The Monster Butler
By A. M. Nicol
Published by
Black & White Publishing
ISBN 9781845023362
Category Biography
Autumn 2011
Synopsis
Archibald Hall was one of Scotland’s most notorious serial killers. More widely known as Roy Fontaine, the Monster Butler, he murdered five people posing as the gentleman butler, seducing, deceiving and ultimately betraying those around him. In The Monster Butler A.M. Nicol provides an illuminating new examination of Hall’s life and crimes
Author's Biography
A.M. Nicol studied history and law before qualifying as a solicitor in Scotland in 1980. He worked in private practice in Glasgow before joining the Procurator Fiscal service as a prosecutor in the west of Scotland for twelve years. He called at the Scottish Bar in 1993, where he continues to practice.
Reviews
Price £9.99
Binding: Paperback
Reader Comments
The Monster Butler – AM Nicol
The complete story of how Archibald Hall, one of Scotland's most infamous
criminals, grew from a petty thief into Roy Fontaine, the Monster Butler who
murdered five people, including his own brother
Hall had written two accounts of his life; Nicol uses these, newspaper reports
and court proceedings to produce his book
The fact that the book is in three parts reflects this and I feel makes the
picture rather confusing, as it is fragmented by the change of narrator. In
doing so episodes are repeated, I felt compelled at times to go back to the
previous part to compare dates and events, rather a tiresome exercise.
His concluding section asks some interesting questions of how and why a
person can become a serial killer, lots of questions and not surprisingly no
convincing answers.
The style of writing was similar to a news paper report and left the reader
feeling detached from the main character.
An interesting read about a very frightening but intriguing man, disappointing
however in its delivery.
Gwyneth Byerley
March 14th 2012.
Casati House Literary Salon