West Cork

This much we do know: Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered two before Christmas in 1996, her broken body discovered at the edge of her property near the town of Schull in West Cork, Ireland. The rest remains a mystery.

West Cork is an Audible Original, ,13-part podcast narrated by Sam Bungey and Jennifer Forde. It was one of my last reads in 2017 and fittingly I finished it just around Boxing Day. West Cork is quite fascinating read and it gives you morbid insight to Ireland and city of Cork. Cork is an idyllic small city in western Ireland… It also used to be a place that was favored by all sorts of castaways or blow-ins, so by people who for different reasons wanted to disappear and start again.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier was a French producer of arts programmer and before her death, she was married to film producer Daniel Toscan du Plantier. She was murdered just days before Christmas. There were no witnesses, no forensics, no clear motif. Just a body of a woman that barely anyone knew.  West Cork is a fascinating piece of work. In the first chapters, the setting is set and then we learn more about who Sophie was. Next chapters become increasingly interesting as we learn about the suspects. There is an Englishman living in Cork by the name of Ian Bailey. He was supposedly seen walking around the murder scene on the night of Sophie’s murder and he never had clear alibi.

Ian Bailey is highly interesting character.  He’s poet and a journalist though not a very known one before the murder. He likes whiskey and beats his wife when he’s had too much of it, although his wife Jules has never filed for domestic violence. We explore different scenarios that might have had taken place, different people tied into the murder investigation are interviewed and Garda Siochana (Irish police)  involvement in the case.

I very much liked West Cork. The unsolved murder cases are always interesting and what makes this case special is that it has remained open for over 40 years and how it has become an international investigation the murder taking place in Ireland and having French victim and English suspect. I would give this book 4/5 stars.

Tips for reading West Cork
1. Only on Audible.
2. If you’re a true crime fan, you will love this book.
3. Book is formatted in a podcast style, so every chapter comes with music and intro explaining that it is Audible original… this might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
4. Gives a nice insight to Cork and in a way to Ireland and a case that every Irish person knows so I warmly recommend this book if you’re living in Ireland as a foreigner or if you are planning a trip here.

Thoughts? Have you read this? Any good true crime you would recommend?