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fenchurch42's review against another edition
5.0
A great book on how society can prevent serial killers although David seems to have missed one of the main categories of those targeted- the disabled.
glens's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.0
After reading The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold, I have altered my reading concerning serial killers to their victims, as they always get overlooked, pigeon-holed and dismissed by the press and some historians.
David Wilson has had my admiration as a specialist in these serial killers, so he did not sugarcoat their detestable crimes. Although the book planned to focus on the victims, as he states, due to their status (beneath the everyday capital class), there wasn't as much in-depth history of them before their death.
Very informative.
David Wilson has had my admiration as a specialist in these serial killers, so he did not sugarcoat their detestable crimes. Although the book planned to focus on the victims, as he states, due to their status (beneath the everyday capital class), there wasn't as much in-depth history of them before their death.
Very informative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Violence, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Torture, Trafficking, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Sexual violence, and Stalking
stealingpages's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did.
A History Of British Serial Killing focused more on the victims and situations surrounding the crimes such as why certain types of victims (prostitutes, gays, children) were targeted as opposed to the normal style of true crime book which focuses on the actual serial killer and murders themselves.
Great book if you like the factual stuff but I’ll be honest...I really like the sinister side. I wanna know how the crimes went down.
Definitely and audience out there for this but sadly it wasn’t for me
A History Of British Serial Killing focused more on the victims and situations surrounding the crimes such as why certain types of victims (prostitutes, gays, children) were targeted as opposed to the normal style of true crime book which focuses on the actual serial killer and murders themselves.
Great book if you like the factual stuff but I’ll be honest...I really like the sinister side. I wanna know how the crimes went down.
Definitely and audience out there for this but sadly it wasn’t for me
angelfireeast24's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This isn’t a book about serial killers it’s a book about the victimology of serial killers which is far more interesting. It’s about time we got a book like this. It was a really strong look at society, the police, and the government
mapetiteliseuse's review against another edition
4.0
This is not the best written or most organised book in the world, but this guys knows his stuff, his history and his sources. The cover put me off, I was expecting another skimmer analysis of the most prolific killers, with limited insights and the usual 'facts'. But Wilson gives a very interesting perspective on serial murder by focusing on victims: who are the victims of these crimes and what were their social settings - what were the collection of circumstances that allowed them to become victims.
Instead of thinking of the Cromwell St murders as 'the ones committed by the sexually deviant married couple' they become the ones that targeted vulnerable runaways and throwaways.. Similarly with Sutcliffe and prostitutes or Shipman and the elderly.
He doesn't detract from the fact that of course these people committing serial murders are culpable and in many cases psychopathic; but he adds the additional dimension of looking at what elements of society (be it economic, familial, professional, political) enable the crimes to begin and then continue undetected.
I'll be looking the author up and referring to his excellent list of sources.
Instead of thinking of the Cromwell St murders as 'the ones committed by the sexually deviant married couple' they become the ones that targeted vulnerable runaways and throwaways.. Similarly with Sutcliffe and prostitutes or Shipman and the elderly.
He doesn't detract from the fact that of course these people committing serial murders are culpable and in many cases psychopathic; but he adds the additional dimension of looking at what elements of society (be it economic, familial, professional, political) enable the crimes to begin and then continue undetected.
I'll be looking the author up and referring to his excellent list of sources.