The Makings Of A Murderer – Peter Bleksley

The makings of a murderer is a theatre tour that is perfect for those who love true crime books and documentaries. I saw a previous tour which had featured the brilliant Colin Sutton, but this time around the protagonist is Peter Bleksley, well known as the ‘undercover cop’. In recent years Peter has become famous for his commentary on crime and investigation – his often outspoken and no nonsense views tallying with what a majority of the Great British public think. This talk though, is about his career, both as a detective, an undercover cop, and as an investigator, most notably looking at unsolved crimes.

The Makings of a murderer

The first thing I have to mention is that Peter is a brilliant raconteur. His story telling is compelling, at times brutal, at times very funny, but it always feels truthful and from the heart. He has so many stories to tell and it feels like not a minute is wasted in this show. It is interesting to hear about his early days, and how the experience of the early 80’s riots made him want to move from beat bobby to murder investigation. From this he became part of an undercover squad, taking on a series of personas in order to capture the ‘bad guys’, from drug gangs to those organising hits on disposable spouses (a particular case from Birmingham was particularly interesting as we were listening from the heart of the city).

Honesty

Peter is very frank and honest about the circumstances that led to him leaving the force at the age of 40. He speaks freely of his battle with mental health that occurred when he was moved into  protective custody, and his fight back to become a highly respected commentator on crime, and a best selling author, is inspiring.

Alistair Wilson

The unsolved murder of Alistair Wilson, shot on his doorstep in Nairn, Scotland in the 1990’s, takes up a big part of the second half. Peter has thoroughly and extensively investigated this case, and has uncovered plenty of new angles in this baffling case. He also shows failings in the investigation, particularly around the securing of the crime scene, and the narrow sphere the investigation took.

I loved that Peter told people that they could email him with their theories, an that he would respond to them, another way that, despite this being on a large stage, you could almost feel like you were having a private conversation with Peter.

If you have any interest in crime, I would highly recommend you catch Peter Bleksley as he continues his nationwide tour.

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