Are The Case Books Of Use To Serious Researchers?

[Erik Narramore]

The books available on this case are useful in presenting a chronology, gathering facts and providing possible leads for further serious research, but what they say must never be relied on in its own right.

We must always remember that they are secondary source material and give us information through the lens of the author's interpretation.  Even the simple reporting of facts can take on a dubious or questionable quality, because even non-fiction authors do make things up in the belief (probably justified) that hardly anybody will check and those that do will not be listened to.

[Erik Narramore]

For many of her claims, Carol Ann Lee's source is Roger Wilkes, and such claims can probably be dismissed as Mr Wilkes' book is unreferenced and largely unsourced and he exercises a considerable degree of licence, even inventing remarks or incidents that never occurred.

The Wilkes and Lee books have their merits and should be read by everybody interested in the case, but both authors have damaged understanding of the case due to their tendency towards licence.  Even I occasionally lapse into error due to the influence of the books and I will say something that in my mind is fact but which actually came from a book and is a misrepresentation or flat out wrong.  Both authors should be read, but read with due caution.

[Erik Narramore]

On the question of Carol Ann Lee's access to documents, she was afforded privileged access to crime scene photographs, including photographs of the bodies of the twins.  The Campaign Team claim that she has had sight of documents denied to Jeremy Bamber.  I do not know if that is true.  I do however wonder how an ordinary author can be given access to sensitive documents and photographs and I suspect it was not Essex Police who co-operated with her, but one or more retired officers: most likely, Mike Ainsley, possibly also Ron Cook, maybe Bob Miller too (he died prior to publication).  Now I have the book in front of me, I am looking at her Acknowledgements section at the end, and Essex Police is conspicuous by its absence, but she does credit individuals, including the officers I have just mentioned.

[Leslie Aalders]

Do you know what page it's mentioned on, please Snow?

If what Adam says is anything to go by, Carol Ann Lee's source may be Roger Wilkes, in which case it can probably be dismissed as Mr Wilkes' book is unreferenced and largely unsourced and he exercises a considerable degree of licence, even inventing remarks or incidents that never occurred.

The Wilkes and Lee books have their merits and should be read by everybody interested in the case, but both authors have damaged understanding of the case due to their tendency towards licence.  Even I occasionally lapse into error due to the influence of the books and I will say something that in my mind is fact but which actually came from a book and is a misrepresentation or flat out wrong.  Both authors should be read, but read with due caution.

That what is mentioned Erik? And in which book?

[Erik Narramore]

That what is mentioned Erik? And in which book?

Ignore it.  I'm just transferring 'Gascoigne' posts from the Blue Forum over to here.

[Leslie Aalders]

That what is mentioned Erik? And in which book?

Ignore it.  I'm just transferring 'Gascoigne' posts from the Blue Forum over to here.

Got you Erik.