The Wicked Boy
The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer

This true crime book is about Robert Coombes, who killed his mother when he was thirteen years old. If Robert had been hung his story would have ended there, but Robert was spared, and went on to become a respected member of society. If you're a person who prefers minimal information before reading......more

Nice little nonfiction book. It's main point deals with the sentencing of a boy of 13 for the murder of his mother , this is a real case. The first half of the book deals with all intricacies of the case, the before, the middle and the trial. The other half of the book deals with the after for both......more

In East London in the summer of 1895 13-year-old Robert Coombes murdered his mother. His guilt was never in question, and he never denied the charges when the death was eventually discovered. For ten days after the murder, his mother's body lay rotting in the summer heat in an upstairs bedroom, whil......more

A fascinating true account of thirteen year old Robert Coombes who murdered he’s mother in the summer of 1895. The book follows he’s trial subsequent life after these events. I practically liked how Summerscale transports the reader to that period in history, as for 10 days prior to the discovery of t......more

Thought it would be in the same vein as In Cold Blood or Compulsion. But it was more of an historical and judicial essay. Too much cold facts and dates and too little emotional implication.......more