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A History of Modern Britain in Twenty Murders
*Shortlisted for best audiobook at the True Crime Awards 2026*
In this groundbreaking new book from the UK's leading criminologist, David Wilson explores what our nation's most lethal murderers reveal about us in a thrilling blend of history and true crime.
Professor David Wilson is renowned for deciphering the hidden motives of murderers and the context in which crimes took place. In A History of Modern Britain in 20 Murders, he zooms out to look at the big picture, examining what multiple murders across a range of eras can tell us about our past...and our present.
Told in Wilson's absorbing style, this is a fresh look at crimes and points in history we think we know. Ranging from the crimes of Jack the Ripper and the shocking "Brides in the Bath" deaths, to the tragic murders of James Bulger and Sarah Everard, Wilson reveals why some cases particularly resonate with and reverberate through public consciousness, and how they can help us understand Britain's complex, diverse and ongoing history.
From colonial wars and the end of the empire, to the Blitz, through the swinging sixties, into the nineties all the way to present day, this is a truly fascinating and accessible approach to both history and criminology, always centring the victims, that will leave readers questioning the wider impact of the next murder case that grips Britain.
In this groundbreaking new book from the UK's leading criminologist, David Wilson explores what our nation's most lethal murderers reveal about us in a thrilling blend of history and true crime.
Professor David Wilson is renowned for deciphering the hidden motives of murderers and the context in which crimes took place. In A History of Modern Britain in 20 Murders, he zooms out to look at the big picture, examining what multiple murders across a range of eras can tell us about our past...and our present.
Told in Wilson's absorbing style, this is a fresh look at crimes and points in history we think we know. Ranging from the crimes of Jack the Ripper and the shocking "Brides in the Bath" deaths, to the tragic murders of James Bulger and Sarah Everard, Wilson reveals why some cases particularly resonate with and reverberate through public consciousness, and how they can help us understand Britain's complex, diverse and ongoing history.
From colonial wars and the end of the empire, to the Blitz, through the swinging sixties, into the nineties all the way to present day, this is a truly fascinating and accessible approach to both history and criminology, always centring the victims, that will leave readers questioning the wider impact of the next murder case that grips Britain.
Audible Audio
Published September 18, 2025
About the author
David Wilson
25 books133 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
David Wilson is Professor of Criminology and founding Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology at Birmingham City University – one of the university’s “research centres of excellence”. He is the co-Editor of the prestigious Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, which is produced five times per year. Prior to taking up his academic appointment in September 1997, David was Senior Policy Advisor to the Prison Reform Trust, and between October 1983-April 1997 he worked as a Prison Governor.
David completed his PhD at Selwyn College Cambridge in 1983, and immediately joined HM Prison Service as Assistant Governor at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. He worked as a Prison Governor at a variety of establishments, including HMYOIs Huntercombe and Finnamore Wood – where at the age of 29 he was the youngest governing Governor in the country – and at HMPs Grendon and Woodhill. At HMP Grendon he ran the sex offender treatment programme, and at HMP Woodhill he designed and managed the two specialist units for the 12 most disruptive prisoners in the penal system. This experience brought him into contact with some of the most notorious criminals in the country.
David has advised on live police investigations related to a linked series of murders and has provided training to new Senior Investigating Officers who will take charge of murder inquiries.
His current research interests range from the phenomenon of British serial murder, family annihilation, hitmen and lethal violence within organised crime, to all aspects of prison history and penal reform.
His first work of fiction is The Rules of Restraint.
David Wilson is Professor of Criminology and founding Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology at Birmingham City University – one of the university’s “research centres of excellence”. He is the co-Editor of the prestigious Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, which is produced five times per year. Prior to taking up his academic appointment in September 1997, David was Senior Policy Advisor to the Prison Reform Trust, and between October 1983-April 1997 he worked as a Prison Governor.
David completed his PhD at Selwyn College Cambridge in 1983, and immediately joined HM Prison Service as Assistant Governor at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. He worked as a Prison Governor at a variety of establishments, including HMYOIs Huntercombe and Finnamore Wood – where at the age of 29 he was the youngest governing Governor in the country – and at HMPs Grendon and Woodhill. At HMP Grendon he ran the sex offender treatment programme, and at HMP Woodhill he designed and managed the two specialist units for the 12 most disruptive prisoners in the penal system. This experience brought him into contact with some of the most notorious criminals in the country.
David has advised on live police investigations related to a linked series of murders and has provided training to new Senior Investigating Officers who will take charge of murder inquiries.
His current research interests range from the phenomenon of British serial murder, family annihilation, hitmen and lethal violence within organised crime, to all aspects of prison history and penal reform.
His first work of fiction is The Rules of Restraint.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 9, 2025
You could say that this book’s heart is in the right place. But its arms and legs and some of its brains are in the wrong place. The idea is good – let’s see how twenty murder cases throw light on Britain’s ever-changing culture, starting in 1885 with the horrible crimes of Jack the Ripper and ending up in 2025 with the horrible crimes of Wayne Couzens, who was a London police officer who used his status for kidnap, rape and murder.
This book covers so much ground: Ripperology (it was Aaron Kosminski, probably), the Boer War, the six types of murderers who use social media, the Jarrow March, Scottish housing policy, the London blitz, the Notting Hill riots, gay life in London in the 60s, British declinism, all the way to the Black Lives Matter movement and the current crisis in policing in general. And lots more. The cases selected by David Wilson are good ones, meaning that they are very worthy of investigation and discussion. With all this going for it, why did this book aggravate me so much?
THE MYTH OF DNA
Mostly it was the plodding plain painfully pedantic repetitive and often excruciatingly banal prose itself. He is way too self-consciously trying to avoid being misunderstood or being in any way offensive:
This questioning [of the police] has often focused on the activities of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), usually known as simply the Met. This isn’t to imply that there have been no scandals connected to the activities of police officers working elsewhere in England and Wales, or for Police Scotland, which is controlled by the devolved Scottish parliament.
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out the point he is trying to make. He discusses the role of DNA in police work. He says that the UK national DNA database was set up in 1995 “and is now one of the largest and oldest DNA databases in the world, holding more than 7 million profiles”. He says that all this is “usually viewed as an uncomplicated success story in the fight against crime, but is that fair or just another myth?”
because
A 2019 analysis …produced some startling results. For all crimes recorded in England and Wales in 2015-6 DNA was linked to outcome in only 0.3 percent of cases, and this low rate had remained unchanged since the database was created
And even for homicide cases DNA evidence only figured in 8% of cases. So – what – we all have an exaggerated idea of the usefulness of DNA evidence and this is very bad? The database ought to be scaled back?
The myth of DNA’s vital importance in the fight against crime remains persistent, and is reinforced by TV programmes, films and books. It’s a myth that therefore must perform some cultural function, although what that might be is far from clear.
POINTLESS
Sometimes the point he is making is really not worth making, such as in Chapter Five, which is about crime committed during the blackouts enforced in London when the Blitz was happening (September 1940 to May 1941 – six air raids per week, at least 10,000 civilian deaths). He defines “myth” as “a symbolic narrative that might only sketchily relate to real events”. The myth of the Blitz was that plucky Londoners were all in it together, from the Queen Mother to the lowliest costermonger, and everyone was brave and kept up their spirits and sang music hall songs as the bombs rained down. He explodes this myth by recounting the awful exploits of the Blackout Ripper (Gordon Cummins, an RAF pilot, who killed four women during this period, in London). So everyone was not plucky, upstanding, defying everything Hitler could throw at us, etc etc.
Well, no. Not everyone was. There was even a gang who would rush into collapsed buildings to try to find bodies to steal jewellery from – how terrible. But of course this happens. The “myth” never tried to tell us that every Londoner was brave and noble. Of course there were crimes committed. It’s kind of obvious.
MORE MOANING AND GROANING
He lapses into psychobabble at times. He introduces “the concept of the catathymic crisis”
It’s used to explain different forms of violence which are the consequences of a latent and unconscious motivation that results in an “emotional explosion”.
And when discussing the unusual female spree killer Joanne Dennehy he says
The Freudian concept of the “death drive” is a helpful place to start…The death drive is expressed through an individual being aggressive and self-destructive, and having a repetition compulsion. In other words, the psychological phenomenon when someone repeats an event time after time so that they develop a pattern of behaviour as a way of managing difficult and distressing events from earlier in their life.
How enlightening is all this? Not very, I fear.
And he used nasty modern phrases like “responsibilised” and “performing masculinity”.
And he says some frankly weird kind of stuff like :
School can easily be bypassed and increasingly children teach their parents how to navigate online communication and social media interactions, rather than having to read print media. It could be argued that children don’t actually need to learn to read or write at all, and in an age of artificial intelligence mass literacy is a thing of the past.
Does he mean what he seems to be saying here ?
BUT THERE IS A BUT
But he does ask some useful questions, such as (one of my own favourites) why is it some crimes are famous but others, just as terrible, are forgotten? No, he doesn’t have any answers, but it’s always worth asking.
In 1981 Fun Boy Three with Bananarama released a single called “It Ain’t What You Do, It’s The Way That You Do It” and I think that rather cruelly sums up this earnest but exasperating volume.
This book covers so much ground: Ripperology (it was Aaron Kosminski, probably), the Boer War, the six types of murderers who use social media, the Jarrow March, Scottish housing policy, the London blitz, the Notting Hill riots, gay life in London in the 60s, British declinism, all the way to the Black Lives Matter movement and the current crisis in policing in general. And lots more. The cases selected by David Wilson are good ones, meaning that they are very worthy of investigation and discussion. With all this going for it, why did this book aggravate me so much?
THE MYTH OF DNA
Mostly it was the plodding plain painfully pedantic repetitive and often excruciatingly banal prose itself. He is way too self-consciously trying to avoid being misunderstood or being in any way offensive:
This questioning [of the police] has often focused on the activities of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), usually known as simply the Met. This isn’t to imply that there have been no scandals connected to the activities of police officers working elsewhere in England and Wales, or for Police Scotland, which is controlled by the devolved Scottish parliament.
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out the point he is trying to make. He discusses the role of DNA in police work. He says that the UK national DNA database was set up in 1995 “and is now one of the largest and oldest DNA databases in the world, holding more than 7 million profiles”. He says that all this is “usually viewed as an uncomplicated success story in the fight against crime, but is that fair or just another myth?”
because
A 2019 analysis …produced some startling results. For all crimes recorded in England and Wales in 2015-6 DNA was linked to outcome in only 0.3 percent of cases, and this low rate had remained unchanged since the database was created
And even for homicide cases DNA evidence only figured in 8% of cases. So – what – we all have an exaggerated idea of the usefulness of DNA evidence and this is very bad? The database ought to be scaled back?
The myth of DNA’s vital importance in the fight against crime remains persistent, and is reinforced by TV programmes, films and books. It’s a myth that therefore must perform some cultural function, although what that might be is far from clear.
POINTLESS
Sometimes the point he is making is really not worth making, such as in Chapter Five, which is about crime committed during the blackouts enforced in London when the Blitz was happening (September 1940 to May 1941 – six air raids per week, at least 10,000 civilian deaths). He defines “myth” as “a symbolic narrative that might only sketchily relate to real events”. The myth of the Blitz was that plucky Londoners were all in it together, from the Queen Mother to the lowliest costermonger, and everyone was brave and kept up their spirits and sang music hall songs as the bombs rained down. He explodes this myth by recounting the awful exploits of the Blackout Ripper (Gordon Cummins, an RAF pilot, who killed four women during this period, in London). So everyone was not plucky, upstanding, defying everything Hitler could throw at us, etc etc.
Well, no. Not everyone was. There was even a gang who would rush into collapsed buildings to try to find bodies to steal jewellery from – how terrible. But of course this happens. The “myth” never tried to tell us that every Londoner was brave and noble. Of course there were crimes committed. It’s kind of obvious.
MORE MOANING AND GROANING
He lapses into psychobabble at times. He introduces “the concept of the catathymic crisis”
It’s used to explain different forms of violence which are the consequences of a latent and unconscious motivation that results in an “emotional explosion”.
And when discussing the unusual female spree killer Joanne Dennehy he says
The Freudian concept of the “death drive” is a helpful place to start…The death drive is expressed through an individual being aggressive and self-destructive, and having a repetition compulsion. In other words, the psychological phenomenon when someone repeats an event time after time so that they develop a pattern of behaviour as a way of managing difficult and distressing events from earlier in their life.
How enlightening is all this? Not very, I fear.
And he used nasty modern phrases like “responsibilised” and “performing masculinity”.
And he says some frankly weird kind of stuff like :
School can easily be bypassed and increasingly children teach their parents how to navigate online communication and social media interactions, rather than having to read print media. It could be argued that children don’t actually need to learn to read or write at all, and in an age of artificial intelligence mass literacy is a thing of the past.
Does he mean what he seems to be saying here ?
BUT THERE IS A BUT
But he does ask some useful questions, such as (one of my own favourites) why is it some crimes are famous but others, just as terrible, are forgotten? No, he doesn’t have any answers, but it’s always worth asking.
In 1981 Fun Boy Three with Bananarama released a single called “It Ain’t What You Do, It’s The Way That You Do It” and I think that rather cruelly sums up this earnest but exasperating volume.
August 10, 2026
I am not usually a reader of true crime, but this book combines a fascinating selection of murder cases with more than enough historical detail to keep me interested. Wilson analyses a variety of notorious and lesser-known murders, ranging from Jack the Ripper to Sarah Everard. His tone is the perfect blend of academic and accessible, and he avoids much of the sensationalism and disrespect towards victims which plagues much true crime writing. The author draws on themes such as gender norms, the role of the police and the level of state welfare support to reveal why murders happen and what they can illustrate about our society. It's a fast-paced and readable work throughout, with plentiful opportunities for future research provided. Recommended for history lovers, crime buffs and anyone wanting a gripping and thought-provoking journey across the darker side of life in Britain.
February 15, 2026
Big non-fic start to the year!!
As I’ve said previously I’ve found some non-fiction repeats information unnecessarily and sadly that holds true here. The murders selected are analysed very well, the cases themselves are at times soul crushing and the through lines are effectively drawn to a compelling conclusion.
However, I can hold facts in my mind for more than the span of a few minutes and I don’t need who said what and the entirety of each quote repeated throughout after a few lines.
The criminal psychological aspect of the book is compelling and provides a good analysis of previous cases and characterises these murders in a way that left me with more knowledge. Sadly the book is repetitive and the author will repeat quotes and sources of information multiple times in the span of a few paragraphs.
See how it grates quickly?
As I’ve said previously I’ve found some non-fiction repeats information unnecessarily and sadly that holds true here. The murders selected are analysed very well, the cases themselves are at times soul crushing and the through lines are effectively drawn to a compelling conclusion.
However, I can hold facts in my mind for more than the span of a few minutes and I don’t need who said what and the entirety of each quote repeated throughout after a few lines.
The criminal psychological aspect of the book is compelling and provides a good analysis of previous cases and characterises these murders in a way that left me with more knowledge. Sadly the book is repetitive and the author will repeat quotes and sources of information multiple times in the span of a few paragraphs.
See how it grates quickly?
September 18, 2025
I bought this book on a whim after seeing a three minute clip of David Wilson speaking. He was so passionate and articulate that I just felt compelled to listen to what he had to say. I am so happy that this book didn't let me down.
For many reasons this a strong crime non fiction and a strong history non fiction. The handling of the victims and crimes themselves in this book is beautifully done. Wilson takes the time to paint a picture of them where he can or where is appropriate. The intersection of culture and history at the time of each murder really allows Wilson to examine how and why these murders might have happened when they did but also the impact they had on Britain as a whole. It is also very aptly published in September of 2025 where many of the topics and issues that are in this book are rearing their head again and so you can reflect on what this might mean for us today. Lastly, I think they idea of the British Myth was well examined in relation to murder.
I am also very interested to read the autobiography of the London Blitz era gangster Billy Hill as his observations about London on the Blitz were incredibly interesting.
For many reasons this a strong crime non fiction and a strong history non fiction. The handling of the victims and crimes themselves in this book is beautifully done. Wilson takes the time to paint a picture of them where he can or where is appropriate. The intersection of culture and history at the time of each murder really allows Wilson to examine how and why these murders might have happened when they did but also the impact they had on Britain as a whole. It is also very aptly published in September of 2025 where many of the topics and issues that are in this book are rearing their head again and so you can reflect on what this might mean for us today. Lastly, I think they idea of the British Myth was well examined in relation to murder.
I am also very interested to read the autobiography of the London Blitz era gangster Billy Hill as his observations about London on the Blitz were incredibly interesting.
August 14, 2026
A very interesting read, although it only covers the last 120 years or so. I went through a bit of a serial killer reading jag last year so this scratched that itch again. The selected murders did illustrate certain things about recent British history, such as criminals exploiting the Blitz, tenement living, and the underground hook-up culture for homosexuals before legalisation.
Because they were chosen to illustrate certain points, you ended up with many obscure murders, along with some well-known ones, and some notable omissions like the Moors Murderers and the Hungerford Massacre.
I'm not sure how much I actually learnt from this book that I didn't already know, but it was an easy, interesting read, and well written.
Because they were chosen to illustrate certain points, you ended up with many obscure murders, along with some well-known ones, and some notable omissions like the Moors Murderers and the Hungerford Massacre.
I'm not sure how much I actually learnt from this book that I didn't already know, but it was an easy, interesting read, and well written.
March 31, 2026
I think the chronological arrangement to learn more about a series of murders from Jack the Ripper to the present day works well and there are interesting and thought provoking insights into more general societal discussion points related to each other cases. The nature of the book means this is not a deep dive, more just a quick intro and overview of each murder and time period though.
May 2, 2026
Academic tries to write a true crime book, but doesn't quite manage it. Odly boring. The selection of cases seems quite random.
August 31, 2026
Finally! The synopsis of this book was really intriguing, but I felt that I had been let down whilst reading. It was repetitive, and quite boring.
Wilson asks very good questions and draws conclusions from different murder cases which gave me so many new perspectives about country I live in. But sadly many of his comments about Britain and the way Britons are, were very repetitive which made it a really tough read for me at times.
Such as the theme of “othering” which is incredibly important to draw attention to don’t get me wrong, but the way each chapter was laid out implied each one would be a different theme in how Britons have acted as a society throughout history, though after the first couple chapters that idea was sorta thrown out the door? He would mention a theme from multiple chapters ago which he’d already delved into and explained but he would AGAIN explain the same thing as if I hadn’t just read his initial explanation.
He’d also bring up murder cases from different decades (which were comparable to the cases he was talking about) but the chapters were supposed to focus on a specific decade and ‘era’, so it kinda threw me off when he’d suddenly start talking about an entire different decade mid chapter.
A quote that really struck me and has stayed with me throughout reading this, was:
“Murder is one of the most common ways a public record of an ordinary life will be created, and then survive generations”
It’s so profound and devastating, but it’s true. I have watched many true crime documentaries and videos, as well as experienced murder in my family personally, and I remember the victims names and their lives. People regularly come up to my parents and speak about my brother, and whilst it’s devastating that his legacy will forever be tainted by his murder, the memory his life will forever live on. Through his social media, through the articles written online about his death, through the memories shared by loved ones. He’ll be remembered because he died, especially since he died in such a horrific way. It sticks with you.
So whilst this was repetitive, it gave me so many new perspectives to think about. The continuing value of family that Britons have held for hundreds of years, no matter what they go through. The hidden secrets of the not so nice Britain that’s been covered up in a way to maintain the “myth” of modern British society. Just really interesting.
Wilson asks very good questions and draws conclusions from different murder cases which gave me so many new perspectives about country I live in. But sadly many of his comments about Britain and the way Britons are, were very repetitive which made it a really tough read for me at times.
Such as the theme of “othering” which is incredibly important to draw attention to don’t get me wrong, but the way each chapter was laid out implied each one would be a different theme in how Britons have acted as a society throughout history, though after the first couple chapters that idea was sorta thrown out the door? He would mention a theme from multiple chapters ago which he’d already delved into and explained but he would AGAIN explain the same thing as if I hadn’t just read his initial explanation.
He’d also bring up murder cases from different decades (which were comparable to the cases he was talking about) but the chapters were supposed to focus on a specific decade and ‘era’, so it kinda threw me off when he’d suddenly start talking about an entire different decade mid chapter.
A quote that really struck me and has stayed with me throughout reading this, was:
“Murder is one of the most common ways a public record of an ordinary life will be created, and then survive generations”
It’s so profound and devastating, but it’s true. I have watched many true crime documentaries and videos, as well as experienced murder in my family personally, and I remember the victims names and their lives. People regularly come up to my parents and speak about my brother, and whilst it’s devastating that his legacy will forever be tainted by his murder, the memory his life will forever live on. Through his social media, through the articles written online about his death, through the memories shared by loved ones. He’ll be remembered because he died, especially since he died in such a horrific way. It sticks with you.
So whilst this was repetitive, it gave me so many new perspectives to think about. The continuing value of family that Britons have held for hundreds of years, no matter what they go through. The hidden secrets of the not so nice Britain that’s been covered up in a way to maintain the “myth” of modern British society. Just really interesting.
August 19, 2026
I could cavil at some of Wilson's attempts at understanding the motives of murderers, frequently making not much sense, though the idea of catathymia (a catastrophic failure of emotional affect) was of some interest. He's surely right about crises of masculinity, or rather the way in which these are sometimes enacted and also inscribed into political structures. Sociologically, his history is sound.
I will cavil at his tendency to treat Britain as insulated from global trends to an exceptional degree, though he does touch upon US arguments re. defunding of police and the killing of George Floyd... (aren't these standard Left tropes now anyway? He manages not to mention the Climate Emergency, though). Floyd (referred to as George)was murdered, says Wilson; Juan Carlos de Menezes, however, was unlawfully killed. Hmmmm.
It's a good piece of work that strikes the balance between academic analysis, and readability, uncommonly well. While the author is careful in his wording (perhaps too diplomatic a lot of the time) I winced at some of the details; I hadn't realised that the body of Jamie Bulger was bisected by a train, nor the finer details of the Whitechapel murders (names the culprit, by the way). The notes are good too, with a wealth of further reading over a very wide variety of papers and books.
Lots of unanswered questions for me though.
I will cavil at his tendency to treat Britain as insulated from global trends to an exceptional degree, though he does touch upon US arguments re. defunding of police and the killing of George Floyd... (aren't these standard Left tropes now anyway? He manages not to mention the Climate Emergency, though). Floyd (referred to as George)was murdered, says Wilson; Juan Carlos de Menezes, however, was unlawfully killed. Hmmmm.
It's a good piece of work that strikes the balance between academic analysis, and readability, uncommonly well. While the author is careful in his wording (perhaps too diplomatic a lot of the time) I winced at some of the details; I hadn't realised that the body of Jamie Bulger was bisected by a train, nor the finer details of the Whitechapel murders (names the culprit, by the way). The notes are good too, with a wealth of further reading over a very wide variety of papers and books.
Lots of unanswered questions for me though.
September 5, 2026
True crime writing is a difficult needle to thread. Too sensationalistic and it becomes distasteful. (Christopher Berry-Dee is a lunatic? NOT SHOCKED.) Too staid and it lacks emotion.
David Wilson falls on the 'staid' end of the spectrum here, but the book is enlivened by an interesting conceit. What can some of the most high profile murder cases (from Jack the Ripper's victims to Sarah Everard) tell us about British society and its evolution over the last two hundred years?
If this sounds like a big question to take on, well... yeah, and Wilson doesn't quite succeed. It's a diverting thought exercise, though, and Wilson's interrogation of some of the cases (Derrick Bird, in particular) is genuinely fascinating. At other points, unfortunately, the prose/storytelling is so weak as to be Perd-Hapley-esque.
To Wilson's credit, he does raise the question "wait, should we be talking about the fact that the vast majority of killers are men?" but stops short of shouting THIS IS WHY WE NEED FEMINISM. So I will do that for him. This is why we need feminism.
David Wilson falls on the 'staid' end of the spectrum here, but the book is enlivened by an interesting conceit. What can some of the most high profile murder cases (from Jack the Ripper's victims to Sarah Everard) tell us about British society and its evolution over the last two hundred years?
If this sounds like a big question to take on, well... yeah, and Wilson doesn't quite succeed. It's a diverting thought exercise, though, and Wilson's interrogation of some of the cases (Derrick Bird, in particular) is genuinely fascinating. At other points, unfortunately, the prose/storytelling is so weak as to be Perd-Hapley-esque.
To Wilson's credit, he does raise the question "wait, should we be talking about the fact that the vast majority of killers are men?" but stops short of shouting THIS IS WHY WE NEED FEMINISM. So I will do that for him. This is why we need feminism.
January 26, 2026
Very interesting idea to explore whether certain details of the cases can originate from social or historical background. The book includes references to additional sources for those who prefer a textbook-style approach to this way of thinking. Also, the Jack the Ripper case is presented in great detail and includes some aspects that are claimed not to have been available before, which is exciting to read.
Despite that, there are a few things that I found puzzling and ultimately caused me to leave the book altogether - the middle chapters do not seem to have been worked on. The chapters are split into parts - social background that seems to consist of local politics, the details about the case, and the ways the previous parts can be tied together, which sometimes seem to be very loosely. Some conclusions felt like they were not based on anything; however, some of them were grandiose and needed additional support to feel believable. I believe this book could greatly benefit from a collaboration with a historian, who can provide social context to make the claims feel evidence-based.
Despite that, there are a few things that I found puzzling and ultimately caused me to leave the book altogether - the middle chapters do not seem to have been worked on. The chapters are split into parts - social background that seems to consist of local politics, the details about the case, and the ways the previous parts can be tied together, which sometimes seem to be very loosely. Some conclusions felt like they were not based on anything; however, some of them were grandiose and needed additional support to feel believable. I believe this book could greatly benefit from a collaboration with a historian, who can provide social context to make the claims feel evidence-based.
February 14, 2026
In this book, Professor David Wilson, looks at how Britain has changed and evolved against the backdrop of 20 murders, infamous and otherwise.
He goes into great detail in each chapter about not only the murders, but also the social, political and economic state of Britain at the time of each case.
Each case also has a different element to it, be it serial murder, female murderers, murderous children and police, terrorists, contract killers, and murders with racial or homophobic overtones.
Professor Wilson talks in depth about how the concept of Great Britain and being British has changed since Victorian times and what it means to be British in the current day. As he concludes "murder gets recorded and... those records create a story of Britain and the British that continues to echo through space and time."
An interesting and thought provoking factual history of modern Britain told via the criminological aspects of murder.
He goes into great detail in each chapter about not only the murders, but also the social, political and economic state of Britain at the time of each case.
Each case also has a different element to it, be it serial murder, female murderers, murderous children and police, terrorists, contract killers, and murders with racial or homophobic overtones.
Professor Wilson talks in depth about how the concept of Great Britain and being British has changed since Victorian times and what it means to be British in the current day. As he concludes "murder gets recorded and... those records create a story of Britain and the British that continues to echo through space and time."
An interesting and thought provoking factual history of modern Britain told via the criminological aspects of murder.
July 16, 2026
I listen to David Wilson’s podcast - This Much Is True Crime - with Martin Frizell which is always really fascinating. So, thought I’d read David’s book. It’s a great concept, considering the context of murders in Britain across the decades, and obviously extremely well researched but I did find it heavy going - in terms of the murder details and also the facts and figures to back up his work. Not sure how it could have been a lighter read really as the subject matter is far from light - maybe a good book but just not what I needed at the moment? Anyone who likes to go deep into this kind of stuff will, I’m sure, find it truly fascinating.
August 18, 2026
This book is so jam packed with fascinating detail, it’s sometimes easy to lose sight of the thesis posed in itself. Personally, I’m fine with that because I know how learned, experienced and passionate the prof is and understand the cross over between cultural history in landscape and what the crimes say in terms of a snapshot of these times. As an Aberdonian, I really appreciated the take on a few of my cities notorious but lesser widely known murders. There are many layers to wade through here so prepare to dive in rather than skim as it will leave you pondering; albeit I suspect every reader will find some chapters more meaningful than others!
January 21, 2026
This is a really interesting take on historical sources, which is self awaredly English focused. I think in particular one of the big things I noted is that it speaks of WW1/2, and some race / sexuality issues but it completely ignored any of the troubles/IRA practise. this is understandable as it is a history of Britain, really "England" with 1 Scottish case flavour - however given the tone of the book and how focused on cultural and economic change, and the length given to the 30s-70s i was surprised there was little to no mention.
October 4, 2025
An utterly fascinating read into what the crimes of the past can tell us about the last 150 years of British society.
October 17, 2025
3.5 stars
April 10, 2026
It’s not just a critique of 20 murders but a snapshot of contemporary life through the lens of those murders. Criminology meets history meets sociology. A brilliant read.
June 6, 2026
We did it everyone, David Wilson the telly crime man said ACAB (in the audiobook version)
August 10, 2026
Excellent....if you're a prof David Wilson or true crime fan it's a must read
September 23, 2026
just a light holiday read
May 29, 2026
An interesting criminological and sociological study into crime and policing in Britain over the course of 20 murders that examine different facets of society and policing.
This is both partially the true crime genre, and a partially academic study.
However it doesn't really delve as far into the sociology of the crimes as I would like.
This is both partially the true crime genre, and a partially academic study.
However it doesn't really delve as far into the sociology of the crimes as I would like.
October 16, 2025
a bit tangenital at times, but overall an interesting view of how the UK developed through the centuries, and what these murders demonstrated about the country at the time. the inclusion of lesser known/historical murders I also found valuable, and how they not only reflected societal attitudes at the time, but also how they challenged the idea of "British values". this overall theme of how the state controlled (and continues to control) the narrative of such murders to reinforce this myth, while I think is something that could be explored in more depth, is a conclusion that is hard to disagree with, and is a good starting point for further reading/discussion.
(mild CW for uncensored usage of the N-word in a quote in the chapter about racism [Kelso Cochrane]).
(mild CW for uncensored usage of the N-word in a quote in the chapter about racism [Kelso Cochrane]).
September 25, 2025
The social commentary in this book is excellent and demonstrates just how crime/ murder/ political change and the reduction of the welfare state has influenced modern Britain. A further reflection on the“good old days” that people like to look back on and how much the media and politicians influence beliefs and only seem to present one narrative of our recent history.
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