Who Killed Little Johnny Gill?

A Victorian True Crime Murder Mystery

By: Kathryn McMaster

Narrated by: Sam Warren

Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

He's just seven years old. He's your son. You wave goodbye to him one morning as he disappears into the swirling fog. And then he is gone. Forever.

This gripping historical crime fiction novel, based on fact, is set in Bradford, England, 1888. It explores the horrific murder of Johnny Gill; a murder and mutilation so gruesome, it stuns a nation. Even hardened detectives are affected by its savagery, swiftly comparing it to the work of Jack the Ripper.

Who Killed Little Johnny Gill? is Kathryn McMaster's debut novel. It is a noir pause-resister that immediately immerses you in a maelstrom of emotions, keeping you in suspense as Chief Detective Constable Withers and his dedicated team of British detectives try and gather sufficient evidence to bring a conviction against their suspect.

In 1888, police procedures and knowledge of Forensic Science are rudimentary and juries are exposed to persuasive newspaper reports and public opinion. Will justice prevail, or will the guilty walk free?

This is one crime fiction novel you won't be able to put down until the last word!

©2016 Kathryn McMaster (P)2016 Kathryn McMaster

17Sep17

This is an okay telling of a real incident. Chapter 5 has several production glitches in that some how got missed. Other then that; it's just okay.

Victorian Mystery

I love the genre but the book was a little scattershot. Could have been a lot better organized.

very good CSI story.

the narration was excellent. I felt the location and the time through the story. it kept moving pretty well and I found it very interesting.

Good untill....

At the beginning of chapter 4 there seems to be several outtakes as I hear a snap and a clearing of a throat before a repeated line. A bit distracting.

Interesting story, oddly told

Chapter 5 (in audible list) needs to be redone. It sounds like a snap of the fingers, then a clearing of the throat, a pause, and then continuation. MANY times. Something like that is no big deal, once or twice, but not like this book. It got so bad, I finally just skipped to the next chapter. Yes, it was bad enough to write a paragraph about.

On to the story. I think for the age of it that the author did a very good job of researching. She did a good job telling the facts in a story that I could visualize. Good job on that.

The odd part was it seemed to have lots of detail in some places, yet skim over others. In the evidence gathering section for example, it seemed breezed over for the canvas, pants, knife. Maybe there just weren't more details, in fact I'm sure there weren't, based on the trial facts. but I wish that part had been expanded more. It was very well done on painting the picture of the people's feelings, and that had to be imagined too.

Anyway, nice job telling of a horrible, horrible crime, without trying to shock the reader in gruesome details. I very much liked that, appreciated it. It was told with enough detail I understood, but didn't dwell like most true crime stories do for the shock factor. That poor, poor family. Can't even imagine what that beautiful little boy went through.

Are you having a laugh?

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

It didn't start too bad. Ok story, slightly monotonous narrative, but decent enough - but come chapter 4 and the recording is suddenly unedited! The narrator, stumbles, coughs and clicks his fingers again and again. Reads the same phrases over and over trying to get it right. More snapping his fingers and clearing his throat.For the first couple of minutes it was pretty comical, then incredibly annoying as it went on and on. Then it became frankly embarrassing. Did no one listen to the recording? I suggest you edit it asap. I had to give up in the end, as there is no telling how long this goes on for. Annoying when I had already spent a couple of hours listening to the book. Do not buy the audio unless you enjoy cringe-worthy unedited performances.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Due to the recording. It is impossible to finish, so I cannot give a fair answer.

What didn’t you like about Sam Warren’s performance?

Please see comments above. I feel sorry for the guy.

1888 Murder of Eight Year Old Boy in England

A true story of the tragic murder of young Johnny Gill in Bradford, England . . . a killing so gruesome that some thought it to be the work of Jack the Ripper . . . the tale is well told, with explicit detail, sad and sick as it was . . . and all through the book, I had a niggling feeling . . . which in the end is the same conclusion that the author came to in the afterward . . . don't miss that . . . to me that's one of the best parts . . .

An immersive, atmospheric Victorian crime novel

A terrific thriller built around a true crime (and not for the faint-hearted!). The great writing and language style makes it a pleasure to listen, and takes you along to a time and place (Victorian England) and keeps you hooked.
Highly recommended.

Excellent

So much more than a dry reciting of historical facts, this true story grabs the listener and just won't let go. It is intelligent, chock full of historical truisms drawn from paper sources of 1888/89. Do not turn off the audio at what seems to be the end of the drama. Be sure to listen to the author in his afterward. This audio won my full vote of 5- all.

captivating and interesting

this was an incredible story. the research and time put in is obvious. highly recommend