Did She Kill Him? cover art

Did She Kill Him?

A Victorian Tale of Deception, Adultery & Arsenic

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Did She Kill Him?

By: Kate Colquhoun
Narrated by: Maggie Mash
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About this listen

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 Historical Murder True Crime Crime

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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)
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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.

Labours a bit on details of the 'crime'

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This is a brilliant, detailed and well researched book but the narrator really has an impact on the enjoyment of it. The character voices are just not necessary and are really jarring, taking you out of the flow. Without the voices she would be brilliant. Any other audiobooks with this narrator would make me think twice. However, I did persevere because the story itself is excellent- the best telling of this tale I have experienced.

Fabulous book almost ruined by narrator

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

Really good listen

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'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.

intrigued by the tale!

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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

Victorian hypocrisy exposed

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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.

Good classic story

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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.

Would have been five stars

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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).

Familiar story well told.

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I love the style of storytelling and the use of the narrators voice when acting out characters of the story. she did a wonderful job

The story was well told making you feel, almost as if you were there

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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?????

VERY ANNOYING NARRATOR

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