Did She Kill Him?

A Victorian Tale of Deception, Adultery & Arsenic

By: Kate Colquhoun

Narrated by: Maggie Mash

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the summer of 1889, young Southern belle Florence Maybrick stood trial for the alleged arsenic poisoning of her much older husband, Liverpool cotton merchant James Maybrick. The ‘Maybrick Mystery’ had all the makings of a sensation and cracked the varnish of Victorian respectability. Florence’s fate was fiercely debated on the front pages of the newspapers and in parlours and backyards across the country. Historian Kate Colquhoun recounts an utterly absorbing tale that keeps you asking to the very last minute, did she kill him?

©2014 Oakhill Publishing (P)2014 Kate Colquhoun

Critic Reviews

"The case is thrilling, the trial harrowing and Colquhoun does them justice." (Laura Freeman Daily Mail)

"Kate Colquhoun's fascinating history . . . critiques thoroughly and carefully the attitudes of the time." (Scotsman)

"Intriguing, forensic . . . a moral fable of the age, intelligently told by Colquhoun, who places her sources cleverly within historical and literary context . . . gripping." (The Times)

"Kate Colquhoun renders the story in a vivid, novelistic style . . . gripping." (Financial Times)

Fascinating true story

This well- researched analysis of a much-celebrated case is well written and thought provoking, providing and in-depth look at the lives of the women of the Victorian age, their treatment under the rules of society and the rule of law. A really fine true crime document, and a great read.

interesting but....

great subject matter...but so many details and social points beaten to death. so so. C-

Flawed

No suspense, inadequate research, too "creative" for non fiction. I had hoped this was more like The Murder of Helen Jewett, but it is not at all that quality.

History with a Question Mark

Although it sounds a little grizzly to say so, I really enjoyed this book. I find true crime books in a historical context quite fascinating. The draw of studying the law and human psychology are the same as true crime set in the modern day, but the methods of crime solving and context are so different that it makes it all new. The writing and research are fluid and finely presented. The narrative voice is smooth and accent perfect, whether that accent is syrupy Southern or crisp upper-class british. The story is truly engaging. My only word of warning is that if you need to have every question answered at the end of your real life mysteries, this may not be the book for you. I won't say any more and ruin the story for you, but the book really does end on a question mark, as the title makes clear.

Victorian Travesty!

I listened to this story thinking how different the case would have been resolved if it was 100 years later.
Whether or not she "did it" we will never know. However, what we do know is the defendant was never really tried for the crime committed.
This was expertly read and the story was quite gripping.

Style of Gothic Mystery

Well worth the listen. Of course it is always grating on the ear when a woman tries to do a man-voice, but thankfully there was little dialog for the men.

For those people who are not acquainted with how poorly women have always been treated, well, those people might shale their heads in disbelief. But the book is well done and well-read. It does allow for vivid mental images to be drawn, and that is the best part of books and audio books.

VERY ANNOYING NARRATOR

I am afraid I could not finish listening to this book in spite of finding the story very interesting. The narrator Maggie Mash while is telling the story is quite pleasant to listen to but when she has to do one of the characters' voices, she does it in such a grotesque way that you want to scream, she does it with all the characters that all sound like parodies of the big bad wolf, except when she does the protagonist giving her a stupid little girl's voice totally out of character of the personality she is portraying. For Goodness sakes, can you just speak normally?????

Really good listen

I enjoyed this book as I am an avid crime listener. The narrator made it interesting. A definite must read.

it is suuuper boring.

I regret the hours I've put into this. I've spent 6 out of 12 and I wish I could get them back.

Would have been five stars

But for Maggie Mash's irritating habit of emphasising a quote with a very different voice spoken with a space between each word. The book was well written, thoughtful and non sensational. The narration apart from the above mentioned beautifully read. Would recommend it but not quite whole heartedly.

Victorian hypocrisy exposed

Where does Did She Kill Him? rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top third

What did you like best about this story?

The painstaking historical research

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The first chapters which described the events as they unfolded

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A true life Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Any additional comments?

The middle section was a little repetitive, but still an enjoyable listen

Familiar story well told.

The story, although familiar, was very well told, with relevant information about the historical and cultural context. The narrator was good, although I don't really like women deepening their voices for quotes from men (or vice versa).

intrigued by the tale!

'enjoyed this immensely, the twists, turns & all the counter-intuitive bits & bobs in a 'did she do it?' tale.
Narration generally ok but a crazy habit of periodically lapsing into pantomime tones to signal 'blokes' parts, men who are central characters; embarrassingly not required & impacted on my listening.
'Recommend the story hugely - if you can tune out those kinda cartoonish elements.

Labours a bit on details of the 'crime'

This is a fascinating true story of Victorian morality. Florence Maybrick was convicted of killing her husband by arsenic poison in 1889, but there was always doubt surrounding the conviction. This is a long book and is more detailed than I would need, seeming to go over some aspects of the case multiple times. This was most evident in the hypocrisy towards female adultery, which was explored quite a number of times. I found the story fascinating and the narrator excellent.

Good classic story

Very absorbing... Until the narrator starts putting on stupid voices, which all sound the same, gruff and menacing, and twice the volume... Apart from Mrs Maybrick who sounded about 5 years old. Absolutely ruined the book, how do these narrators get away with it.