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A History Of British Serial Killing: The Shocking Account of Jack the Ripper, Harold Shipman and Beyond Paperback – October 19, 2021
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BE THE FIRST TO READ DAVID WILSON'S NEW TRUE CRIME BOOK "A PLOT TO KILL" BY PRE-ORDERING NOW
Expanded and updated, this is the definitive history of British serial killing 1888-2020 - by the UK's leading criminologist, David Wilson
In this fascinating and informative book, Professor David Wilson tells the stories of Britain's serial killers from Jack the Ripper to the extraordinary Suffolk Murders case.
David Wilson has worked as a Prison Governor and as a profiler, and has been described as the UK's leading expert on serial killers. His work has led him to meet several of the UK's deadliest killers, and build up fascinating insights into what makes a serial killer - and who they are most likely to target.
A vivid narrative history and a call for prison and social reform, Professor Wilson's new book is a powerful and gripping investigation of Britain's serial murderers.
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSphere
- Publication dateOctober 19, 2021
- Dimensions5 x 1 x 7.75 inches
- ISBN-100751581070
- ISBN-13978-0751581072
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
David Wilson is Emeritus Professor of Criminology and the founding Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology at Birmingham City University. Prior to taking up an academic appointment in 1997, David was a prison governor working at a variety of establishments in a number of different roles.
Professor Wilson appears in the print and broadcast media as a commentator and presenter. His publishing includes Hunting Evil, A History of British Serial Killing, Signs of Murder, and his professional memoir, My Life with Murderers, which was shortlisted for the Saltire Prize for Non-Fiction. His next book, A Plot to Kill, will publish in 2021.
Product details
- Publisher : Sphere (October 19, 2021)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0751581070
- ISBN-13 : 978-0751581072
- Item Weight : 8.5 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 1 x 7.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,680,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #710 in Medical Forensic Psychology
- #835 in Popular Forensic Psychology
- #4,194 in Serial Killers True Accounts
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
David Wilson is Emeritus Professor of Criminology and the founding Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology at Birmingham City University. Prior to taking up an academic appointment in 1997, David was a Prison Governor and worked at a number of prisons in a variety of roles.
He worked at Grendon, Wormwood Scrubs and at Woodhill in Milton Keynes - where he helped to design and then ran the two units for the 12 most violent prisoners in the country, which brought him into contact with many recent serial killers. David regularly appears in the print and broadcast media as a commentator and presenter. His TV documentaries include the critically acclaimed Interview with a Murderer for Channel 4 in June 2016. In 2017 the documentary won the Broadcast Award and the Royal Television Society Award.
Of David's recent TV documentaries, Dark Son: Hunt for a Serial Killer about a series of murders in London in the 1960s was shown on BBC4 in February 2019 and his BBC1 documentary with Emilia Fox about Jack the Ripper was also broadcast in spring of that year. He filmed his BBC Scotland series David Wilson’s Crime Files in 2020 and the re-commissioned second series was broadcast between August and November 2021. His Channel 4 series with Emilia Fox In the Footsteps of Killers was also shown in 2021. A second series of In the Footsteps of Killers has been commissioned by Channel 4 for 2022.
David's new book - A Plot to Kill (Sphere) was published in July 2021. His professional memoir My Life with Murderers was shortlisted for a Saltire Award.
He co-presents a true crime podcast with Emilia Fox called If it Bleeds, It Leads and he writes a weekly column in the Daily Record.
Professor Wilson regularly gives public, school and university lectures and he is a National Teaching Fellow.
Customer reviews
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024Really good book if murder is your thing.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2021An extremely well researched and written book that makes for rather depressing reading. Unusually, Wilson focuses on the victims of serial killers rather than the perpetrators. The continued vulnerability of more marginalised members, such as runaways and the homeless, brings into question what kind of society we are. An important book that should be read by both the public at large and policy makers.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2021You must be wanting to read this book to read it. It can be hard to track at times and doesn't read smoothly such as many text books. It has very interesting accounts but if your not paying attention you'll be rereading.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2018Informative and carefully researched. I'm glad the author included a bibliography.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2013Interesting take on serial killing-- from the victims and society's perspective. Many of the victims are vulnerable people that very few people miss.
Top reviews from other countries
- TqDreaaaMzReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful look into the cultural phenomenon, but highly depressing
One of the finest books written on the phenomenon of serial killing, which chooses to view it from a sociocultural perspective, rather than purely psychological as many other books of this sort do. Instead of focusing on the killers, it goes into depth how certain groups of people (children, gay men, the elderly, sex-workers, and infants) are marginalised due to changing social, cultural, and economic climates in society, but most importantly, what action needs to be taken in order to ensure such groups of people are not made vulnerable in the future.
Be warned: this is a very depressing and disturbing read, but if (like me) you’re fascinated with the phenomenon from an academic point of view, you’ll gain plenty of insight and information.
- CarolynReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars A history of British serial killings
A history of British serial killings is a fascinating read. It is done from the view point of socio-cultral way rather than psychological way of thinking. This could be a difficult read for someone who is frightened easily. But, that is not me so I found it enthrawling.
The book does deal with Shipman and ther famous serial killers. So you may know some of the input but, you will not know most of it.
It is written clearly and is descriptive in a style I liked. It is definately a page turner as you want to know more information.
I would recommened this book and will read more of this author.
- ZarneyReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read
Half way through this book and so far it is a fantastic read! David is so knowledgeable and sheds a great insight into serial killers, I like how the book tends to be more victim focused and tells more of their story rather than focusing all on the serial killer themselves.
- VicuñaReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing and a little different
I was intrigued by the premise behind this book. The author is keen to understand how serial killers ‘happen’, that is the extent to which and the reasons they chose certain victims. It’s a relatively new phenomenon, and there are some strange facts. For example, I’d have thought there were always serial killers in action. It seems none were recorded over a couple of decades in the 1920s and 30s. Why?
Taking some well known killers, the victims are looked at in some detail which makes for a very different take on the crimes. Interesting, sometimes a little overbearing and self centred , but overall, I enjoyed this book.
- PaigeReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Written
These series of books have been a fantastic read into the science and psychology behind serial killers and their actions. I have read all three and was impressed at how well they have been written, particularly in a manner that can be understood easily if you are unfamiliar with in-depth language. Eg: the use of small, short and simple words. Overall these books are definitely on my recommended to others list! An impressive product and an impressive read.
Paige
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2019
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