Due to a passing in the family a few years ago and my subsequent health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for years after the bereavement. Thank you for the opportunity.

A fascinating insight through historical case studies from the 1800's about the history of mental health and the institutions.
Upon reading these it allowed myself the reader to see how the the treatment of mental health has changed and how today it would be dealt with differently.
I found the part about asylums most interesting as these always have such a sinister portrayal within the media.
I think it is important we have books such as this to remind us of progression.
A very useful and interesting account.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.

A well-written account on the background of how mental health was treated in years gone by. A difficult one for me as my mum was a sufferer although she had not committed a crime she was not treated well. This book depicts the treatment of the accused who were deemed unfit to plead and retained at Her Majesty's pleasure. Recommended reading.

This is a a thorough and interesting account of the origins of secure hospitals in the UK. I did have some reservations about this book, only because the cover made it look a little like those 'cut and paste' regional crime books. It is broken into categories that make it a much more clear read - other books on the subject can wander around a little. At a couple of points there are cases that did not lead to people going into secure hospitals, but these serve to contextualise the cases, and to discuss why offenders such as that would be interpreted in a different way today.

The book takes a look at the development of mental illness, crime, and the law in Victorian & Edwardian Britain. With sections including parricide, infanticide, and children killing children (in a case strangely reminiscent of the James Bulger case), it was a fascinating read and it has made me interested in learning more about the subject.

It was especially interesting to read a different narrative about Victorian asylums. Too often the vision of the horrors portrayed in films and TV programmes takes over, whereas it seems from the evidence presented here, that there was a conscious effort by many to treat those with mental illness in a more compassionate way. I do feel that it could have done with a stronger concluding chapter, it just sort of faded out rather than tying everything together.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Pen and Sword, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book all opinions are my own.
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The book describes the background of various institutions, how mental health has been veiwed and how patients were treated in the past though a number of different cases a number of cases. These cases are mostly based around acts of violence or cases of murder where the perpetrator has been found incapable of making a plea to the charges against them therefore they have been declared insane and sent to various institutions to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure.

The book was written in a clear and uncomplicated manner I enjoyed it till the last few chapters when I found it started to become repetitive. This is only my opinion and does not mean to say that somebody else would not find in it interesting and enjoyable read.

This topic has always been of interest to me and I was keen to read this book.

It started very well, describing the background of the various institutions and the way mental health has been treated in the past.

However, it began to get repetitive. The way the stories were grouped together meant often several merged into each other. This was a shame, as I began to lose interest.

Regardless of that criticism, it remains a cohesive and useful account of the history of mental health treatment.