The author has excelled i n her research, but the book would have been improved by some judicious editing. Still worth a read. ( )

On New Year's Day 1845, a message is delivered via the telegraph wires laid beside the railway tracks between Slough and Paddington stations; "A murder has just been committed at Salt Hill and the suspected murderer was seen to take a first-class ticket for London by the train which left Slough at 7:42 p.m. He is in the garb of a kwaker" [Note: The two-needle telegraph contained no code for the letter 'q']. Soon, Quaker wannabe John Tawell is arrested on circumstantial evidence for the poisoning of Sarah Hart, who would turn out to be his mistress and mother to two of his children. As the story unfolds it turns out that Tawell was convicted of forgery years before. He served time on board the 'filthy, vermin-infested' prison hulk 'Retribution' at Woolwich [p. 89, the same hulk my 4th great grandfather spent time on in 1827], before being transported to Australia then returning to England 24 years later a wealthy man. A thoroughly researched book about the first person to be arrested as the result of telecommunications technology, a lying selfish murderer who didn't want his relationship with his mistress to become public and so poisoned her, leaving her to die painfully, and her children motherless. Hanging was probably too quick a death for him! Includes; Contents page, prologue, epilogue, author's note, bibliography and index. ( )

"The Peculiar Case of the Electric Constable: A True Tale of Passion, Poison and Pursuit," by Carol Baxter, is a non-fiction account of a murder that occurred in Slough, England, on January 1, 1845. A man dressed as a Quaker was seen and heard in the vicinity, but he fled and boarded a train to London; however, use of the newly installed telegraph wires in Slough and at Paddington Station in London resulted in the man being traced, followed and subsequently arrested. What followed was one of the more sensational trials in a time when such events were highly entertaining for many people. Baxter does a good job of drawing the scene, describing how the Quakers were perceived at the time and how one trial made a nation more aware of the new technology of the day and its uses. We think of trains and telegraphs as very old technology now, but in their day they were both revolutionary. The author doesn’t include any notes or bibliography, so it’s impossible for the reader to know how accurate her account is, but it is still an interesting read. Recommended. ( )

When you don't read blurbs, or avoid coverage of a book that you know you're going to read eventually, some things can come as a considerable surprise. Things like THE PECULIAR CASE OF THE ELECTRIC CONSTABLE being a true story.

The starting premise of the book is the speedy identification and capture of an alleged murderer by an early electric telegraph. If you think, however, that this is the whole point of the story, then you are going to be disappointed. Whilst there is background to the scepticism of the system's worth and the difficulties in getting an installation up and running, the telegraph's usefulness in this particular case, is done and dusted very quickly as the story becomes all about John Tawell and his assumed guilt in the murder of a young woman.

Not that the alternative focus is necessarily a major disappointment as John Tawell is a fascinating character. A supposedly pious and sincere Quaker he's been a surprisingly naughty boy. He's also gifted with a major talent for refusing to acknowledge his part in his own downfall. Long after he's ejected from the Quaker church he's still trying to buy, bribe and cajole his way back. He's still walking around dressed as a Quaker, still participating as much as he can in the community. You can almost hear the Quaker elder's teeth grinding as Tawell simply will not go away.

Whilst the known facts of Tawell's life, his crime(s) and his subsequent trial for murder are built into the story, this reads like a ripsnorter of a yarn. The pace clips along, and the actions of Tawell are beautifully described, as are the reactions of everyone around him. The author appears to be in as much doubt as to WHY as anybody else is by the end of the story (although which "why" ... well that would be telling). That seems to be absolutely fair - allowing the reader to question, consider and resolve in their own minds if they are of a mind to do so.

As unexpected as THE PECULIAR CASE OF THE ELECTRIC CONSTABLE was, and as unlikely as the scenario may seem, even allowing for the slightly misleading title of the book itself, this was a very interesting, engaging book and as silly as this sounds, a tall tale but true.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-peculiar-case-electric-constable-c... ( )

THE PECULIAR CASE OF THE ELECTRIC CONSTABLE: A True Tale of Passion,Poison & Pursuit by CAROL BAXTER is a gripping tale of Victorian England. A Historical True Crime Thriller set in 1845 England. What a gripping tale of passion,murder,poison,a Criminal Quaker,and the dawn of a new age of information. The story of John Tawell... John, a Quaker,a possible murderer,who was transported to Australia for forgery some fifteen years prior to this story,he has returned to England to be shunned and not welcomed as he had hoped.

What follows can only be described as sensational,desperate and the reconstruction of a story long ago forgotten. England or the Great Western Railway, was experimenting with a new device, the electric telegraph. Thus, the modern communication age. John, accused of murdering his mistress, is on the run and desperate to save his reputation. You see, he is experienced in pharmacy,and chemistry so of course he would be a suspect. Told in the narrative. Rich with historical details, the characters are engaging, to say the least. The storyline intriguing. Who really did kill Sarah Hart? Did John Tawell have a Jekyll and Hyde personality? To learn more of this gripping story, you MUST read "The Peculiar Case of The Electric Constable".

What a complex and gripping tale of murder,scientific revolution,passion,innuendo,and the pursuit to find justice! The murkier side of Victorian England during the nineteenth century is truly engrossing. I would recommend this title to anyone who enjoys historical true crimes,the invention of the electric telegraph,finding justice, toxicology,Quakers,criminal psychology,history,and the long ago buried story of John Tawell. A fascinating read to say the least! Very Detailed,the research shows on very page. Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: Mild

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More ( )