Book Review
Title: Convicting the Moors Murderers: The Arrest, Trial and Imprisonment of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley by Chris Cook
Genre: Non-Fiction, True Crime
Rating: 4 Stars
This book is the second in a series following the Moors Murders but the crimes are very well documented unlike the time Ian Brady and Myra Hindley spent in prison. For the first time ever, this book is told using previously closed Home Office files and details the full story of Myra Hindley’s attempted jailbreak in 1973. The book opens as Brady and Hindley are arrested and point the finger at Hindley’s brother-in-law, David Smith. Shortly after the family of Lesley Ann Downey attacked Myra’s sister and brother in law leading to period of abuse the couple suffered.
On the 19th of April 1966 the trial of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley began. Charges were brought against them for the murders of Edward Evans, Lesley Ann Downey and John Kilbride. Pauline Reade and Keith Bennett were still missing at this point but there wasn’t enough evidence for charges to be brought against Brady and Hindley for these crimes. Both pleaded not guilty and gave evidence in defence of themselves and each other but both made errors which were used against them. Despite following the whole trial process where Brady and Hindley tried to protect each other and blame David Smith, they were both found guilty and sentenced. Brady received three life sentence while Hindley was only convicted of two murders and sentenced to two life sentences and seven years for harbouring Brady. However, at this point only three bodies more to be found and police were convinced that Brady and Hindley were responsible for the disappearance of Keith Bennett and Pauline Reade.
We then turn to looking at Ian Brady’s prison years between 1966 and 1972. Brady was first sent to HMP Durham and during this time he maintained his relationship with Myra Hindley through letters. He also underwent several evaluations but was found to have no mental illness. Brady was determined to see Hindley and petitioned several times to see as she was his common-law wife, however, he had stated during the trial that they didn’t live together in order minimize Hindley’s involvement in the crime and this went against him. As time passes, Hindley began to cut off contact with him which upset Brady but he eventually came to accept that Hindley didn’t want any further involvement with him. He was quite isolated during these years as he spent most of his time in solitary confinement by choice due to the abuse he received from other prisoners but he was also well known for attacking and provoking other child killers on his wing.
We then look at Myra Hindley’s time in prison during the same years. Myra Hindley’s time in prison during these years was very different from Ian Brady’s. Hindley suffered the same amount of abuse but rather than isolating herself like Brady did she ends up becoming a respected figure in prison. Hindley shows herself to have a more manipulative personality than Brady as she uses her relationships with other prisoners and even a guard to gain security and information inside the prison as well as contraband items. Throughout these years Hindley also removed Brady from her life which seems to have a big impact on him but not on her which makes me rethink the traditional dynamic of the overbearing male and meek female since Brady and Hindley seem to inhabit the opposite roles. However, shortly after this Hindley tries to break out of prison which is what we look at next.
The entire section on Hindley’s escape attempt was wild as she uses her relationship with the prison officer; Cairns to do it. Hindley clearly manipulated and brainwashed this woman into believing she was reformed and just being who she was, was punishment enough and spending this long in prison was overkill on the part of the justice system. However, this plan came crumbling down when another inmate who they had been using as a go-between came clean to other officers. Obviously both women and the go-between were taken to court and all received prison sentences. Hindley’s was extended by one year, Cairn’s faced several years and the go-between got 18 months but was cleared through appeal after 6 months. We can’t deny that there is striking difference between Brady and Hindley’s actions during their imprisonment and it is honestly making me think that Hindley was the mastermind not Brady despite what the media says.
We then turn to the prison years of Brady and Hindley from 1974-1985. Hindley’s prison years in this time really highlight her manipulative nature and personality. Despite her escape attempt she continues to pursue different relationships as a form of protection even though she is warned repeatedly about the behaviour. She also petitions to speak or visit with Cairns and is repeatedly denied but she didn’t stop trying. As she has spent nearly twenty years in prison at this point, she begins to petition for her release which doesn’t go well but it doesn’t stir up public interest once more. It is at this point when Hindley was getting a lot of attention in the media that Ian Brady decided to weigh in on the situation and Hindley seems aware of what he is going to do but is under the impression that he won’t because of his lingering affection for her.
Brady’s prison years in the same period were noticeable quieter than Hindley’s. Despite this it didn’t lessen his attempts to move around the system, while he turned away from Broadmoor for a time because he was being housed with younger male inmates, this soon caused concern for the officers and removed Brady from the situation. Brady once again renewed his efforts to get transferred to Broadmoor and things seemed to be moving in his favour but it is also here that he turns on Hindley. Knowing that she is trying to get out he essentially vows she’s never going to get out while he is stuck in prison and begins speaking to detectives about the children that were still missing including Keith Bennett.
By the time the investigation is reignited with both Brady and Hindley admitting there are more bodies on the moors than what was found originally. Hindley tries to use this to advantage by minimising her role in the murders but Brady is brazen in claiming that she could kill in cold blood as well as he could. Eventually, Pauline Reade was found on the moors and laid to rest but Keith Bennett remains have never been found until the day. It is speculated that Keith was special to Brady in some way and the reason he never gave up the location.
We then follow both Brady and Hindley’s remaining time in prison until their deaths. Nothing substantial happens with Hindley during this time but Brady was being pressured for the final body location especially since they had already admitted to the killings. Brady despite being the meeker of the two, shows how cunning he could be with how he makes the detectives run around in circles looking for Keith when he never really had any intention of giving up his location. Overall, this was an informative read and clearly showed why Brady and Hindley belonged in prison until their deaths but it also challenged the media narrative on certain aspects of their personalities and the case itself.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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