'The cases of murder spattered across the pages of history provide a dark mirror for so many aspects of the less seemly world of the past.'
Written by true crime historian Neil R. Storey, The Little Book of Murder brings together in one slim hardback volume the details of many chilling, horrifying and terrible murderous crimes from history, including unusual facts and trivia about some of these cases and about the perpetrators, and featuring numerous black and white sketches alongside the text.
The contents of the book are divided into twelve sections, including 'Serial Killers', 'Murder not Proven', 'Infamous Murders', and 'Poisoners - Masters of the Silent Killer.' The part entitled 'Murderous Britain' is divided into regions, with details of crimes given according to where they occurred. 'The Black Museum' chapter lists the fascinating and sometimes bizarre items that are held in various crime museums and private collections across the world, including the Crime Museum at Scotland Yard, from knives and guns to a rolling pin and a tin opener. The pages within 'A Date with Murder' allow you to identify crimes with reference to the date they were committed.
The author states in his introduction that the book 'is aimed at all those armchair crime buffs who, like me, occasionally scratch their heads and try to recall the basic facts of some notorious or curious case of murder from the past.'
It's one of those books which you can very easily dip into, intending to read just an excerpt or two, but then find yourself reading just a little more as it's so gruesomely fascinating…! There were many that I had heard of through other books I've read, the Ratcliffe Highway Murders and the Road Hill House Murder being two examples, or through films I've seen, such as Fritz Lang's 'M' about the Monster of Duesseldorf, and there were many that I hadn't heard of before. If this book leaves you wanting more, the author has included suggestions at the back of the book for further reading, and has also listed 'some cinema and TV films based on true murder cases.'
Even though reading about some of these murders frightens me, and I don't recommend reading this book last thing at night or in a dark place alone unless you're of a strong constitution, there is a macabre intrigue to these accounts and an ongoing fascination with such notorious crimes. It will appeal greatly to curious readers, whether crime fiction enthusiasts or true crime fact fans, who have a craving for more information about crime scenes, murderers and their victims, unsolved mysteries, and detecting criminals.
Source - review copy
Publisher - The History Press