Book description
A beautiful island lying in the northern part of the Irish Sea
between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, the Isle of Man was once
a popular holiday destination. It is perhaps better known today for
the TT motorcycle races held there, its tailless cats and Manx
kippers. However, it also has its darker side.
Manx Murders is a collection of gripping and mysterious
murder cases committed on the Island over the last 150 years, from the
brutal slaying of a spinster one dark night on a lonely track near
Ramsey to the infamous 'Golden Egg Murder' in central Douglas.
The cases that have caused shock and sensation throughout two
centuries of the Island's history are recorded here as the author
reveals the events behind the last hanging on the Island, a deathbead
confession, the harrowing story of a murderous father and the cases
that remain unsolved to this day. The Island's political importance as
a wartime holding area for prisoners of war is also explored through
the account of a bizarre, seemingly motiveless killing in 1916 and the
stabbing of a Finnish prisoner during the Second World War.
Using information obtained from newspapers, inquest records and
trial transcripts whenever these were available, each murder is
described against the backdrop of contemporary events to give the
reader a distinct flavour of life at the time of the crime. While each
case is unique, all share an overwhelming sadness and tragedy that
will never be forgotten.
Keith Wilkinson is a consultant anaesthetist who has lived and worked
on the Isle of Man for 20 years. He is married with three daughters.
