The definitive account of one of Britain’s most notorious killer couples, who loved, tortured, and slayed together as husband and wife.Updated with a new afterword from the author on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the arrests From the outside, 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester, England, looked as commonplace as the married couple who lived there. But in 1994, Fred and Rose West’s home would … in 1994, Fred and Rose West’s home would become infamous as a “house of horrors” when the remains of nine young women—many of them decapitated, dismembered, and showing evidence of sexual torture—were found interred under its cellar, bathroom floor, and garden. And this wasn’t the only burial ground: Fred’s first wife and nanny were unearthed miles away in a field, while his eight-year-old stepdaughter was found entombed under the Wests’ former residence.
Yet, for more than twenty years, the twosome maintained a façade of normalcy while abusing and murdering female boarders, hitchhikers, and members of their own family. Howard Sounes, who first broke the story about the Wests as a journalist and covered the murder trial, has written a comprehensive account of the case. Beginning with Fred and Rose’s bizarre childhoods, Sounes charts their lives and crimes in forensic detail, constructing a fascinating and frightening tale of a marriage soaked in blood. Indeed, the total number of the Wests’ victims may never be known.
A case reminiscent of the “Moors Murders” committed in the 1960s in Manchester by Myra Hindley and Ian Brady—as if Hindley and Brady had married and kept on killing for decades—Fred & Rose “is a story of obsessive love as well as obsessive murder” (The Times, London).
more
Over a period of several years, Fred and Rose West murdered a series of young women, burying many of the bodies under their own house at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester – their victims including one of their own daughters. Other bodies were discovered buried at the Wests’ previous home as well as in open countryside. Following their arrests in 1994, twelve bodies were eventually discovered, though the true number is likely to be many more.
Former journalist Howard Sounes covered the murder trial of Rosemary West and went on to pen this in-depth book recounting not only the murders, but the many rapes and tortures inflicted on Fred and Rosemary’s victims. Charting the couple’s lives from childhood to their arrest, the author doesn’t shy away from the horrific details of their crimes – details that some readers will find disturbing.
The author himself reads this updated version of the audiobook, bringing the gruesome story to life while exploring the reasons Fred and Rose became two of Britain’s most notorious serial killers.
Great read for those who like to read true stories of deranged killers.
It’s unbelievable that these two would ever meet and together
murder so many innocent women. Tragic !
Read this true crime story If for no other reason than to thank God that you;re NOT a sick, perverted, murdering sadist like Fred and Rose.
It was difficult to read on at times, I had to put it down for a day or two because of the horror of it all. It’s hard to understand the makings of a pair of the likes of the Wests.
This was a depressing book in many ways. The writing was fine, but this look at a depraved couple left me feeling dirty.
This is a literate and well researched history of two monsters. The characters are meticulously drawn. The reader is lead to understand these criminals, but not to sympathize with them. An outstanding example of true crime writing.
So sad that they went undetected for so long which allowed them to continue on this crime spree.
Twisted and very sad for that reason. I couldn’t put it down but not for every one.
Extremely good book and excellent writing. Wow. I’ve read about Fred and Rose from Murderpedia but this book really exposes them as true monsters.
Chronicles the lives of Fred & Rose and not just their crimes.
Unbelievable true story of a man and woman who managed to meet and marry. Both had twisted sexual appetites, enjoyed torture, and murder,including their own young children. They got away with it for years .
A hard book to read because of their many evil deeds.
These people were unbelievably evil.
It was hard to read about how cruel parents can be and sickos!
If you like true crime, this is a good one; hard to believe these two had such horrific childhood experiences, then went on to do all that they did, even to their own kids.
For lovers of True Crime
Very very graphic. Hard to imagine anyone in this day and age capable of killing like that.
Interesting true crime story, but the subject matter was very disturbing!
wasn’t an easy book to follow
Well written. Good job with back story. Disturbing couple. Also disturbing that they weren’t caught sooner!
I love true crime