Classic Crimes. This item is unavailable.Classic Crimes

First published in 1951, this fascinating collection of true crime stories offers a tantalizing peek into some of the most disturbed minds of 18th & 19th century Scotland. Recounting the murders and trials of the period, William Roughead’s biting commentary and witty narrative - combined with his precise detail and legal know-how, will have you hooked from cover to cover.

"To my mind, one cannot have too much of a good murder."

Now regarded one of the fathers of the true crime genre, Roughead began his career as a Scottish lawyer before turning his hand to amateur criminology. Spending much of his life within the courtroom, he witnessed many of trials first hand, allowing him to grasp a precise and detailed perspective on the frequently savage circumstances.

The tales of cold-blooded murder in this edition feature some of the highly sensational true crimes of the past, and often provide a psychological insight to those on trial. Trials of the likes of Burke and Hare and Deacon Brody are joined with other, lesser known accounts of equally horrific felonies – all told in Roughead’s scintillating manner.

An engaging collection of classic crime stories, this atmospheric read will appeal to those particularly interested in the notorious murders and trials of the Victorian period, and any with a penchant for true crime.

'Reminds me how challenging crime investigation can be, helping me relish the task.' Stephen Wade, lecturer on the history of crime, University of Hull. (Times Higher Education)