The Poisonous Solicitor: The True Story of a 1920s Murder Mystery

by Stephen Bates

A brilliant narrative investigation into the 1920s case that inspired Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and Margery Allingham In 1922, Major Herbert Armstrong, a Hay-on-Wye solicitor, was found guilty of, and executed for, poisoning his wife, Katharine, with arsenic.
Armstrong’s case has all the ingredients of a classic murder mystery, from a plot by Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers (indeed some aspects of his story appear in Sayers’ Unnatural Death). It is a near-perfect whodunnit. One hundred years later, Agatha Award-shortlisted Stephen Bates examines and retells the story of the case, evoking the period and atmosphere of the early 1920s, a time of newspaper sensationalism, hypocrisy and sanctimonious morality.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Crime, Audiobook

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Stephen Bates has worked as a journalist for the BBC, the Telegraph, the Mail and, for 23 years, as political correspondent at the Guardian. He is the bestselling author of Church at War and God's Own Country.

Penny Loaves and Butter Cheap, Stephen Bate's kaleidoscopic picture of Britain in 1846 is in all good bookshops and available in ebook now.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting book about a true case in Hay-on-Wye in the 1920's . felt however as detailed the book was it was a bit too slow for my liking though.

[Dustin Blink · Rating 2 out of 5]

About as dry as a book can be

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was slightly disappointed with this. I didn’t think it was as good as Robin Odell’s account of the case. Basically, unfair trial but fair verdict. Nothing new here.

[Christopher Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive account of an interesting case. Starts off slow and, while the pace doesn't pick up much, the writing does improve. Bates takes an open-minded and fair view throughout, and it's hard to come away from the book without seeing it as likely that Armstrong did commit the murder he was found guilty of, but also that he was subject to an unfair trial.

Only 3* as the book's too long and repetitive, and has the aforementioned slow start.

[Helen Carolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do like my true crime and when it's this good I'm a happy bunny. 1922 in the town of Hay-On-Wye, Herbert Rowse's wife Katherine died. Nothing unusual in this as she had been experiencing a lexicon of medical conditions and mental health problems for some time. 10 months later a rival solicitor to Rowse claimed he'd been poisoned by Rowse and the police became involved. Katherine's body was exhumed after suspicions were raised and Rowse found himself on trial for murder. Did he do it or was he a victim of mere circumstantial evidence. Bates delves into the crime and gives a masterful account. Excellent read.

[Mitch Karunaratne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing of this case going in. Bates does a great job of taking us back to the 1920s with modern sensibilities and understandings- to examine not just the guilt and innocence of Herbert Armstrong but the fairness of the legal process and the impact this trial had on the public thirst for sensational reporting and the newly emerging genre of cosy crime - and amateur detectives with puzzle solving skills! It was a little repetitive in places but a compelling read that threw up lots of questions!

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was an innocent man hanged for a crime he didn't commit? Or was it justifiable?

If only every country in the world would ban the death penalty as ours has done.

[Merit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-told story of a scandalous murder trial, which through the lens of hindsight, seems clouded by a potential miscarriage of justice. Major Herbert Armstrong was found guilty of murder one hundred years ago and sentenced to hang.

Bates weaves a story, through local records and court transcripts, that casts a shadow over his guilt. Armstrong was accused of poisoning his wife, and yet it is the other potential mysterious poisonings that led to eye of suspicion falling on him.

Improved by Bates' going deep into the social, economic landscape of 1920s country England and how it influenced various actors and actions. While tangential to plot at times, the asides into history of post-WWI land sales and the differing oratorical styles of barristers, it led a richer telling, placing the trial in a certain time and place.

[vicki honeyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This classic murder mystery, that inspiring Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, is the true story of a murder by arsenic poisoning in 1920s Britain. With practically minute-by-minute accounting, it’s a captivating retelling of the investigation and trial of Major Herbert Armstrong, who did — or didn’t? — poison his wife.

[Peter Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific read, and interesting twist in the final chapter. I don't want to spoil it, so I will have to content myself with absolutely recommending this page-turner.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story was interesting but the narrative was often slow and belabored.

[Kt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Genre: non-fiction - true crime

Does the blurb reflect the plot: It’s a good premise of what’s to come.

Sum it up: Major Herbert Rowse Armstrong was the only solicitor in the United Kingdom ever hanged for murder. First found guilty of attempted murder of a local solicitor by poisoning, he was then convicted of murder by poisoning his wife with arsenic. Since his death on 31 May 1922 his case has regularly been revisited by journalists given the media sensation it caused at the time. Drawing on multiple original sources, Bates has clearly throughly researched every facet of Armstrong’s life to provide a comprehensive read that details his early life through to his marriage and home life, the events that saw him charge with attempted murder and murder, his trial, his death by hanging and the aftermath of it. The content is both well written and informative, making it a detailed yet impartial read. What I appreciated the most about The Poisonous Solicitor; was even though it made the text a little clinical to read at times; Bates has written it through the lens of evidence gathering and criminal trials in the 1920s. It would have been easy to sensationalise it or write about it from today’s perspective looking back at the events of the time, but he didn’t and that’s what makes this a unique find in the large pool that is genre of true crime.

Who should read it: fans of the true crime genre will enjoy The Poisonous Solicitor, as will anyone who is interested in non-fiction books and is looking for something different to read.

The Poisonous Solicitor is my twelfth read in #ktbookbingo. Category ‘has a green cover’. To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo or @peggyanne_readsandruns on Instagram.

[Colin Garrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1922, solicitor Major Herbert Rowse Armstrong was tried and found guilty of killing his wife by poisoning her with arsenic. Hanged for her murder, the case caused a scandal not only in Hay-on-Wye where he lived but across the whole country.

My first introduction to this story was via London Weekend Television’s drama, Dandelion Dead, starring Michael Kitchen as the hapless solicitor. Though it’s a cracking good bit of telly (having watched it again recently) it assumes Armstrong to be guilty and makes no attempt to portray a balanced view. This new book by Stephen Bates, therefore, filled in a lot of gaps, giving a much clearer and unbiased picture of what happened. Recreating the atmosphere of the quiet town, and the morals and attitudes of the times, the author brings the story to life without allowing his own opinions to colour the narrative. What is most interesting are the various theories surrounding another incident – that of the attempted poisoning of rival solicitor Oswald Martin – which prompted the investigation into the death of Major Armstrong’s wife.

An entertaining and fascinating account of this infamous murder case.

[Adam Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1922, Herbert Rowse Armstrong was sentenced to death for the murder of his wife, by poisoning. The details of the story read like the plot of a golden age detective novel - and, in fact, I unintentionally happened to be reading Frances Iles's "Malice Aforethought", which was inspired by this case, at the same time. But was Herbert Armstrong actually guilt of the murder? A minority of voices claim he was innocent - and perhaps framed. Stephen Bates explores the evidence, showing the intrigue surrounding the trial, and how at the very least Mr Armstrong was the victim of a miscarriage of justice, with the judge clearly compromising the trial.

This is a fascinating case, and Bates has done a thorough job with it - although there is quite a bit of unnecessary padding and repetition. I also object to the inclusion of some major plot spoilers for detective novels that borrowed elements of the case! But definitely a good holiday read.

[C Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive and well written study of the case of Herbert Armstrong, hanged in 1922 for the murder of his wife by arsenic poisoning. My thoughts were initially that the author was biased, but in reading his summing up at the end came to the conclusion that he was, in fact, open minded. His viewpoint of the trial proceedings - that they were a travesty, prompted by a judge seemingly determined to convict Armstrong - were simply made based upon the transcript and court reports and, indeed, it is difficult not to agree. In the end, it seems likely that Armstrong - who professed innocence right up to the gallows - did actually murder his wife (and may have attempted to murder others) but never received the fair trial that was his right. This, alone, is sufficient to cast doubt upon the verdict.

[Dave Appleby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A step-by-step account of the true crime when solicitor Herbert Armstrong from Hay-on-Wye was accused of poisoning his wife using arsenic; a box of poisoned chocolates was also discovered. The wife certainly died from arsenic: sufficient to kill her was found in her corpse exhumed ten months later. There was certainly arsenic in the chocolates though no-one ever discovered who sent them. Armstrong was convicted, in a trial in which the judge rode roughshod over the rules, and hanged.

This book covers all the details in chronological order but comes to no new conclusions; indeed, the author seems determined to avoid speculation. This makes the narrative rather pedestrian.

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly detailed account of the entire circumstances leading up to, during and after the trial of Major H.R Armstrong. Other reviews stated that the book can be slow or does not bring any new information or conclusions about the trial, however, I feel like Stephen bates does a good Job of highlighting the tone of the time and making sure no detail is left out. Being presented with the facts allows you to make your own assumption of Armstrong's Guilt and see unequivocally the failings of the court system at the time Guilty or Not.

Well worth a read!

[Jen de R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing and very thorough account of the Armstrong poisoning case. Herbert Armstrong is presented sympathetically and the writer indicates at the beginning of the book that he did not believe him guilty, or at least that his guilt was far from proven. This was interesting both as a murder mystery and a legal thriller. The scene setting was a bit long and there was some unnecessary repetition but overall a compelling read right to the end. I do advise making it right to the end because there are some postscript twists.

[Leanne Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book did a good job of describing the times and left it ambiguous as to whether the solicitor did murder his wife. It's ironic that he came under investigation because of a rather silly incident with his co-worker and local gossip. But who send the poisonous chocolates? And was he so forgetful as to where he left all the arsenic? And did he love his wife or, because she was depressed and suicidal, decide to help her along?

[Nichola · Rating 3 out of 5]

This got very tedious very quickly.

I really liked the intentions and ideas behind this book BUT I feel like there needed to be more chunking down of the text to make it more engaging and accessible.
The court chapters in particular became dense and intractable.

I feel like this is where texts like the Devil and the White City really triumphs. This type of narrative needed to have more storytelling or more contrasts to the wider world to be more accessible and engaging.

[Amber Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true life whodunnit book with no real life answers. Major Armstrong did not receive a fair trial, but he remains a very plausible possibility as the killer. I’m not sold on his wife committing suicide, but she could have inadvertently caused her own death with the patent medicines she took. Other reviewers have noted this as being a rather Agatha Christie sort of murder and I’d have to agree mostly—though if it were fiction, a clever sleuth would have stepped in to clear things up.

[Marloes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather disappointing read. No fresh perspective, stereotypical descriptions. I get the sense the author set out to try to establish the innocence of the protagonist, but after repeating (over and over again) the arguments of Armstrongs defense lawyers the story seems to collapse at the end. Still, it was interesting to read about this real life drama that inspired many detective novels.

[Aisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew nothing about this case going in. The authorn did a great job of taking us back to the 1920s, to examine the guilt and innocence of Herbert Armstrong. The impact this trial had on the public for sensational reporting and the amateur detectives. I found it a little repetitive in places but a compelling read overall.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Awfully boring narration. Despite good reviews I gave up halfway through because the narrator was reading like he was on an express (but not expressive) train…….boring, un-engaging, and ultimately a destroyer of stories.

[Anne Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF didn’t like the pace - or lack of it!

[Jo Wheater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the twist at the end! Didn’t see that coming

[Garret Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought there would be more intrigue. Started off slow and dull, but the courtroom chapters were compelling.

[Pallas · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first book about the case, I went with the audio book and I liked the narrator Toby Longworth. Seems like a good capture of events and painting a picture of 1920’s England.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kind of read. Absolutely loved this!

[Cindel Van der Valk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5