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The life and death of Lord Erroll: The truth behind the Happy Valley murder
The definitive solving of the mystery surrounding the murder of the most talked-about and glamorous member of Kenya's notorious Happy Valley set, by the much praised author of bestselling previous books including 'The Lives of Beryl Markham'. Since Josslyn Hay, 22nd Earl of Erroll, was discovered dead in his car with a bullet through his head just outside Nairobi in 1941, speculation has not ceased as to the culprit and motive for his murder. The authorities seemed satisfied with the highly sensationalised trial of the only suspect, Jock Broughton, the cuckolded husband of Erroll's last lover, Diana. A not-guilty verdict was returned after a baffling display of confusing evidence and clumsy police work. Trzebinski, who has lived in Kenya for 30 years, was not satisfied with the conflicting gossip on the case, none of whose evidence adds up, including that of the celebrated White Mischief by James Fox. In this gripping evocation of a glamorous, decadent and sinister life, Trzebinski uses her renowned biographer's skill to unlock the mystique surrounding the man, and the mystery enveloping his death. Her investigations lead her to astonishing conclusions about the true motive for his murder.
375 pages, Hardcover
First published March 2, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 28, 2022
This is a bad book because it is badly written and turgid to read. Just because you do a vast amount of research it doesn't mean that you have discovered anything importance. The tedious details of lord Erroll's early life, his membership in Mosley's British Union of Fascists, his dull and rather predictable interventions in the various bodies the rich self-important Kenyan settlers used to broadcast their irrelevant, if predictable, opinions adds not a jot to explicating Erroll's murder nor provide a reason for believing the UK government or its colonial offshoot in Kenya was in the habit of murdering people. If they did and decided to murder settlers with fascist associations and delusions of importance then the roads of Kenya would have been littered with dead settlers.
Erroll was not important. He was not nice, he - and the rest of the sleazy cohort of over privileged wasters that made up the so Happy Valley set - are the staple for true crime books and some ok films but that is it. Erroll and the rest of them would rightly be forgotten except for his murderer being, most likely, lord Broughton, which created a lovely scandal. Honestly I cannot explain, except for the annoyance the book caused me, at why I have devoted so much space to this badly written farago of authorial delusions. At least you have been warned.
Erroll was not important. He was not nice, he - and the rest of the sleazy cohort of over privileged wasters that made up the so Happy Valley set - are the staple for true crime books and some ok films but that is it. Erroll and the rest of them would rightly be forgotten except for his murderer being, most likely, lord Broughton, which created a lovely scandal. Honestly I cannot explain, except for the annoyance the book caused me, at why I have devoted so much space to this badly written farago of authorial delusions. At least you have been warned.
July 9, 2020
A superbly detailed exploration of the life of Josslyn Hay, the 22nd Earl of Erroll and the circumstances surrounding his death. Combining mystery, political intrigue, espionage, and the international geopolitics of the Second World War, Trzebinski presents a fascinating case exposing the conspiracy behind the murder of Lord Erroll. I would highly recommend to those interested in life in colonial Kenya and the Second World War in Africa.
October 12, 2016
The author recounts the life and presents her theory of the murder of Josslyn Victor Hay, 22d Earl of Errol and hereditary Lord Constable of Scotland. Joss was heir to an ancient title, but no money. He was well educated, intelligent, and very handsome. On a course to follow his father into the diplomatic service, he tossed it away to marry the twice divorced Lady Idina Sackville and settle in kenya, where the couple became leaders of the notorious "Happy Valley Set." He was notorious as a womanizer and in 1940 was found murdered. The prime suspect was Jock Delves Broughton. Joss was having an affair with Broughton's much younger wife, Diana, and the two had plans to marry after Diana obtained a divorce. Broughton was tried and acquitted, and the murder was never solved. James Fox's book "White Mischief" claimed to have demonstrated that Broughton was in fact the murderer. This book strives to contest that, as well as somewhat rehabilitating Joss's reputation. It's quite clear that the author finds Joss a very sympathetic character.
During the 1930's Joss had become involved with the British Union of Fascists, along with many notable British aristocrats. The author contends that Joss was murdered by the British secret service because he knew too much about too many influential people. She has a document purportedly outlining the plot from the son of a police official. Broughton's acquittal rested largely on forensic evidence related to the firearm used in the murder. Broughton was know to have brought to revolvers to Kenya, neither of which he reported on arrival and both of which he latter claimed were stolen. Additionally, the caliber of one of them matched the bullet recovered from Joss. But the rifling did not match the type of the suspect revolver. Confusing issues even more, the crime scene was badly bungled, with evidence being destroyed or tainted. While the theory that Joss was the victim of an official hit by the secret service is possible, I don't find the argument compelling. The motive seems lacking. What could Joss have known that was damaging enough to justify such drastic action. Oswald Moseley, the leader of the BUF, certainly knew much more and he was kept safe and secure in prison. The storyline of the hit job presented in the document the author obtain seems very fanciful. The Cairo office of the SOE allegedly recruited two amateurs to carry out the hit, sent them to Kenya, changing identities several times. Then they were aided in the job by local SOE agents, and went back to Cairo. Both conveniently died in he war. The problem here is why would they use two inexperienced people to carry out a hit. Plus, the way it was done there had to be too many people aware of it. In 1940 Kenya there mjust have been far more discreet and efficient ways to eliminate someone. As for Broughton's alibi, the two missing revolvers, he was know to have had two that were not reported. It seems lausible that he could have had, or acquired, a third. Beyond that, James Fox tracked down Juanita Carberry, the then 15 year old daughter of two of the Happy Valley Set, who told him that Broughton had later confessed to her that he did it. Also, years later, one of Broughton's former African servants told his then employer that the morning after the murder he'd helped Broughton burn some blood stained clothes. All in all, I think James Fox got the murder right. However, this book is a good read for background on the place and era and some fascinating characters.
During the 1930's Joss had become involved with the British Union of Fascists, along with many notable British aristocrats. The author contends that Joss was murdered by the British secret service because he knew too much about too many influential people. She has a document purportedly outlining the plot from the son of a police official. Broughton's acquittal rested largely on forensic evidence related to the firearm used in the murder. Broughton was know to have brought to revolvers to Kenya, neither of which he reported on arrival and both of which he latter claimed were stolen. Additionally, the caliber of one of them matched the bullet recovered from Joss. But the rifling did not match the type of the suspect revolver. Confusing issues even more, the crime scene was badly bungled, with evidence being destroyed or tainted. While the theory that Joss was the victim of an official hit by the secret service is possible, I don't find the argument compelling. The motive seems lacking. What could Joss have known that was damaging enough to justify such drastic action. Oswald Moseley, the leader of the BUF, certainly knew much more and he was kept safe and secure in prison. The storyline of the hit job presented in the document the author obtain seems very fanciful. The Cairo office of the SOE allegedly recruited two amateurs to carry out the hit, sent them to Kenya, changing identities several times. Then they were aided in the job by local SOE agents, and went back to Cairo. Both conveniently died in he war. The problem here is why would they use two inexperienced people to carry out a hit. Plus, the way it was done there had to be too many people aware of it. In 1940 Kenya there mjust have been far more discreet and efficient ways to eliminate someone. As for Broughton's alibi, the two missing revolvers, he was know to have had two that were not reported. It seems lausible that he could have had, or acquired, a third. Beyond that, James Fox tracked down Juanita Carberry, the then 15 year old daughter of two of the Happy Valley Set, who told him that Broughton had later confessed to her that he did it. Also, years later, one of Broughton's former African servants told his then employer that the morning after the murder he'd helped Broughton burn some blood stained clothes. All in all, I think James Fox got the murder right. However, this book is a good read for background on the place and era and some fascinating characters.
July 10, 2019
Hard to fathom how any writer could take the unsolved murder of the notorious, womanizing Earl of Erroll (of Happy Valley fame) and make it so dull that it took me over a month to slog through.
February 10, 2011
Somewhat of a diappointment. Too detailed on the early life, which seemed to have little bearing on the conclusion reached as to the murderer -- which didn't convince me. It seemed a little far-fetched in spite of extensive research and many interviews. From checking online, there is yet another theory that the murderess was, in fact, one of his former lovers -- which sounds more likely to me! So the mystery continues -- why such interest?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews