The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream

“Some men are born criminals, some achieve crime, and some have crime thrust upon them.” – Robert McClaughry, warden of Joliet prison

As a fan of true crime podcasts, I was surprised to find a novel about a well-known Victorian serial killer of whom I’d never heard. Granted, I’ve never actually read any true crime novels before, so this was my first…and it was fascinating!

The way Cream’s story is constructed is unusual and initially difficult to follow. Instead of the traditional “this is where he came from, this is what he did, this is how he was caught and punished” sequence, Jobb started the novel off with a vague description of who Cream was and where he came from, then launched into his final murders. We then follow along with Inspector Jarvis as he retraces Cream’s steps, all the way back to North America where he committed his first murder.

The structure of this novel made for a very interesting read – it was almost easy to forget this was a true story at times, since frequently I found myself feeling surprised, sad, and angry at the various acts committed by both Cream and his victims.

I also appreciated the dive into Victorian-era society and how it impacted the coverage of the murders at the time. Jobb does an excellent job at providing context to the major players in Cream’s background, education, and ultimate condemnation. The intertwining of Cream’s life and Conan Doyle’s was fascinating, and the parallels between some of Holmes’ mysteries with Cream’s murders aided in adding a boost to the heinousness of the crimes committed.

If you’re a fan of true crime in any capacity, I’d recommend this book about Dr. Thomas Neill Cream.

***If you liked this review, consider following me on goodreads and BookBub!***

*Purchase The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.