Illustrated True Crime: A Photographic Record

This is a compilation of photographs - some are quirky and even funny, some are downright chilling, and some are nightmare fuel. Either way very interesting for anybody interested in true crime and who has a strong stomach.

lots of cases im familiar with accompanied by photos ive never seen before, mixed in with some crimes ive never even heard of. descriptions are brisk, though satisfying and the photos really make it; over 400 pages of history (political, historical, true crime) up until 2001

This book features dozens of short blubs concerning criminal events. It's on beautiful glossy paper, and the photos are clear and attractive. I got a used copy and the condition was great...it is obviously a quality book and has held up well. Each short "story" is paired with a photo or two. Although short, they are enough to interest the reader and give sufficient information to research later. My only problem (not problem?) with it is it turns out to be British, so it features some British crimes which are probably less familiar to Americans like myself. It is not, however, all British by any means! And I found it interesting to read some cases I had never heard of. Most of the cases are familiar to Americans, like lynchings, John W. Gacy, the assasination of Lincoln, etc.

This is not the sort of book that I would normally purchase for myself. In fact it was a present and initially one that I was not sure I was grateful for. When people know that you are an avid reader they tend to think that you will read absolutely anything and everything. Having got that off my chest I have to admit that I became totally fascinated by this book. It is full of photographs of criminals and murders and includes a short synopsis of the crimes each of them had committed. Abraham Lincoln's killer, Jack the Ripper, The Clanton Gang, right through to Slobodan Milosevic trial, they are all here. The book is not sensationalised in any way, it is just a record of the facts and to see photographs of the actual people involved makes it all the more poignant. I will freely admit that it is probably not a book for everybody, but for those with an inquisitive mind and a passion for the truth rather than the myth, this book is a must.