BOOK EXCERPT: A Fatal Love — Reimagining the story of the last woman executed in Britain
Louisa Treger’s latest historical fiction novel reimagines the life of Ruth Ellis – the last woman to be executed in Britain. The book’s publication arrived shortly after Ellis’ posthumous pardoning in July 2026.
On Easter Sunday, 1955, Ruth Ellis stood before David Blakely at the Magdala, a pub in London. The blonde and petite woman held a gun in her hand. She called out to David, who ignored her but could hear the pounding of her heart. She aimed the revolver at him and pulled the trigger twice, striking him multiple times. David fell to the ground, lifeless. The crowd gathered around, unsure if Ruth had actually killed him. She turned the gun on herself, ending her own life.
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