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In 1943, four teenagers, engaged in a spot of poaching on a private estate within Hagley Wood, near Birmingham, England discover a decaying woman's body secreted within the trunk of a tree. The police are unable to identify whose remains they are, nor the circumstances of her death. Shortly after, messages start to appear on walls in the surrounding area of the West Midlands, identifying the victim as "Bella", and rumours start to circulate which point to her having been part of an active wartime spy ring, killed so as to silence her. Then, some 11 years after the body was discovered, a local woman comes forward with some explosive information in which she names the killer.
Yet, more than 80 years after the event, the crime remains unsolved. Nobody has ever been arrested, and the victim remains unidentified. It is a case which has intrigued many across the world. The Hagley Wood Tree Murder takes a critical look at the case and its investigation, with reference to original police documents. It debunks many of the popular theories, identifies lines of enquiry which have not previously been in the public domain, and follows some significant leads not fully explored at the time. Above all, it explores how a number of influential people outrageously exploited the tragedy for their own ends.
The Hagley Wood Tree Murder will be of interest to anyone who has a knowledge of the case or an interest in unsolved crimes or policing protocols, and especially for those who are familiar with this part of the West Midlands.
About the author
Keith Swallow was born and raised in Surrey but, as a child, developed a deep love of the coastline of south east England. He has to date written four books exploring aspects of the rich history of Romney Marsh, and is currently working on further volumes.During his working life employed as an auditor in Birmingham, he came upon and took a very close interest in the "Bella in the Wych Elm" mystery, which has become something of a cause celebre. His book on this case - The Hagley Wood Tree Murder - is his first venture into the true crime genre. Now retired, he is married with two grown-up children.
