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DOUBT: The Madeleine McCann Mystery
Did the little girl at the centre of the most heavily reported missing-persons case in modern history ever go “missing” to begin with?If Madeleine was never abducted, if she died on May 3rd, why was it reported as an abduction?Despite the absence of a trial, what we have now is a fairly precise version of events from the McCanns themselves, a by-product of their relentless PR. We also know the original lead investigator Goncalo Amaral’s counter-narrative, which is now a legally defensible matter of public record. The questions that arise from these opposing narratives are dead Which narrative is more credible? Which narrator is more credible? What was the motive behind all the publicity?Neither Madeleine nor her abductor ultimately benefited from the ongoing media barrage, so who did?True crime maestro, Nick van der Leek, plumbs quagmires of confusion and a thicket of thorny inconsistencies to probe what lies beneath the psychologies. What is the significance of "doctors" as suspects? Did it matter or mean anything that the McCanns and their cabal of friends in the Algarve were mostly doctors?Peeling away the gossamer threads, over the course of just four days [April 29th – May 2nd], van der Leek intuits that very little was not the weather, not where meals were eaten, not where or when they slept and not what they did as a family. But what were their routines when it came to other, murkier things, like sleeping patterns, cell phones and sedatives? Drawing intangibles out of the darkness, van der Leek sews the vexing loose ends from several conflicting stories into a definite - if not definitive - end-result.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 11, 2017
A very strange book.
Probably the strangest book I have ever read. It reads like pages of notes, with scribbles and corrections throughout. Not sure whether the raven analogy is the writer trying to be ' clever', or he's under the influence of some drug. Very irritating.
I persevered with it, skimming over the really annoying passages, but these got longer as the book progressed. No real analysis of fact. The arguments outlined appeared to be based on suppositions, and comparisons with other cases. It was a great relief to reach the end, although that was a great 'let down', as he offered his theory of what actually happened, in a few paragraphs.
A very disappointing book.
Probably the strangest book I have ever read. It reads like pages of notes, with scribbles and corrections throughout. Not sure whether the raven analogy is the writer trying to be ' clever', or he's under the influence of some drug. Very irritating.
I persevered with it, skimming over the really annoying passages, but these got longer as the book progressed. No real analysis of fact. The arguments outlined appeared to be based on suppositions, and comparisons with other cases. It was a great relief to reach the end, although that was a great 'let down', as he offered his theory of what actually happened, in a few paragraphs.
A very disappointing book.
May 5, 2017
This week sees the ten year anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and I thought it would be a good time to read something about this unsolved mystery, which seems to have been a never ending source of speculation, media stories and public interest since the news first broke.
I must admit that this event always struck a chord with me, as Madeleine was the same age as my middle son when she disappeared and we were also on holiday in Portugal that year. I remember watching the news and recalling our recent trip to the country (albeit a different part of it). I remember how my husband and I spent over an hour toddler proofing the apartment we stayed in, so it was safer for my three year old son and eighteen month old daughter. There seemed to be plug sockets everywhere, wires trailing and knives openly displayed on low shelves. In fact, even our ten year old couldn’t play unsupervised, as there was a sheer drop, without a fence, just outside the door (not to mention the German family next door, whose father seemed to think it was appropriate to climb over our garden fence, and walk right past our bedroom window, on his way to drape towels by the pool at six in the morning – stopped in his tracks by a paddling pool we put underneath it, resulting in a satisfying cold splash, but no more early morning trespassing…). Anyway, I digress…
In this book, the author takes us through the timeline of the McCann’s holiday. Whatever you may think, there are times when I could not help feeling the author was a little keen to portray the McCann’s in a bad light. For example, he is at pains to suggest the weather was too cold to take children to the beach and that Kate McCann says the pool was too cold to swim in (it was undoubtedly unheated and very cold, but children love beaches whatever the weather and the McCann’s were from the North of England and certainly it would have been warmer in Portugal than where they lived). There is also a little too much poetic license with images of ravens as a recurring theme. Any comment the parents were overheard making, such as Kate McCann’s, “the things you do for your children!” while swimming with her daughter just doesn’t really ‘get’ the way British parents talk, perhaps making sarcastic remarks without really meaning anything. So, there are cultural problems here and I would not put any credence in such off-hand remarks made by the parents. All their actions are deemed suspicious and I would have preferred a more unbiased take on events.
However, this book certainly does a thorough job of taking you through the evidence and showing the inconsistencies in the stories of everyone involved. For example, the McCann’s, and their friends, all failed to use the babysitting service in the evening, even though it was available. Kate McCann stated she was uncomfortable with using an unknown babysitter, which is fair enough. However, she was happy to use the kids clubs, almost all day, every day, for her children. Personally, I am not comfortable with using either, but I would think that if you used unknown staff to care for your children in the day, then why not in the evening? Also, this delves into the image of the happy, carefree holiday the McCann’s portrayed after the event of their daughter’s disappearance. The McCann’s seemed to spend very little time with their children, on this ‘family’ holiday, with emphasis on time for them for tennis lessons and leisurely dinners, and other residents of the apartments reportedly heard crying in the evening, when the children were left unsupervised. Whatever happened, it is certainly difficult not to think the parents were negligent and I do believe this is the reason why public opinion swung against the couple. Plus, there are other odd things which do not add up to parents – such as washing Madeleine’s cuddly toy, which, as a mother, I find inconceivable. Anyway, that is all speculation and emotion, so we need to look at the evidence and how that was handled.
Undoubtedly, the police did a disservice to the McCann’s by not investigating them as suspects earlier. Had the case been dealt with properly, the evidence against the parents – surely the chief suspects in such an event as the last people who saw her – could have been properly assessed. Then, had the crime scene been properly preserved, it would have resulted in them either being charged, or cleared; rather than the never ending speculation they have endured over the years. Instead, bizarrely, the crime scene – the apartment – was actually rented out to other families before finally being forensically inspected and sniffer dogs being used, but this was several weeks after events.
There is the use of Danie Krugel’s magic machine – which he stated could locate DNA wherever it was. The issues that damaged relations between the McCann’s and the Portuguese investigator, Goncalo Amaral, the media circus that erupted (and who the author deemed was responsible for it) and the way the investigation stalled as time went on. In the end, the war of words between the McCann’s and the police in Portugal obviously damaged the investigation – it seemed as though the McCann’s, and their friends, entrenched and unified their stories, and failed to aid the police. It also seemed the police were unwilling to accept other ideas, or explore other possibilities.
Of course, at the heart of this mystery is a missing a child. A little girl who should have started school the same year that my son did. Now my son is in secondary school and she is still missing. That is the tragedy and so is the fact that there has been no conclusion to the case, or justice for her. Of course, other cases, which seemed as though they would never be solved have finally been concluded. I hope that this case will eventually be solved too. Although I did not agree with everything the author says in this book, I will read on and continue the second part of this investigation into the events of that evening, which still haunts the public consciousness.
I must admit that this event always struck a chord with me, as Madeleine was the same age as my middle son when she disappeared and we were also on holiday in Portugal that year. I remember watching the news and recalling our recent trip to the country (albeit a different part of it). I remember how my husband and I spent over an hour toddler proofing the apartment we stayed in, so it was safer for my three year old son and eighteen month old daughter. There seemed to be plug sockets everywhere, wires trailing and knives openly displayed on low shelves. In fact, even our ten year old couldn’t play unsupervised, as there was a sheer drop, without a fence, just outside the door (not to mention the German family next door, whose father seemed to think it was appropriate to climb over our garden fence, and walk right past our bedroom window, on his way to drape towels by the pool at six in the morning – stopped in his tracks by a paddling pool we put underneath it, resulting in a satisfying cold splash, but no more early morning trespassing…). Anyway, I digress…
In this book, the author takes us through the timeline of the McCann’s holiday. Whatever you may think, there are times when I could not help feeling the author was a little keen to portray the McCann’s in a bad light. For example, he is at pains to suggest the weather was too cold to take children to the beach and that Kate McCann says the pool was too cold to swim in (it was undoubtedly unheated and very cold, but children love beaches whatever the weather and the McCann’s were from the North of England and certainly it would have been warmer in Portugal than where they lived). There is also a little too much poetic license with images of ravens as a recurring theme. Any comment the parents were overheard making, such as Kate McCann’s, “the things you do for your children!” while swimming with her daughter just doesn’t really ‘get’ the way British parents talk, perhaps making sarcastic remarks without really meaning anything. So, there are cultural problems here and I would not put any credence in such off-hand remarks made by the parents. All their actions are deemed suspicious and I would have preferred a more unbiased take on events.
However, this book certainly does a thorough job of taking you through the evidence and showing the inconsistencies in the stories of everyone involved. For example, the McCann’s, and their friends, all failed to use the babysitting service in the evening, even though it was available. Kate McCann stated she was uncomfortable with using an unknown babysitter, which is fair enough. However, she was happy to use the kids clubs, almost all day, every day, for her children. Personally, I am not comfortable with using either, but I would think that if you used unknown staff to care for your children in the day, then why not in the evening? Also, this delves into the image of the happy, carefree holiday the McCann’s portrayed after the event of their daughter’s disappearance. The McCann’s seemed to spend very little time with their children, on this ‘family’ holiday, with emphasis on time for them for tennis lessons and leisurely dinners, and other residents of the apartments reportedly heard crying in the evening, when the children were left unsupervised. Whatever happened, it is certainly difficult not to think the parents were negligent and I do believe this is the reason why public opinion swung against the couple. Plus, there are other odd things which do not add up to parents – such as washing Madeleine’s cuddly toy, which, as a mother, I find inconceivable. Anyway, that is all speculation and emotion, so we need to look at the evidence and how that was handled.
Undoubtedly, the police did a disservice to the McCann’s by not investigating them as suspects earlier. Had the case been dealt with properly, the evidence against the parents – surely the chief suspects in such an event as the last people who saw her – could have been properly assessed. Then, had the crime scene been properly preserved, it would have resulted in them either being charged, or cleared; rather than the never ending speculation they have endured over the years. Instead, bizarrely, the crime scene – the apartment – was actually rented out to other families before finally being forensically inspected and sniffer dogs being used, but this was several weeks after events.
There is the use of Danie Krugel’s magic machine – which he stated could locate DNA wherever it was. The issues that damaged relations between the McCann’s and the Portuguese investigator, Goncalo Amaral, the media circus that erupted (and who the author deemed was responsible for it) and the way the investigation stalled as time went on. In the end, the war of words between the McCann’s and the police in Portugal obviously damaged the investigation – it seemed as though the McCann’s, and their friends, entrenched and unified their stories, and failed to aid the police. It also seemed the police were unwilling to accept other ideas, or explore other possibilities.
Of course, at the heart of this mystery is a missing a child. A little girl who should have started school the same year that my son did. Now my son is in secondary school and she is still missing. That is the tragedy and so is the fact that there has been no conclusion to the case, or justice for her. Of course, other cases, which seemed as though they would never be solved have finally been concluded. I hope that this case will eventually be solved too. Although I did not agree with everything the author says in this book, I will read on and continue the second part of this investigation into the events of that evening, which still haunts the public consciousness.
August 16, 2025
Appallingly badly-written. Poorly constructed, incoherent in places, pretty much unreadable.
Doubly-so because the subject is so fascinating. It would be tough, indeed nigh-impossible to write a p3ss-poor book about the Madeleine McCann Scandal (because 'Scandal' is precisely what it is) yet here, Nick Van Der Leek manages precisely that.
With no proper introduction, no proper timeline, no Index (unforgivable for a book in this genre) Doubt is a mess. Yet the gist of a fascinating book is still here; it's just been jumbled-up into a meaningless melange of...well, I guess stream-of-consciousness meanderings.
It reads like the notes that a writer would make, before putting together their thoughts down in a sensible form. Except that step was seemingly skipped. With numerous spelling errors ('Skye' rather than 'Sky') lots of weird references to a raven, and with no discernible structure at all, Doubt doesn't appear to have been proof-read.
I'm pretty sure I could write a better book on the subject. That's not so special; I reckon most of its readers could write a better book. Hell, there might be some household pets that could produce a better effort!
Suffice to say, won't be reading Doubt 2 or Doubt 3. The subject matter remains fascinating, but this work contributes nothing to the debate.
Doubly-so because the subject is so fascinating. It would be tough, indeed nigh-impossible to write a p3ss-poor book about the Madeleine McCann Scandal (because 'Scandal' is precisely what it is) yet here, Nick Van Der Leek manages precisely that.
With no proper introduction, no proper timeline, no Index (unforgivable for a book in this genre) Doubt is a mess. Yet the gist of a fascinating book is still here; it's just been jumbled-up into a meaningless melange of...well, I guess stream-of-consciousness meanderings.
It reads like the notes that a writer would make, before putting together their thoughts down in a sensible form. Except that step was seemingly skipped. With numerous spelling errors ('Skye' rather than 'Sky') lots of weird references to a raven, and with no discernible structure at all, Doubt doesn't appear to have been proof-read.
I'm pretty sure I could write a better book on the subject. That's not so special; I reckon most of its readers could write a better book. Hell, there might be some household pets that could produce a better effort!
Suffice to say, won't be reading Doubt 2 or Doubt 3. The subject matter remains fascinating, but this work contributes nothing to the debate.
May 27, 2019
Shame
The factual content of the book isn't bad. There are some conclusions reached that are also interesting. I really like the hyperlinks so that you can look at evidence as you go. E.g. Comparing photos. Really interesting alternative accident theory put forward too.
But...
This guy is trying to write prose inbetween the facts - it's almost embarrassing. It doesn't work for one, when you are ostensibly writing true crime - but it's written REALLY badly. It feels like he's on an ego trip. If I want to read about a raven I'll check out Edgar Allen Poe.
It should also drop the 'Gone Girl Book 1' subtitle. This is tacky, an attempt to obtain more traffic but most of all very disrespectful to Madeleine McCann.
I have put books down before, not finishing them but some of the things he was writing were of interest and looking at things slightly differently.
He needs to spell/grammar check. I also didn't quite understand all the score outs.
The Calpol thing. I wish everyone would shut up about bloody Calpol. It's paracetamol for God's sake - at best with a bit of antihistamine in it. The mother was an anaesthetist. It's more likely they were using drugs that were off limits than bloody liquid paracetamol. Rant over.
The factual content of the book isn't bad. There are some conclusions reached that are also interesting. I really like the hyperlinks so that you can look at evidence as you go. E.g. Comparing photos. Really interesting alternative accident theory put forward too.
But...
This guy is trying to write prose inbetween the facts - it's almost embarrassing. It doesn't work for one, when you are ostensibly writing true crime - but it's written REALLY badly. It feels like he's on an ego trip. If I want to read about a raven I'll check out Edgar Allen Poe.
It should also drop the 'Gone Girl Book 1' subtitle. This is tacky, an attempt to obtain more traffic but most of all very disrespectful to Madeleine McCann.
I have put books down before, not finishing them but some of the things he was writing were of interest and looking at things slightly differently.
He needs to spell/grammar check. I also didn't quite understand all the score outs.
The Calpol thing. I wish everyone would shut up about bloody Calpol. It's paracetamol for God's sake - at best with a bit of antihistamine in it. The mother was an anaesthetist. It's more likely they were using drugs that were off limits than bloody liquid paracetamol. Rant over.
October 5, 2022
If you like true crime, I doubt you will like this
As you have likely seen in other reviews, the whole raven thing is irritating, but it is easy enough to skip over those passages. The true issue is that there is no real research reflected in this book, and no credible analysis. The author has less insight into human nature than a rock. Because it’s the darkest, most controversial angle to take, he simply decided that the McCanns were responsible for their daughter’s death and then hid her body. He tortures every piece of information to fit this narrative, and makes up the weirdest scenarios about how he thinks this all went down. I don’t write bad reviews because, well, who am I to criticize? I made an exception with this book for two reasons: 1) I don’t want you to waste your time and money if you enjoy real true crime; and 2) this book is so smarmy as to be unethical.
As you have likely seen in other reviews, the whole raven thing is irritating, but it is easy enough to skip over those passages. The true issue is that there is no real research reflected in this book, and no credible analysis. The author has less insight into human nature than a rock. Because it’s the darkest, most controversial angle to take, he simply decided that the McCanns were responsible for their daughter’s death and then hid her body. He tortures every piece of information to fit this narrative, and makes up the weirdest scenarios about how he thinks this all went down. I don’t write bad reviews because, well, who am I to criticize? I made an exception with this book for two reasons: 1) I don’t want you to waste your time and money if you enjoy real true crime; and 2) this book is so smarmy as to be unethical.
January 12, 2024
Interesting. I notice a lot of people are bothered by the raven motif. Since the McCanns are inclined to sue people who present an opinion with which they take exception, I understand why the author did it.
Slightly annoying, and suggestive that he’s concerned enough about his facts and opinion not to be bold and up front with them. But the book was compelling, even so, although there were few things a motivated follower of the case wouldn’t know.
It’s only book 1 (of 2, I think) so the narrative is incomplete.
A decent read for anyone interested in the shenanigans that surrounded the events in Portugal.
Slightly annoying, and suggestive that he’s concerned enough about his facts and opinion not to be bold and up front with them. But the book was compelling, even so, although there were few things a motivated follower of the case wouldn’t know.
It’s only book 1 (of 2, I think) so the narrative is incomplete.
A decent read for anyone interested in the shenanigans that surrounded the events in Portugal.
November 5, 2018
Extremely irritating narrative with analogies to ravens. The book casts doubt on the Mccann families claim that Madeleine was abducted and that they are not involved. The book gave some insight into the events of Maddie’s disappearance and certainly left me thinking that the patents have killed her.
August 13, 2024
Interesting read
Thoroughly enjoyed this insight into one of the most disturbing 'missing' children cases. Certainly made me think and I appreciated the links and footnotes provided. Still a strange and baffling case but this book has made my thoughts on the whole dilemma more clear. Highly recommended read.
Thoroughly enjoyed this insight into one of the most disturbing 'missing' children cases. Certainly made me think and I appreciated the links and footnotes provided. Still a strange and baffling case but this book has made my thoughts on the whole dilemma more clear. Highly recommended read.
May 6, 2017
Great research. I didn't know a lot of this. I liked the links that linked to the actual you tube videos and articles. I don't like that I have to buy 2 books to get the full story though (or their version of it, rather). They do make a pretty good case for doubting the official story.
June 28, 2017
Badly researched
This book is not of the usual standard by this author. Absolutely no factual evidence. He even claims Calpol is a sedative when it is a children's version of paracetamol widely used in the UK.
This book is not of the usual standard by this author. Absolutely no factual evidence. He even claims Calpol is a sedative when it is a children's version of paracetamol widely used in the UK.
May 9, 2019
This book was so boring I couldn't wait to get it finished. The Raven " thing" was so annoying. I'm kicking myself now as I have bought his next two books. Haven't been able to bother to read them yet because if they were like the first one I may not bother.
January 22, 2020
Detailed analysis
If you want an exhaustive look into the case, you need to read this book. Mr Van Der Leek lifts the facade to see all the minute details. Continuing on to book 2 in this series.
If you want an exhaustive look into the case, you need to read this book. Mr Van Der Leek lifts the facade to see all the minute details. Continuing on to book 2 in this series.
August 21, 2020
It repeated itself and was based on bias opinion not well thought out and researched evidence
March 3, 2022
While the narrative and breaking down of said narrative was insightful, what was with all the ravens? What has a raven got to do with a missing girl?
July 29, 2024
Interesting details about the infamous case of Madeline McCann. I enjoyed it as I discovered new insightful details.
April 16, 2017
Probably the story I knew least about, but this book to date is my favorite. Keep them coming!!
It was fantastic. Started and read in one sitting. Can not wait till #2. I'm gonna be thinking about this book for a few days.
It was fantastic. Started and read in one sitting. Can not wait till #2. I'm gonna be thinking about this book for a few days.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews