- 1. The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale is a captivating non-fiction exploration of one of the most infamous criminal cases in Victorian England. The book delves into the 1860 murder of three-year-old Saville Kent, whose body was discovered in a dry well at his family's home in the small village of Road Hill in Wiltshire. The investigation was led by Inspector Jonathan Whicher, one of the earliest detectives in the history of Scotland Yard, who became embroiled in a web of family secrets, social dynamics, and public intrigue. Summerscale intricately weaves together historical context, narrative storytelling, and character studies, giving readers a vivid portrayal of Whicher's investigative methods and the societal implications of the crime. The book not only uncovers the complexities of the murder case but also illustrates how it reflected the anxieties of Victorian society regarding class, morality, and the emerging field of criminal psychology. Ultimately, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher is a gripping account of a detective's quest for truth amidst the shadows of deception and the relentless spotlight of public scrutiny.
Where does the murder at the center of the book take place?
A) Road Hill House
B) Buckingham Palace
C) Baker Street
D) Scotland Yard
- 2. How old was Saville Kent when he was murdered?
A) One year old
B) Three years old
C) Ten years old
D) Five years old
- 3. What year did the Road Hill House murder occur?
A) 1850
B) 1870
C) 1880
D) 1860
- 4. Which famous author was influenced by this case?
A) Agatha Christie
B) Charles Dickens
C) Wilkie Collins
D) Arthur Conan Doyle
- 5. What was Constance Kent's age at the time of the murder?
A) Sixteen
B) Twelve
C) Twenty-five
D) Twenty
- 6. How many years after the murder did Constance Kent confess?
A) Five years
B) One year
C) Twenty years
D) Ten years
- 7. What was Mr. Whicher's theory about the murderer?
A) A stranger was the murderer
B) Samuel Kent was the murderer
C) Constance Kent was the murderer
D) Elizabeth Gough was the murderer
- 8. What happened to Constance Kent after her confession?
A) She was deported
B) She was acquitted
C) She was sentenced to life imprisonment
D) She was executed
- 9. How many children did Samuel Kent have in total?
A) Five
B) Three
C) Seven
D) Ten
- 10. What was the name of the nursemaid who slept in the same room as Saville?
A) Mary Kellaway
B) Ann Doel
C) Sarah Cox
D) Elizabeth Gough
- 11. How many years did Constance Kent serve in prison?
A) Life (until death)
B) Five years
C) Twenty years
D) Ten years
- 12. What profession is Jonathan Whicher?
A) Doctor
B) Lawyer
C) Detective
D) Journalist
- 13. What was Samuel Kent's profession?
A) School teacher
B) Police officer
C) Factory inspector
D) Doctor
- 14. How did Saville Kent die?
A) Poisoning
B) Drowning
C) Throat cut
D) Strangulation
- 15. What was the name of Samuel Kent's second wife?
A) Elizabeth
B) Mary
C) Sarah
D) Anne
- 16. What literary genre does this book help establish?
A) True crime
B) Romance
C) Science fiction
D) Fantasy
- 17. What award did the book win?
A) Pulitzer Prize
B) Booker Prize
C) Samuel Johnson Prize
D) Nobel Prize
- 18. In what year was Summerscale's book published?
A) 2005
B) 2008
C) 2010
D) 1998
- 19. What was the name of the local police force involved?
A) Yorkshire Police
B) Wiltshire Constabulary
C) Kent County Police
D) London Metropolitan Police
- 20. What was the relationship of Constance Kent to the victim?
A) Mother
B) Nanny
C) Half-sister
D) Aunt
- 21. What was Mr. Whicher's first name?
A) Jack
B) Joseph
C) James
D) John
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