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Angels of Death
It’s hard to imagine that anyone in the healthcare industry could have murder on his or her mind.
But some do.
The nineteen cases in this book range across Europe, US and Australia, documenting horrifying and sinister betrayals of trust.
From Harold Shipman, Britain’s worst serial killer who murdered over 200 patients, to Roger Dean the Sydney nurse who in 2011 set fire to the nursing home where he worked killing 11 patients, these stories will make you wary and leave you shaking your head in horror.
But some do.
The nineteen cases in this book range across Europe, US and Australia, documenting horrifying and sinister betrayals of trust.
From Harold Shipman, Britain’s worst serial killer who murdered over 200 patients, to Roger Dean the Sydney nurse who in 2011 set fire to the nursing home where he worked killing 11 patients, these stories will make you wary and leave you shaking your head in horror.
247 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
13 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Emily Webb
21 books68 followersEmily Webb is a Melbourne-based journalist and podcaster.
She lives in suburbia with her husband and two children.
She lives in suburbia with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 27, 2015
This book includes some of the most horrific cases worldwide; cases of people in positions of trust who have betrayed that trust by murdering the people in their care. Included by Australian author Emily Webb (a journalist) is the recent case (2011) of the Sydney nurse who set fire to the nursing home where he worked, just to cover his stealing of drugs. Eleven elderly residents died in this horrific event; the disgust at his actions is intense.
But two of the worst atrocities in my mind were of one Genene Jones who is one of the most prolific child killers in the history of the United States. She is suspected of being responsible for the deaths of almost fifty children; murders she committed while working as a nurse in several different healthcare institutions.
The other was the notorious Harold Shipman who has the dubious honour of being Britain’s worst serial killer, suspected of murdering over two hundred of his patients. Over a period of many years, this trusted and much-loved physician betrayed the trust of his patients time and time again using lethal doses of morphine to murder his victims. His complacency was his downfall though…
The main thread I picked up through most of these terrible stories is the ease of how the nurses and doctors committed the murders; and the failure of hospital and healthcare management to investigate when suspicions were aroused. Even to the point of sacking other nurses who voiced their concerns.
I found I couldn’t read the book all at once because of the subject matter – but in spite of that the author has produced an extremely well-researched look at the true crime serial killers of the medical world. I have no hesitation in recommending Angels of Death to people who enjoy reading true crime.
With thanks to the author and The Five Mile Press for my copy to read and review.
But two of the worst atrocities in my mind were of one Genene Jones who is one of the most prolific child killers in the history of the United States. She is suspected of being responsible for the deaths of almost fifty children; murders she committed while working as a nurse in several different healthcare institutions.
The other was the notorious Harold Shipman who has the dubious honour of being Britain’s worst serial killer, suspected of murdering over two hundred of his patients. Over a period of many years, this trusted and much-loved physician betrayed the trust of his patients time and time again using lethal doses of morphine to murder his victims. His complacency was his downfall though…
The main thread I picked up through most of these terrible stories is the ease of how the nurses and doctors committed the murders; and the failure of hospital and healthcare management to investigate when suspicions were aroused. Even to the point of sacking other nurses who voiced their concerns.
I found I couldn’t read the book all at once because of the subject matter – but in spite of that the author has produced an extremely well-researched look at the true crime serial killers of the medical world. I have no hesitation in recommending Angels of Death to people who enjoy reading true crime.
With thanks to the author and The Five Mile Press for my copy to read and review.
September 3, 2015
great book short and sweet didn't waffle on to much.
January 25, 2015
This collection of real crime cases relates the stories of some of the most appalling serial/mass killing crimes through the reporting eyes of Australian journalist Emily Webb.
Ms Webb’s style is journalistic, as you would expect, and frankly the crimes in themselves are horrid enough without adding emotive language. Although many of us are familiar with the case of Roger Dean, the nurse who murdered 11 people at a nursing home in Mount Druitt New South Wales, most of the cases reported are overseas based.
Perhaps the worst feature is that all these murders were committed by people whose career, whose calling, is the preservation of life. It is chilling and shocking that the very people into whose hands we place our health and life, abuse the privilege. One nurse even cooed to her patients “it will be alright soon” as she gave them lethal injections.
The case of nurse, Beverley Allitt dubbed “Angel of Death” by the British press, was the impetus for the book, according to a comment on the author’s website. Allitt was convicted of murdering four children, attempting to murder three others, and causing grievous bodily harm to a further six children, for which she is serving 13 consecutive life sentences. In this instance the crimes were committed over only 59 days.
Another nurse, Genene Jones also murdered babies and young children in Texas USA. Although convicted on 11 charges, the number of deaths caused by Jones may have been as high as 40. We have seen TV shows and movies which depict people with Munchhausen’s by Proxy, and may think it a not unusual disease. In fact it is quite rare, but Jones was one person with the disease.
Her devotion to her small charges was exceptional even to death, a death she caused. Her pursuit of her victims was relentless; when a child she had “saved” was sent to hospital for further investigations, she insisted she accompany them, with a chilling outcome.
But the most chilling of all, in my opinion, was Dr Harold Shipman, suspected of murdering more than 200 patients over 20 years. A GP, he used lethal doses of morphine to kill his victims and in 2000 was convicted of murdering 15 of his elderly patients.
Webb revealed the extent of her research when she said in interview, “I read all six reports of The Shipman Inquiry, which the British Government launched after his conviction, and that was probably some of the most horrifying reading I have done for research. Shipman was such a trusted, almost revered, part of his community and he totally abused that position. He even stole trinkets and keepsakes from his victims and sometimes sent sympathy notes and flowers to the families of the people he had murdered.”
“Where were the authorities in all these crimes” I hear you ask. The most unbelievable aspect of the crimes is the number of opportunities the authorities, senior nurses, doctors, hospital administration, had to stop the killing. One newly graduated nurse reported one of her seniors and was sacked! The truth is that the system fears the loss of its reputation and the attendant monetary compensation. Instead they get rid of the offender and transfer the problem to another facility. Many of these murders were committed in multiple facilities!
In the media release accompanying this book it states “Perhaps most alarming is that it could be argued healthcare serial killing is the easiest type of murder to commit … and get away with for years, or possible forever ..”.
Sincere thanks to Emily Webb, via her publisher The Five Mile Press for my ARC of this fascinating true crime book. Despite the subject matter, it is an insightful, well researched look at the world of the medical serial killer.
This review is published on Starts at Sixty - link http://bit.ly/1D4bXGQ.
Ms Webb’s style is journalistic, as you would expect, and frankly the crimes in themselves are horrid enough without adding emotive language. Although many of us are familiar with the case of Roger Dean, the nurse who murdered 11 people at a nursing home in Mount Druitt New South Wales, most of the cases reported are overseas based.
Perhaps the worst feature is that all these murders were committed by people whose career, whose calling, is the preservation of life. It is chilling and shocking that the very people into whose hands we place our health and life, abuse the privilege. One nurse even cooed to her patients “it will be alright soon” as she gave them lethal injections.
The case of nurse, Beverley Allitt dubbed “Angel of Death” by the British press, was the impetus for the book, according to a comment on the author’s website. Allitt was convicted of murdering four children, attempting to murder three others, and causing grievous bodily harm to a further six children, for which she is serving 13 consecutive life sentences. In this instance the crimes were committed over only 59 days.
Another nurse, Genene Jones also murdered babies and young children in Texas USA. Although convicted on 11 charges, the number of deaths caused by Jones may have been as high as 40. We have seen TV shows and movies which depict people with Munchhausen’s by Proxy, and may think it a not unusual disease. In fact it is quite rare, but Jones was one person with the disease.
Her devotion to her small charges was exceptional even to death, a death she caused. Her pursuit of her victims was relentless; when a child she had “saved” was sent to hospital for further investigations, she insisted she accompany them, with a chilling outcome.
But the most chilling of all, in my opinion, was Dr Harold Shipman, suspected of murdering more than 200 patients over 20 years. A GP, he used lethal doses of morphine to kill his victims and in 2000 was convicted of murdering 15 of his elderly patients.
Webb revealed the extent of her research when she said in interview, “I read all six reports of The Shipman Inquiry, which the British Government launched after his conviction, and that was probably some of the most horrifying reading I have done for research. Shipman was such a trusted, almost revered, part of his community and he totally abused that position. He even stole trinkets and keepsakes from his victims and sometimes sent sympathy notes and flowers to the families of the people he had murdered.”
“Where were the authorities in all these crimes” I hear you ask. The most unbelievable aspect of the crimes is the number of opportunities the authorities, senior nurses, doctors, hospital administration, had to stop the killing. One newly graduated nurse reported one of her seniors and was sacked! The truth is that the system fears the loss of its reputation and the attendant monetary compensation. Instead they get rid of the offender and transfer the problem to another facility. Many of these murders were committed in multiple facilities!
In the media release accompanying this book it states “Perhaps most alarming is that it could be argued healthcare serial killing is the easiest type of murder to commit … and get away with for years, or possible forever ..”.
Sincere thanks to Emily Webb, via her publisher The Five Mile Press for my ARC of this fascinating true crime book. Despite the subject matter, it is an insightful, well researched look at the world of the medical serial killer.
This review is published on Starts at Sixty - link http://bit.ly/1D4bXGQ.
June 13, 2016
Although the subject of this book is far from 'light' it is very easy reading. Each case is very well researched. The quality of the book was such that I, somewhat ashamedly, was amazed it was by an Australian writer. The library does not yet have a copy of her other books however I will keep looking.
April 21, 2015
For a thrilling book about serial killers, it's disappointingly dull. Emily Webb's writing style is drier and as unimaginative as an old paper sandwich bag that you find in the back of the drawer while digging around for an old spoon.
August 23, 2015
Interesting overview yet really horrible to imagine all these murders. The fact that these doctors and nurses were in positions of trust simply betrayed that trust and mercilessly killed the people in their care.
After a while Webb's style of writing became dull to me
After a while Webb's style of writing became dull to me
November 23, 2017
This book offered a good summary of the well-known cases of murder committed by medical staff. It provided a decent overall picture of the case, but much was lacking:
-the editing was very poor - many typos, grammatical errors and poor structure.
-the descriptions of cases were very dry and often omitted key details
-no clear structure for the book - it was not organised by country, number of kills or any other clear characteristic.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you have zero idea on the topic, but would not recommend if you have any prior knowledge.
-the editing was very poor - many typos, grammatical errors and poor structure.
-the descriptions of cases were very dry and often omitted key details
-no clear structure for the book - it was not organised by country, number of kills or any other clear characteristic.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you have zero idea on the topic, but would not recommend if you have any prior knowledge.
September 15, 2018
This is a collection of eerie tales about medical professionals who kill their patients. Each chapter is dedicated to a killer, their life and their victims. I was interested in the topic, but the writing was sometimes jarring and unusual, and sometimes convoluted. It was also poorly edited, as there were a number of minor typographical errors. It's a shame because I think with more stringent editing this book could've been great.
October 18, 2016
I was listening to a Podcast that had Emily Webb discussing some of the horrific stories, including some of the crimes that were listed in the book. Far from a light read, Emily Webb does go into detail in this book. You can see the research put into the horrifying stories of doctors and nurses that kill. As mentioned not the easiest book to read, given the facts and the awful, sadistic and completely horrifying things that occurred.
February 20, 2015
An interesting overview of a wide number of murders and suspected murders by health care workers across the US, Europe, UK and Australia, a number of the cases leading to changes in the relevant health care systems and facilities to try and avoid similar murders happening again, or at least being picked up and acted on more quickly.
This is not an in depth analysis of the cases but more of a 'taster' written without hyperbole and with a few interesting side facts thrown in, which in some of the cases has made me want to follow up on some of the references and learn more.
This is not an in depth analysis of the cases but more of a 'taster' written without hyperbole and with a few interesting side facts thrown in, which in some of the cases has made me want to follow up on some of the references and learn more.
January 30, 2015
I do love a combined crime read and I have read this Emily Webb's first book as well, however my OCD leaves this book slightly tarnished due to a spelling error on page 59. I know this happens, but why? Is it not someone's job to literally scrutinise every word before something is published?
It won't remotely stop me reading future books because the content is there and it's well written.
It won't remotely stop me reading future books because the content is there and it's well written.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews