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The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer

von Kate Summerscale

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5893639,962 (3.7)41
In East London in the summer of 1895, Robert Coombes (age thirteen) and his brother Nattie (age twelve) were arrested for matricide and sent for trial at the Old Bailey. Robert confessed to having stabbed his mother, but his lawyers argued that he was insane. The judge sentenced him to detention in Broadmoor, the most infamous criminal lunatic asylum in the land. Shockingly, Broadmoor turned out to be the beginning of a new life for Robert. At a time of great tumult and uncertainty, Robert Coombes's case crystallized contemporary anxieties about the education of the working classes, the dangers of pulp fiction, and evolving theories of criminality, childhood, and insanity. With riveting detail and rich atmosphere, Summerscale re-creates this terrible crime and its aftermath, uncovering an extraordinary story of man's capacity to overcome the past. --… (mehr)
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It was good, though not as good as Mr. Whicher. I wanted to know more than it was possible to know, i think, which was not the author's fault, the internal information, diaries, letters, things which might have made the "wicked boy" more fleshed out, real , complex, I think they are just not there. STill, a look at the time, especially Broadmoor, that really is fascinating. ( )
  cspiwak | Mar 6, 2024 |
I really liked parts of this book but the courtroom went on way too long. The first part of the book leading up to the murder reveal was well done and then it was mostly down hill. ( )
  cdaley | Nov 2, 2023 |
I have a thing for true murder mystery books. They are my secret love and I have read a lot of them. Some are incredibly trashy and seem to have been written by a 4th grader telling, but there are others that are so well written that they seem like novels more than true murder mysteries. I am glad to say that The Wicked Boy by Kate Summerscale* falls into the latter.

In 1895, Robert Coombes (13 years old) and his brother Nattie (12 years old) all of a sudden come into a large sum of money. They are going to the big cricket match, they are buying things their family cannot afford, and they are just having a ball. Their father is on a ship heading for America and their mother seems to have disappeared. Neighbors ask about her and are told she is out by the boys. Their aunt comes over demanding to see their mother and they simply won't let her in. The neighbors are also noticing a pungent smell is coming from the house. They boy's aunt bursts in with police, while the boys are playing cards on the first floor and find their mother several days dead in her room with a knife by her side. Robert immediately admits to stabbing his mother once Nattie gave him the signal to do so.

This is all told in the FIRST CHAPTER of the book!

The rest of the book is a well told and greatly detailed story of what happened to the boys during and following the trial. We read what happened behind closed doors and while their father was away prior to the murder. We read how Robert treated his trial and what happened to him.

The amazing thing is it is an UPLIFTING story at the end. I don't consider this a spoiler as a simple Google search for the boys will reveal a lot of information, but that information comes from Summerscale's deeply researched book.

I have not read any of her books prior to this one, but this one made me want to read more. As it is an older story of murder, one can draw so many parallels to today. Robert had a thing for Penny Dreadfuls, which were cheap murder books for children. These silly books were considered vulgar for the young minds and the thought was they would drive children to murder. It is a similar argument around rock music or video games. Summerscale's presentation was very approachable even within its depth.

I would suggest that if you are interested in reading this one, not to use Google or even read other reviews as you will find out the ending to their story and as stated it is a good ending.

I gave this one 3.5 stars almost into 4 stars.

*I received this book for review from NetGalley and from Penguin Press in exchange for an honest review ( )
  Nerdyrev1 | Nov 23, 2022 |
1895, Robert Coombes (age 13) and his brother Nattie (age 12) were seen spending lavishly around the docklands of East London.The boys told neighbors they had been left home alone while their mother visited family in Liverpool, but their aunt was suspicious. She eventually forced the brothers to open the house to her and found the badly decomposed body of their mother in a bedroom upstairs. Robert and Nattie were arrested for matricide and sent for trial at the Old Bailey.
Robert confessed, but his lawyers argued that he was insane. Nattie struck a plea and gave evidence against his brother. Robert seemed to feel no remorse for what he had done, and neither the prosecution nor the defense could find a motive for the murder. The judge sentenced Robert to detention in Broadmoor, a criminal lunatic asylum. Broadmoor turned out to be the beginning of a new life for Robert. After 17 years he was released and made his way to NSW-Australia (his brother Nattie was a stoker on a Australian Army ship).
Here, Robert enlisted for military service and he was noted as serving with bravery as a stretcher bearer. Upon the end of the war he settled in Coffs Harbour, and led a mainly self sufficient, isolate life. During this time he provided a safe place to Harry Mulville, a young boy who suffered extreme physical abuse from his stepfather. Robert became a somewhat father figure to Harry ( who had no knowledge of his mentor's past). After Robert passed away Harry petitioned the Army to provide a memorial plaque in recognition of Robert's military service. ( )
  Mihiterina | Oct 18, 2022 |
Note: I received access to digital review copies of both the Penguin and Bloomsbury editions of this book through NetGalley.
  fernandie | Sep 15, 2022 |
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Early in the morning of Monday 8 July 1895, Robert and Nathaniel Coombes dressed themselves, collected the family's rent book from a room downstairs, and went out to the back yard.
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You can lie [down and die, if you like, but it is cowardly, most cowardly to allow helpless children to do so. - Charles Lewis
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In East London in the summer of 1895, Robert Coombes (age thirteen) and his brother Nattie (age twelve) were arrested for matricide and sent for trial at the Old Bailey. Robert confessed to having stabbed his mother, but his lawyers argued that he was insane. The judge sentenced him to detention in Broadmoor, the most infamous criminal lunatic asylum in the land. Shockingly, Broadmoor turned out to be the beginning of a new life for Robert. At a time of great tumult and uncertainty, Robert Coombes's case crystallized contemporary anxieties about the education of the working classes, the dangers of pulp fiction, and evolving theories of criminality, childhood, and insanity. With riveting detail and rich atmosphere, Summerscale re-creates this terrible crime and its aftermath, uncovering an extraordinary story of man's capacity to overcome the past. --

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