Litchfields new book on Freddie Mills

[dalcumly]

I've recently read Michael Litchfields book on Freddie Mills and it left me feeling very uncomfortable.
Litchfield is a former journalist with the Sun from the 1960's and is latterly an investigative journalist.
Without wasting the book for future readers, Litchfields claims that Mills was bi-sexual, perverted and the murderer of 6 women with the cause of death being particularly obscene.
He claims the Met detectives involved were generally corrupt and there was a Masonic conspiracy.
It has left me a bit numb. Either Mills is the most disgusting perverted former world boxing champion anyone could possibly imagine, or Litchfield has utterly destroyed Mills character in a situation in which everyone mentioned in the book who could refute the allegations are conveniently dead.
As I mentioned earlier a very disturbing read. I'll now have to 'cleanse' myself by reading the other new book on Mills called Fearless Freddie which I believe will be more of a boxing book.
I'd be interested in anyone else's views who have read the Litchfield book.

[Bladder]

I've not read the book but these rumours about Freddie's personal life and dark side have been around for many years, haven't they?

[dalcumly]

I must admit I'd sincerely like to believe Litchfield has written drivel, but when he names names, times ,dates , places you can't help but think there is some substance to the allegations.

These types of books have been written before about famous episodes in the past, where the author can speculate to his hearts content, when no one can prove him wrong. But generally they don't go in to as much detail as this one.

As I said earlier, if Litchfield has put rumour and innuendo together to sell a book for profit in this fashion, then he himself is disgusting , but that's the issue here, where does the truth lie.

If the book is accurate then it's no exaggeration to suggest that Mills is up there with people like Peter Sutcliffe and the Wests.
I just can't get my head round it.

[evrenb]

These rumours have been around since Freddies time. Was it Jack the stripper or something? I believe Hitchcocks 'Frenzy' was loosely based on this. Other books have touched upon this also ; that Mills was a closet Homosexual (no shame in that ,except that he had to be closet), and a serial killer. It makes for a tabloidesque read I guess. The Sun likes to sensationalise ...and focus in on the grime of society.
Anything is plausible I guess; it was a very seedy, underworld environment that Freddie became involved with when he got into the Nightclub business.
There's was even rumours of him being 'involved' with the Krays!
Fascinating stuff...

[dalcumly]

Trust me Litchfield is alleging far worse than anything I've heard before.

[Bladder]

I just dug out Bill Bavin's biography on Freddie Mills from 1975.

In it, he discusses Mills's attachment to the "Nude Murders" in west London, the rumours of his homosexuality and the claims he was running a call girl racket.

I'm curious now what Litchfield is alleging over and above this more than forty years later.

[Tomasino]

I'm reading it now. Aside from the content, the writing style is very flowery. I dislike the author 20 pages in.

[dalcumly]

Tomasino

I felt the exact same way.