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A review by othervee
So Brilliantly Clever: Parker, Hulme and the Murder that Shocked the World by Peter Graham
5.0
This was fascinating and compelling. I was surprised at first that there had never been a full-length book devoted to the Parker-Hulme case (apart from Parker-Hulme: A Lesbian View), and then I realised that if there was one I would already have it :) Peter Graham has done a wonderful job of examining this case from many perspectives and of examining all the different treatments of the story from newspaper coverage of the day up to 'Heavenly Creatures'.
One of the things I most appreciated was Graham's investigation of the families of both girls and the circumstances of their childhoods, and in particular his attempt to give a more rounded picture of Honorah Rieper/Parker, who was the victim in this murder and yet tends to be incomplete. I don't believe I've ever seen a photograph of her, and she's always eclipsed by the more glamorous and salacious details of the Hulme family. Most commentaries on the case talk about Christchurch in the 1950s but few go further back to look at the circumstances of their parents' lives.
One of the things that struck me most is that neither girl appears to have received any proper therapy or treatment while in prison, which of course wouldn't be the case today. Stories about their lives while incarcerated are scarce and it would be interesting to know how they reacted to being separated - particularly since the idea of separation was one of the main motives for murder.
Of course, one of the most titillating aspects of this case is that Juliet Hulme transformed herself into Anne Perry the writer and gained fame and fortune in the way she seems to have dreamed about early on. The author clearly dislikes Hulme/Perry and it's difficult not to share his distaste, especially given her recent attempts to minimise her own part in the murder. Fame doesn't appear to have brought her happiness though.
I doubt this murder could happen in quite the same way today (although of course children do still murder their parents and vice versa). Perhaps in a less inhibited world with more outlets for imagination, the girls would have been less dependent on each other and their energies could have been dissipated differently. It's interesting to note that both women have turned to religion and become very devout in their later lives. Perhaps they both needed something to devote themselves to, and in 1950s Christchurch all they could find was one another.
Altogether a great read. True crime writing is always best when it includes context and Peter Graham does a great job of it here.
One of the things I most appreciated was Graham's investigation of the families of both girls and the circumstances of their childhoods, and in particular his attempt to give a more rounded picture of Honorah Rieper/Parker, who was the victim in this murder and yet tends to be incomplete. I don't believe I've ever seen a photograph of her, and she's always eclipsed by the more glamorous and salacious details of the Hulme family. Most commentaries on the case talk about Christchurch in the 1950s but few go further back to look at the circumstances of their parents' lives.
One of the things that struck me most is that neither girl appears to have received any proper therapy or treatment while in prison, which of course wouldn't be the case today. Stories about their lives while incarcerated are scarce and it would be interesting to know how they reacted to being separated - particularly since the idea of separation was one of the main motives for murder.
Of course, one of the most titillating aspects of this case is that Juliet Hulme transformed herself into Anne Perry the writer and gained fame and fortune in the way she seems to have dreamed about early on. The author clearly dislikes Hulme/Perry and it's difficult not to share his distaste, especially given her recent attempts to minimise her own part in the murder. Fame doesn't appear to have brought her happiness though.
I doubt this murder could happen in quite the same way today (although of course children do still murder their parents and vice versa). Perhaps in a less inhibited world with more outlets for imagination, the girls would have been less dependent on each other and their energies could have been dissipated differently. It's interesting to note that both women have turned to religion and become very devout in their later lives. Perhaps they both needed something to devote themselves to, and in 1950s Christchurch all they could find was one another.
Altogether a great read. True crime writing is always best when it includes context and Peter Graham does a great job of it here.