…because men in books are better
Dr Geoffrey Garrett was for over 30 years a Home Office pathologist. This is his personal memoir, in conjunction with crime journalist Andrew Nott, of many infamous, unusual and heartbreaking cases and a fascinating history of his professional life, giving a unique insight into a pathologist's work. I came across Cause of Death while trawling … Continue reading Review: ‘Cause of Death’ Geoffrey Garrett
What happens to your body after you have died? Fertilizer? Crash test Dummy? Human dumpling? Ballistics practise? Life after death is not as simple as it looks. Mary Roach's Stiff lifts the lid off what happens to our bodies once we have died. Bold, original and with a delightful eye for detail, Roach tells us … Continue reading Review: ‘Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers’ Mary Roach
The stories and the people involved in the history of murder are stranger, darker and more compulsive than any crime fiction. There’s Richard Parker, the cannibalized cabin boy whose death at the hands of his hungry crewmates led the Victorian courts to decisively outlaw a defence of necessity to murder. Dr Percy Bateman, the incompetent … Continue reading Review: ‘Murder: The Biography’ Kate Morgan
I've been a part of the bookish blogosphere for over five years and, for the most part, I love it. I've found it to be a positive community, one in which people from all walks of life are connected through their shared passion for books. Regardless of how much I've interacted with a blogger, if … Continue reading Bibliophile Bullies
Where can a tin of tuna buy you clean clothes? Where is it easier to get 'spice' than paracetamol? Where does self-harm barely raise an eyebrow? Welcome to Her Majesty's Prison Service. Like most people, documentary-maker Chris Atkins didn't spend much time thinking about prisons. But after becoming embroiled in a dodgy scheme to fund … Continue reading Review: ‘A Bit Of A Stretch’ Chris Atkins
Truman Capote’s bestselling book In Cold Blood has captivated worldwide audiences for over fifty years. It is a gripping story about the consequences of a trivial robbery gone terribly wrong in a remote village of western Kansas. But what if robbery was not the motive at all, but something more sinister? And why would the … Continue reading Review: ‘And Every Word Is True’ Gary McAvoy
May was a pretty good month in terms of reading. I read five books; two horrors, two paranormal romances and one true crime. My enjoyment of these five reads varied, with Thin Air getting five stars and Night Train getting a measly two. All of the books that I read are listed below. To read … Continue reading May in books
Controversial and compelling, In Cold Blood reconstructs the murder in 1959 of a Kansas farmer, his wife and both their children. Truman Capote's comprehensive study of the killings and subsequent investigation explores the circumstances surrounding this terrible crime and the effect it had on those involved. At the centre of his study are the amoral young killers … Continue reading Review: ‘In Cold Blood’ Truman Capote
The book that sparked a national conversation. Exploring everything from eradicated black history to the inextricable link between class and race, Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race is the essential handbook for anyone who wants to understand race relations in Britain today. Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race is … Continue reading Review: ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race’ Reni Eddo-Lodge
It's International Women's Day, a day when we celebrate women - past and present - and their achievements. It's not just a day about recognising and celebrating achievements, though. It's also about the women who are fighting a daily battle for equality. Here in the UK, we live in a patriarchal society. In September 2020, … Continue reading International Women’s Day 2021 – My Favourite Books About Women
