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Killers behind bars. Britain's Deadliest Murderers Tell Their Stories
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Product Description
When Kate married gangster Ronnie Kray, he introduced her to the most deadly criminals ever known. She persuaded them to talk about their crimes, fears and dreams. The result is a book offering an authentic, shocking and gripping insight into the criminal mind.
In this true crime classic, Kate Kray delves into the world of some of Britain's most dangerous prisoners, conducting first-hand interviews with them in order to better understand their crimes.
From cold contract killings to crimes of passion, this is a fascinating insight into the minds of murderers who have been punished with the longest sentence of all.
About the Author
Married to Ronnie Kray from 1989 to 1994, Kate Kray is a bestselling true crime writer the author of several books including The Twins: Men of Violence, Killers and The World's 20 Worst Crimes.
Product Description
When Kate married gangster Ronnie Kray, he introduced her to the most deadly criminals ever known. She persuaded them to talk about their crimes, fears and dreams. The result is a book offering an authentic, shocking and gripping insight into the criminal mind.
In this true crime classic, Kate Kray delves into the world of some of Britain's most dangerous prisoners, conducting first-hand interviews with them in order to better understand their crimes.
From cold contract killings to crimes of passion, this is a fascinating insight into the minds of murderers who have been punished with the longest sentence of all.
About the Author
Married to Ronnie Kray from 1989 to 1994, Kate Kray is a bestselling true crime writer the author of several books including The Twins: Men of Violence, Killers and The World's 20 Worst Crimes.
320 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 30, 2021
This had an interesting and worthwhile premise on paper, but for me fell slightly by the wayside. Kray lets the subjects of her interviews speak for themselves about their experiences of prison and their crimes - and this made for a different slant to the more common author-derived narrative. There is a decent range of criminals featured, and the book was pretty readable, not getting too bogged down (except possibly in one chapter that was longer than others).
It was however a little inconsistent, and a little limited. Kray is not an engaging enough writer to really enthrall, and the voices of those lifers she interviewed were also a bit lacking in polish. This meant I found much of what was said felt like small talk and lacked depth. Maybe I am being judgmental in this, maybe also I am showing prejudice in never completely feeling that the author and the murderers she spoke to deserved their say. Some seemed remorseful, some just seemed to be making excuses.
It was however a little inconsistent, and a little limited. Kray is not an engaging enough writer to really enthrall, and the voices of those lifers she interviewed were also a bit lacking in polish. This meant I found much of what was said felt like small talk and lacked depth. Maybe I am being judgmental in this, maybe also I am showing prejudice in never completely feeling that the author and the murderers she spoke to deserved their say. Some seemed remorseful, some just seemed to be making excuses.
June 23, 2022
Good idea, poorly executed.
This book focused on a handful of different British murderers and told the stories of their crimes, arrests and a bit about their life in prison.
However, for me it felt like Kray was trying too hard to justify their actions, and every story showed the murderer in a favourable light (which makes sense because she interviewed them and so it was their own retellings of the events). It didn't feel right that people who had been murdered were being written about in offensive and disrespectful ways, yet the murderers were being made out to be lovely people who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time (or worse yet, they didn't actually do the murder!).
Similarly, for the chapter about Colin, a lot was written about how the prison system is not set up to handle people with disabilities and whilst I do agree that that is unacceptable, the book didn't really make much of the fact that Colin had become disabled after being shot whilst he was shooting at the police, having shot a police officer in the head and killed him. Kray also writes quite bizarrely about people with disabilities - the line 'Having had some experience with disabled people, I am aware of many of the difficulties that they face every day' (page 23) seemed off to me.
For a book that was written in 1994, but then re-published in 2019, the inclusion of so much derogatory and offensive language really surprised me. Certainly in the 2019 version, some sentences could have been removed or altered. I understand that a lot of the book is direct quotes from the killers, but that's not an excuse for including offensive language.
Overall, this book had a lot of promise - it could have been an interesting insight into the minds of killers - and Kray had a great opportunity by interviewing so many people serving life sentences, including John Straffen, who served the longest life sentence. However, the book was poorly written and mainly seemed to argue that the killers interviewed didn't deserve to be in prison.
This book focused on a handful of different British murderers and told the stories of their crimes, arrests and a bit about their life in prison.
However, for me it felt like Kray was trying too hard to justify their actions, and every story showed the murderer in a favourable light (which makes sense because she interviewed them and so it was their own retellings of the events). It didn't feel right that people who had been murdered were being written about in offensive and disrespectful ways, yet the murderers were being made out to be lovely people who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time (or worse yet, they didn't actually do the murder!).
Similarly, for the chapter about Colin, a lot was written about how the prison system is not set up to handle people with disabilities and whilst I do agree that that is unacceptable, the book didn't really make much of the fact that Colin had become disabled after being shot whilst he was shooting at the police, having shot a police officer in the head and killed him. Kray also writes quite bizarrely about people with disabilities - the line 'Having had some experience with disabled people, I am aware of many of the difficulties that they face every day' (page 23) seemed off to me.
For a book that was written in 1994, but then re-published in 2019, the inclusion of so much derogatory and offensive language really surprised me. Certainly in the 2019 version, some sentences could have been removed or altered. I understand that a lot of the book is direct quotes from the killers, but that's not an excuse for including offensive language.
Overall, this book had a lot of promise - it could have been an interesting insight into the minds of killers - and Kray had a great opportunity by interviewing so many people serving life sentences, including John Straffen, who served the longest life sentence. However, the book was poorly written and mainly seemed to argue that the killers interviewed didn't deserve to be in prison.
July 19, 2024
3.5 ⭐
An interesting read and insight into the prison world.
Quick read.
Great premise.
I didn't enjoy the offensive language used and didn't enjoy the way the killers seemed to be made out to be 'hard done by'.
Expected to enjoy this book more but unfortunately I didn't.
An interesting read and insight into the prison world.
Quick read.
Great premise.
I didn't enjoy the offensive language used and didn't enjoy the way the killers seemed to be made out to be 'hard done by'.
Expected to enjoy this book more but unfortunately I didn't.
May 31, 2025
For my true crime girls
Kate Krey who was married to the infamous Ronnie Krey wrote this book
It gives you an authentic insight into the minds of criminals
Kate Krey who was married to the infamous Ronnie Krey wrote this book
It gives you an authentic insight into the minds of criminals
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews