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The Massey Murder
The Massey Murder: A Maid, Her Master and the Trial that Shocked a Country | Charlotte Gray
5 posts | 2 read | 16 to read
A Globe and Mail Top 100 Book of the Year An Amazon Top 100 Book of the Year Shortlisted for the RBC Taylor Prize Longlisted for the BC National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction A scandalous crime, a sensational trial, a surprise verdictthe true story of Carrie Davies, the maid who shot a Massey In February 1915, a member of one of Canadas wealthiest families was shot and killed on the front porch of his home in Toronto as he was returning from work. Carrie Davies, an 18-year-old domestic servant, quickly confessed. But who was the victim here? Charles Bert Massey, a scion of a famous family, or the frightened, perhaps mentally unstable Carrie, a penniless British immigrant? When the brilliant lawyer Hartley Dewart, QC, took on her case, his grudge against the powerful Masseys would fuel a dramatic trial that pitted the old order against the new, wealth and privilege against virtue and honest hard work. Set against a backdrop of the Great War in Europe and the changing face of a nation, this sensational crime is brought to vivid life for the first time. As in her previous bestselling book, Gold Diggerswhich was made into a Discovery Channel miniseries entitled Klondikemulti-award-winning historian and biographer Charlotte Gray has created a captivating narrative rich in detail and brimming with larger-than-life personalities, as she shines a light on a central moment in our past.
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review
Mitch
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed this - it's less about the actual murder and more about the interconnecting threads of society that surrounded the event. Whilst Albert Massey was undeniably shot the household's 18 year old Carrie Davies - the book focuses on the influence of the media, the idea of celebratory, powerful men and powerful male driven organisations. It's well written, the courtroom scenes are brisk and it turned out to be a good history lesson!

Mitch @rabbitprincess looks good. Thanks. This is the first book I‘ve read by this author. Interested to read more. 5y
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Mitch
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Starting a new book tonight... it‘s got a 3 page list of characters, a double page spread map and a pull out family tree! Hope I can follow who‘s who! #bookishproblems

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rabbitprincess
Pickpick

This was an enthralling account of the trial of Carrie Davies -- the fact that she had killed Bert Massey was not in doubt, but what was her motive? Gray writes excellently and presents the case along with the social and political considerations of the time. Worth reading if you like Canadian history and/or true crime.

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rabbitprincess
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Toronto's Fine Old Ontario Families were known as FOOFs?! And they expected to be taken seriously with an acronym like that?! 😂😂

Megabooks That reminds me of little bunny foo foo! 🤣🤣🐰 6y
rabbitprincess @Megabooks "They're so foofy I could die!" ?? @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego ?? (edited) 6y
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Reviewsbylola
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Bert Massey was shot and killed by a maid in his home in Canada in 1915. But was Carrie and #evilwoman or did she have good reason?

I‘ve yet to read this but it received quite a few awards, including top 100 books from The Globe the year it was published.

#octoberxfiles

Amanda.T That sounds fascinating! 6y
Mdargusch Sounds like I would love it! Stacking! 6y
Cinfhen Does sound good!! #SoManyBooksSoLittleTime 6y
rubyslippersreads This looks like something @LeahBergen would like. 6y
93 likes7 stack adds4 comments