Cold Case Reopened

The Princes in the Tower

By: Mark Garber

Narrated by: Guy Bethell

Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

For centuries one great historical mystery has been capturing the imagination of the world - the fate of the Princes in the Tower.

Shakespeare casts Richard III as the ultimate villain, murdering his nephews in order to usurp the throne. This has always been the traditional view. In recent years alternative theories have been suggested that let Richard off the hook and lay the blame elsewhere. However, with the recent discovery of Richard’s body in Leicester a whole new wave of interest has been stirred in all things related to Richard III. Was he really the child killer portrayed by Thomas More and William Shakespeare?

In this short audiobook, a retired detective reopens this cold case and attempts to piece together the evidence and answer the great mystery about what really happened to the young Princes.

Were they really murdered? If so, what happened to the bodies and who did the evil deed? Or were they left unharmed and left to live out their days in peace? Was a challenging offered up in place of Richard, Duke of York by Elizabeth Woodville and was that why Henry VII was so concerned by Perkin Warbeck?

As the author delves deeper into the evidence he finds intriguing facts including doubts about dental evidence used to determine the ages of the skeletons found in the Tower of London, the fact that skeletons were abandoned for years in the Tower after discovery and details of two mysterious coffins buried at Winsor.

In addition, he highlights the key suspect that no historian seems to even contemplate could be responsible for the Princes disappearance.

Finally he gathers the suspects in one room to revel what he believes really happened. The question is, do you agree?

©2013 Mark Garber (P)2014 Red Admiral Care Services Limited

Riveting!

Fascinating, well-written and wonderfully narrated. I particularly adore the ending. Such a clever way to wrap it up! Highly recommend!

Eye-opening, new theories

 There are several points in this book that I found most intriguing that I have never thought of before. I hope you write more books.
I personally have always wondered why Thomas Moore’s writings are held so high in the case of the missing boys. He would’ve been quite young when the event happened and news and stories were not told as today with media news outlets. He also lived most of his life in Tutor history. 

Fresh View, Historical Hiccups

I really live this take on what I consider to be one of the most interesting historical mysteries. I love the fresh viewpoint from a retired detective, as opposed to the historical records and historical fiction I’m used to. There were just a few flaws in the logic in my opinion, for the time in which this mystery occurred. The author suggested that Elizabeth of York and her sisters would have been just as strong claimants to the throne, which isn’t really true. Also, I don’t think the author understood how a woman, even a Princess, at that time would have had no choice but to go along with things if a King was interested. Especially if she and her siblings were deemed illegitimate, and her brothers were held in the Tower.

He also suggests that Elizabeth Woodville was “not a likable woman” although I feel that’s a bias from contemporaries. On pure historical evidence, she doesn’t seem to have behaved much different than anyone else in her position would have. Everyone got places for their family, she just had a bigger family than most lol.

I love the conclusion he came to in the end, and i somewhat agree! Although I feel he wrote off a sign if any accomplice. Overall, the writing, narration, and points were great. I recommend for anyone interested in the Cousins War and Tudor periods.

Outstanding!!

I loved the way the detective slowly peals the layers until the unexpected solution.
A must read for any history buff

I love a good mystery

This is a very good audio book. Mark Garber makes a compelling case on who killed the two princes. His evidence was spot on. I believe he cracked this cold case wide open. The narrator kept me glued to the story, usually audio books put me to sleep. I admit I listened to this book twice!

Amazing insight

When I was 19 I visited the Tower of London with my family and it was then that I first learned about the murder of the to princes. It is a drama and a mystery that has forever occupied my mind ever since.

This book and it's author built out amazing insight into a very complicated crime. I have always found it amazing how popular believe can win out over factual evidence. The author does a great job, as an investigator, narrowing down the truth and probable motivations.

What I find most helpful about the book and the investigative approach the author uses, is the timeline. Date by date, the author lays out the chain of events from the death of Edward IV
To the Battle of Bosworth and the death of Richard III.

He creates a clear picture of how, as far as we can tell, The events surrounding the murder of the two princes unfolded. It's very clear that most people who believe Richard III murdered the children are jumping to conclusions and not considering all the details of evidence.

Always follow the evidence.

great job on your first book!!!

Wow!!!!! I've read many historical accounts about the princes in the tower but your book is an eye-opener. " who has the most to gain" ..that should always be the question. Again great job!!!. Now I'm off to see if you've written any more books

A Different Perspective & Possible Answers......

Written by a retired detective, this book gives an eye opening approach to this unsolved mystery. Direct & straightforward insights of which a historian doesn't offer.

I enjoyed how he 'talks' to the reader and his Hercule Poirot style ending. Presenting those who may have been involved -- many surprises. Admittedly I find it hard to disagree with his wise outcome.

Though Mark Garber states he will probably not write another book, hopefully he'll reconsider. There are many other historical mysteries could benefit from his insight.

Just one little thing...

Great, to-the-point telling of the important points of a story that continues to mystify. I was a little surprised by Garber's conclusion as to who killed the boys. But his theory works with the facts we have available to us. No spoilers here!

I wish that he had known or mentioned that the staircase under which the bodies of two children were found had not been built yet in the reign of Richard III. So how would Tyrell have known about it? Thomas More's book claims to quote Tyrell's confession that the bodies were buried "at the stair foot, meetly deep, under a great heap of stones..." (spelling modernized).

Garber theorizes that More may have arranged to have 2 bodies buried there as an elaborate practical joke in order to further blacken Richard's reputation when they were eventually discovered, which they were, nearly 100 years after the last confirmed sighting of the boys. If Garber knew a little more about More's life and motivation, he probably wouldn't have thought so. Thomas More was a deeply devout Roman Catholic. He would have regarded burying bodies ---of anyone---in unconsecrated ground to be an unforgivably grievous sin. Catholics believe the consecrated burial of the dead to be one of the Corporal Works of Mercy. More would have taken it very seriously and not regarded dead bodies of children so flippantly.

But this is an all-around great story, told clearly and delightfully well-researched. I'd love to read more of his work, if he'd turn his hand to the Black Dahlia murder or whatever happened to D.B. Cooper!

Definitely Different

The narration made it difficult for me. Too many sentence breaks and pauses. However, (the writer uses that word about every other sentence) the premise was very interesting to me. He approached the subject like a cold case detective, using motive, timeline, opportunity etc as any other investigator would.
If only the Queen would allow DNA testing on those bones....