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Straightforward Guide To The Crime Write
For anyone interested in writing or reading crime, whether historical or modern day, this book is an essential reference companion. In addition to detailed information on police and criminal procedures, the book features true crime case studies from two leading experts in their field.
- GenresResearch
250 pages, Paperback
Published December 10, 2017
17 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Wade
143 books31 followersStephen Wade was born in Leeds and educated at the universities of Wales and Leeds.
He taught in further and higher education for many years, and this was followed by six years as a writer working in prisons.
He has written over fifty books, mainly in non-fiction, and he also lectures part-time at the University of Hull.
He taught in further and higher education for many years, and this was followed by six years as a writer working in prisons.
He has written over fifty books, mainly in non-fiction, and he also lectures part-time at the University of Hull.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 9, 2018
Let me assure you before I begin my review “no” I won’t be writing or even attempting to write a crime thriller any time soon, I have neither the patience or the imagination! But as a huge crime thriller lover of both fact and fiction this book piqued my interest. The Crime Writer’s Casebook contains fourteen very interesting chapters examples being The Murder Victim And Crime Scenes, Murder Or Manslaughter? and Forensic Pathology to name but a few. The glossaries also provides an abundance of useful material for both fiction and non-fiction authors and readers, including police ranks, legal terms, and a history of modern police work.
The Crime Writer’s Casebook is unique in that it presents first-hand explanations by Stuart Gibbon, a seasoned London Metropolitan Police detective with additional commentary from Stephen Wade, a crime historian. Each chapter gives you an explanation, for instance The Murder Investigation explains how evidence is collected, where it is stored and numerous other intriguing facts, alongside relevant case studies from real crimes. The chapters also go into the history of policing, techniques and the changes in the law, so this book really does have a little bit of everything. This book is idea research material especially if you are looking to write a book based on a crime committed in the UK.
The Crime Writer’s Casebook is ideal for dipping in to as you can check the A-Z index and find the subject you want to read more on, without trawling through copious chapters. For such a short book a 160 pages to be precise the authors manage to pack an abundance of useful and informative information,It’s written in a straight forward and easy to understand manner, and although I’m not an author it made for a very intriguing read never the less. If I was an author this would be definitely a book I would have sat alongside whilst I was writing to check facts or just to add detail to my novel.
The Crime Writer’s Casebook is unique in that it presents first-hand explanations by Stuart Gibbon, a seasoned London Metropolitan Police detective with additional commentary from Stephen Wade, a crime historian. Each chapter gives you an explanation, for instance The Murder Investigation explains how evidence is collected, where it is stored and numerous other intriguing facts, alongside relevant case studies from real crimes. The chapters also go into the history of policing, techniques and the changes in the law, so this book really does have a little bit of everything. This book is idea research material especially if you are looking to write a book based on a crime committed in the UK.
The Crime Writer’s Casebook is ideal for dipping in to as you can check the A-Z index and find the subject you want to read more on, without trawling through copious chapters. For such a short book a 160 pages to be precise the authors manage to pack an abundance of useful and informative information,It’s written in a straight forward and easy to understand manner, and although I’m not an author it made for a very intriguing read never the less. If I was an author this would be definitely a book I would have sat alongside whilst I was writing to check facts or just to add detail to my novel.
January 2, 2023
I tend to write books about social issues but my most recent one was a thriller. It soon became clear that I had a problem. As the transgressions began to mount, so did the need for a visit from the police to examine the situation. Every question I typed into the search bar for information made it look to as if I was planning the perfect crime.
I looked to see what others do and discovered that you can actually take courses in crime writing for authors. This solution wasn’t, however, for me as I live in a tiny rural village far away from colleges and am too old to move onto a campus as a student.
Then I found three books that looked perfect for the job and this is the first of them that I’ve read. It’s considerably cheaper than a residential course, I don’t have to take notes and I can read in my jim-jams if I want to.
It’s a really useful reference guide and explains acronyms, job titles and their descriptions and what they can and can’t do under different types of warrant, etc. The language is clear and straightforward and it will be an invaluable tool for the next novel.
There’s another strand to the book involving past crimes but this part didn’t sit so well with me. They were a distraction from the factual approach yet didn’t work as illustrative cases for me either.
So, if you don’t want to search for dodgy answers online, I recommend this book as a first step to getting the factual stuff write. I now need something that will answer my dodgy Google search about how to dispose of a body without leaving any traces…
I looked to see what others do and discovered that you can actually take courses in crime writing for authors. This solution wasn’t, however, for me as I live in a tiny rural village far away from colleges and am too old to move onto a campus as a student.
Then I found three books that looked perfect for the job and this is the first of them that I’ve read. It’s considerably cheaper than a residential course, I don’t have to take notes and I can read in my jim-jams if I want to.
It’s a really useful reference guide and explains acronyms, job titles and their descriptions and what they can and can’t do under different types of warrant, etc. The language is clear and straightforward and it will be an invaluable tool for the next novel.
There’s another strand to the book involving past crimes but this part didn’t sit so well with me. They were a distraction from the factual approach yet didn’t work as illustrative cases for me either.
So, if you don’t want to search for dodgy answers online, I recommend this book as a first step to getting the factual stuff write. I now need something that will answer my dodgy Google search about how to dispose of a body without leaving any traces…
February 10, 2018
A must-have for any crime writer's bookshelf. This guide has been expertly written and is very easy to follow in easy bite-sized chunks. It not only provides useful information on police procedures but also features fascinating accounts of true crime case studies. A highly recommended read.
June 24, 2018
I am sure that all writers have different books, experts and texts that they refer to with a view to ensuring that the background to their novels is correct. I write crime novels and so it was a real gift to discover The Crime Writer's Casebook after it came out last December.
The two authors of this book deal with quite different aspects of crime: Stephen Wade reveals the truth behind various murders throughout Britain's long history while Stuart Gibbon, a retired DCI, explains the processes and challenges facing the modern day police men and women dealing with serious crime.
It is usually to the modern day sections that I turn in order to try to get procedure correct in my novels. However, when I am flicking through to find the correct page, I often find a historical term or incident that catches my eye and causes me to digress.
The Crime Writer's Casebook is meant as a research tool for authors and to be read by those with an interest in crime. I fall into both categories and find this book most useful resource as well as an interesting read.
It is an excellent guide to police investigation past and present containing detailed information on police and criminal procedures. It also features true crime case studies from two leading experts in their field.. The Crime Writer's Casebook is a real treasure and I highly recmmend it.
Val Penny
The two authors of this book deal with quite different aspects of crime: Stephen Wade reveals the truth behind various murders throughout Britain's long history while Stuart Gibbon, a retired DCI, explains the processes and challenges facing the modern day police men and women dealing with serious crime.
It is usually to the modern day sections that I turn in order to try to get procedure correct in my novels. However, when I am flicking through to find the correct page, I often find a historical term or incident that catches my eye and causes me to digress.
The Crime Writer's Casebook is meant as a research tool for authors and to be read by those with an interest in crime. I fall into both categories and find this book most useful resource as well as an interesting read.
It is an excellent guide to police investigation past and present containing detailed information on police and criminal procedures. It also features true crime case studies from two leading experts in their field.. The Crime Writer's Casebook is a real treasure and I highly recmmend it.
Val Penny
November 2, 2021
THE CRIME WRITER'S CASEBOOK provides a wealth of information regarding British police procedure. In addition to the first-hand experience of retired Metropolitan Police detective Stuart Gibbon, historical context and examples are provided by Stephen Wade. The result is a reference work that will appeal not only to crime writers but to anyone with an interest in topics such as murder investigations, DNA evidence, custody procedure, and the courts. Clearly written and accessible, this book is an excellent read and a helpful resource for anyone who writes crime.
November 1, 2021
This is an excellent guide for those writing crime fiction set in Britain. At the back are good references concerning codes and rights, and other resources. The book is filled with unique historical cases that can impact the policing today. It was an interesting read.
December 10, 2017
If you’re thinking of writing crime or crime thriller and wondering where to start, then The Crime Writer’s Casebook is an absolute must-have reference book. With case studies from real crimes, explanations of forensics and police procedure from leading experts in their field and an understandable A to Z index of legal terms, it’s every bit the straightforward guide it claims to be. Pick a subject you need information on, flick to the index, and you will find it. It’s all there. Anything you need, you have it at your fingertips. Browsing the index itself got my writing juices flowing. I’m actually not sure how I managed without it.
June 23, 2019
I bought this book just as I switched from writing standalone thrillers to police procedural series. Although I'd watched a lot of relevant documentaries and had armed myself with some heavy-duty police training manuals, it was this book that really gave me confidence. It's very straightforward and easy to navigate, and packed full of useful information. Although I write contemporary fiction, I also found the historical sections fascinating. I'm really grateful to the writers for producing such a wonderful nuts-and-bolts guide!
February 1, 2020
Again, this prequel to Being A Detective, by the same authors, is a strightforward (idiot's guide) to all things investigative and it's well worth the investmnet if you want to get your police prrocedure as accurate as possible. It beautifully links the refernces to the readers expectations and again is so easy to navigate. It covers every crime imaginable and has proved extremely helpful to me over the past few months.
January 1, 2018
It took me a little longer to read this than I thought but it was well worth the effort. The first thing to stress is that this book is written from a UK perspective so isn't likely to be of too much use to anyone writing the next Sam Spade or Columbo type book. I was afraid that it might read like a dusty old academic lawbook, the sort Judges keep by the side but thankfully that's not the case; divided into fourteen easily digestible chapters, each divided under various useful sub-headings this book packs a lot of comprehensive but relatively easy to understand information.
Given the popularity of Murder Whodunnit type Mysteries, I was pleased to see the first chapter is an examination of the Murder victim and Scene of Crime, especially since that's often the starting point for many a great story.
This book won't tell you exactly what or how to write or give you formulaic step by step instructions on how to deal with police methodology in your story but what it does do, and really well I might say is provide lots of guidance on many of the essential elements to think about in any given scrime scenario, little areas of detail such as all the different experts that might be called to assist in an investigation that could easily be overlooked (or not even thought of by the writer), and of course accurate terminology and a general outline of police procedure. Throughout the book, the authors provide relevant case studies to accompany and illustrate their own thoughts and narrative, enabling the prospective Crime/Detective writer to craft an authentic story either now or at any time in the past, and for anyone writing in the Victorian era there's an interesting account in chapter 14 'A Victorian Policeman's Lot' of policing and the resources available at the time as well as lots of miscellaneous but invaluable detail to give authenticity to a story set in that era.
As well as the fourteen specific chapters outlining everything from the initial crime/murder scene and investigative processes through to the many lines of enquiry and tools at the Detective's disposal there follows an excellent reference section, also divided under various useful sub-headings, and again for the more 'historical' writer, an A-Z of Legal terms for historical fiction reference.
I would also say the book is well laid out and easy on the eye in its presentation, something that's rarely an issue in regular fiction but for a reference book, such details can often mean the difference between a dull and laborious book and one that is kept as an essential research aid. Related to what I've just said, whilst I am happy to read regular fiction on my Kindle when it comes to reference books, especially ones for writing that are likely to get a lot of use I find having a physical copy to hand far more useful than having to mess about with an E-reader. In this particular case, given that the difference in price between the eBook and paperback is less than five pounds I would highly recommend the paperback version.
Given the popularity of Murder Whodunnit type Mysteries, I was pleased to see the first chapter is an examination of the Murder victim and Scene of Crime, especially since that's often the starting point for many a great story.
This book won't tell you exactly what or how to write or give you formulaic step by step instructions on how to deal with police methodology in your story but what it does do, and really well I might say is provide lots of guidance on many of the essential elements to think about in any given scrime scenario, little areas of detail such as all the different experts that might be called to assist in an investigation that could easily be overlooked (or not even thought of by the writer), and of course accurate terminology and a general outline of police procedure. Throughout the book, the authors provide relevant case studies to accompany and illustrate their own thoughts and narrative, enabling the prospective Crime/Detective writer to craft an authentic story either now or at any time in the past, and for anyone writing in the Victorian era there's an interesting account in chapter 14 'A Victorian Policeman's Lot' of policing and the resources available at the time as well as lots of miscellaneous but invaluable detail to give authenticity to a story set in that era.
As well as the fourteen specific chapters outlining everything from the initial crime/murder scene and investigative processes through to the many lines of enquiry and tools at the Detective's disposal there follows an excellent reference section, also divided under various useful sub-headings, and again for the more 'historical' writer, an A-Z of Legal terms for historical fiction reference.
I would also say the book is well laid out and easy on the eye in its presentation, something that's rarely an issue in regular fiction but for a reference book, such details can often mean the difference between a dull and laborious book and one that is kept as an essential research aid. Related to what I've just said, whilst I am happy to read regular fiction on my Kindle when it comes to reference books, especially ones for writing that are likely to get a lot of use I find having a physical copy to hand far more useful than having to mess about with an E-reader. In this particular case, given that the difference in price between the eBook and paperback is less than five pounds I would highly recommend the paperback version.
February 20, 2018
Stuart Gibbon was kind enough to send me a copy of this book over the Christmas period. And what a treat is has been! My copy is now filled to brim with Post-It notes, sections I know I’ll need to refer to later on. Basically the entire book really, it’s so good. The Crime Writers’ Casebook is the ultimate helping hand, an honest guide, the best reference book for writing crime fiction or even just furthering your understanding of police investigation. Stuart advised me on a few elements of an investigation in my book a few months ago and his help has been incredible. I’m thrilled that he and Stephen Wade have written such a wonderful book – I think this is going to become a must-have for many authors.
I read a lot of crime fiction so if I come across an unfamilier police term, it’s fantastic to have this book on hand to spread some light on it, especially as it has a fantastic glossary at the back. The book explains elements such as the ABC principle (Assume nothing, Believe no one, Check everything) which I found fascinating – police eppaulettes, the ‘Golden Hour’, the crucial period of time when effective action can secure a successful outcome and how palynology can help identify the location of a body and entomology can aid the police in making an estimation of time since death. The sections on highwaymen and witch trials were especially interesting. As lovers of crime on the screen and on the page, we’re constantly given insights into crime investigation but this book offers a wealth of knowledge that I think is crucial to truly understanding what makes that world go round.
Comprising real-life case studies, useful chapters such as the Phonetic Alaphbet, which is used by the police to transfer information back and forth, and an A-Z of legal terms in historic crime, this is easily one of the most useful, important books for crime writers/readers. A source of honest, trustworthy information and an indisputable cave of wonders for an author who needs a helping hand with the facts of police procedure and crime investigation.
The Crime Writers’ Casebook is an intriguing, fascinating, illuminating source of information. It’s the perfect read for authors and readers in need of a guide. Stuart Gibbon and Stephen Wade have written a book that is without comparison. I love it!!
Fascinating. Intriuging. Wonderful.
I read a lot of crime fiction so if I come across an unfamilier police term, it’s fantastic to have this book on hand to spread some light on it, especially as it has a fantastic glossary at the back. The book explains elements such as the ABC principle (Assume nothing, Believe no one, Check everything) which I found fascinating – police eppaulettes, the ‘Golden Hour’, the crucial period of time when effective action can secure a successful outcome and how palynology can help identify the location of a body and entomology can aid the police in making an estimation of time since death. The sections on highwaymen and witch trials were especially interesting. As lovers of crime on the screen and on the page, we’re constantly given insights into crime investigation but this book offers a wealth of knowledge that I think is crucial to truly understanding what makes that world go round.
Comprising real-life case studies, useful chapters such as the Phonetic Alaphbet, which is used by the police to transfer information back and forth, and an A-Z of legal terms in historic crime, this is easily one of the most useful, important books for crime writers/readers. A source of honest, trustworthy information and an indisputable cave of wonders for an author who needs a helping hand with the facts of police procedure and crime investigation.
The Crime Writers’ Casebook is an intriguing, fascinating, illuminating source of information. It’s the perfect read for authors and readers in need of a guide. Stuart Gibbon and Stephen Wade have written a book that is without comparison. I love it!!
Fascinating. Intriuging. Wonderful.
May 13, 2018
The Crime Writer's Casebook is a brilliant easy-to-read guide to police procedure, whether you're writing crime fiction or just have an interest in the topic. It covers contemporary and historical crimes, giving the book a broad appeal.
The book is perfect for someone like me who knows nothing about police procedure and investigations, but I can also see it being a useful manual for more experienced crime writers. Even if I need more detail for a work in progress, this provides me with the perfect starting point and includes the correct language to use if I'm looking for further help and advice.
The Crime Writer's Casebook is filled with real life case studies, past and present, putting the factual content into practice. This is a fascinating, well-written and well-planned book with so much packed into its 250 or so pages. Chapters include The Murder Investigation, Murder or Manslaughter, Forensic Pathology. DNA and Missing Persons. I love the A-Z of Legal Terms, Phonetic Alphabet and Murder Investigation Team Structure in the reference guide at the end.
This is a bookshelf essential for any crime author, published or otherwise. There's so much more to discover inside, other than everything I've already mentioned. I've marked up plenty of topics to explore further, and I expect to be dipping in and out of this book time and time again.
The book is perfect for someone like me who knows nothing about police procedure and investigations, but I can also see it being a useful manual for more experienced crime writers. Even if I need more detail for a work in progress, this provides me with the perfect starting point and includes the correct language to use if I'm looking for further help and advice.
The Crime Writer's Casebook is filled with real life case studies, past and present, putting the factual content into practice. This is a fascinating, well-written and well-planned book with so much packed into its 250 or so pages. Chapters include The Murder Investigation, Murder or Manslaughter, Forensic Pathology. DNA and Missing Persons. I love the A-Z of Legal Terms, Phonetic Alphabet and Murder Investigation Team Structure in the reference guide at the end.
This is a bookshelf essential for any crime author, published or otherwise. There's so much more to discover inside, other than everything I've already mentioned. I've marked up plenty of topics to explore further, and I expect to be dipping in and out of this book time and time again.
January 27, 2018
A great book for writers of crime fiction, and of other genres in which a crime appears. The book is designed to help writers present details of police procedures accurately in their stories, and have the information and knowledge required to write plausible scenes and plots (i.e. avoid bloopers). The book is very easy to read and is kept engaging with the inclusion of many case examples throughout, from both the modern and historical era. These case examples also work well in sparking creative ideas for story-telling. The book is written by an ex-police detective and a successful true-crime writer and draws on their expertise in both police procedures and the art of writing.
NB: Stuart Gibbon also runs his own consultancy service for writers, and I can very much recommend this in case you want to go into more depth or you have a very specific question not answered in this book.
NB: Stuart Gibbon also runs his own consultancy service for writers, and I can very much recommend this in case you want to go into more depth or you have a very specific question not answered in this book.
September 22, 2018
"A Reference Guide to Police Procedure now and then" (or "Past and Present" as my copy says) is excellent for the "now" part, with enough detail in text that gets straight to the point. I'd give it 5 stars if that was all this book was. However the "then/past" part is where it's a bit of a mess. Each chapter has an anecdote or two about a specific incident vaguely related to the main chapter and the book finishes with a rushed summary of British law enforcement history. The anecdotes aren't much use because they're so specific to a time and place, and the potted history at the end is so lacking in detail as to be mostly useless. The historical side of things seems to be very much an afterthought that intrudes into what is otherwise an excellent reference for modern police procedure. Don't bother if you're looking mainly for historical reference.
October 17, 2021
This book was recommended to me by a retired Detective Inspector (DI). It was extremely informative and gave plenty of behind the scenes information and insights into the world of crime. I used the information firstly for the fun of reading such a book, but secondly for researching information into my own book 'Hand of the Beast' by Stuart Roberts - Thriller - Detective - Supernatural. All in all a very good book.
December 27, 2018
Not quite what I was looking for in terms of basic police information - but it's a good book to keep on hand for future research projects. Never know when I am going to need to know a dastardly questions... and always asking Google leads to an interesting search history. heh
February 12, 2021
I'm writing my first crime novel and, having no police/legal background I am finding this book to be invaluable. It's easily accessible, well-written and includes some interesting case examples. Highly recommended.
April 29, 2020
When one of the crime fiction writers I enjoyed announced that the person they go to for all their questions when it came to crime was writing a book I knew I had to get hold of a copy of “The Crime Writer’s Casebook.” Having looked at other books on police procedure, I was looking forward to reading something by someone who had been recommended to me. As a gift giving occasion was coming up I asked my family for it!
Being a former university student, I was expecting a book around about the size of a textbook and I was happily surprised when I opened my present.
This book is a handy size, isn’t pages and pages of procedure, Both Stuart Gibson and Stephen Wade have written a brilliant mixture of crime stories from Stuart’s past and a historic element that Stephen provides. I have referred to this book many times as I have sat writing book one, and more recently book two.
I highly recommend this book to not only writers but true crime fans.
Being a former university student, I was expecting a book around about the size of a textbook and I was happily surprised when I opened my present.
This book is a handy size, isn’t pages and pages of procedure, Both Stuart Gibson and Stephen Wade have written a brilliant mixture of crime stories from Stuart’s past and a historic element that Stephen provides. I have referred to this book many times as I have sat writing book one, and more recently book two.
I highly recommend this book to not only writers but true crime fans.
February 15, 2021
This book is a must-have for crime fiction writers, true crime lovers and anyone interested in the history of the police and forensic practices we are so familiar with. The case studies bring the police procedural details to life and the forays back in time, make for really interesting reading. This is so much more than a reference text. I have found it invaluable for picking up little details and incorporating them into my writing to make my police procedural novels sound as authentic as possible. An easy 5 stars from me!
January 11, 2020
A great book for writers that is easy to follow and understand. Essential for anyone writing crime, thrillers and suspense!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews