The issues surrounding public fascination with murder, psychopaths and serial killers were interesting. I also found the discussion about how this plays into the psychology of murderers and their desire for fame was good and challenged our modern fascination with true crime. I also liked the exploration of dirty tricks of the press and their disregard for victims. I also appreciated the social history described of the 1950s.

However, I think Summerscale needed to make her aims more explicit. Unlike Rubenhold's The Five where the author's intentions are more obvious I found I was confused about what angle she wanted to take. In the end this was just another book about Christie with some interesting side issues which ironically still seems to fall into the true crime fascination and industry and did not do enough to stand aside from its desire to become fixated on the murderer and his motives.