"...there’s much of interest here..."

The Winter issue of The Sherlock Holmes Journal

A useful and entertaining guide that can be interesting for true-crime lovers or if you are just curious.
Recommended.

NetGalley, Anna Maria Giacomasso

"The True Crime Lover's Guide to London," authored by Brian Billington and Charlotte Booth, delves into 65 crime sprees that occurred over 700 years, ending in 1975 out of consideration for the families affected. The book presents 299 locations, divided into three parts in chronological order. Not only is it a captivating read, but it also serves as a compelling guide for those interested in visiting these sites.

This book is a must-read for crime enthusiasts keen on London's history. It's a valuable asset for planning a tour of historical crime sites in London. I recommend it to readers who wish to explore famous historical crime sites in London at their own pace, complete with images and address details, including postal codes.

NetGalley, Marija Lulkoska

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The True Crime Lover's Guide to London by Brian Billington, Charlotte Booth is stunning. True Crime is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, but the beauty of this book, is that it doesn't just give you a tour of the last 100 years of crime, not even 200. It takes you back through a thousand years of crimes and debauchery in London's darkest history.

Absolutely fantastic and absolutely my jam. A great read for lovers of true crime and history alike, especially if you are planning a trip to the smoke!

NetGalley, Ink Reads

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

It is London. In all its dark, haunting, mysterious, criminal, glorious past. A unique guide, rich in information and embellished with impressive photographs. Highly recommended!

NetGalley, Amalia Solomakou

As a big fan of true crime as well as English history (and history in general), there is something essential about understanding the setting, WHERE the crime or event happened. And this book is a treasure-trove as it provides you with the crime, as well as where it happened. This works well as a guide book for your next trip to London, and also as an account of crimes that might not be on your radar.

NetGalley, P. Meschke

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I am an avid true crime fan and I love exploring London so this book was a winning combination for me, this will definitely come in handy when I visit London again in December and explore the places mentioned in the book.

NetGalley, A D

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

NetGalley, Alicia Goeser

It was so fascinating to read what happened to the criminals and see the physical places where these crimes occurred. This would be a fun book to use as a personal guide to get a whole new perspective on this exciting and energetic city.

NetGalley, Lisa Davidson

It’s well written and would be perfect for a crime tour of the London hot spots. For anyone interested this is a great read.

NetGalley, Steve Cripwell

This book is a must-read for Anglophile crime lovers. It's a great resource for planning your tour of historical crime sites in London. I recommend it for readers who want a self-directed tour of famous historical crime sites in London, complete with pictures and address information, including postal codes.

NetGalley, Lynnie W

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The True Crime Lover's Guide to London by Brian Billington and Charlotte Booth contains snapshots of 65 crime sprees over a period of 700 years, ending in 1975 (out of respect for families). Highlighted are 299 sites divided into three parts which are in date order, fascinating to read but even more compelling to visit. There are organized true crime tours as well as DIY sites, some known, others less common or unknown.

Learn more about body snatching, robberies, the woman who stole and wore three fur coats out of the store, an ex-debutante who smuggled contraband, disguises, false walls, selling coffin wood and nails, murders, prisons to visit, Bow Street Museum, cemeteries, bone houses, pubs home to violence, and murder locations. Though several names (people, locations) were familiar to me, many weren't. Countless London adventures await!

I love London. Next time I will be armed with new-to-me historical information and site descriptions, making my time even richer. If like me you are almost desperate to discover what's hidden behind closed and locked doors in London, this book is for you. I appreciate that useful photographs and tips are included.

NetGalley, Brenda Carleton

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Anyone who is interested in true crime will find this book to be a treat. Pick your crime, pick your neighborhood, and explore London. Each entry gives just enough detail to whet the interest of the reader and make them want to visit the scene of the crime.

NetGalley, Leila Kytta

This book has a lot of interesting info on many sites and stories about crime in London. It provides addresses for easy locating using online maps. Lots of history and pictures of some sites that are still standing.

NetGalley, Valerie Shampine

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I found this to be a very interesting, if not a bit morbid book about the various crimes committed in London a long time ago. There is also pre-set tours that can be followed upon a visit to London. Beautifully photographed.

NetGalley, Melissa Borsey

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is a fantastic travel resource for any true crime aficionado who wants to set their own pace and tour of some of London's most recognised, reviled and revered historical true crime locations. It's set up in two useful ways - in the first half of the book you can find locations summarised based on the types of crimes that were committed (theft, murder, treason, etc.) and how each particular site is linked. You'll find there's plenty of overlap for certain sites like jails, cemeteries, pubs, churches and courthouses. Plus, actual address info with postal codes is also included to help with personal GPS navigation. The second half of the book has everything divided into sections of the city for themed DIY tours, where to find the true crime museums, heck there's even a DIY pub crawl of some of the more notorious taverns and gin palaces.

Throughout the guide there are plenty of photos provided, which are mostly courtesy of the authors themselves. Many of these infamous sites no longer have the original buildings at said locations - many having been demolished or refurbished over the intervening years - so the photos of current businesses, flats, stations and parks will help immensely with navigation. I really enjoyed the photos, as well as all the fascinating tidbits of history and little-known facts that are sprinkled throughout the whole guide.

Being a hardcore Anglophile and true crime aficionado myself, whenever I take my next trip to London I will certainly be making sure that this handy dandy travel guide is stowed safely in my suitcase!

NetGalley, Shireen Sasani

Whatever the crime, murder, robbery, serial killers, prostitution, execution sites, treason, and much more, there are places in London to visit. They even have cemetery tours and pub crawls. London certainly has their fair share of crime and criminals. I really liked this book.

NetGalley, Sheila Treacy