thank you to netgalley for an eARC of this book. sadly this is the most boring true crime book I have ever read. some of the stories were uninteresting and dragged on but then others were barely a paragraph. I just felt like it could have been trimmed down a lot

Well researched and well put together BUT it’s a bit dense and hard to get through even for true crime enthusiasts.

As a criminology student I acknowledge that this is well put together, reflective and well-researched. As a true crime enthusiast and book nerd, I have to say I found it a little hard to stay interested at times. All in all, I enjoyed it, but it took me a while to get through it. I'm afraid I don't have much more to say about it. I found the stories properly detailed, the analyses applied well, but the writing somewhat dull.

The book is a collection of true crime and punishment cases from 17th century up till modern times. The book is well-researched and detailed hence it wasn't an easy read but for sure enjoyable.

Really well researched and written book. This book covers some of the most brutal crimes. Plenty of facts and information. I highly recommend this to any and all true crime fans. It won’t disappoint.

Very interesting book on true crimes from 17th century to present day. Detailed and somewhat of a heavier read than I anticipated but overall good book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A great book for anyone new or old that loves true crime or wants to get to get into it because it's definitely what it says it is of true crime .

I watch true crime documentaries almost every week, but this was my first time reading a true crime book. This book is a great beginner for anyone who is curious about true crime. The book is what the title says, it’s an A to Z guide to true crime covering murders and criminals throughout history in Britain.

This book wasn’t an easy read but it was an enjoyable read. I mostly enjoyed learning about the lesser known crimes and historical cases, it was fascinating to learn the difference of what crime and investigations were like back then compared to now. The entries for each crime or criminal varied in length, some were a paragraph, and some were several pages long. This meant that some sections felt too brief and didn't go in depth as I would like, whilst some went on for a bit too long. The writing is very matter of fact but you can tell how knowledgeable the author is about this topic. I appreciate that the author didn’t focus too much on well known criminals (i.e. Jack the Ripper) as there’s little new to write about them. Instead the vast majority of the book is full of lesser known murders and criminals that I’ve never heard of before.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in true crime or the history of crime and punishment. But I would add a warning that some entries are disturbing, but that should be expected when talking about murder. But I'd also say that this book is pretty tame in comparison to what else is out there on true crime and is a good choice for people who’re new to true crime.

The book is a comprehensive collection of true crimes throughout British history that does tend to hop around quite a bit at time and at other times it seems to flow more. It is, however, the kind of book that could be read from start to finish or in intervals. Since each story is self contained, it allows the reader to read as much or as little as desired.

There were plenty of the usual stories that an aficionado of true crime has read about multiple times. It also has a nice selection of some more obscure and not as well known crimes. Often it deals with not only the murderer but the judges or the executioners and of course, the victims. It is a compendium that would find a welcome home in your library. Four purrs and two paws up.

I don’t understand how the true crime stories are selected as they aren’t, by and large, very interesting cases. On top of that, I understand this is pre-publication, but who edited this? The grammar and mechanics are quite badly done. It doesn’t smack professional.

A Dictionary Of True Crime by Stephen Wade, I read a lot of True Crime and my favorite thing about this. True Crime book is the author referenced older writers of the genre those who were in the beginning and onward. not only that he talked about everything the different types of murders from infanticide even to his opinion of the word, murder and all it’s inceptions and I haven’t even got to the nitty-gritty the actual crimes themselves. I do believe he covered every type of murderer in the historical days of highway robbers body snatchers cannibals in so much more. I love the way the author wrote the book and broke it up until it’s different chapters. I have read a lot and I mean a lot of True Crime lately and have more books on my TBR shelf to be read and so really was dreading having to read another but once I started, I was all in. I really was engrossed in the narrative and found the author had me wanting to turn the page in although some were those I have read. I am always shocked when I get to one I have and they had a few of those in this book. I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this book and highly recommended. #NetGalley,#PenAndSwordPress, #StephenWade, #ADictionaryOfTrueCrime,

A well-thought and researched dictionary of true crime for true crime fans, but also for artists for inspiration.

A Dictionary of True Crime by Stephen Wade was a very informative book from start to finish and I really enjoyed reading it. It is a great guide to the most compelling cases of extreme and violent crimes in the writing files, from the 17th century to present day.

I liked the way this book was formatted and arranged in an A-Z format, this well-researched dictionary which made it a great reference book especially if you are studying these violent crimes for college work etc. A great book for everyone interested in true crime.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for my ARC.

Review on Goodreads and Amazon UK

Informative entries, including not just people who committed crimes, but also a few entries on related things. Over all, a fascinating read. My only complaint is I wish it were longer.

Oh my goodness. I had no idea I was in for such a feast when I requested a review copy of this title. Stephen Wade’s knowledge of true crime is encyclopaedic and is well reflected in the content of this dictionary. It’s so much more than a simple dictionary; the introduction alone gives a fascinating insight into the history of true crime, murder and includes a scholarly and fascinating overview of De Quincey and the Scottish lawyer, William Roughead. Roughead has clearly been an early influence on crime reporting and writing and references to his work have, alone, whetted my appetite to learn more about him.

Stephen Wade is a notable author of numerous true crime books covering specific cases, people, places etc and also on other topics including hangmen and prisons. Added to this, he’s a fiction author and the introduction gives the reader insight into writing fiction; the mechanics and thought processes which informs the development of his plot and characters. I was mesmerised.

As for the dictionary, it’s just packed with detail. Many of the more famous cases, ably covered by many authors over the years, are briefly outlined. This allows the reader to learn more about numerous less famous cases. There’s a comprehensive index so it’s easy to find a specific case or person. Best of all are the illustrations at the end of the book. All the pictures were new to me; a Lambert and But,er cigarette card depicting Turpin, a booklet about Newgate, Mary Bateman, the Yorkshire witch portrait. Absolutely fascinating in their own right. And the bibliography is extensive; a wide and varied resource with much material for readers interested in further relevant reading. This book is one to dip into and I’ve put the title on my wish list for a hard copy which will really do the text and pictures justice. It’s a book I want on my shelf. Pen and Swird have some outstanding non fiction titles and I’ve read many, but this is certainly in my top 10 best. Social history, true crime and more all rolled into one absorbing title. Outstanding.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a massive true crime fan anyway so anything to do with true crime I devour so this was such an interesting read. There was a good mix to between things that I knew and things I didn't know.

This is a must read for anyone who is interested in true crime! This goes from a-z on various true crime cases throughout history and is very informative and well researched. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Stephen Wade, Pen & Sword and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I found that some of these stories ran on. Some were good, others weren't so much. This one wasn't really for me; but that doesn't mean it wasn't good.

Spanning British history from the 17th century to the modern day, this guide profiles violent crime from infamous cases such as Jack the Ripper to lesser-known yet equally captivating cases. It also explores the stories of some of the investigators and executioners who shaped these infamous events. It’s written in an engaging style that left me wanting more.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A Dictionary of True Crime: A Reference Guide to the Dark and Curious Crimes of British History by Stephen Wade is an A-Z book of true crime. It has a lot of information. I suspect everyone interested in true crime will find something they like in this book. I was familiar with some cases, like Jack the Ripper, but most of the information was new to me.

Thank you to the author, Pen & Sword, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.