Wicked Beyond Belief by
Michael Bilton
hbk out February 03
Published by HarperCollins
at £17.99
The appearance of this book in hardback earlier this year attracted considerable
publicity by virtue of the author's revelations as to some of the background facts in
the famous case of Peter Sutcliffe. As someone who lived in Leeds for a couple of
years at the time when Sutcliffe's murderous activities were at their height, I can
testify to the terror that he created amongst women in the community. It is therefore
all the more tragic when one comes across further evidence that the police could and
should have done much better with their conduct of the investigation. Bilton has
researched the case thoroughly, although I would have been welcomed deeper insight
into the origins of the hoax letters purportedly sent by the Ripper, and into the
relationship that Sutcliffe had with his wife Sonia. The latter is a delicate subject,
admittedly, but one which, fully explored, might cast further light on Sutcliffe's state
of mind. It should be added that not all of those who were involved in some way with
the investigation came out of it with their reputations tarnished, a fact which Bilton
properly emphasises. He pays tribute in particular to the assistance he was given by
Stuart Kind, the eminent forensic expert who died earlier this year.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
Wicked Beyond Belief by
Michael Bilton
