I stepped out of my comfort zone a little here as I don’t often read non-fiction, however I have really enjoyed reading this fascinating book.
It is essentially looking at the legal history of murder and how different events and cases over the years have altered and changed how the legal definition of murder and manslaughter are applied by the courts.
It has been written very well, in a clear way which makes it easy to understand what could be some complicated points.
The writing flows nicely and it kept me interested throughout. I really feel I’ve learnt a lot that I was completely unaware of before, it’s certainly a must for anyone studying criminal law or is interested in knowing more about how and why some verdicts are reached.
I found all of the highlighted cases so interesting - both the ancient historical cases and the more modern ones I can remember being in the news.
This book would be a great read for anyone who likes to delve a little deeper - nothing is as simple as it first appears. I was pleasantly surprised by this very accessible and well written book and I rated it 5 ⭐️

This was a fascinating reading and being full of facts I enjoyed it more than I expected. The author presented really well and in detail the evolution of murder laws in the UK. I loved reading about certain murder cases maybe unknown and how they influenced some of the laws that still exist today. Overall, the book well written and fascinating

trigger warning
<spoiler> cannibalism, suicide, rape, child death, infanticide, cruelty towards animals, kidnapping, domestic abuse </spoiler>

This is the history of the deed of murder in the UK, starting in the middle ages and reaching the post-modern times we find ourselves in.

The author gives a comprehensible, easily accessible and extremely readable chronology of the law changes and the cases that made these changes neccessary, treating the people they talk about with great tact and respect.

I really liked that in the foreword, the author outlined the content of this book, gave the geographical restrictions, and delved into the etymology of the word murder. While at first, I missed the footnotes - there are some with bonus information - at the end of the book there's a bibliography sorted by chapter, and most sources are the official case files. Additionally, this was an uncorrected proof, so who knows how the finished result looks.

I learned weird facts I don't really need to know, and I always love that.
Did you know that the term cold-blooded murder goes back to duelling times? If people had a row and reached for weapons <i>immediately</i>, that's hot-blooded, but if they make an effort to set time, place and arrange secundants, and if then someone happens to be killed, that's cold-blooded because they have had time to cool down and still chose to do this.

I liked this book a lot and would recommend it to either true crime fans, people interested in weird history or readers interested in English law.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

This was a fascinating and detailed exploration of the art of Murder! The infamous, and not so famous, cases over the years that have shaped the way we view murder and how the lines blur from case to case, showing up the gaps in law that can't cope with the dark and disturbing acts committed by humans.

The author has done a brilliant job of looking back over time at a number of different cases over hundreds of years. How crimes have changed and how the punishments too have differed over the years. From the death penalty to the use of secure hospitals for those claiming mental instability.

Some of the cases I'd heard of so they did resonate, but I was equally fascinated by the cases that had passed me by showing the dark and disturbing and it does a brilliant job of opening topics up to debate - from the appeal system, the difference between murder and manslaughter and how we all become 'armchair lawyers' when a high profile case hits the media. And even goes into how crimes cross over into films and tv, and how the public fascination with these horrific crimes never seems to wane.

I learnt so much from this book - including the background to the phrase 'sweet fanny adams' to what used to be built on the site of Liverpool Street Station - along with a greater understanding of the process behind the scenes and how cases are dealt with and I found it to be a real eye-opening read.

I was hoping this would be like a True Crime podcast in book form but I found it a bit dry. I think I was looking for something with more of the macabre.

It’s certainly a good book if you have an interest in true crime - it would be good for those who are thinking of perhaps taking a Law A Level to see if the case law sparks an interest for them.

If nothing else I have come away now knowing where the phrase ‘Sweet FA’ originates from!

Surprisingly, this is not as gruesome as I thought it might be and was not what I expected - it's better. Rather than focusing solely on homicide crimes, it focuses on how these crimes have impacted UK law and how those laws have evolved to ensure they continue to hold people accused of homicide, fairly, to account.

It uses actual crimes to demonstrate their impact on the law, often demonstrating their shortcomings and necessity to change. You may expect this book to focus on well-known murderers and their crimes e.g. Jack The Ripper and although they are mentioned, it doesn't dwell on such cases.

Terms such as 'diminished responsibility' and 'corporate manslaughter' may sound familiar; here their history is explored and explanation articulated. A good example of how this book articulates change is in its discussion of how the homicide law has changed to reflect a better understanding of domestic abuse. In one chapter it deviates to consider cases of miscarriages of justice e.g. Birmingham Six. But this seems fitting as it clearly shows the limitations of the law and how and why they evolve. Doing a good job throughout the book of showing how difficult it is to apply the law consistently.

It's a fascinating read and for someone who can remember watching the scenes on TV, as a child, of people being freed having been wrongly convicted of homicide. It gave me clearer information and perspective of those cases.

I found this such an interesting read. It was really fascinating finding out about the cases (and the people involved) that have forced the law of murder to be changed over the years, being detailed and intelligent without sensationalism. Split in such a way that you could dip in & out quite easily, but so gripping that I found myself just carrying on until the end!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There's something about murder that we all find fascinating, whether it be the psychology of it all or the gruesome facts.
Lawyer Kate Morgan takes us on a journey through time showing us the evolution of murder charges - from murder to manslaughter - as well as provides us with information on historical murder cases, some posing ethical questions
Murder: The Biography is a fully comprehensive guide to murder through the ages and is an ideal read for all true crime fans.

This is the definitive history of murder and manslaughter. From pre-Norman Times to the present day we learn how the laws governing the taking of a person's life has evolved throughout the centuries. Very readable and absorbing I enjoyed this book very much.

As a true crime fan I was intrigued by the premise of Kate Morgan's book and I wasn't disappointed. A legal history of murder and the crimes that shaped it was so interesting that I was fascinated. Definitely recommend for fans of true crime and crime stories as this detailed not only some very interesting crimes but raised some very interesting questions about the legal system.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

this was so interesting!

talking through the history of murder from the first modern murder charge to the insanity plea to corporations and everything in between, it was so accessible and fascinating and i could've read so much more

using various cases throughout history, kate morgan has done an incredible amount of research and really made me interested in reading more about it in the future

From its Anglo-Saxon origins the word 'murder' has a clear definition but legally it is not quite so straightforward. In this book an attempt is made to show how our present-day laws have come about using a series of landmark cases to illustrate. From cannibalism on the high seas to domestic violence via madness and neglect, this is a endlessly interesting story of the changing nature of our views on crime.
This could have been a really dry tome but it is far from it. Despite the legalese of some parts the stories behind the cases are intriguing. Some are well known - Ruth Ellis etc - some less so but all are carefully chosen to engage.

I tried this book thinking that because I am a fan of true crime, that this book would be entertaining. However, I did not like this at all. I found it dragged far too much and was just not my cup of tea at all.
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, the description and blurb sound interesting. In short 'The history of murder and the law'. Sadly the stories of the single murders described in this book are to short, it's simply stated facts with a part of law added to it. Then it's up to the next...
This takes away the severity of the crime to as does it take away interest after a few of those examples.

The idea behind this book is good, the execution sadly is to clinical. You notice the author is really a lawyer first and some steps down a writer later. She forgets to implement the reader in the book.

A whistle-stop tour of the law of murder from the 1700s to now!
I really enjoyed this non-fiction book; I thought the balance between grisly crime details and case law was spot-on.
Overall this is a fantastic overview of the development of the law of murder over the many years. I would recommend it to anyone interested in true crime.

[I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]

Huge thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Uk for allowing me to read and review this one.

I am a huge fan of detective stories and true crime. When I saw this book I knew I was going to have to read it.

It is a really engrossing read. It is very well researched and wonderfully written. The book was very informative and looked at a wide range of cases. The author provides an interesting look into the way that the law around murder cases evolves. The chapters really flow easily and the author uses modern cases along with older ones to discus the evolution of the laws. Definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in criminology or anyone who likes true crime.

I might come off as weird but I think women talking Murder is hot as fuck. My idiosyncrasies aside, I was hooked to the book from page 1. The book is thoroughly researched and thorough doesn't do justice to the detailed information the book provides for murders - their intentions/executions/failures/consequences in a narrative that is wisely economical.

Only after finishing the book I found out that Kate Morgan is in fact a lawyer (I read books on instinct, I'm not a blurb person and I have fared well just like that) so it all kinda fits. Morgan doesn't limit herself to the monotonous verdicts and journalistic reports of five hundred years ago. She takes you by the hand to the psychological and humane aspects of these deeds in all their absurd glory.

I think this is the perfect "palate cleanser" if you always stick to a genre and wanna read something else for a change and yet something of value. Because this darling book is gonna stick. It will also be the best Halloween present ever (for adults)!!!!

Thankyou Kate Morgan *tips hat*

I really enjoyed this book. As a fan of true crime, I found it to be was meticulously researched and informative, and a really enjoyable and gripping read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lots of information about murder and the law. Lots of examples of real life crime, past and present. Each chapter led seamlessly to the next. Very well written. I would read more by this author. Definitely recommend if this is your sort of thing!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC of this book.

An exceedingly well-researched and insightful study of the history of the crime of murder, and the cases that informed the law. It is written in a way that’s informative but still gripping. A well-crafted book.