The book was well-written and not uninteresting, but it didn't hold together as a book. The connection between the stories was weak. Marconi was building his wireless network and had succeeded in allowing ships to communicate with shore and with each other. It was that communication that enabled the police to catch Crippen when they did. Yeah ... So?

Crippen was a dealer in patent medicines. He married Belle Elmore, an aspiring actress with an overbearing personality. After years of putting up with grief from her, Crippen fell in love with Ethel Le Neve, a typist at his company. They had an affair. Then Belle disappeared mysteriously. Scotland Yard was notified and began investigating. Crippen and Ethel took off, first to the continent, then to Canada. Belle's dismembered body was discovered in Crippen's basement. The captain of their ship recognized the couple, who were famous by this time. He radioed back to England and Detective Dew followed on a faster ship and arrested them in Canada. The chase was reported over the wireless and became worldwide news. Crippen was convicted and hung. Ethel was freed. The story of how, or why Crippen killed Belle was never discovered, nor were the missing parts of her body.