Summers & Swan - A new book - Looking For Madeleine

[stephen25000]

So, any news on the sales of this book, feigning to the mccanns ?

[Mr Gray]

So, any news on the sales of this book, feigning to the mccanns ?

any news on sonias docu that you and other sceptics were so anxiously waiting for

[stephen25000]

any news on sonias docu that you and other sceptics were so anxiously waiting for

I'm not in the slightest bit anxious.

You have some very strange ideas

[mercury]

That book was a very strange affair overall, what was the purpose, what was the result, did it achieve anything?

[Brietta]

That book was a very strange affair overall, what was the purpose, what was the result, did it achieve anything?

Hmmmm ... the Summers and Swan book might not have had quite the impact the Amaral book.  On the other hand no-one is suing them ... so at least they managed not to libel anyone in it.

[faithlilly]

Hmmmm ... the Summers and Swan book might not have had quite the impact the Amaral book.  On the other hand no-one is suing them ... so at least they managed not to libel anyone in it.

And there is the crux of the matter. Summers and wife would never gave been able to publish a book in this country that questions the McCanns. So what was the point ? For example the last visit by a non-family member, David Payne, and the questions surrounding his and Kate's differing memories of that visit warrant barely a mention.

'Carlo's first concern was to point out that no-one except her parents and David Payne, who dropped in at  apartment  5a at some point early in the evening- had seen Madeleine between 5.35pm and around 10pm'

That's it ! No mention of Gerry asking him to go, no mention of the anomalies regarding the visit within the statements of the main protagonists, not even a mention of the time the visit actually took place.

How can a truly objective, investigative piece of writing dismiss so nonchalantly the last non-family member to see the missing child when there are still so many questions surrounding that visit ?  Whether those anomalies don't add up to a hill-o-beans, in a truly objective piece those questions must still be asked or what's the point in 'investigating' ?

[Alice Purjorick]

And there is the crux of the matter. Summers and wife would never gave been able to publish a book in this country that questions the McCanns. So what was the point ? For example the last visit by a non-family member, David Payne, and the questions surrounding his and Kate's differing memories of that visit warrant barely a mention.

'Carlo's first concern was to point out that no-one except her parents and David Payne, who dropped in at  apartment  5a at some point early in the evening- had seen Madeleine between 5.35pm and around 10pm'

That's it ! No mention of Gerry asking him to go, no mention of the anomalies regarding the visit within the statements of the main protagonists, not even a mention of the time the visit actually took place.

How can a truly objective, investigative piece of writing dismiss so nonchalantly the last non-family member to see the missing child when there are still so many questions surrounding that visit ?  Whether those anomalies don't add up to a hill-o-beans, in a truly objective piece those questions must still be asked or what's the point in 'investigating' ?

Because it isn't a truly etc...............

[Brietta]

Because it isn't a truly etc...............

Quite simply Summers and Swan relied on the known facts of the matter, did not deliberately blacken anyone's name, told no lies about anyone.  Just responsible investigative journalism, pity there isn't a bit more of it about.

[slartibartfast]

Quite simply Summers and Swan relied on the known facts of the matter, did not deliberately blacken anyone's name, told no lies about anyone.  Just responsible investigative journalism, pity there isn't a bit more of it about.

Bit of a contradiction in terms really.

[Alice Purjorick]

Quite simply Summers and Swan relied on the known facts of the matter, did not deliberately blacken anyone's name, told no lies about anyone.  Just responsible investigative journalism, pity there isn't a bit more of it about.

It requires an imaginative mind and verbose turn of phrase to write a whole book based on the known facts.

[stephen25000]

It requires an imaginative mind and verbose turn of phrase to write a whole book based on the known facts.

The nature of the 'book' is clearly displayed on the first page of chapter 1.

It reads like a page of romantic fiction. IMO,  of course.

[Mr Gray]

The nature of the 'book' is clearly displayed on the first page of chapter 1.

It reads like a page of romantic fiction. IMO,  of course.

the book is totally unimportant to the case...as I remember the McCanns did not even give them an interview

[mercury]

Quite simply Summers and Swan relied on the known facts of the matter, did not deliberately blacken anyone's name, told no lies about anyone.  Just responsible investigative journalism, pity there isn't a bit more of it about.

But what did they investigate? Anybody could have written that book. No investigation required. They brought nothng new. Private dicks in the usa working for tv companies came up with more with on the ground findings.

Just another "account of the truth" imo

[Brietta]

Bit of a contradiction in terms really.

I do not see the contradiction in investigative journalists piecing together the 'known facts' of an investigation in a book.

[Brietta]

It requires an imaginative mind and verbose turn of phrase to write a whole book based on the known facts.

Perhaps you bought it and read it to enable such a review?  Perhaps there are those who purchased it and read it who formed an entirely different perspective.
I think the value of the book may lie in the presentation of an unbiased assessment of what is known of Madeleine McCann's case for those who have little knowledge of it.