Posted by Murder at roaring water book Ian bailey
Murder at Roaringwater is a true crime book by Nick Foster, published in 2021, detailing the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork, Ireland. Foster, a journalist, spent six years investigating the case, focusing on Ian Bailey, the primary suspect. Bailey, a former journalist and poet, was one of the first at the crime scene, reporting for newspapers before being arrested weeks later on suspicion of murder. No forensic evidence linked him to the crime, and he was never charged in Ireland, though a French court convicted him in absentia in 2019, sentencing him to 25 years. Irish courts rejected extradition attempts.
Foster initially believed Bailey might be innocent, forming a relationship with him and his partner, Jules Thomas, spending time at their home and even providing small sums of money to keep Bailey talking. Over time, Foster’s view shifted, concluding Bailey was guilty, partly based on circumstantial evidence like Bailey’s mention of the Hindu goddess Kali, which Sophie had written about, suggesting they may have met (though no witness confirmed this). The book includes a hidden clue meant for Bailey, which Foster claims only he would recognize, though its specifics are undisclosed. Reviews praise the book’s depth, citing access to witness statements and Garda files, but some criticize Foster’s Kali connection as speculative.
Bailey, who died in 2024 at 66, consistently denied involvement, calling the French trial a “show trial.” He faced public suspicion, fueled by his history of domestic violence and alleged confessions to locals, though some, like a retracted witness statement, were unreliable. Foster’s book, described as a “compelling and riveting” account, explores the case’s complexities, including Garda mishandling and judicial flaws in both Ireland and France, leaving the murder officially unresolved. The book inspired renewed interest, alongside Netflix and Sky documentaries.
Who Watches the Watchers? 