<p><b>First published in 1951, this fascinating collection of true crime stories offers a tantalizing peek into some of the most disturbed minds of 18th & 19th century Scotland. Recounting the murders and trials of the period, William Roughead’s biting commentary and witty narrative - combined with his precise detail and legal know-how, will have you hooked from cover to cover.</b></p>
<p><i>"To my mind, one cannot have too much of a good murder."</i></p>
<p>Now regarded one of the fathers of the true crime genre, Roughead began his career as a Scottish lawyer before turning his hand to amateur criminology. Spending much of his life within the courtroom, he witnessed many of trials first hand, allowing him to grasp a precise and detailed perspective on the frequently savage circumstances.</p>
<p>The tales of cold-blooded murder in this edition feature some of the highly sensational true crimes of the past, and often provide a psychological insight to those on trial. Trials of the likes of Burke and Hare and Deacon Brody are joined with other, lesser known accounts of equally horrific felonies – all told in Roughead’s scintillating manner.</p>
<p>An engaging collection of classic crime stories, this atmospheric read will appeal to those particularly interested in the notorious murders and trials of the Victorian period, and any with a penchant for true crime.</p>
