Wow what a read! Growing up in a violent home, Harding became a doctor to be good and kind. His journey brought him to psychopaths, to the limits of his compassion and to the darkest corners of his own troubled past.
But he’s never turned away nor given up hope. Mesmerising, insightful and redemptive, The Criminal Mind is his unforgettable story. Five stars!!!🤩

Perfect for fans of true crime - this gave a really insightful first hand account into real life cases. Shows how the system can fail those who need help the most and left a lasting impression on me.

I’ve read a lot of legal non-fiction and this is one I’d highly recommend!

Firstly thank you to the publishers for my early access in exchange for a review .
This is an area of huge interest for me so I really enjoyed this .
Raw and open we get an insight into this profresion and how it impacts the person .
Insightful ,fascinating and informative this is a great book .
Personal experiences make it easy to read and digest mixed with the details of cases that can often be difficult to understand or even comprehend.
Highly recommend if you have an interest in true crime and all things forensic .

A really enjoyable insight in to both the life of the writer and the parents he encounters. Full of human emotion this was disturbing in places as these were true cases. It gave a great window into the mind . I found this fascinating and a real worthwhile read.
Thank you so much to netgallery and publisher and author for this highly recommended 5 star read. Perfect for anyone who likes true crime and wants to understand the unseen complexity of the human mind

This book really intrigued me and sounded right up my street!
I really enjoyed this book.
I like how Harding was honest about his own personal life situations as well as specific case studies. I did find the cases more interesting than his own story, but nevertheless I like how it gave some context.
I would definitely recommend this book for any true crime lovers out there!
So interesting!!

(PS - I also liked that this was a British Psychiatrist as some books like this look more at the American justice system/mental health system)

A fascinating, personal and compassionate book which provides brilliant insight into the minds of those who commit crime.

A great insight into the minds of both a forensic child psychologist and his patients. A very interesting read

Hugely informative and enjoyable to read. As someone who works within the criminal justice system I found it fascinating to read about someone who recognises how people fall into shades of grey rather than clearly defined boxes.

Using his own personal history and cases he has been involved with Duncan Harding brings great insight and a humanising perspective to both the criminal mind, and those who uncover the truth.

Whatever your preference when it comes to crime, be it real or fictional. You'll enjoy this.

This was a very personal account of the life and career in forensic psychiatry of Dr Harding.
Sometimes I find these memoirs rather dull and self-congratulating, but this is really poignant as it tells of his really tough childhood and its influence on his life and work.
His specialism is working with children and the cases are heartbreaking. He also revisits some years later which is fascinating.
I really enjoyed this: it’s the right blend of personal and scientific.

Thoroughly engaging! I read this book in one sitting. It was informative but without being bogged down with too much detail or technical language. It certainly makes you think. A very interesting read.

A glimpse into Duncan Harding's fascinating journey, learning about the different specialties as he progressed through his journey and found his calling working forensic cases as a child/adolescent psychiatrist.
Each of the cases were explained thoroughly from start to finish, sharing the conclusion reached and the overall outcome.
Hugely interesting, definitely recommend!

‘Criminal Minds’ by Dr. Harding is a memoir-style non-fiction book about his career in forensic mental health services, the cases he has seen, and his drive to work in psychiatry. As a fan of psychology and medical books, it was refreshing (in lack of a better word) to see a professional reflect on his own trauma, life and be honest about his goals and lack of original interest in some areas of his career. 
A negative aspect for me was that it was somewhat disheartening, yet again, to see personality disorders, especially cluster B disorders, demonised in a way I’ve come to expect - not everyone who has personality disorders offends and it would be good for it to have been mentioned... I enjoyed Dr. Harding, ‘updating’ us readers on certain children and teens as Dr. Harding career revisited them. The book is well written, in parts almost fiction-esque or literary memoir. I would highly recommend the book for psychology and non-fiction readers

Dr Duncan Harding’s Criminal Mind is an exquisite exploration into the minds of criminals and their circumstances.
Written in a natural and fluent voice, Harding’s book is equal parts science and art. He talks about his own experiences in the field of psychiatry, and gives us insights into the criminal mind with case studies.
This reads like a literary memoir, but it is highly informative, engaging and eye-opening.
I would like to thank Harding for writing this book, and his compassion, hope and analyses.

I always find it difficult to rate non-fiction books. The Criminal Mind is an interesting book, one that I wouldn’t have thought to pick up until I saw it on here. It is written well, with care taken to keep details private or omitted in relation to cases the public would recognize. It gives a small glimpse into a profession that you normally wouldn’t hear about very often. It seems both demanding and emotionally draining as a career, and the mental fortitude needed to deal with such harrowing cases must be immense. I can’t say I enjoyed it because that seems like the wrong word for a book like this, but it was certainly a compelling read.

What an interesting book
I learnt so much reading this
It had lots of information and facts will definitely be buying the paper book for my shelf

Dr. Duncan Harding’s memoir, The Criminal Mind, delves into the riveting world of forensic psychiatry, focusing on children. As a specialist in this field, Harding shares both professional insights and personal reflections. Born to a mother with polio-related disabilities and raised by a violent father, his own life experiences profoundly shape his career trajectory and views on parenthood.

The book weaves together captivating case studies—instances where Harding provided forensic psychiatric reports and testified as an expert witness in court. Through these stories, readers gain a behind-the-scenes look at the realities faced by both the criminal justice system and healthcare professionals when dealing with children with complex needs. Written in an engaging style, The Criminal Mind takes readers beyond the headlines, offering a compelling exploration of this critical field.

Highly recommended for those curious about the intersection of mental health, justice, and compassion1