Anthony Quinn's 'The Mouthless Dead' was inspired by the infamous 'Wallace Murder' which rocked England in 1931. Julia Wallace was found battered to death in her Liverpool home, and her husband George was accused of her murder. After a 15 year gap, the inspector who worked on a previous case returns to what was called 'the impossible murder', examining once again George Wallace's movements that fateful evening and going over the timeline in an effort to determine whether Wallace really had been able to murder his wife and finally solve whether the shadowy figure of a man named Qualtrough really did exist and if he did, what part did he play in Julia's death.
This is a fascinating account of mood and motive that lay behind what may have been a crime of passion, detailing police procedural work, with wonderful use of historical events and vividly drawn locations that really do place the reader in the very centre of this baffling case. It's a completely engrossing read that never gets bogged down considering there's a lot of information to take in. The Wallace case had drawn tens of thousands of column inches down the years and this book will provoke re-evaluation from those who were aware of the details while introducing many newcomers to this puzzle. During and after the journey, readers will undoubtedly have their own opinions on whether or not George Wallace was guilty, or if the mysterious Qualtrough or someone closer to the family was responsible.
If you enjoy slow burn true crime with speculative fiction added to the recipe, I think you'll find 'The Mouthless Dead' very much worth your time. It's released on 6th March 2025 by Abacus.