Fractured Silence

Join the author in her four-year investigation into the life and death of Norma Rhys McLeod in 1920s Melbourne, Australia. Examine the case files, meet family members and modern-day experts, exploring themes of class, corruption, secrecy and abuse. Take a glimpse into the researcher’s personal journey and her growing connection to Norma. It’s a journey of hope, loss, remembrance and resilience …

The case … On 9 September 1929, in the wealthy suburb of Toorak, 29 year old Norma McLeod was found unconscious on her bed. A pair of damp men’s underpants lay across her forehead. Dying at 5pm that day, an autopsy revealed a seven-inch crack in the back of her skull caused by blunt force trauma to the head. Despite huge press and public attention, an inquest returned an open verdict. The mystery remains unsolved. But that doesn’t mean we stop asking questions. Someone ‘out there’ may hold a valuable piece of the puzzle. Maybe that someone is you ...