Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Stephen Wade's A Dictionary of True Crime exceeded my expectations. This is a phenomenal resource for anyone interested in crime in Britain. A well-establishe author, Wade brings extensive research and a conversational style to his wealth of descriptions and insights.

This kind of material isn't for everyone. I like Wade's approach, influenced by literary true crime. I could tell from the introduction that he's a serious researcher. There are so many chilling facts available, it's not necessary to exaggerate anything. He limited his time on the best-known cases in favor of illuminating lesser-known crimes and presenting a broad exploration of criminality in context. It's an impressive feat, covering Britain from the eighteenth century to recent decades. Along with some extreme and truly odd cases that were new to me, I learned more about people involved in many aspects of dealing with crime. There's even a ghost story.

He includes relevant social factors such as poverty and the vulnerabilities of women due to their disadvantaged status under the law. I was delighted by his many references to authors who were inspired by specific cases and his sympathetic report of Oscar Wilde's court cases and imprisonment. I also enjoyed Wade's comments about his childhood memories of how certain cases maintained an impact for many decades, such as the name Crippen being on a par of darkness with Frankenstein or Dracula. An example in the US is a rhyme about Lizzie Borden.

The book details several punishments, including the most barbaric practices. Wade gives a wide ranging account of crime and punishment, from robbers using garrotes to a hangman with special nooses for the worst offenders. The cross references between listings are helpful along with the complete contents list at the end. The many photos and illustrations show some of the criminals, publications, and key places in the book. The annotated bibliography and sources list is a treasure. This book reads like a series of conversations with a personable expert. It's one I'll continue to recommend and consult.

Highly recommended for non-squeamish readers interested in True Crime, British History, and the social sciences.

NetGalley, Jayce Torben

This book goes from A-Z on horrible true crimes, from arson to murder. This was an informative read on true crime.

NetGalley, Sheila Treacy

Stephen Wade's A Dictionary of True Crime is a must read for any crime fan - fact or fiction. It takes us through the alphabet of the most horrific crimes of our history and bringing the attention of the perpetrators. I was fascinated by this book, which didn't feel glamourised as some are.

NetGalley, Claire Wilson

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

As a true crime enthusiast this book was my perfect read, it covered so many cases I knew and ones I didn't. I loved the layout and format as it made it easy to differentiate between cases, each letter had so many different cases so overall it was a very informative and interesting read that I would recommend.

NetGalley, A D

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Written brilliantly and Great idea for any crime fan.
Definitely worth buying.

NetGalley, Karen Bull