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Story of a Murder

The instant Sunday Times bestseller by the author of THE FIVE

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Story of a Murder

By: Hallie Rubenhold
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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Brought to you by Penguin.

BY THE AUTHOR OF MULTI-AWARD-WINNING #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: THE FIVE, THE WOMEN KILLED BY JACK THE RIPPER

An epic examination of the historical true-crime story of infamous wife-murderer Dr Crippen in Edwardian England, brought to justice by an extraordinary group of strong women

No murderer should ever be the keeper of their victim's story …

On 1 February, 1910, vivacious musichall performer, Belle Elmore, suddenly vanished from her north London home, causing alarm among her circle of female friends, the entertainers of the Music Hall Ladies’ Guild who demanded an immediate investigation.

They could not have known what they would provoke: the unearthing of a gruesome secret, followed by a fevered manhunt for the prime suspect: Belle’s husband, medical fraudster, Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen.

Hiding in the shadows of this evergreen tale is Crippen’s typist and lover, Ethel Le Neve – was she really just ‘an innocent young girl’ in thrall to a powerful older man as so many people have since reported?

In this epic examination of one of the most infamous murders of the twentieth century, prizewinning social historian Hallie Rubenhold gives voice to those who have never properly been heard – the women.

Featuring a carnival cast of eccentric entertainers, glamorous lawyers, zealous detectives, medics and liars, STORY OF A MURDER is meticulously researched and multi-layered, offering the reader an electrifying snapshot of Britain and America at the dawn of the modern era.

'A unique combination of sleuthing, storytelling and compassion' Lucy Worsley

'Under her pen, history comes alive' Professor Dame Sue Black

'An exceptional achievement. I was gripped from the very first page' The Secret Barrister

'Reads like a great thriller. I inhaled it' Bella Mackie

'Fascinating. It's about time Belle became the hero of her own story' Val McDermid

'As compelling as any crime drama' S J Parris

‘I couldn't put it down' Bonnie Garmus

'I had my hand over my wide-open mouth' Rachel Joyce

'Takes us beyond the world of Dr Crippen into the lives impacted by him and the society in which he moved. Terrific' Ian Rankin

'Compelling to the very last page' Denise Mina

© Hallie Rubenhold 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Crime Europe Gender Studies Great Britain Murder Social Sciences True Crime Women Marriage Thought-Provoking England

Critic reviews

Unbelievably addictive - I defy you to put it down! Written with Rubenhold's completely unique combination of sleuthing, storytelling and compassion.
Story of a Murder is an exceptional achievement. Meticulous research and dazzling storytelling. I was gripped from the very first page
Another triumph. Rubenhold provides a fresh perspective on a notorious crime and in doing so, offers the reader the full picture. Her great talent lies in her scrupulous research and her ability to write real life like a good thriller. I inhaled it.
I lapped it up! Whip-smart, brilliantly atmospheric, completely addictive. I loved the music hall artistes and had my hand over my wide-open mouth at the audacity of the press. And it is not solely about a murder - though I was filled with admiration for the forensic level of research. It’s also about all the bit part players - the dustbin man who notices an unusual amount of rubbish, the boarding house owner who notices something not quite right about the father and son at the table in the corner, and the world they came from. I can’t recommend it more: I will be thinking about it for a very long time.
A fascinating debunking of the myth-making that surrounds Crippen and Le Neve. Putting Belle and her cohort of strong independent women front and centre is long overdue! It's about time Belle became the hero of her own story
'Painstaking research, married to a novelist's instinct for storytelling, make each new book by Hallie Rubenhold a gripping and educational adventure for the reader. STORY OF A MURDER takes us beyond the infamous Dr Crippen to the lives impacted by him, the society within which he moved, and the public's appetite to be shocked and scandalised. It's terrific'
Nothing but praise for Rubenhold’s exhaustive research and arresting story line. I couldn’t put it down
A fantastic read: the story of the women killed by Dr Crippen and how a raggle-taggle band of variety theatre ladies fought for their friend. Crammed with fascinating social history and detail, STORY OF A MURDER is compelling to the very last page
All stars
Most relevant
This book was so thorough and very informative. Dealing with all the background and trying to understand each of the main people involved. The narrator was fantastic. I did, however feel it was very long. I like an in depth book but I felt this sometimes got me a bit lost going off on tangents a little. Great book though and looking out for Hallie's next

So thorough and informative

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Loved the historicity of this book. Like a thriller where we knew the ending from the start but still it thrilled. Crippen is exposed as a small conman selfish and self absorbed, Belle shown as a woman of value treated like trash. Ethel is an enigma...woman trapped by circumstances or a woman complicit in the crime of the century. Unputdownable.

Detailed and compelling

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Very good book, but I feel it was overly long for the subject matter. Better editing needed.
Excellent narration.

Excellent, but......

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This is, by far, one of the BEST audiobooks I have ever listened to… this is equally due to the amazing writing of Hallie Rubenhold (yet again), and to the brilliant narration of Juliet Stevenson. I was already aware of the story of the ‘London Cellar Murder’, and was guilty, as so many are, of accepting the way Belle Elmore’s character has been portrayed throughout the years. This book however, finally sets record straight and allows Belle’s true character to shine through.. vivacious, generous, kind and resilient, as well as showing Crippen for the true monster that he was, and that Ethel Le Neve was no ‘tragic and fragile little girl’ but a manipulative, grasping and acquisitive woman, hell bent on taking Belle Elmore’s place. Through Hallie Rubenhold’s brilliant writing I came so invested in the life of Belle that when the chapter about her murder came, I could barely bring myself to listen to it. This book is a true testament to the memory of Belle Elmore, and all of the fantastic women who befriended her in life and fiercely fought for her after her death, and consigns the memories of Crippen and, to some degree, Le Neve, to the shadows where they belong.

Finally… a book that allows Belle Elmore’s true character to shine through

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What an amazing story thoroughly told and well researched. Rubenhold writes with such well informed research but in such an immersive way.

Fantastic! Read well, researched well and told well

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