A lo largo de los últimos doscientos años, Nueva York ha sido escenario de miles de delitos y crímenes de todo tipo: asesinatos fríamente calculados, robos espectaculares, matanzas mafiosas, atentados devastadores, casos memorables que contribuyeron a mejorar la metodología policial, psicópatas desatados... Sin su faceta más oscura, no podría entenderse el espíritu de una ciudad que ha contribuido más que ninguna otra al imaginario colectivo sobre el mundo criminal. Este libro reúne una impresionante colección de casos extraídos directamente de los archivos del Departamento de Policía de Nueva York que, por una u otra razón, han pasado a la historia. Escritos por expertos en el tema, todos estos relatos van acompañados de imágenes pocas veces vistas: fotografías de escenas del crimen, retratos de fichas policiales, dibujos realizados durante juicios mediáticos y pruebas incriminatorias.
Amazing bios of crime in NY from 19th century to now! I was surprised at all the different terrorist attacks that I didn’t know about before 9/11 and linked to Osama Bin Laden. I remember being in high school and watching the news in art class as the second plane dove into the towers and I forgot that there were 3 other planes too. It seemed so surreal because I’d never been to NY and I was watching this from Wisconsin and felt so removed since I didn’t know anyone personally who died. I was throughly confused about the wars in the middle east and even knowing many of my dearest friends who went and died or committed suicided after but the case was so unknown and I was wrapped up in my own drama too. It’s not until now how I can connect the dots and understand much more. There was also many other crimes like Alice Crimmins (just read the book Ordeal by Trial: The Alice Crimmins Case), Son of Sam, and even some mention on Ppl from Wisconsin.. gang related I think. There were many killers and it was a very interesting read, I read it front to back!
In my ongoing quest to read more of the various coffee table books I've picked up over the years, I decided to continue with Case Files of the NYPD since I have a large academic and scholarly background in criminal justice. This book is a fast-paced journey through the evolution of the New York Police Department and New York City culture, life, and public safety. Each crime examined is only three pages long at most, so it's a very digestible book, and I would say a very good introduction to the history of policing, New York City, criminal justice, and a myriad other related topics.
The crimes themselves are the most notable in the long history of countless crimes (reported and unreported) that have occurred in the city. So you may find cases that you are familiar with but many of these will not be familiar to anyone who hasn't been a New Yorker for decades. Some notable cases do seem to be left out as well, and the latest case only goes to 2010 (the book was initially published in 2016, my edition was published in 2018) so modern cases in the 2010s and 2020s will be absent.
As such, it's a high recommend from me if you need a true crime piece for your coffee table, but if you do actually read it cover to cover it will give you a pretty good overview of the history of crime in New York.
A neighbor loaned me this book today and I am so used to ebooks that it felt strange to hold an actual physical large paperback with photographs. The book spans from the middle 1800s with the draft riots to the 911 attack and about one hundred cases in between. Some of the crimes are notorious in the history of NYC and I had previously read books about many of them. The Alice Crimmins trial referenced has me seeking the book by George Carpozi. It was published in 1972 and is for sale on EBay for $130. The Career Girls Murders, Kitty Genovese, Willie Sutton, John Lennon, Robert Chambers and the basis for the film "Dog Day Afternoon" all make the cut. Case Files of the NYPD is a very good read.