The Trial of Elizabeth Cree

Rating:
Summary: A Different Mystery for Those Tired of "Formula" Stories
Review: "The Trial of Elizabeth Cree" is definitely not a typical mystery. The book is loaded with interesting characters and scenes (some pretty graphic). It is rare that I read a mystery that takes place in a world (Victorian England, in this case) that is so alive in color and detail that you can get lost in it.

We meet Elizabeth Cree as "Lizzie," a poor London girl who develops a love of the theater as a way of distancing herself from her mother. Lizzie is transformed by this magical world into someone she never thought she could be. But when she marries John Cree (whom she is later accused of killing), her life begins to change. Both she and the murderer take turns as narrator, with transcripts of the trial occuring frequently. Usually either the characters or the story itself make a good mystery worth reading. In this case, both are very good. If you're tired of the typical formula mystery, I think this is one you'll enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: No longer available?
Review: "The Trial of Elizabeth Cree" is definitely not a typical mystery. The book is loaded with interesting characters and scenes (some pretty graphic). It is rare that I read a mystery that takes place in a world (Victorian England, in this case) that is so alive in color and detail that you can get lost in it.

We meet Elizabeth Cree as "Lizzie," a poor London girl who develops a love of the theater as a way of distancing herself from her mother. Lizzie is transformed by this magical world into someone she never thought she could be. But when she marries John Cree (whom she is later accused of killing), her life begins to change. Both she and the murderer take turns as narrator, with transcripts of the trial occuring frequently. Usually either the characters or the story itself make a good mystery worth reading. In this case, both are very good. If you're tired of the typical formula mystery, I think this is one you'll enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Chilling mystery set in 1880's London
Review: After I finished "The Trial of Elizabeth Cree", I felt chilled by how Ackroyd strings us along for the whole novel, and blows us out of the water with an unexpected revelation. Set in 1880 and in London, there are a series of murders, and some suspect that a being out of kabalistic lore is responsible. We, who can see through the eyes of the Crees know better; the murderer is fully human, and quite the picture of human evil. Along the way, we meet a few 19th century luminaries, and see how they are intertwined in the plot. Ackroyd did well here, and I hope more people discover this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Chilling mystery set in 1880's London
Review: After I finished "The Trial of Elizabeth Cree", I felt chilled by how Ackroyd strings us along for the whole novel, and blows us out of the water with an unexpected revelation. Set in 1880 and in London, there are a series of murders, and some suspect that a being out of kabalistic lore is responsible. We, who can see through the eyes of the Crees know better; the murderer is fully human, and quite the picture of human evil. Along the way, we meet a few 19th century luminaries, and see how they are intertwined in the plot. Ackroyd did well here, and I hope more people discover this novel.

Rating:
Summary: A vivid, truly scary read
Review: This book, also seen on shelves under the title of "Dan Leno and the Lime House Golem" paints a splendid picture of a squalid scene. The sights, sounds, and smells of London are vividly imagined by the interested reader. This very creepy story left me dazed and shaky. When I finished this book late at night, I put the book down, thought about it for a moment, then picked it up and started over again at page 1.

Rating:
Summary: No longer available?
Review: This is a fascinating study of city life in Victorian England. Historically accurate while fictionally charged, the novel offers a unique and tantalizing perspective of British history. I am disappointed that it was not deemed worthy or popular enough to be issued in a follow-up paperback.