered whilst a pupil of a Jesuit college. His traumatic experiences during the First World War during which he lost comrades in the most dreadful fashion. His personal life, that has been a series of disappointments, leaving him living alone. He misses the camaraderie of the police force and, although a keen member of a chess club, he has time on his hands. Hence his decision to take a transatlantic cruise to New York.
On board he meets a young woman, Lydia Tarrant, who is travelling with her rather over-protective mother and they strike up a friendship. Two becomes three when aspiring film maker, Teddy Absolom, joins their conversations around the swimming pool. Discovering Key's involvement with the celebrated Wallace case, both Teddy and Lydia are eager to learn more about it. It soon emerges that Key has an unique perspective on the case. But how much of what he reveals is the truth and how much the product of his imagination born out of a desire to impress Lydia or provide Teddy with the perfect screenplay for a suspense film?
It's difficult to say more for fear of spoilers but safe to say the author will keep you guessing until the end. Possibly even after that.
The Mouthless Dead is an imaginative and compelling take on a true crime story. It's also a fascinating social history of middle-class life in Liverpool in the 1930s.
October 30, 2025
Based on a true story, this offered another perspective to a "perfect murder." Lots of twists and turns along the way for this atmospheric offering.
November 20, 2025
I like what I have read by Anthony Quinn however The Mouthless Dead (2025), which is splendid for the first half, gets increasingly silly and I was quite disappointed by the end.
The novel is inspired by the infamous Wallace Murder case in Liverpool in 1931. I knew little about this case and felt well informed by the end. The murder, which resulted in a conviction, was overturned on appeal, and remains officially unsolved. Julia Wallace was the victim and her husband, William Wallace, an insurance agent, was initially convicted but later freed on appeal.
The novel is set in 1947, and so 15 years on from the murder. Half the narrative takes place on a transatlantic cruise. Detective Inspector Key is a retired policeman who worked the original case and who was acquainted with Wallace. During the cruise Key recounts the murder to two intrigued fellow passengers and eventually provides the solution to the killer's identity.
The extent to which you might enjoy this will depend upon your ability to suspend disbelief. As I stated at the outset, I thought it became increasingly silly, bordering on preposterous. That said, as a way of learning about the case, and for a compelling evocation of the era, the investigation, and the court cases it is worth a read.
3/5
A powerful and gripping crime novel based on the Wallace Murder, a national cause célèbre of the 1930s and still unsolved today, by the author of Curtain Call and Our Friends in Berlin
One night in 1931 William Wallace was handed a phone message at his chess club from a Mr Qualtrough, asking him to meet at an address to discuss some work. Wallace caught a tram from the home he shared with his wife, Julia, to the address which turned out, after Wallace had consulted passers-by and even a policeman, to not exist.
On returning home two hours later he found his wife lying murdered in the parlour. The elaborate nature of his alibi pointed to Wallace as the culprit. He was arrested and tried, found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang, but the next month the Court of Criminal Appeal overturned the verdict and he walked free.
Fifteen years on, the inspector who worked the case is considering it once more. Speculation continues to be rife over the true killer's identity. James Agate in his diary called it 'the perfect murder', Raymond Chandler said 'The case is unbeatable. It will always be unbeatable'. And on a cruise in 1947, new information is about to come to light.
The novel is inspired by the infamous Wallace Murder case in Liverpool in 1931. I knew little about this case and felt well informed by the end. The murder, which resulted in a conviction, was overturned on appeal, and remains officially unsolved. Julia Wallace was the victim and her husband, William Wallace, an insurance agent, was initially convicted but later freed on appeal.
The novel is set in 1947, and so 15 years on from the murder. Half the narrative takes place on a transatlantic cruise. Detective Inspector Key is a retired policeman who worked the original case and who was acquainted with Wallace. During the cruise Key recounts the murder to two intrigued fellow passengers and eventually provides the solution to the killer's identity.
The extent to which you might enjoy this will depend upon your ability to suspend disbelief. As I stated at the outset, I thought it became increasingly silly, bordering on preposterous. That said, as a way of learning about the case, and for a compelling evocation of the era, the investigation, and the court cases it is worth a read.
3/5
A powerful and gripping crime novel based on the Wallace Murder, a national cause célèbre of the 1930s and still unsolved today, by the author of Curtain Call and Our Friends in Berlin
One night in 1931 William Wallace was handed a phone message at his chess club from a Mr Qualtrough, asking him to meet at an address to discuss some work. Wallace caught a tram from the home he shared with his wife, Julia, to the address which turned out, after Wallace had consulted passers-by and even a policeman, to not exist.
On returning home two hours later he found his wife lying murdered in the parlour. The elaborate nature of his alibi pointed to Wallace as the culprit. He was arrested and tried, found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang, but the next month the Court of Criminal Appeal overturned the verdict and he walked free.
Fifteen years on, the inspector who worked the case is considering it once more. Speculation continues to be rife over the true killer's identity. James Agate in his diary called it 'the perfect murder', Raymond Chandler said 'The case is unbeatable. It will always be unbeatable'. And on a cruise in 1947, new information is about to come to light.
June 9, 2025
In 1931 William Herbert Wallace found himself at the centre of a sensational murder case involving his wife, Julia.
Wallace was at his chess club on an ordinary evening when he received a call asking him to go meet a friend in an house in another part of Liverpool. After a convoluted journey, Wallace arrived, but the address did not exist. When he returned home, he found his wife violently murdered. He was the obvious culprit but couldn't have committed the crime given his alibi. After 15 years without resolution or conviction a chance meeting begins the unravelling of the mystery.
Quinn does period crime very well, and this is no exception.
Retired Detective Inspector Key is aboard a cruise ship when he is approached to help write a film script of the case, which he was directly involved with 15 years before. By chance, Key attended the same chess club as Wallace.
The novel follows a whodunnit pattern, but across three timelines, which can be confusing at times. Despite that, and a rather obvious twist in the tail, Quinn’s writing is enjoyable. He is a master of describing a historic location, and conjures vivid images of Liverpool between the wars. His characters are convincingly sketched also.
Wallace was at his chess club on an ordinary evening when he received a call asking him to go meet a friend in an house in another part of Liverpool. After a convoluted journey, Wallace arrived, but the address did not exist. When he returned home, he found his wife violently murdered. He was the obvious culprit but couldn't have committed the crime given his alibi. After 15 years without resolution or conviction a chance meeting begins the unravelling of the mystery.
Quinn does period crime very well, and this is no exception.
Retired Detective Inspector Key is aboard a cruise ship when he is approached to help write a film script of the case, which he was directly involved with 15 years before. By chance, Key attended the same chess club as Wallace.
The novel follows a whodunnit pattern, but across three timelines, which can be confusing at times. Despite that, and a rather obvious twist in the tail, Quinn’s writing is enjoyable. He is a master of describing a historic location, and conjures vivid images of Liverpool between the wars. His characters are convincingly sketched also.
July 23, 2025
Such a clever, twisty, twisted novel. Nothing is quite as it seems and no-one is quite as they appear in this totally engrossing story, based (loosely I presume) on a real life crime. I love Anthony Quinn's writing style (Curtain Call is excellent) and it suits this story perfectly. Highly recommended.
April 2, 2025
I love a fictionalised story about true events and that is what you have here. I hadn’t heard of the Wallace Murder before this but have read around it since and the author clearly did a great job of researching the case. In 1931 William Wallace, an insurance salesman, goes to meet a potential new client who doesn’t exist! Returning home he finds his wife Julia bludgeoned to death. The book opens in 1947 where the detective from the case, (fictional character) Detective Inspector Key, now retired, is on a transatlantic cruise.
Briefly, Wallace is arrested for the murder of his wife and sentenced to death but on appeal is released. Key has never gotten over the fact that the case remains unsolved. He is thinking about writing a memoir about the case and whilst on the cruise he befriends three people and tells them his tale. One of them is a filmmaker and together they discuss the case in an attempt to solve the mystery.
Although fictional Key is a really good, well fleshed character. From his schooldays at a Jesuit college, the trauma of WWII through to his police career and subsequent retirement his life has been full but with much sadness. The story itself is horrifying and all the more so because it is true and to this day remains unsolved. This is going to be particularly fascinating for anyone who knows Liverpool as the author has described it, in this era, so well. A fascinating and entertaining read. I enjoyed it.
Briefly, Wallace is arrested for the murder of his wife and sentenced to death but on appeal is released. Key has never gotten over the fact that the case remains unsolved. He is thinking about writing a memoir about the case and whilst on the cruise he befriends three people and tells them his tale. One of them is a filmmaker and together they discuss the case in an attempt to solve the mystery.
Although fictional Key is a really good, well fleshed character. From his schooldays at a Jesuit college, the trauma of WWII through to his police career and subsequent retirement his life has been full but with much sadness. The story itself is horrifying and all the more so because it is true and to this day remains unsolved. This is going to be particularly fascinating for anyone who knows Liverpool as the author has described it, in this era, so well. A fascinating and entertaining read. I enjoyed it.
March 21, 2025
IN 1931 William Wallace went to a business meeting. The address did not exist so he returned home to find wife Julia brutally murdered.
Wallace was tried, sentenced to hang, but sensationally freed on appeal. This true crime was never solved.
The fiction begins when a detective on the case, now retired, takes a cruise to New York. Key befriends Lydia and young Teddy.
They work on a Hollywood film script about the murder that slowly peels away layers of emotion and deception.
This clever book creeps up on you like a frog in boiling water.
Wallace was tried, sentenced to hang, but sensationally freed on appeal. This true crime was never solved.
The fiction begins when a detective on the case, now retired, takes a cruise to New York. Key befriends Lydia and young Teddy.
They work on a Hollywood film script about the murder that slowly peels away layers of emotion and deception.
This clever book creeps up on you like a frog in boiling water.
March 19, 2025
4.5 stars. Review to follow...
July 17, 2025
Drags quite a bit, but a very clever solution to a never solved crime. 7/10
June 23, 2025
A riveting fictionalisation of a real life murder case in 1930s Liverpool. The settings and the 1930s period detail are skilfully presented and, after many twists and turns, Anthony Quinn provides a solution to a case which, in reality, has remained unsolved.
April 9, 2025
I’ve loved Anthony Quinn’s previous novels so was looking forward to reading The Mouthless Dead, a fictional account of the true life Wallace case. In 1931 in Anfield in Liverpool, William Wallace , an insurance agent discovers his wife’s dead body and he is soon seen by the police as the prime suspect in her murder. I’d never heard of this case before but Quinn brings the period and the characters to life in a very cleverly constructed crime novel. The main character in this novel is the fictional detective Key, now retired and on a cruise to America where he relates his part in the investigation to those he meets and the novel moves between this narrative and the time of the appalling crime in the 1930s
I loved the atmospheric 1930s setting of the novel and Quinn is a master of creating a real sense of time and place. Liverpool is a city I love and am familiar with so enjoyed reading about the landmarks of the city.
A well written and thought provoking novel that I’d recommend.
I loved the atmospheric 1930s setting of the novel and Quinn is a master of creating a real sense of time and place. Liverpool is a city I love and am familiar with so enjoyed reading about the landmarks of the city.
A well written and thought provoking novel that I’d recommend.
May 1, 2025
Inventiveness defined.
A true-life story about a “perfect murder”/unsolved crime in Liverpool around which Quinn spins his own yarn, with an imagined conclusion - or is it? - arrived at during an Atlantic crossing. Masterful in language, intrigue, suspense, and surprise, as we’ve come to expect from this author.
Suspend reality (if the book’s gritty situations so allow) and immerse yourself in the prose, the atmosphere, and the narrative jolts at which Anthony Quinn excels.
A true-life story about a “perfect murder”/unsolved crime in Liverpool around which Quinn spins his own yarn, with an imagined conclusion - or is it? - arrived at during an Atlantic crossing. Masterful in language, intrigue, suspense, and surprise, as we’ve come to expect from this author.
Suspend reality (if the book’s gritty situations so allow) and immerse yourself in the prose, the atmosphere, and the narrative jolts at which Anthony Quinn excels.
March 6, 2025
The Mouthless Dead is a fictional retelling of a ‘perfect murder’ which happened in Liverpool in 1931. William Wallace, an insurance agent, receives a phone message at his chess club from a Mr Qualtrough, asking him to come to an address to discuss some work the next night. He duly sets off from home by tram, but after asking numerous people for directions, realises that the address does not exist.
When he returns home, he finds that his wife has been beaten to death. He is subsequently arrested for the murder, convicted, and the case overturned on appeal. The crime is never solved.
The Mouthless Dead begins in 1947 when the recently retired Detective Inspector Key is taking a Cunard cruise to New York. He worked on the famous Wallace murder and is toying with writing a memoir about it. The cruise doesn’t initially live up to his expectations, but he strikes up two friendships that change his impressions. The first is with Lydia Tarrant, a woman of around thirty, travelling with her mother, who he at first dismisses as a plain spinster, but who turns out to be more spirited than he imagined. The other, Teddy Absalom, is around Lydia’s age, but was unable to fight in the Second World War and instead worked in film for the great Humphrey Jennings on Fires Were Started.
When Teddy learns of Key’s role in the investigation into the Wallace murder, he asks him to tell them the story and the three of them have an entertaining time speculating about how they might solve the mystery. Then events take a darker turn.
In the early part of The Mouthless Dead the chapters alternate between the story of the murder and its aftermath, and events on the cruise. The particulars of the investigation and the court case, and Key’s role in it, have great pace and drama, even though we know the outcome of the trial and subsequent appeal.
The later chapters focus on Key and the fallout from the cruise, and I wasn’t sure the pacing here worked as well. The lives of the protagonists move on, there are some twists, but there wasn’t the big payoff you’d expect (particularly if you’re a crime fiction fan).
However, as a piece of social history I found The Mouthless Dead fascinating. There are some poignant character studies. The Wallaces are an outwardly ordinary, even tedious, lower-middle couple, yet she is a talented musician and he has worked across the world. He is an autodidact, reading literature and philosophy, alone, with no wider circle to share his passions.
Key’s backstory, like many of his generation, is one of tragedy in the First World War. His family’s history is one of upward mobility following migration to Liverpool from Ireland.
The Liverpool setting of the crime and Teddy’s involvement in the film industry offer Quinn a chance to write about two subjects close to his heart and these feel atmospheric and authentic. The story of the cruise and the relationships Key strikes up with the various passengers, particularly Lydia and Teddy, are also nicely done.
So, overall, The Mouthless Dead is an engaging read, one that combines historical true crime, and a fictional resolution to the perfect murder.
*
Copy from NetGalley
When he returns home, he finds that his wife has been beaten to death. He is subsequently arrested for the murder, convicted, and the case overturned on appeal. The crime is never solved.
The Mouthless Dead begins in 1947 when the recently retired Detective Inspector Key is taking a Cunard cruise to New York. He worked on the famous Wallace murder and is toying with writing a memoir about it. The cruise doesn’t initially live up to his expectations, but he strikes up two friendships that change his impressions. The first is with Lydia Tarrant, a woman of around thirty, travelling with her mother, who he at first dismisses as a plain spinster, but who turns out to be more spirited than he imagined. The other, Teddy Absalom, is around Lydia’s age, but was unable to fight in the Second World War and instead worked in film for the great Humphrey Jennings on Fires Were Started.
When Teddy learns of Key’s role in the investigation into the Wallace murder, he asks him to tell them the story and the three of them have an entertaining time speculating about how they might solve the mystery. Then events take a darker turn.
In the early part of The Mouthless Dead the chapters alternate between the story of the murder and its aftermath, and events on the cruise. The particulars of the investigation and the court case, and Key’s role in it, have great pace and drama, even though we know the outcome of the trial and subsequent appeal.
The later chapters focus on Key and the fallout from the cruise, and I wasn’t sure the pacing here worked as well. The lives of the protagonists move on, there are some twists, but there wasn’t the big payoff you’d expect (particularly if you’re a crime fiction fan).
However, as a piece of social history I found The Mouthless Dead fascinating. There are some poignant character studies. The Wallaces are an outwardly ordinary, even tedious, lower-middle couple, yet she is a talented musician and he has worked across the world. He is an autodidact, reading literature and philosophy, alone, with no wider circle to share his passions.
Key’s backstory, like many of his generation, is one of tragedy in the First World War. His family’s history is one of upward mobility following migration to Liverpool from Ireland.
The Liverpool setting of the crime and Teddy’s involvement in the film industry offer Quinn a chance to write about two subjects close to his heart and these feel atmospheric and authentic. The story of the cruise and the relationships Key strikes up with the various passengers, particularly Lydia and Teddy, are also nicely done.
So, overall, The Mouthless Dead is an engaging read, one that combines historical true crime, and a fictional resolution to the perfect murder.
*
Copy from NetGalley
March 24, 2025
Every other Saturday my father, brother and I would go to Anfield to watch Liverpool Football Club do their thing. We would park some distance away from the ground and walk through a few streets as a shortcut. At one street my father always said: 'The dreaded Wolverton Street.' There was never anyone in that street and so his words were chilling to me as a twelve year old. What he was referring to was the neat house at the end of the road where a murder had taken place before even he was born. This is the fictionalised story of that case.
The historic murder took place in Anfield in Liverpool on 20 January 1931 with the trial taking place in April the same year. The victim was called Julia Wallace and her husband was William Wallace. The facts of the case, as far as we know them, are pretty much accurately included and the rumours from the time are also woven into the tale.
The story opens with the now-retired detective in the case on a cruise to America. He meets a couple of women initially and he tells them about the case. The chapters then alternate between his cruise and the investigation to the murder. The wife of an insurance salesman is found brutally bludgeoned to death while her husband is at a chess club, ironically a club where the detective is also a member. His alibi seems contrived but as there are no other suspects, he is found guilty. But on appeal he is released from prison as a free man. It is a bit of a mystery who actually carried out the murder as nothing really adds up.
The writing is rather formal as expected from the 1930s. The chapters surrounding the case read like an official text and are different to the more eventful cruise, where there is more dialogue and character development. There is plenty of descriptions of sites around Liverpool such as the old pubs in the city centre and the Philharmonic Hall, but I particularly liked the parts from my childhood, like the garage, which was at the bottom of my road and my primary school, Lister Drive.
A fascinating tale about loss and what might have been, speculation and redemption, secrets and surprises. Captivating because of the location and my own personal memories, especially 'the dreaded Wolverton Street.'
The historic murder took place in Anfield in Liverpool on 20 January 1931 with the trial taking place in April the same year. The victim was called Julia Wallace and her husband was William Wallace. The facts of the case, as far as we know them, are pretty much accurately included and the rumours from the time are also woven into the tale.
The story opens with the now-retired detective in the case on a cruise to America. He meets a couple of women initially and he tells them about the case. The chapters then alternate between his cruise and the investigation to the murder. The wife of an insurance salesman is found brutally bludgeoned to death while her husband is at a chess club, ironically a club where the detective is also a member. His alibi seems contrived but as there are no other suspects, he is found guilty. But on appeal he is released from prison as a free man. It is a bit of a mystery who actually carried out the murder as nothing really adds up.
The writing is rather formal as expected from the 1930s. The chapters surrounding the case read like an official text and are different to the more eventful cruise, where there is more dialogue and character development. There is plenty of descriptions of sites around Liverpool such as the old pubs in the city centre and the Philharmonic Hall, but I particularly liked the parts from my childhood, like the garage, which was at the bottom of my road and my primary school, Lister Drive.
A fascinating tale about loss and what might have been, speculation and redemption, secrets and surprises. Captivating because of the location and my own personal memories, especially 'the dreaded Wolverton Street.'
February 28, 2025
Anthony Quinn's 'The Mouthless Dead' was inspired by the infamous 'Wallace Murder' which rocked England in 1931. Julia Wallace was found battered to death in her Liverpool home, and her husband George was accused of her murder. After a 15 year gap, the inspector who worked on a previous case returns to what was called 'the impossible murder', examining once again George Wallace's movements that fateful evening and going over the timeline in an effort to determine whether Wallace really had been able to murder his wife and finally solve whether the shadowy figure of a man named Qualtrough really did exist and if he did, what part did he play in Julia's death.
This is a fascinating account of mood and motive that lay behind what may have been a crime of passion, detailing police procedural work, with wonderful use of historical events and vividly drawn locations that really do place the reader in the very centre of this baffling case. It's a completely engrossing read that never gets bogged down considering there's a lot of information to take in. The Wallace case had drawn tens of thousands of column inches down the years and this book will provoke re-evaluation from those who were aware of the details while introducing many newcomers to this puzzle. During and after the journey, readers will undoubtedly have their own opinions on whether or not George Wallace was guilty, or if the mysterious Qualtrough or someone closer to the family was responsible.
If you enjoy slow burn true crime with speculative fiction added to the recipe, I think you'll find 'The Mouthless Dead' very much worth your time. It's released on 6th March 2025 by Abacus.
This is a fascinating account of mood and motive that lay behind what may have been a crime of passion, detailing police procedural work, with wonderful use of historical events and vividly drawn locations that really do place the reader in the very centre of this baffling case. It's a completely engrossing read that never gets bogged down considering there's a lot of information to take in. The Wallace case had drawn tens of thousands of column inches down the years and this book will provoke re-evaluation from those who were aware of the details while introducing many newcomers to this puzzle. During and after the journey, readers will undoubtedly have their own opinions on whether or not George Wallace was guilty, or if the mysterious Qualtrough or someone closer to the family was responsible.
If you enjoy slow burn true crime with speculative fiction added to the recipe, I think you'll find 'The Mouthless Dead' very much worth your time. It's released on 6th March 2025 by Abacus.
March 2, 2025
The Mouthless Dead by Anthony Quinn
Having read The Rescue Man, Half the Human Race and Curtain Call I was very keen to read Anthony Quinn’s Latest offering The Mouthless Dead. This novel takes the notorious Wallace case which has been written about on numerous occasions but comes up with a very different angle on the story.
In 1930’s Liverpool William Wallace was accused of killing his wife Julia by bludgeoning her to death. The case was notorious because Wallace was such a quiet unassuming man and he had what looked to be a watertight alibi for the time of the murder.
Despite this he was convicted of the murder and sentenced to hand. This novel begins 15 years after these events on a Cunard voyage to New York. Key an inspector who had worked on the Wallace case is on board having taken early retirement and whilst on board he befriends two young people, Teddy and Lydia. Teddy who is going to America to launch a career in film thinks that the Wallace case would make a marvellous movie.
The enigmatic Key gives away more information than he possibly should. We have a story where the character of the protagonists are explored as well as the crime of murder. The book is very well written and engaging. The period detail is excellent. I would recommend this book to others. It is an interesting take on a story which has been written about many times. Many thanks the the author, the publishers and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
Having read The Rescue Man, Half the Human Race and Curtain Call I was very keen to read Anthony Quinn’s Latest offering The Mouthless Dead. This novel takes the notorious Wallace case which has been written about on numerous occasions but comes up with a very different angle on the story.
In 1930’s Liverpool William Wallace was accused of killing his wife Julia by bludgeoning her to death. The case was notorious because Wallace was such a quiet unassuming man and he had what looked to be a watertight alibi for the time of the murder.
Despite this he was convicted of the murder and sentenced to hand. This novel begins 15 years after these events on a Cunard voyage to New York. Key an inspector who had worked on the Wallace case is on board having taken early retirement and whilst on board he befriends two young people, Teddy and Lydia. Teddy who is going to America to launch a career in film thinks that the Wallace case would make a marvellous movie.
The enigmatic Key gives away more information than he possibly should. We have a story where the character of the protagonists are explored as well as the crime of murder. The book is very well written and engaging. The period detail is excellent. I would recommend this book to others. It is an interesting take on a story which has been written about many times. Many thanks the the author, the publishers and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
November 8, 2025
This novel is based upon a real murder case - that of Julia Wallace in 1931 Liverpool. Although I have read one true-crime book about this murder, The Wallace Case: Britain's Most Baffling Unsolved Murder, I was not convinced by that and by this, perhaps less. Of course, it is fiction, so I read it as such, but found it a disconcerting novel.
It revolves partly around the Wallace case itself and partly around that of an ex-policeman who knew William Herbert Wallace and his wife, Julia. Again, and in a similar way to the non-fiction account, Julia is side-lined in the story of her own murder - in fact, in this novel, she is almost blamed. I found this quite uncomfortable to be honest, although the author cleverly takes this storyline and then mirrors it back on the detective in later sections of the book.
The novel goes beyond the crime and moves on to a storyline around the detective who discusses the crime with a young woman and a young man he befriends on board. The young man is keen to make a movie of the case, but the ex-detective, Key, reveals more than he means. I thought this was an interesting take on the case, allowing the crime to move beyond the confines of a retelling, but I do not think it is a novel I would revisit.
It revolves partly around the Wallace case itself and partly around that of an ex-policeman who knew William Herbert Wallace and his wife, Julia. Again, and in a similar way to the non-fiction account, Julia is side-lined in the story of her own murder - in fact, in this novel, she is almost blamed. I found this quite uncomfortable to be honest, although the author cleverly takes this storyline and then mirrors it back on the detective in later sections of the book.
The novel goes beyond the crime and moves on to a storyline around the detective who discusses the crime with a young woman and a young man he befriends on board. The young man is keen to make a movie of the case, but the ex-detective, Key, reveals more than he means. I thought this was an interesting take on the case, allowing the crime to move beyond the confines of a retelling, but I do not think it is a novel I would revisit.
October 16, 2025
[16 Oct 2025] A dramatisation and fictionalisation of a true crime story. An exceptionally well written, gripping, easy read that holds attention and has pace an verb. It is set in Liverpool and the story goes back and forth between the years around the murder scene in the 1920s and the subsequent cruise liner taking the - by then retired - detective who had investigated it to the US. The story is well described and the characters come to life. The subplot of meeting a couple of interested people who enable the detective to tell the tale in order to make a film was just about acceptable, but as a ploy was just believable.
An enjoyable read, with only a couple of factual errors - The detective tells how he investigated the age gap between the murder victim and her husband by taking a trip to Somerset House and discovering her age in the 1871 census. The personal information in the 1871 census was only released to the public in 1971. Then later on he mentions a death from 'sepsis' but this medical term was only commonly used and replaced the previously used term of septicaemia in the 1990s.
Generally an easy read, enjoyable and entertaining, well written and absorbing.
An enjoyable read, with only a couple of factual errors - The detective tells how he investigated the age gap between the murder victim and her husband by taking a trip to Somerset House and discovering her age in the 1871 census. The personal information in the 1871 census was only released to the public in 1971. Then later on he mentions a death from 'sepsis' but this medical term was only commonly used and replaced the previously used term of septicaemia in the 1990s.
Generally an easy read, enjoyable and entertaining, well written and absorbing.
April 9, 2025
Thank you to little brown for sending me a copy of The Mouthless Dead as part of an influencer campaign
After hearing the blurb of this book it really sounded like something I would really enjoy! I wanted to try something a little bit new too as I don’t normally read thrillers set in the 1900’s.
Unfortunately the way that this was written I struggled with a lot. The story follows the events which happened during a case and to me it was very clunky. I have also found out after reading The Mouthless Dead that this is based off a true case known as the ‘Perfect Murder’ case from 1931 which occurred in Liverpool which is still unsolved to this day. This explains further to me why I struggled so much as I’m not a massive fan on true crime books. However, after looking back at emails, it was explained that this was true-crime before I accepted therefore, it’s my own fault for glossing over that part of the email.
Don’t get me wrong this case and book was very interesting and I enjoyed learning about it but it wasn’t for me.
Just because this book wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it won’t be for you!
After hearing the blurb of this book it really sounded like something I would really enjoy! I wanted to try something a little bit new too as I don’t normally read thrillers set in the 1900’s.
Unfortunately the way that this was written I struggled with a lot. The story follows the events which happened during a case and to me it was very clunky. I have also found out after reading The Mouthless Dead that this is based off a true case known as the ‘Perfect Murder’ case from 1931 which occurred in Liverpool which is still unsolved to this day. This explains further to me why I struggled so much as I’m not a massive fan on true crime books. However, after looking back at emails, it was explained that this was true-crime before I accepted therefore, it’s my own fault for glossing over that part of the email.
Don’t get me wrong this case and book was very interesting and I enjoyed learning about it but it wasn’t for me.
Just because this book wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it won’t be for you!
April 16, 2025
Borrowed from Stirling Library
I had no prior knowledge of the Wallace murder in Liverpool in 1931 which this book recreates.
The book is relatively compact at 274 pages but from the outset it ensnares and takes you on a magnificent journey all the way to the very last line of the book.
The Book is set in Liverpool , London and on a Cruise Liner
The main protagonists are Key ,a Police Detective,Wallace the Accused,Lydia Tarrant a woman Key meets on the Liner, the story is told from 1931 and Key looks back on those events after he has retired in the 1950’s
Mr Quinn writes eloquently and skilfully and his characters are authentic and well realised,he captures time and place perfectly in my view and he ended the novel with real panache,one of the best endings I have ever read
The character of Key is the beating heart of the book and he conveys mystery,danger and sadness.
The book reminded me of the best of Patrick Hamilton’s work and it is a book to be savoured.
I had no prior knowledge of the Wallace murder in Liverpool in 1931 which this book recreates.
The book is relatively compact at 274 pages but from the outset it ensnares and takes you on a magnificent journey all the way to the very last line of the book.
The Book is set in Liverpool , London and on a Cruise Liner
The main protagonists are Key ,a Police Detective,Wallace the Accused,Lydia Tarrant a woman Key meets on the Liner, the story is told from 1931 and Key looks back on those events after he has retired in the 1950’s
Mr Quinn writes eloquently and skilfully and his characters are authentic and well realised,he captures time and place perfectly in my view and he ended the novel with real panache,one of the best endings I have ever read
The character of Key is the beating heart of the book and he conveys mystery,danger and sadness.
The book reminded me of the best of Patrick Hamilton’s work and it is a book to be savoured.
February 6, 2025
This book is based upon a true life unsolved murder in 1930s Liverpool.
It is an excellent psychological thriller.
The author uses a narrator (detective) who was involved with crime and its trials.
The suspense is throughout the novel, although there are some light-hearted moments.
The characters are mostly given, but all are interesting.
Although the principal storyline is given, there are enough narrative twists and turns to keep the reader undecided, as should be the case in an unsolved murder.
At the conclusion the suspect is made apparent, but if he did it we will never know.
My thanks to the author for the hours of enjoyment that the book has brought me, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It is an excellent psychological thriller.
The author uses a narrator (detective) who was involved with crime and its trials.
The suspense is throughout the novel, although there are some light-hearted moments.
The characters are mostly given, but all are interesting.
Although the principal storyline is given, there are enough narrative twists and turns to keep the reader undecided, as should be the case in an unsolved murder.
At the conclusion the suspect is made apparent, but if he did it we will never know.
My thanks to the author for the hours of enjoyment that the book has brought me, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 3, 2025
I always enjoy Anthony Quinn's novels and The Mouthless Dead is no exception. He uses the real-life unsolved murder of Julia Wallace in Liverpool at the start of 1931 and fictionalises the case, involving new and additional characters. There is also a 'new' murderer. As always, Quinn's writing is precise and measured, and the sense of time and place is expertly realised. World War I features heavily as a backdrop as well as providing an understanding for the behaviour of key characters. Other reviewers identify incredulous plot elements, but for me, that's not the main focus here - after all, very little sounds as incredulous as the known facts of the Julia Wallace murder case.
© Koplowitz 2025
© Koplowitz 2025
March 29, 2025
I found this book to be a slow build. At the beginning I felt a little distant from William Wallace and his rather tenuous situation of being charged with the murder of his wife.
However, as the pages unfolded, Wallace's situation became more intriguing. He was acquitted after an appeal (not a spoiler as this is in the blurb on the back of the book) and the killer was never found.
But was the killer always in plain sight? Was it really Wallace and what about his relationship with the Inspector who was investigating the murder?
It gets more interesting and raises many questions as you travel through the book.
However, as the pages unfolded, Wallace's situation became more intriguing. He was acquitted after an appeal (not a spoiler as this is in the blurb on the back of the book) and the killer was never found.
But was the killer always in plain sight? Was it really Wallace and what about his relationship with the Inspector who was investigating the murder?
It gets more interesting and raises many questions as you travel through the book.
April 15, 2025
Anthony Quinn is one of my favourite authors. The Mouthless Dead is set in Liverpool in the 1930s and 1940s. Quinn captures the feel and atmosphere of the city in those decades perfectly.
The story is about a murder in Liverpool in the early 30s, a crime which remained unsolved even as the Second World War ends.
The characters are beautifully drawn with some becoming not what you thought when you first meet them at the start of the narrative.
Another winner from this fine writer.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War, The Summer of '39 (all published by Sacristy Press) and Ordinary Heroes (published by I M Books)
The story is about a murder in Liverpool in the early 30s, a crime which remained unsolved even as the Second World War ends.
The characters are beautifully drawn with some becoming not what you thought when you first meet them at the start of the narrative.
Another winner from this fine writer.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War, The Summer of '39 (all published by Sacristy Press) and Ordinary Heroes (published by I M Books)
March 18, 2025
In 1931 a woman was killed in Liverpool. The suspect was her husband, an insurance agent, but he seemed to have an unbreakable alibi. Found guilty at trial, his conviction was overturned on appeal and the case remains unsolved to this day. However in Quinn's novel, an alternative is proposed in which a man on a cruise gives too much away!
This is a magnificent novel in which true crime is woven around a really gripping alternative of crime fiction. It's clever, pitch perfect and totally gripping.
This is a magnificent novel in which true crime is woven around a really gripping alternative of crime fiction. It's clever, pitch perfect and totally gripping.
April 12, 2025
Being from Liverpool, I knew the case well having read many articles and books on the subject. It is a fascinating ‘unsolved’ murder so I was intrigued as to how this murder could be woven into a novel. Initially I didn’t know where the story was going but I found myself drawn into the world (s) of Key. Without giving anything away it is very clever and plausible with, I believe, undertones of ‘An Inspector Calls’…loved it and would highly recommend.
May 9, 2025
Unusual, but interesting.
Until about two thirds through this book, I couldn’t decide whether it was First World War memoir, an account of a cruise or a reworking of the Wallace case. Then there were a number of twists leading to an unusual ending.
The fictionalised account of the murder was strange and unsettling because I have read about it over the last 45+ years.
For the record, I don’t think Wallace did it.
Until about two thirds through this book, I couldn’t decide whether it was First World War memoir, an account of a cruise or a reworking of the Wallace case. Then there were a number of twists leading to an unusual ending.
The fictionalised account of the murder was strange and unsettling because I have read about it over the last 45+ years.
For the record, I don’t think Wallace did it.
July 10, 2025
Brilliant story well written. It’s difficult to review without giving too much away but suffice to say it is fiction written around a real event in 1930s. The Wallace murder confounded the police and at the time was subject to much speculation.A man was tried and acquitted. The story speculates on the before and after of this event and infers a chilling and unsettling conclusion. Keeps you guessing right up to the final pages!
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