Interesting

This book is an interwoven true story of a serial killer and an airborne killer emerging at about the same time in London. The narrator was excellent and made a difference to what was already an eloquent narrative. Recommended, especially if you enjoyed Devil in the white City.

10 people found this helpful

Great combination of history & true crime

This is a great intermingling of stories about a serial killer I didn't know anything about & an important historical event most Americans haven't studied.

If you like true crime or British history, especially the rebuilding years right after the WWII, you'd love this great intertwined tale. The authentic narrator really brings smoggy London to life!

Note that Winston Churchill & The Royal Family are supporting players in this story. Parliament takes a starring role along with Post-war London. Don't miss Margaret Thatcher's brief cameo!

8 people found this helpful

Disappointing

After hearing the author talk about this book, I immediately downloaded it on audible. It seems to be the perfect blend of history, mystery, and science. I forced myself to complete it. Though the content was interesting, the presentation was repetitive, disjointed, and boring. The narrators drab voice made listening to the book more a task than a pleasure. I often found myself dozing, daydreaming, and missing interesting facts. I am unsure how the book would be rated if I read the written text, but I would not recommend the audible version.

6 people found this helpful

Not What I Expected

To put it simply, too much fog, too little true crime. More an examination (and a good one) of the dangers and causes of killer fog, with only a subplot about a killer whose crimes really had nothing to do with the fog.

4 people found this helpful

Interesting and excellent book

Excellent true story about the strangling of thousands of people from air pollution and a serial killer in the 1940s and 1950s in the UK. Kate Winkler Dawson weaves these two stories that occurred at the same time together well. She humanizes the victims and pays extra attention to the details of their lives in a way that makes the reader/listener care about them. Graeme Malcom is a gem to listen to and having a Brit narrate a British story was an important choice. It was also interesting to see the parallels of the British government debating the cause of the London Smog and minimizing the effect of it for years with current government officials minimizing similar atrocities. The book is well worth a read or listen as you learn about John Reginald Christie and the Great London Smog.

3 people found this helpful

fascinating story, narrator is meh

loved the storytelling, Dawson is very gifted. the inclusion of the young girls story had me on edge until the villain was arrested--i spent much of the book on tender hooks waiting for her to become one of the victims of the killer and not just the fog. highly recommend, despite the narrator being a bit dull/monotone-y sounding at times.

1 person found this helpful

Neither truly disappointing nor what I had hoped for

I was definitely hoping for a more Erik Larson style story, but this historical account of serial murder and the conditions of the time fell a little flat. I feel the narration led to that in part as his very cadenced style got to be grating at times.

1 person found this helpful

New information for this well seasoned ex-pat!

I really thought that that I knew a good amount of my old country's history but 'Death In The Air' shared quite a few surprises I can tell you. I must admit that I have always been intrigued with the Timothy Evans/John Christie case ever since I was a young girl. I know that is pretty weird however I remember watching the Attenborough movie 10 Rillington Place (and the nightmares that followed) during my teen years. I always became so incensed with regards to Evan's execution as I felt that it was so unjust. He did not receive a fair trial. Poor guy had to take everything 'on faith' as he could neither read or write so from the start he was at a distinct disadvantage. Kate Winkler Dawson (KWD) has done so much research that I have learned so much more about the case that I was totally riveted to this book.

With regards to the horrendous fog. This crises was completely new to me. I lived in Birmingham right near a metal smelting plant so all I can say is 'join the club'! However seriously I had no idea that the good quality coal was being sold abroad and that the 'nutty slack' which I remember really well was being fobbed off on us, the British people who put those politicians in office. Those same politicians who were living in their lovely detached houses out in suburbia. Homes heated with electricity.

I remember how hard it was to get this stuff to burn. It always felt damp and once you did get it started someone had to stay close to it as it would spark like crazy. Would often set your rug on fire. Huge puffs of smoke would fill the room. You would put your bed sheets out on the washing line to dry. When you went to bring them in they would be spotty and grey. I remember my Nan saying that it was due to the Nutty slack.

I would have given this book five stars all the way but felt that it got pulled down in parts with stats and other minutia where I found myself 'drifting off' a little.

Graeme Malcolm gives a stellar performance. When he quotes Christie it was quite eerie at times.

Enjoyed this book very much. Highly recommend.

3 people found this helpful

Step back in history

The narrator sounded like a broadcast from the 50's that added to a feeling of going back in time. The story about the serial killer and the fog was very good.

Closer look into London’s Fog

While the writer included the case of a London serial killer, a large part of the book is devoted to the sad history of London’s famous fog. This event in 1952, was certainly a precursor to the current global warming & air pollution concerns we are all exposed to in the 21st century. It turned out to be a very interesting look at a period of time I was heretofore not very interested in, nor do I remember ever hearing about the events taking place in England during the 1950’s. It’s a timely read!