Bloody Yorkshire: 13 Crimes from Bygone Times

by W.M. Rhodes

“Yorkshire’s past holds many secrets—some of them deadly.”

Bloody Yorkshire: Volume One uncovers thirteen shocking crimes that once gripped communities across Yorkshire.

From the brutal triple murders in Mirfield in 1847 to the tragic killing of young John Gill in Bradford in 1889, these cases reveal the darker side of Victorian and Edwardian life. Drawing on contemporary newspapers and court records, W. M. Rhodes brings these chilling stories back to life in a carefully researched and illustrated collection.

Perfect for readers fascinated by true crime, local history, and the forgotten stories of Yorkshire’s past.

163 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 23, 2019

About the author

W. M. (Wendy) Rhodes is a Yorkshire-born historian and nonfiction author whose work explores true crime, women’s history, and the overlooked lives of ordinary people in Britain’s past. She is the author of Filey: A History of the Town and Its People, Scarborough: A History of the Town and Its People, the Bloody Yorkshire true-crime series, and other historical works.

Drawing on a background in English Literature and Creative Writing, Wendy combines careful archival research with accessible storytelling, bringing historical characters — especially women, the poor, and the socially marginalised — back into focus.

Wendy now lives in Spain, where she continues to research, write, and develop new historical projects.

Reviews

[Derek P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a lover of true crime. I recently read The Five about the Ripper victims, and this series was recommended to me. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have also finished volume 2 which in my opinion was better than this one. I'm looking forward to reading the 3rd book in the series.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. True crime and Yorkshire make a good combination for me. Definitely a recommended read. Five stars.

[A.L. Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad collection but a lot of editing and proofreading errors.

[Lesley Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read! horrific stories well told and researched. Really captures real life and death in Victorian Yorkshire. Looking forward to Volume 2

[W.M. Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great account of some Yorkshire murders. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Elizabeth Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody Yorkshire. Having read many of this author's other books I thought I would read this one. I wasn't disappointed. Some fascinating tales of true crime from Yorkshire's past. Recommended.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting cases, many of which I was unfamiliar with - but sadly, unedited. Some sentences are so badly written that they don't make a lot of sense.

[Matthew Gurteen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of historical cases, although I'd hardly call the Victorian era 'bygone times.' I read this as part of my own independent research for further academic work. I do not want to be too harsh on it since it is only a local amateur study, and it did provide me with much material on how Victorian murderers are still adapted today. The illustrations, of which there are many, are well-sourced and presented, and all of the information is clearly displayed and well researched. It can be repetitive at times, however, and often the author writes in a relatively informal tone. Frequently the cases would end with the words 'RIP [the victim],' which, although I do not doubt was intended for respect, came across as insensitive and the unmistakable mark of non-academic work. I would recommend the book to anyone looking to learn more about murder cases in Victorian Yorkshire. I know that the author has other books like this, and I plan to pick up 'Dr Pritchard the Poisoning Adulterer' soon.

[W.M. Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder is always tragic. This book is an excellent account of past crimes in Yorkshire. A must read book.