A Victorian Murder Mystery: The Lady In The Cellar

In 1879, a puzzling murder breaks open the lives of the eclectic residents of No. 4 Euston Square in London’s Bloomsbury, revealing dark secrets, elaborate lies and the complex and sinister underbelly of everyday Victorian Britain. In this true crime story, expertly researched and told by author Sinclair McKay, scandal is around every corner.
The Lady in the Cellar

The Lady In The Cellar: Murder, Scandal, and Insanity in Victorian Bloomsbury by Sinclair McKay.

White Lion Publishing, Hardback and Kindle, 320 Pages.
ISBN: 9781781317983

Buy From Amazon

In The Lady In The Cellar, McKay delves into a gripping murder mystery centered on the discovery of a body in the coal cellar of a respectable Bloomsbury boarding house.

Sinclair McKay does an excellent job of setting the scene of this crime, transporting the reader back in time to Victorian London with its horse-drawn traffic, strong morals and prim societal codes of the era. He also very successfully strips back the Victorian clichés and polite way of life. Open up those doors and look a little closer at the mix of individuals surrounding 4 Euston Square and you will find a dark side, one of complex relationships, forbidden sexual companionship, and a more sinister domestic life than would be imagined from the outside.

The body in the cellar is finally identified as Matilda Hacker, an eccentric lady in her 60s who was a resident of the boarding house, yet she had lain undiscovered for almost 2 years with no other residents or the two boarding house owners reporting her missing. With her outlandish ways, young and bold dress sense, and frequent moves between boarding houses, not only was the murder victim a well-known figure in the area she was also not averse to avoiding paying her own way despite her clear wealth.

“Number 4, Euston Square, seemingly so prosperous, well-run and attractive, was a boarding house filled with unease; a house that was restless at night; a house with secrets.”

Matilda Hacker was not a woman who conformed to the expected behaviors of a respected Victorian lady nor was she easily forgotten. For her sudden disappearance to go unreported struck many, including a determined and dedicated police detective, as quite unbelievable. Someone took the life of Matilda Hacker and buried her body in that cellar and the truth behind this act lay inside the boarding house.

The collection of people living at No. 4 Euston Square makes up the focus of this true crime book and their characters, histories, and ways of life are surprising, shocking, and fascinating in equal measures. They prove to be real-life characters who would not be out of place in a well-written fictional feature film.

The Lady in the Cellar is an astonishing true story with many twists and stings in the tail. It is a story of murder and an ongoing effort to uncover a killer that evolves into a cataclysmic sequence of events for the lives of those involved which stretch far beyond the violent act that started such downfall. The unveiling of the body’s identity leads to a compelling murder trial for a prime suspect, further criminal trials and prison sentences after secrets are revealed, and the downfall of a man into the grips of mental illness from which he would never recover.

Sinclair McKay is an accomplished and talented author with a rare skill in his impressive use of vocabulary throughout this book. Awash with vivid descriptions, detail, and questions openly asked, he explores the roots of this perplexing case. This book is a heavily researched and carefully thought-about presentation of a complex case that keeps readers hooked right to the very end. It is a compelling account of Victorian Britain including the challenging policing of the time and it provides a rare true glimpse into Victorian society.

The mysterious events of Matilda Hacker’s murder, the theories of who killed her, and the aftermath that followed are firmly placed within the time period with details of other serious crimes and historical events included with a vibrant flair. True crime fans and history buffs will enjoy this book, coming away with an enthralling true crime story and a new knowledge and understanding of Victorian London.

The Lady In The Cellar: Murder, Scandal, and Insanity in Victorian Bloomsbury by Sinclair McKay was published on 6 September 2018.

JOIN CRIME TRAVELLER

New article updates and our free monthly Newsletter straight into your inbox.

It's free! You can unsubscribe at any time.

Unlimited reading on any device, try Kindle Unlimited from Amazon for free.
Prefer Audiobooks? Audible 30-Day Free Trial with free audiobooks.

As an Amazon affiliate, Crime Traveller may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See our Disclaimers page for more information.

Hot this week

Unraveling the Fiona Beal Murder Case

The shocking case of Fiona Beal, a primary school teacher who murdered her partner and buried him in their garden. Uncover the chilling details of her confession, alter ego, and the investigation that led to justice.

When the Sirens Fade: Inside the World of Crime Scene Cleanup 

Learn how expert crime scene cleanup teams ensure health and safety, turning traumatic spaces into places of healing with specialized skills and compassionate care.

The Virginia McCullough Case: A Daughter’s Dark Secret

Uncover the haunting case of Virginia McCullough and a secret that shook a quiet community to its core. In a disturbing tale of family tragedy, McCullough lived alongside her parents' concealed remains for four years, leaving investigators to piece together a puzzle that challenged their understanding of familial bonds and human nature.

Justice For Brianna Ghey: A Murder Trial Unveiling Dark Secrets

The senseless murder of Brianna Ghey exposes the shadowy depths of a false friendship and the sinister fantasies that led to her untimely death.

Family Annihilation: The Crimes and Psychology of Familicide

An in-depth look at familicide and family annihilators through the use of case studies, exploring the psychology, characteristics, possible trigger factors and profiles of individuals who decide to take the lives of multiple members of their own family.

The Psychopath Test: A Compelling Adventure Into The World Of Madness

Psychopaths are all around us so a famous psychologist says. Jon Ronson in this acclaimed book ‘The Psychopath Test’ uncovers the dark and seedy side of society, the one nobody knows exists.

Top 10 FBI Criminal Profiling Books

The best criminal profiling books written by FBI profilers who have been inside the minds of the world's worst serial killers. Read if you dare!

Out of the Fire and Into the Pan: Sequel to The Blood on my Hands

Author Shannon O'Leary continues her personal story from an abusive childhood and a father who committed serial murder, through her adolescence and into an uncertain adulthood.

Mary Ann Cotton Dark Angel: Britain’s First Female Serial Killer

The story of Mary Ann Cotton, at first glance, mirrors that of the typical Black Widow; a woman who murders her husbands for financial reward. Known as the ‘Dark Angel’, the case of Mary Ann Cotton is a popular one within historical true crime.

New True Crime Book Series from Skyhorse Publishing

Diana: Case Closed and Aaron Hernandez's Killing Fields are the first two true crime books to be released under a new multi-book agreement with investigative journalist Dylan Howard.

Jack The Ripper: The Works Of Francis Thompson

Patterson sets out a compelling case for English poet Francis Thompson as the prime suspect for Jack the Ripper in this must-read for Ripperologists the world over.

Related Articles