True crime story credited for British mysteries--

Two weeks ago, NPR's "Fresh Air" the book critic Maureen Corrigan offered up a glowing review for a book credited with inspiring British mystery fiction we know it today. More specifically, though, the book tells of one true crime story in 1860 with the murder of a once missing three-year-old boy snatched from his family. The book, The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: a shocking murder and the undoing of a great Victorian detective, is written by Kate Summerscale. Here's a pix of Summerscale from Google.

Briefly, this true crime story involved the work of the newly-formed Scotland Yard detective force with Detective Inspector Jonathan Whicher in charge of the case. Regretfully, almost all in household of the murder victim became suspects--the Kent household--which included a nursemaid. In time, a suspect is charged and tried but despite all the police's effort--found not guilty because of a weak case. Afterwards, Whicher--a revered figure before--is demoralized and suffers professionally. And years later, the actual murderer is revealed.

Although during the actual investigation, the British are spellbound by the crime and fastinated with a crime story which invites their guesses.

Summerscale appears to have mined gold in telling the true story of a crime which served as a blueprint for fiction writers interested in developing murder mysteries.