This book was interesting but the writing was very academic. It is very well researched but not easy to read.

This was such an informational book on those who have been assassinated across history. There was SO MUCH information and I learned a lot. I liked how the chapters were outlined by different types of people assassinated. I would’ve liked a bit more on the actual assassins and more concreteness on the “why” instead of the general “we think this is why but here’s some other conspiracies too.” Other than that, it was a quick, informative, and interesting non fiction!

I really enjoyed this book, it’s a must for any true crime fan, really interesting and full of info that I had never come across before.

I do find this subject very interesting, and like to read about it whenever possible. Very well written book

Author Charlotte Greig explores some of the most notorious assassinations in history, looking in depth at the killers, their motives, and the impact the deaths of victims had on society. She investigates the controversies that have arisen where the killers' motives have been unclear or their ability to organize such a crime unaided has been questionable.

The content of this book was great, with assassinations and assassination attempts covered for hundreds of years.
Sadly though it was presented more like a long essay or a thesis, and for that reason I couldn’t help but feel it was a little amateurish.
It remained very interesting and I read it in one sitting, I just feel it had scope to be amazing.

My thanks to both NetGalley and Arcturus Publishing for an advanced copy of this book on assassination and true crime.

One person at the right time, can change history, usually for the worst Gavrilo Princip, after failing to kill Archduke Franz Ferdinand, stops for a sandwich, when lo and behold the Archduke and his lost chauffer pass by again. A pistol shot or three later, and the world starts moving to war, with another one twenty plus years later. Kennedy, King, and John Lennon, three men struck down with so much ahead of them politically, socially and artistically, brought down by sad men who never would have equated to anything. So many possibilities lost. Charlotte Greig writes about these lost possibilities in the book Assassins: Cold-blooded and Pre-meditated Killings that Shook the World.

The book covers the usual suspects, Lincoln, Kennedy, King, Malcolm X, along with some who never get grouped in this circle such as Gianni Versace and John Lennon. There is a bit more international flair than you usually see in books like this, covering the murders of Sadat and Bhutto, along with others. In addition there are the survivors, such as Reagan and Warhol and other lucky people. The sections give an overview of the killings, the people involved, the events leading up to and the consequences. Conspiracies are mentioned, and in Kennedy's case covered, but mostly this is about the crime not what followed.

The book is good for those who are new to assassination literature, as there is really nothing new of different covered in the book. There are a lot of the same victims, with the same pictures, a lot of this will be familiar to most readers. The organization seems a little odd, I don't know if chronological listing the crimes might have helped the readability. The prose does get a little purple sometimes, and a few of the sentences do go on. The research seems good, but sometimes in the reconstruction of the scene a lot of facts get a little confused. Repetition is also a factor as sometimes a killing is told twice, but nothing is really added to it.

A decent read, especially for people new to reading history. There is a bit of pulp writing and true crime storytelling but still interesting. Recommended for people who have been listening to a lot of murder podcasts and want to know more about political assassinations.

An interesting look at the attempted and successful assassinations throughout history. The stories are intriguing and a quick read. They are informative and will satisfy any true crime enthusiast.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.