{"product_id":"2026100006886-secondhand-the-maul-and-the-pear-tree-the-ratcliffe-highway-murders-1811","title":"The Maul And The Pear Tree: The Ratcliffe Highway Murders 1811","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Good                          \u003cbr\u003eJacket: Wear and tear\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good                  \u003cbr\u003eMarkings: No markings\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA masterwork of true crime history, The Maul and the Pear Tree: The Ratcliffe Highway Murders 1811 chronicles one of the most shocking and consequential crime sprees in British history — the brutal slayings of two entire families in London's East End that gripped a nation and exposed the terrifying inadequacy of early nineteenth-century law enforcement. Written with the precision of a detective novel and the rigor of serious historical scholarship, P.D. James and T.A. Critchley reconstruct the murders, the chaotic investigation, and the deeply flawed judicial process that led to the condemnation of a man whose guilt remains far from certain. The authors argue compellingly that the case was a pivotal moment in the history of British policing, directly accelerating the reforms that would eventually give rise to the Metropolitan Police. Drawing on contemporary accounts, court records, and meticulous archival research, the narrative presents a vivid portrait of Regency-era London — its poverty, its violence, and its desperate hunger for justice. The result is a gripping, authoritative account that satisfies both the true crime enthusiast and the serious student of social history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48887891722459,"sku":"2026100006886-SECONDHAND","price":20.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/03051e92-1ef3-4e3b-993c-8109c8209e2d.png?v=1781748008","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026100006886-secondhand-the-maul-and-the-pear-tree-the-ratcliffe-highway-murders-1811","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}