The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House by Kate SummerscaleMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The most compelling thing about this real-life "whodunit" is not who committed the gruesome murder of a small child - it's clear who the main suspect is early on in the book - but how, without the benefit of forensics, Whicher is going to prove his suspicions. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that he was not able to (The GoodReads blurbs hints as much); although inspired in his deductions, he is simply unable to offer sufficient evidence to support this theories. Police bungling, snobbery, and Victorian attitudes all conspire against him.
The events takes place when the concept of a detective was in its infancy and it's amazing to think how much changed since then. But, there's an awful lot that hasn't changed - the media deciding who is guilty prior to a trial, making someone a scapegoat, and generally everyone having their own theory.
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