Staff Picks: Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century

Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century
by Peter Graham
2013

Two teenage girls in 1950s Christchurch, New Zealand develop a very close relationship, which is not unusual, but theirs is a particularly obsessive and controlling relationship. They are incredibly creative, writing stories and creating their own countries and religion. They call actors and imaginary characters that they create The Saints. This would all be very benign, except that they seem to take particular glory in power and regard kindness, compassion, etc. as weakness. 

The parents of the girls conspire to separate them, but they lie about it to the girls, not admitting their secret plan. But one of the mothers openly admits the plan to separate them. Because of her honesty, she is targeted by the girls as a mortal enemy. In a really gruesome scene (and remember, this is a true story!) the two girls bludgeon the woman to death with a brick in a local park. During the murder trial, the girls show no remorse whatsoever. 

One of the girls grows up to be the mystery writer, Anne Perry, and the other girl changes her name to Hilary Nathan and lives a life of religious solitude.

Marian
Librarian
Martinsburg Public Library

CALL NUMBER: 364.1523 Grah.P