Suddenly at the Priory (Penguin True Crime)

By John Williams

This crime story is based on the Balham Priory Mystery centred on the death by poisoning of the barrister, Charles Bravo, at Balham Priory on 18th April 1876. It is written by the author of "Heyday... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140113347
• ISBN13: 9780140113341
• Release Date: June 1989
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 1.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Some Antimony With Your Bloater Paste Dear?

Just to get this out of the way-- I don't agree with the conclusions drawn by the author as to who killed Charlie Bravo, but that's half the fun of reading about a classic Victorian domestic homicide. It's distant enough in time to be an enjoyable intellectual exercise, but not so far that letters and papers are not preserved. Between the two inquests there is quite a lot-- much of it contradictory-- known about the household at the Priory.Charlie Bravo was the second husband of Florence Campbell. Her first husband, Alexander Ricardo, had died of drink, but not before settling forty thousand pounds on her. After Alexander's death she had sought consolation with an old family friend. After severing that connection, she was courted by Charlie Bravo, a young barrister with wealthy connections who was either a jealous, pinch-penny or a cheerful, considerate young man depending on who was telling the story. While it is true his step father was a wealthy creole merchant, Charlie also had a disagreement with Florrie about her financial settlement before they were even married.The story of Charlie Bravo's death and the investigation following it make for enteretaining reading, and maybe a hour or two of speculation later with like minded friends.