Strange Deaths

by John Dunning

Strange Deaths

Genres: True Crime

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

True crime author.
Lived 1918-1990.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Du...

Reviews

[Renald Micallef · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a whole year reading biographies as part of my 'wisdom year', I decided to read something truthful and yet written in fiction style crime. That is when this book came in handy. All those murders occurred before I was born, therefore before the internet age, that meant that I could hardly follow up any details of such murders. As stated by the author himself, some names were changed, especially those of witnesses or of third parties. I managed however to find information about the last story of a serial killer and cannibal!

Some accounts did (as the author promised) send shivers down my spine, especially when I read a particular story before going to bed or else when even by today's standards those murders can still shock. I was not convinced initially by the title given 'Strange Deaths' as most of the murders were 'normal' murders, in the sense of when a husband poisons his wife or viceversa. The 'strange' here is attributed not to the act of poisoning but to which type of rare poison was used. I do not wish, however to spoil the reader. The only spoiler was the author himself, as the title to every story preceded the ending. I found this a bit off-putting as it killed a bit of curiosity. For instance the title 'A little more jam, dear?' suggests that the jam in that particular story was poison, while on the 'Little girl stew' the title gives away that the story is about cannibalism.

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Well-written, thought-provoking and full of head-scratching true crime cases. If only there had been a photo section -- because some of these stories were odd enough to make me doubt they really happened.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. well worth a read if you enjoy Murder Most Foul .

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mildly interesting book - nothing particularly amazing, but I picked it up cheaply and it provided a little something to amuse me during breaks at work, and also satisfy my interest in forensics. The case studies chosen for this book were admittedly 'strange', credit the author for that. There was an interesting chapter discussing a women was being poisoned by her husband putting potent carcinogens in her food. He was found out, after she developed terminal cancer, but she stuck around long enough to act as a witness at his trial. Seems a bit wierd to be in court giving evidence to convict your own murderer, but that's what she did!

[ArisAunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories, all true very gruesome and/or unusual murders. Loved it as a bedtime dip! Lol

[Kathryn Minn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me both laugh out loud and also gasp in disbelief at the stories told within its pages. Some are truly hilarious and were difficult to believe were actually true. I found once I started it was hard to put the book down as each chapter or death that is told about was very interesting and I had certainly never heard of them. This is a great book if you're looking for a book that presents stories that make you realise just how strange the world really is and the really strange acts that humans commit against each other. I would definitely recommend this great little read to anyone interested in strange or obscure deaths that even sometimes go against basic logic.

[Laura avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, it's a shame almost all of these crimes are not on the internet and there is almost zero information on them.

[Chane Pain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories, but it should come with a trigger warning as it is quite crusome.

[Jack Silverstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down, great read.

[Sarah D Bunting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Total vacation-house book. Read, laugh at, leave for next group.