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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Trying to read more non-fiction as a crime thriller reader. The flow of this book is very good, how it moves through this boy’s life from crime, to punishment, to freedom is really emotional. You never really feel comfortable in your emotions and want a neat storyline that real life just doesn’t give you. That made me want to read on and I found I kept wanting to go back to this book whenever I could.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
De titel voelt toch een beetje als click-bait... Aardig onderwerp, maar veels te breedsprakig.
The Wicked Boy is one of those books that drew me in with its cover. It is very reminiscent of The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, another non-fiction story of a historical crime. However, The Wicked Boy is a much different story, occurring in a different culture and continent.
I was interested to learn about how matricide is not just a product of current American culture. Robert Coombes’ crime happened over a hundred years ago, in a time and world far different than how we live now. We are privy to much of the trial information; as such, I learned much about how British courts operated in the late 19th century, especially in regard to minors.
What I found most fascinating about the information we received about the suspect was how readers of the newspaper accounts just had to believe the reporters. There were no such things as photos, so if the report stated that Coombes’ sneered or looked evil, than that was how he must be. Now we have courtroom artists, and usually actual photographs and video, of our notorious trials. Even the author noted that in one instance, an account noted the Coombes’ brothers in certain complexions, when in actuality, it was reversed.
I didn’t really start to enjoy the book until we arrived at the part detailing Robert’s life after he is sentenced to the infamous Broadmoor mental asylum. I recently watched a documentary about Broadmoor and was interested to see how it operated at the turn of the 20th century and how Robert fared as a child resident. We also learn about his service to Australia in World War II and his adoption of a neighbor child. Robert was able to live in anonymity after his release from Broadmoor, a fate that would not be possible today. Perhaps the lack of photographs was a blessing for those who were able to atone for their crimes.
While I didn’t love The Wicked Boy, I did like it and felt I finished the book having learned something. Others who are interested in historical crimes and its parallels to modern crime would probably enjoy this book.
I received this book as part of my involvement with Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.
I was interested to learn about how matricide is not just a product of current American culture. Robert Coombes’ crime happened over a hundred years ago, in a time and world far different than how we live now. We are privy to much of the trial information; as such, I learned much about how British courts operated in the late 19th century, especially in regard to minors.
What I found most fascinating about the information we received about the suspect was how readers of the newspaper accounts just had to believe the reporters. There were no such things as photos, so if the report stated that Coombes’ sneered or looked evil, than that was how he must be. Now we have courtroom artists, and usually actual photographs and video, of our notorious trials. Even the author noted that in one instance, an account noted the Coombes’ brothers in certain complexions, when in actuality, it was reversed.
I didn’t really start to enjoy the book until we arrived at the part detailing Robert’s life after he is sentenced to the infamous Broadmoor mental asylum. I recently watched a documentary about Broadmoor and was interested to see how it operated at the turn of the 20th century and how Robert fared as a child resident. We also learn about his service to Australia in World War II and his adoption of a neighbor child. Robert was able to live in anonymity after his release from Broadmoor, a fate that would not be possible today. Perhaps the lack of photographs was a blessing for those who were able to atone for their crimes.
While I didn’t love The Wicked Boy, I did like it and felt I finished the book having learned something. Others who are interested in historical crimes and its parallels to modern crime would probably enjoy this book.
I received this book as part of my involvement with Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.
This tells the story of Robert Coombes who, when he was 13 years old, murdered his mother, he then spent the next week or so seeing cricket, theatre shows and travelling to the seaside with his 12 year old brother Nattie, using all the money in the house.
The tale follows Roberts trial, his incarceration and what happened after his release.
Filled with well researched information plus the incision of how London was in the late 19th - early 20th century, other murders and much, much more with all sources and extra information in the bibliography at the back.
It's an extremely well written book and it's a wonderful read!
*Huge thanks to Kate Summerscale, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review*
The tale follows Roberts trial, his incarceration and what happened after his release.
Filled with well researched information plus the incision of how London was in the late 19th - early 20th century, other murders and much, much more with all sources and extra information in the bibliography at the back.
It's an extremely well written book and it's a wonderful read!
*Huge thanks to Kate Summerscale, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review*
fast-paced
I was not expecting this read. Downloaded the first thing I saw off my Libby TBR for the plane, and was pleasantly surprised. More than a retelling of a tragic murder, this has some profound things to say about how mental health was treated in Victorian England, and what it looks like to live a lifetime after committing a terrible act in your youth. I appreciated most of all the compassion Summerscale showed for the people involved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical trauma
dark
informative
medium-paced
Southend and Hadleigh mentioned!
Great scene setting, interesting moral panics, excellent WW1 inclusion and a very thorough accounting of a life.
Great scene setting, interesting moral panics, excellent WW1 inclusion and a very thorough accounting of a life.
Very interesting! I still have so many questions but I guess some things we will never know!