Death in the Air cover art

Death in the Air

The True Story of a Serial Killer, the Great London Smog, and the Strangling of a City

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Death in the Air

By: Kate Winkler Dawson
Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
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About this listen

A real-life thriller in the vein of The Devil in the White City, Kate Winkler Dawson's debut, Death in the Air, is a gripping, historical narrative of a serial killer, an environmental disaster, and an iconic city struggling to regain its footing.

In winter 1952, London automobiles and thousands of coal-burning hearths belched particulate matter into the air. But the smog that descended on December fifth of 1952 was different; it was a type that held the city hostage for five long days. Mass transit ground to a halt, criminals roamed the streets, and 12,000 people died. That same month, there was another killer at large in London: John Reginald Christie, who murdered at least six women. In a braided narrative that draws on extensive interviews, never-before-published material, and archival research, Dawson captivatingly recounts the intersecting stories of the these two killers and their longstanding impact on modern history.

©2017 Kate Winkler Dawson (P)2017 Hachette Audio 20th Century Environment Europe Great Britain Modern Murder Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science True Crime England City Natural Disaster

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Critic reviews

"What's great about Death in the Air is not just its stunning premise, but also its deep reach into the life of London in the mid-twentieth century. It's a wonderful read. Welcome to the metaphysics of fog." (S. C. Gwynne, New York Times best-selling author of Empire of the Summer Moon and Rebel Yell)
"Journalist Dawson writes the parallel, shocking histories of the suffocating smog that menaced London, ultimately killing thousands, in December 1952, and a serial killer's salacious murders and trial the following year. Focusing on the powerful press' response to both killers and offering food for thought on what constitutes crime, responsibility, and progress, Dawson delves into heated parliamentary debates between Churchill's Conservative cabinet and Laborite agitators; first-person accounts from doctors, policemen, and other smog survivors; court records; and Christie's own, jaw-dropping account of his murders." ( Booklist)
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It seems to be about two sequential stories: the 1953 Great Smog and the deaths that followed and the serial killer John R. Christie. Whilst informative, the two tales fight for attention. It does show that political cover-ups from the Tory party of the Blood Donr scandal, Hillsborough and Party-gate, have learned a great deal from this one.The author has a fabulous narrative voice so it's such a shame that it's not ised here. Still, it's worth a listen.

Politics never change.

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My interest in the Christie case started in the early 60’s when my mother took me as a little boy to visit Madame Tussaud’s. The tableau of him seen through the bars in the door of the condemned cell at Pentonville Prison, is a vivid image and one I can still recall very clearly today. I had heard of the London Smog of 1952 but had no real conception of its devastating effect. To weave the tale of the infamous serial killer with that of the silent deadly fog is in my opinion, nothing short of brilliant. The picture that the narrative paints of life in post war London is tangibly atmospheric. Sadly, the competence of Government in reaction to a crisis was no better at the time than it is now. A most worthwhile listen and one I cannot recommend highly enough. Thanks Audible.

A very cleverly written book. Thoroughly recommended!

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An enthralling story that covers two intertwining threads. Cleverly written and shows how even then that governments lie.

A tale of two cities

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This book explains the causes and political apathy about the 1952 smog which killed thousands of people and attempts to force the Government to act to protect people from its effects and the murders committed by John Christie at about the same time. Its message is about why people focused on the latter which was far less deadly than the former which is a good question. I didn't know much about the smog so that was interesting. One thing which was quite jarring, though, was the American terminology e.g. diapers, fall etc which sounded really out of place in this book.

interesting linking of 2 events

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I love that the story of the murderer is told with the history of the city at the time, with legislation and stories told that are irrelevant to the murderer. Very well done, Kate 👏🏻

history and true crime

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like her podcast, really love this book. as a londoner myself interesting history on a great behemoth of a city,never mind the insight into the duplicitous machinations of government

well written,well spoken historical true crime

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Good old fashioned British history.... why oh why are there American words in it

DIAPERS
SIDEWALK
PURSE
NYLONS

plus others, these are not English words an english person would use ; I dont know why this irritates me but it does...

British history... pease you British words

interesting

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