Brendan’s Alternate Tagline The Peepshow:
Worst liar ever. Except for that one time.
Quick synopsis:
The story of World War II era serial killer Reg Christie and the possible execution of an innocent man.
Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like:
There was at least two serial killers in London during the World War II era.
Fun Fact for History Nerds:
England is not within the top 15 of countries with the most documented serial killers.
My Take on The Peepshow:
Reg Christie was a very bad man. That he was a murderer and terrible human being is beyond dispute. The question is do we know the extent of how truly awful he was? This becomes the main focus of Kate Summerscale’s The Peepshow. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention that Summerscale has quite a few sideshows in store for the reader. Often, they become the most interesting part of the story.
For the uninitiated (lucky you), Reg Christie was a serial killer in post-World War II London who killed multiple women, including his wife, and placed them throughout his home and backyard. He was a murderer, virulent racist, and sociopath. He also becomes implicated in a crime he was considered a witness for previously. The major problem with the previous crime is that someone has already been executed for it.
The other thematic threads are centered around the public’s obsession with true crime, its treatment of victims, and the media’s voracious obsession with more sex and blood. I need to point out that many other reviewers of this book criticized it for either too many diversions or for not tackling these subjects with more direct condemnation. Personally, I felt Summerscale was effective in making her points because she led the reader to these ideas without beating them over their heads. It’s a question of how you like your reader to deliver big ideas while telling a larger story. I loved her approach and the book overall.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher.)
Verdict:
Great historical true crime. Buy it here!
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