*The International Bestseller* *Winner of the Clue Award - True Crime Book of the Year* This is the story of a murder, not a murderer . . . In this epic examination of one of the most infamous murders of the twentieth century, bestselling author of The Five, Hallie Rubenhold, gives voice to those who were never properly heard--the women. On February 1, 1910, the vivacious, diamond-adorned music hall performer Belle Elmore suddenly vanished from her home, causing alarm among her friends, the entertainers of the Music Hall Ladies’ Guild. Their demands for an investigation would lead to the unearthing of a gruesome secret and trigger a fevered international manhunt for Belle’s husband, medical fraudster Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen. Ethel Le Neve, Crippen’s typist and lover, who fled with Crippen in disguise, has always hidden in the shadows of this tale--was she really just "an innocent young girl" in thrall to a powerful older man? And was there an equally sinister story behind the death of Crippen’s first wife, Charlotte? Brimming with twists and featuring a carnival cast of eccentric entertainers, star lawyers, zealous detectives, medics and liars, Story of a Murder offers an electrifying snapshot of Britain and America at the dawn of the modern era. "Astonishing and deeply researched history... Story of a Murder entrances, speeding us along on journeys of female empowerment, complete with fascinating details of life as a woman living in the early 20th century, then delivers a murder mystery with all the thrill of a manhunt." — Wall Street Journal " Story of a Murder is essential reading for anyone who may believe the past was a gentler, romantic time for women. Rubenhold’s work is a story of female resilience and solidarity in response to terrible circumstances, a theme that, alas, is as timely as ever." — New York Times Book Review "Thoroughly footnoted with a robust bibliography, Story of a Murder is another model of what literary “true” crime ought to be: a refreshing read appealing even to those who don’t care for “true” crime and a guide for any writer contemplating a project in vintage murder." — LA Daily Mirror " Story of a Murder masterfully reinvestigates an infamous case in a thoroughly modern way, revealing the women behind the gruesome headlines and restoring dignity to Belle Elmore." —Bookpage "The same tenor of insightful indignation that made The Five such gripping reading fills the pages of Story of a Murder and fleshes out not only Belle and Ethel but also the ladies of the Ladies' Guild, the intrepid female journalists of the time, and what little can be cobbled together about Crippen's first wife, Charlotte, whose death in 1892 struck plenty of people at the time as mighty odd."— Open Letters Review “Painstaking research, married to a novelist's instinct for storytelling, make each new book by Hallie Rubenhold a gripping and educational adventure. Story of a Murder takes us beyond the infamous Dr Crippen to the lives impacted by him, the society in which he moved, and the public's appetite to be shocked and scandalized. Terrific.” —Ian Rankin, #1 New York Times and international bestselling author "Nothing but praise for Rubenhold’s exhaustive research and arresting story line. I couldn’t put it down." —Bonnie Garmus, New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry “A fantastic read: the story of the women killed by Dr Crippen and how a raggle-taggle band of variety theatre ladies fought for their friend. Crammed with fascinating of social history and detail, Story of a Murder is compelling to the very last page” —Denise Mina, nationally bestselling author of Three Fires "A long overdue reappraisal of a notorious murder that shines a spotlight on the women at the heart of the story. Rubenhold’s historical detective work will keep you horrified, fascinated, and enraged to the last. Another triumph from a masterful storyteller!" — Lindsey Fitzharris, New York Times bestselling author of The Butchering Art "Unbelievably addictive - I defy you to put it down! Written with Rubenhold's completely unique combination of sleuthing, storytelling and compassion." —Lucy Worsley, author of Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman "A fascinating debunking of the myth-making that surrounds Crippen and Le Neve. Putting Belle and her cohort of strong independent women front and center is long overdue! It's about time Belle became the hero of her own story." —Val McDermid, internationally bestselling author of Past Lying “With astonishing depth of research and a fi nely attuned instinct for entrancing detail, Rubenhold reconstructs the wider truth surrounding a true crime while composing an indelible portrait of a society on the brink of modernity. An awe-inspiring and truly gripping read.” —Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author of Eden Undone "Whip-smart, brilliantly atmospheric, completely addictive." — Rach