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Usborne True Stories

Crime and Detection

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This compilation explores the famous and lesser-known crimes of the 20th century. Find out what real criminals and detectives are like, how crimes are committed and solved, and the thought processes of brilliant detectives in these stories.

The man of many disguises --
No body, no murder --
The embittered artist --
The American Sherlock Holmes --
The man who was someone else --
Information, information, information --
The doctor's secret --
Held to ransom --
On the run

142 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2003

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79 people want to read

About the author

Gill Harvey

85 books12 followers

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5 stars
37 (26%)
4 stars
45 (32%)
3 stars
34 (24%)
2 stars
17 (12%)
1 star
5 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Neneng Lestari.
292 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2017
Buku ini keren, sumpah. Kasus-kasus yang dipaparkan dalam buku ini serasa baca fiksi. AKu nggak akan percaya ini fiksi seandainya tidak ada keterangan "true stories" di covernya.

well,aku kasih sinopsis per kasusnya

Ada 9 kisah nyata di dalam buku ini

1. Pria dengan banyak samaran
Jean-Francois Vidocq yang mulanya adalah penjahat Prancis. Memiliki keahlian penyelidikan dan berteman dengan penjahat lalu ia menjadi informan polisi. Dan pada tahun 1812 ia mendirikan Sûretè, Dinas Rahasia pertama di dunia.

Menariknya, banyak kisah mata-mata dan detektif memggunakan dirinya sebagai model tokoh mereka.

2. Pembunuhan tanpa Mayat.
Haigh mengaku telah membunuh 9 orang. Masalahnya polisi tidak bisa menahan dirinya tanpa ada mayat ataupun bukti atas tindak kejahatannya.

3. Seniman Sakit Hati
Han van Meegeren seorang pelukis berbakat yang luar biasa, tapi ia agak ketinggalan zaman. Para kritikus lebih menghargai karya-karya terkenal Picasso dan Dali yang sedang terkenal di masa itu. Lalu Han mendapat ide untuk mengejek para kritikus. Ia memalsukan karya-karya besar abad ke-17. Pada tahun 1946 Han berhasil membuat dunia gempar dengan pengakuannya.

4. Sherlock Holmes Versi Amerika
Edward Heinrich, tahun 1920, dikenal sebagai "Sherlock Holmes" nya Amerika. Berhasil memecahkan 2000 kasus yang mencengangkan.

5. Pria yang Menjadi Orang Lain
Ottilie adalah wanita berpendidikan. Suatu ketika didatangi gentleman yang kaya raya dan menawari Ottilie persahabatan dan mengajaknya berlayar. Semuanya hanya tipuan.

Dan kasus ini sempat menahan orang yang salah. Terjadi kekeliruan oleh saksi yang salah mengenali pelaku. Hingga Adolf Beck ditahan untuk kejahatan yang tidak ia lakukan.
Kasus ini juga menjadi kesalahan yang tragis dalam sistem pengadilan Inggris dan diperkenalkannya Pengadilan Inggris atas Banding Kejahatan pada tahun 1907

6. Dalam Lautan Informasi
13 wanita meninggal, dibunuh dengan kejam. 7 perempuan lainnya cedera parah. Dalam kurun waktu 5 tahun. Pelaku dijuluki sebagai "Yorkshire Ripper". Polisi tidak bisa menemukan pelakunya. Tidak meninggalkan bukti, jejak, senjata pembunuh bahkan tidak ada sidik jari.

7. Rahasia Sang Dokter
Dr. Harold Shipman adalah dokter keluarga. Dokter menyenangkan, disukai pasien dan punya keluarga yang bahagia. Sampai ketika seorang anak dari pasiennya mempertanyakan penyebab kematian ibunya. Dan seluruh warisan yang jatuh ke tangan sang dokter. Kenyataan yang ada di balik fakta tersebut sangat mengejutkan.

8. Penculikan Demi Uang Tebusan
Roma dikagetkan penculik yang mengirimkan telinga sang anak kepada orangtuanya. Tebusan yang diminta sebesar USD 17 juta.

9. Dalam Pelarian
Ronnie Biggs merampok kereta dan berhasil ditangkap. Lalu ia merencanakan pelarian. Berbekal uang hasil rampokan, ia berhasil kabur ke Australia. Sayangnya tidak berjalan mulus. Teman-temannya membocorkan keberadaannya dan ia pun melarikan diri. Hingga akhirnya ia ke Brazil dan menetap disana.
Profile Image for Xydel.
111 reviews2 followers
March 31, 2020
From an 11-year-old: I liked learning about detectives not the crimes they investigated. The stories got worse throughout the book. I knew this book was going to have murderers in it but I was surprised by how gruesome some stories were. For example, kidnappers cut someone's ear off and sent it to the kid's mother. I do not recommend this book to anyone, especially kids who get scared easily, or kids that will be haunted by stories like this.
Profile Image for Holli  Hubble.
115 reviews
June 11, 2017
Great read for true stories of crime and how the detectives solved the crimes. What I like most is almost everyone of the stories was dated way in the past. 1886, early 1900's. Was great to hear stories about older times.
Profile Image for Della Tingle.
1,069 reviews8 followers
December 26, 2020
What a fun read! This book contains nine tales of true crime and detection. From Ronnie Biggs of the Great Train Robbery fame to the kidnapping of Jean Paul Getty III, this was an enjoyable read from cover to cover!
2 reviews3 followers
January 3, 2019
Great book good story's it just made me want to read the book and just kept me entertained and intrigued.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Wilde Sky.
Author 16 books39 followers
July 25, 2019
Short accounts of a number of detectives / criminals / crimes.

I found many of the pieces in this book very interesting.

Reading time around ninety minutes.
Profile Image for Slow Man.
1,057 reviews
March 8, 2020
I always love the non-fiction series. They are stranger than fictions. Read on.
Profile Image for John.
258 reviews
May 17, 2021
A series of nine short but fascinating crime stories ranging from serial killings to bank robberies.
Profile Image for bhupathi pattapagalu.
7 reviews1 follower
December 12, 2024
It is good intersting read. These stories are more about how they got caught than how they did the crime itself. So, if you like investigation, deduction etc, you will like this book.
9 reviews
August 26, 2014
It is important to keep in mind that this is a book written for children (ages 9 and up). As such, it won't be filled with blood and gore. It is instead a brief look at the detective's roles in solving crimes during various points in history. Those factors in mind, this is a well written interesting glance at several true stories. A nice addition to the Usborne True Stories series for children.
Profile Image for Tantri Setyorini.
323 reviews21 followers
July 30, 2013
Ini adalah kumpulan dari ringkasan kisah nyata kasus-kasus kriminal. Jangan mengharapkan analisis rumit atau detail penyidikan ala CSI dan Conan ya.
Cerita-cerita yang ada dalam buku ini antara lain Yorkshire Ripper, penculikan Paul Getty, the real Sherlock Holmes Drr. Oscar Henrich, pembunuhan dengan larutan asam, dokter yang membunuh puluhan pasiennya dengan opium, Jean Vidocq si agen rahasia pertama di dunia, dan pemalsu lukisan antik yang berhasil mengecoh kritikus.
Profile Image for Doris.
2,035 reviews
September 26, 2011
This compilation of stories was a good peek at the various detection methods used throughout the last couple of centuries. There were a couple I was familar with, particularly the Getty case, but I did like the information on how the role of detective was formed.
Profile Image for Amy.
3,454 reviews34 followers
October 14, 2011
A truly fascinating look at some very unusual "real life" crimes and how they were solved. A great read for middle/high schoolers fascinated by forensics, detective work, etc. Some of the crimes involve some violence so I definitely would not recommend it for anyone younger than 5th/6th grade!
Profile Image for Taylor.
27 reviews16 followers
January 13, 2014
This book contains VERY interesting crimes.
(Second to last chapter was to me most interning though).
If you enjoy
Crimes, mysteries, adventure, etc
You should read this.
Gill Harvey tells each case like a normal novel: dialogue, plot, climax, and more.
1 review
Read
May 8, 2009
this book obviously sucks because theres no dang reviews so author you get a life
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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