The Murder on Yarmouth Sands

On July 15th, 1912, the body of Dora Grey was found on Yarmouth Beach. Apparently strangled, this became known as ‘The Bootlace Murder,’ believed by investigators to be the work of a serial killer. ‘The Murder in Yarmouth’ is a collection of Wallace’s writings as a journalist at the time of the murder. Chasing the clues and the suspects, he gives us insight into the forensic and psychological procedures of the time. However, was the wrong man punished? A superb read for fans of true crime and those with an interest in the police protocols of yesteryear. Born in London, Edgar Wallace (1875 – 1932) was an English writer so prolific that his publisher claimed that he was responsible for a quarter of all books sold in England. Leaving school at the age of 12, Wallace made his first steps into the literary world by selling newspapers on the corner of Fleet Street. He worked as a war correspondent after joining the army at age 21, which honed his writing abilities. This led to the creation of his first book ‘The Four Just Men.’ Wallace is best remembered as the co-creator of ‘King Kong,’ which has been adapted for film 12 times (most notably directed by ‘Lord of the Rings’ director, Peter Jackson, and starring Jack Black and Naomi Watts). However, he leaves behind an extensive body of work, including stories such as ‘The Crimson Circle’ and ‘The Flying Squad’.