SOLVED. true crime British book about early forensics published in 2009 or 2010 [s]

[Niffer]

Back in the summer of 2010, I traveled with my family to England for a few weeks. There was a book that had just been recently released that looked fascinating to me. It was a true crime or historical account about a murder mystery around the late 1800s, early 1900s ("Sherlock Holmes" era), and was one of the the first (or maybe the first) mystery solved with forensic science. I believe there was some suggestion that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had stolen some ideas for Sherlock Holmes's detecting style from the mystery.

For some reason I foolishly thought I would remember the title of the book, and I didn't want to buy it in London and have to lug it home (silly me--I ended up buying Twilight and lugging that home--and regretted that decision on several accounts). I've poked around in several places to see if I could find it, but nothing seems familiar.

[``Laurie]

I bought a book at that time, published in 2008, that might be the one you're looking for; The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective
I haven't read the book yet but it does sound similar to the book you're looking for.

[Amy]

Could it be: The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science? I don't think there's any reference to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but it's been more than a year since I read it.

[Andy]

Laurie wrote: "I bought a book at that time, published in 2008, that might be the one you're looking for; [book:The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective|1747..."

Just what I came into the thread to suggest.

[Niffer]

Laurie wrote: "I bought a book at that time, published in 2008, that might be the one you're looking for; [book:The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective|1747..."

It's been so long since I saw the book, I can't be certain, but I'm guessing this is the book. It was published a bit earlier than my trip, but the fact that it won so many awards in 2009 would likely explain why it was so ubiquitous in the stores on my 2010 trip.

I think we can call this solved.

(Also going to check out that other book--looks interesting!)

[``Laurie]

Andy wrote: "Laurie wrote: "I bought a book at that time, published in 2008, that might be the one you're looking for; [book:The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian..."

First :D

[``Laurie]

Niffer wrote: "Laurie wrote: "I bought a book at that time, published in 2008, that might be the one you're looking for; [book:The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian..."

So glad you found your book Niffer. I read, The Killer of Little Shepherds too, which I found fascinating so you can't go wrong with these 2 books.