A great book detailing murder throughout history, and how the criminal justice system has changed, full of lots of great research, would recommend this book to lovers of crime drama.

This book is an interesting potted history of the development of the offence of murder (and the more complex variations of manslaughter) throughout Britain over the last 100 years or so.

Morgan's writing style is easily digestible and she dives quite deeply into legalese, discussing mens rea and actus reus among other topics. Her straightforward and well thought out prose really does help the lay person to understand quite convoluted topics.

Luckily for Morgan, there are vast archives of court records going back many hundreds of years and she has clearly spent some time reading accounts of historical and infamous cases.

The book even covers topics such as corporate manslaughter, an offence which came about in the wake of numerous man mad disasters in the late 80's.

This book is an interesting read and contains accounts of some very interesting cases. Recommended.

I imagine that potential single and serial murders will find this book is of great use. For the rest of us, it’s a most entertaining guide through a morbid subject.

While expecting a list of killers, reviews covering their actions and some detailed information about the gruesome details, the selection of corporate murders is an excellent addition. I also found the section on doctor's murders to be comprehensive and most concerning.

While this book mostly covers UK murders, it steps abroad from time to time. Many well know names are discussed in an entertaining manner, rather than suffering a university lecture.

This covers crimes from way back in time and many over the years and includes some fairly recent and still fresh in the memory. It’s the little details that makes this book and sets it aside from boring competitors.

I didn’t know some of the well-known songs introduced were about murders. I will look at those songs quite differently in the future.

I was given a copy of this book and this hasn’t altered my review. I enjoyed it and you can’t say that about many murder fact books.

Kate Morgan treats her research like a love letter, putting absolutely everything in to it with care.

Murder is not a fun nor exciting read, and nor should it be, but it is detailed, and very interesting. From how murder was treated in the past to the laws of today.

A complete and concise history that is a thoroughly satisfying and informative read.

Whilst I cannot say this book was an entertaining read, it was however the most fascinating book I've read in a while. This history of how murder is and has been defined over the centuries, backed up with carefully researched real and historical cases and case law was and addictive read.

As close to a five star book of perfection I can get for a non-fiction book. This book is a total bit of me, it is about murder and written by a lawyer, it crosses two of my biggest passions in life.

I never knew I needed to read a book like this until I read it, or that there would be need for it in the market. Now, having read it, I wonder why it was not done sooner.

I am a lawyer by trade and I studied criminal law in my first year at uni. This book took me right back to those Monday morning tutorials at 9 am and those Tuesday morning lectures are the same time.

This book is exactly what it says it is, a biography of murder. The book traces how murder was first treated in this country and then how it became a criminal offence. The book then goes on to explain how defences to murder came about through case law (murder is still a common law offence, nowhere is murder explained as a crime in a written law aka statute). The book covers the complete defences of insanity and necessity and the partial defences of diminished responsibility, provocation and suicide pact.

If you have studied law in the past or are even studying it now, you will really enjoy this book. The facts are explained in a common sense way along with descriptions of the cases that moulded the law. You are told what happened, the legal tussling at trial, the appeals (when they were allowed) and how the law changed or did not change for the better.

The book covers a lot of potential policy changes and how time and time again they were kicked into the long grass.

There is a great section on corporate manslaughter/murder which is explained very well, it covers the big corporate manslaughter cases of recent times going from the Piper Alpha disaster to the Hillsborough tragedy to the FGW train crash in Southall.

This is great book for people who want to know the law of murder and how it developed. The book didn't teach me anything new but I really really enjoyed reading as a refresher, I enjoyed picking up the cases I had studied for my undergrad law exams,

I could not put this book down and will be buying a hardcopy when it comes out.

4.99 stars out of 5

Had me hooked from start to finish. The history of murder and how it has developed through out history. Love books like this and it did not disappoint. Could quite easily read again lol!

This was a fascinating read, it tells the story of Murder and how the laws have changed over time. It includes lots of true crime stories and looks how how murder was looked it hundreds of years ago and how and why laws changed.

What a brilliant and intricately detailed account of the crime of murder throughout history. A crime that holds an inexplicable fascination for so many, this book traces the very first definitions and highlights the lack of progress when it comes to statutory guidance for this most complex of crimes.

Examining cases that have guided the courts throughout the years, I was engrossed by these stories of tragedy and so often, injustice. From defences of necessity in Dudley and Stephens, to questions of provocation and diminished responsibility in battered women's trials, it was fascinating to read about the evolving approach and progress which now recognises the effect of long term abuse and coercive control.

It also examines corporate responsibility which is an area of law that seems to absolve organisations who exhibit a chilling lack of care towards the public. This is surely to be tested in the Grenfell disaster case which is yet to be decided.

So many other cases are detailed that have guided the judiciary, and have led to some shocking results.

For anyone interested in legal matters, written so accessibly and in a way that captures the readers attention from the get go, I highly recommend this brilliant book.

The lawyer Kate Morgan writes a detailed and well researched British history of murder laws and the developments in the law through time, this is one for both true crime enthusiasts and anyone else interested in this fascinating and so often grisly subject of murder, intentional and accidental. It touches on crime and punishment, justice and injustice, notorious serial killers, and other critical cases that changed the law, and the relevance that persists to the present day of the Elizabethan and Jacobean figure of Sir Edward Coke's definitions and difference between murder and manslaughter in the criminal justice system. It highlights how shifts in public opinion and changing social norms and attitudes led to significant reforms in the law, after famous cases such as that of the abused Ruth Ellis's shooting of her feckless and faithless lover, she was convicted of murder and hanged.

We learn of the starving crew of the Mignonette eating the sickly cabin boy in order to survive, the incompetent Dr Bateman and the cover up that followed the death of a female patient, and the unofficial legal acceptance of duels, under specific engagement rules, seen through the scarcity of murder convictions, primarily of benefit to the upper classes and the military. In Edinburgh, we see the first use of the defense of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, raising the issue of just how mad do you have to be? Through time this led to the first specialist institution for the criminally insane, Broadmoor, whose residents have included gangster Ronnie Kray and the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe. Tragedies, such as Aberfan, the Marchioness disaster, Hillsborough, and the continuing present day inquiries into the horrors of the Grenfell fire chart the development of corporate manslaughter and negligence.

The distinctions in the laws between murder and manslaughter remain a grey and problematic area in the courts, incorporating self defence, provocation and extenuating circumstances, sometimes straying into victim blaming. The development and use of diminished responsibility has helped to free abused women like Sally Challon. What is particularly intriguing culturally and in real life is how the public can both revile and admire murderers, encapsulated in the popularity of songs such as Mack the Knife and Delilah. This is a insightful glimpse into the grim and darkest history of the most heinous of crimes that I think will appeal to many readers. Highly recommended. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

A very interesting book about a fascinating subject. Much of the content will be familiar to anyone who has studied criminal law, but this is a very accessible and well-written summary of the law.
I was slightly irritated by a couple of errors - Spencer Perceval was Prime Minister at the time of his death not Chancellor of the Exchequer, and "Arabella" Stuart was actually Arbella Stuart. Also I was surprised that Helena Kennedy was not referred to as Baroness Kennedy, given that she was created a Life Peer in 1997.
These are minor points, and the book is excellent.

Murder: The Biography is such an interesting read, delving into the legal history of Murder. A fascinating read which will have you gripped and turning the pages. One you will easily read in one or two sittings.

I found Murder a fascinating read. So well researched and packed with interesting facts and discussion about the crime of murder over the years. The case studies were interesting and brought a fresh perspective on the topic that has held such fascination.

Ooooh this is good. Packed with true crime stories across the UK and how it impacted society, legislation and future verdicts. Kate really knows her stuff as fact after fact is thrown at you and each is impactful, insightful and fascinating. Discusses wider societal issues such as Aberfan and Hillsborough but similarly tackles head on case study cases that shape and make our laws. From women subjected to domestic violence, murder v manslaughter, and some just truly gruesome; this has it all. If you are the sort of person to watch every crime doc on Netflix, this is the read for you. Little bit intrigued but daunted? Dive in. Truly absorbing and fascinating.

Brilliant book. Great mix of true crime stories, and some really thrilling facts about the history of the law.

Just by reading the introduction to this book I was hooked. The author made me think how we have normalized crime and murder. She pointed to the song's Delilah and Mack the Knife. We've all heard them but are you aware they sing about committing a crime. I mentioned to a couple of colleague's and we sat entranced listening to the music and reading the actually lyrics.

The author takes us on a journey through history. From the men arranging Duels on the common. A young boy eaten by his crewmates. to modern day crimes you may all remember. The book also shows how these crimes have shaped our penal system. The difference's between murder and manslaughter. How over the years people have shaped the law system in the UK.

If you like crime books then add this to your collection to read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC