Review of 'The Woman Who Knew Too Little' by Olivia Wearne
The Woman Who Knew Too Little by Olivia Wearne
Release Date: Feb 1st, 2023
REVIEW
Inspired by a true story, The Woman Who Knew Too Little is based around the Somerton mystery man who was found dead on a beach in South Australia in 1948. It is also a story about what it was like to be a female police officer and the challenges women faced in that era.
In the novel, Kitty Wheeler is the policewoman on patrol with her partner, Fiona, when a well-dressed man leaning up against a sea wall is seen. They assume he is drunk and sleeping off the effects, so do not concern themselves with his presence. Next day, Kitty discovers the man is dead, leaving her to wonder if she could have saved him.
The author draws upon the well of research available on the mysterious case such as autopsy details that included his last meal (pasty), the horrid condition of his insides that led investigators to think he may have been poisoned (though no evidence of a substance could be detected back then), the strange removal of labels from most of his clothing, the shape of his feet indicating he wore pointed shoes and the list goes on. Then there was the intriguing message found sewn into one of the man’s trouser pockets with the words ‘Tamám Shud’ translated to mean ‘ended’ or ‘finished’ —a phrase found on the last page of Edward Fitzgerald’s 1859 translation of Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam (Omar was the Astronomer Poet of Persia). This book was popular during the late 1800s and various clubs sprang up as a result and there even was an ‘end of century’ cult of Rubaiyat. The book was also popular in the 1940s. What did this have to do with the unidentified dead man of 1948? As the novel states, the whole country kept guessing and trying to break the code, scratching down solutions. Kitty even carried the book around and, while eating, hypothesised and experimented with various formulas.
The novel covers many intriguing details and clues that unfortunately led to dead end roads. For years there were numerous theories of what happened and who this man was. Olivia Wearne weaves all this into the plot giving her story substance. I must add that the unsolved case spanned many years but in July 2022, identification of this man was made possible through DNA samples (yes, they exhumed his remains).
It certainly is a fascinating case and easy to see why an author would want to write about it. But this novel is not just about the mysterious dead man. It is also about the interactions between family, friends and acquaintances clustering around the main event. The relationship of Kitty and Peter and the personal dramas that surround their lives. Kitty’s family, particularly, are not happy with her chosen career and want to see her married and focusing on domestic life. But that was the thinking of the age, so a reader accepts it as an appropriate expectation (even if it was archaic). So independent free thinking women like Kitty, really stood out and were often ridiculed for wanting to take a different path.
Seeing the 1940s world through the author’s eyes was interesting and it appears she provided an authentic experience. Even the friendly, though often times cutting banter between individuals, kept the tone razor sharp. As for Kitty, she battled to rise above the negative reactions and trivial pursuits. She worked hard to be involved with the Somerton case as she wanted to do real police work that mattered. Not just carry out reports on domestic issues or public relief items. Comments from Doris, ‘You’re too pretty to be a policewoman,’ on the surface seemed like a compliment but were ‘laced with derision.’ Her discussions with Doris definitely dampened her intentions at times. But even when such negative talk tries to deflate her purpose and strength, she ploughs on.
The mystery that is woven into the plot keeps it moving forward while the lives of the characters and their actions hum along side. And with true details of the case being used, there is a good balance or marriage of fact and fiction.
Olivia Wearne has provided an intriguing detailed description of the Somerton case. She has also zeroed in on the women who wanted to have a career and possibly later a family, too. The times have changed, of course, but it is with admiration and respect we can look back and honour those who did not have the luxury of choice afforded today. Even though the world for women is not perfect now, it is certainly better than it was. The Woman Who Knew Too Little is a good solid historical read. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to HarperCollins Au and Netgalley for my review copy.
