The Crewe Murders

by Matthew de Lacey Davidson
published on 18 March 2026

One major concern about this work is that the title might make some individuals think that it is a “true crime” book, or a “whodunnit.” Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a history book, albeit a comparatively recent history that took place in the 1970s, and, as such, is exemplary in all possible respects. Additionally, it is one the finest examples of research and eloquent use of the English language which I have encountered.

A conundrum of history books is that some great research is written in an uninteresting fashion, and some beautifully written tomes are filled with errors in their research or lack citations entirely. The Crewe Murders is an exceptional book that avoids both issues while still being an engaging read.

The book's subject is not widely known outside of New Zealand. Jeannette and Harvey Crewe were a farming couple who lived in Pukekawa, a small farming community in the North Island of New Zealand. They were both most likely murdered in their home on June 17, 1970. Their bodies were moved and not discovered for some months afterwards. Their baby daughter was found five days after the probable date of the murder, still alive, in her cot. It was one of the most horrifying murders in New Zealand’s history. This case remains unsolved.

From the outset, Kirsty Johnston and James Hollings articulate that their goal was never to determine or even to speculate who the perpetrator(s) might have been. Instead, they wish to accumulate as many facts as possible to put everything known about this case completely into a historical context, and they have done an amazing job with that.

The narrative starts in 1863, when the region of the 1970 murders saw some of the worst battles of the New Zealand colonial wars. The authors then introduced the ancestors of some of the people who became part of the story of the Crewe Murders. The book then discussed several murders in the area predating the Crewe Murders by a few decades. There were also some unsolved murders in New Zealand leading directly up to the Crewe Murders (thus, the police were under considerable pressure by that point). In addition, there were several mysterious incidents, including possible arson, which affected the Crewes before their murder.

David Yallop’s book, Beyond Reasonable Doubt? (1978), and John Laing's film “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” (1980), amongst other sources, discussed how Arthur Allan Thomas was tried and convicted twice for this crime. Because, in part, the police disposed of much of the evidence thereafter, Thomas became the first and only person in New Zealand's history to receive a pardon for a murder conviction due to errors made in an investigation. The type of research, verification of facts, and use of non-emotional language found in The Crewe Murders are, generally speaking, not found in the work of mass-market paperback writers.

Johnston and Hollings not only interviewed some former witnesses for this effort; they also talked to the former Minister of Justice, Jim McClay. Here, for the first time, Jim McClay speaks in his own words about his role in Thomas’ pardon.

One is taken not just by the beautiful choices in vocabulary and eloquent writing, but also by the words not used. For instance, I don’t believe that I once saw the word “corruption” in this book. However, it would be hard for the reader not to conclude that corruption probably existed in the both the New Zealand judicial system and New Zealand police work of the time, considering the events meticulously described herein.

If I were to select just one word to describe this book, it would be “respect.” The authors deal with all the people described in this work – no matter how ethically suspect the actions of some individuals might appear – with deep respect.

Johnston, an experienced investigative journalist, is clearly very well-educated, and Hollings is an Associate Professor of journalism at Massey University. What separates their book from something like All The President’s Men (1974) is that The Crewe Murders cites its sources clearly and transparently while making the narrative much more interesting to read.

This book does not tell reader what to think; it instructs the reader how to think. It leads the reader to make their own conclusions and represents the work of two outstanding educators.

A common dictum to establish credibility is: “the hotter the topic, the cooler the prose.” This phenomenally well-structured book stays “cool” throughout. Because of that, this book’s impact is both red-hot and unputdownable. No intelligent or sensitive reader will get through this remarkable book either slowly or subsequently unchanged.

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