This book was great, it felt fresh and not like anything else I've read lately. It kept me intrigued all the way through, I didn't want to put it down.

As someone who is obsessed with Genealogy, I love reading stories from the past. Especially ones that include criminals, or mental asylums, and this did not disappoint. The stories are nice and short and packed with information. I did end up coming out of some of the scenarios with sympathy, but most were just wild.

I would recommend picking this up if you have any kind of interest in criminal history, as it is incredibly interesting and well-put together.

I really enjoy true crime reads and this one did not disappoint. It was such an interesting book about prison inmates and that area always intrigues me. A good one to add to your true crime shelf.

Woman- either poisoned someone or killed her kids GUILTY
MAN-whose throat did he slit GUILTY
THE END

This book was quite repetitive. Quite repetitive. I made it to the in but the majority of the cases could have been fill in the blanks. Typically I’m all for foreign true crime and I alway share the crazy stories, but there was nothing entertaining about any of these crimes, and by entertaining I mean worth reading and storming in one of my brain file cabinet drawers.

I will not be reading this again.

The book sparked my interest when I was researching true crime story which happened on Jersey Island on August 14th 2011. Damian Rzeszowski killed six people, including his wife and small children, with two knives. He ended in Broadmoore instutution.
"Broadmoor Inmates: True Crime Tales of Life and Death in the Asylum" by Nicola Sly is a chilling exploration of the lives and crimes of individuals confined to the notorious Broadmoor Asylum. The book stands out for its meticulous research and detailed accounts, providing readers with a haunting glimpse into the dark corners of criminal history and mental health treatment.

One commendable aspect of the book is Nicola Sly's dedication to unraveling the true stories behind Broadmoor's inmates. The author's thorough research and attention to historical accuracy create a comprehensive and immersive narrative. Sly delves into the backgrounds of the inmates, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the crimes that led to their confinement in one of the world's most infamous psychiatric hospitals.

Sly's writing style is both informative and engaging, presenting the true crime tales with a balance of detail and readability. The book's organization allows for easy navigation through the various cases, each providing a glimpse into the complexities of criminal psychology and mental illness. The inclusion of historical context adds depth to the narratives, making them more than just accounts of individual crimes.

However, some readers may find the content of the book intense and unsettling due to its focus on true crime and the darker aspects of mental health history. Potential readers should be aware of the nature of the material, as it can be emotionally challenging.

In conclusion, "Broadmoor Inmates" offers a compelling and well-researched exploration of true crime tales from the infamous psychiatric institution. Nicola Sly's dedication to historical accuracy and narrative depth makes the book a valuable resource for those interested in the intersection of criminality and mental health. While the subject matter may be intense for some readers, the book succeeds in shedding light on the fascinating and often disturbing stories within the walls of Broadmoor Asylum.

An excellent book from true crime shelf. The book it's a collection of stories of criminally insane inmates of the mental institution Broadmoor. The book is well-written and well -researched. It's not an easy read but highly recommended for lovers of this genre,

Princess Fuzzypants here: A straightforward compilation of various inmates of Broadmoor, it describes the person’s life up to and including the crime for which they were committed and a little bit about the time in the asylum until their death. While it is interesting, it does not add any insights or conclusions about the systems under which they laboured. Some of the stories are quite sad.

In some cases, insanity is exacerbated by circumstances. In others, nothing nor anyone seems to have “pushed the buttons”. They were simply disaster waiting to happen. From reading other stories about Broadmoor, there were worse places where someone might have been committed.

Four purrs and one paw up.

This book is a must for anyone with an interest in true crime & history. So fascinating to see how the criminally insane were treated, with stories about individual people from 1800 and up to 1956. Each one unique and detailed. I particularly liked the photos of the locations and judges involved. A great deal of effort and research must have gone into this book. Excellent!

Not a bad book to read but maybe one you dip in and out of as they are very short pieces on each person. Some were very interesting and chronicled the before and after the crime.. going into more detail of what happened when they were committed to Broadmoor.
It was sad to see how many women were committed following what is now recognised as post natal depression... but at that time they were declared insane.
Watch out for the month of May as a lot of crimes seem to have been committed then.

Eye opening! This is a great book which is very well researched but it made me worry about all the horrid things which happened years ago and those poor people that got put in prison for such mundane things. Mental Illness wasn’t recognised back then and it has made me so grateful that we are as a society where we are now

Really enjoyed reading about broadmoor inmates- found it so interesting and a nice change to read some non fiction.

It was clear that the book was very well researched and the information was written and presented clearly so that the reader can understand and relate to each case even though we are living in completely different times

Stories detailing the many criminally insane souls who were incarcerated and largely forgotten are fairly common but Nicola Sly writes her book on those committed to Broadmoor with so much knowledge of her subject , that one cannot help feeling a small empathy with these unfortunates despite their heinous acts. It is definitely a book to pick up and browse the different stories, too many at one sitting might prove a bit much! My thanks to Pen &Sword for their high quality book and Netgalley for the chance to read and review Broadmoor Inmates.

Was a really interesting book, would have liked it more if there was more recent patients in here. I currently study criminology so was a good read into what people have done and why

I find books about Broadmoor very interesting. I thought this was a really good book. I liked the shorter stories. I took a while to read it as I could pick it up and put it down when I felt like a bit more it wasn't something I read from front to back but I thought that wad fine and I enjoyed my reading experience!

I found this an interesting exploration of the history of Broadmoor, it was a little too dry for me in places but it wasn't bad. I would've liked this to be a bit more interesting in tone as i was losing interest in this because of the writing style. I left this book feeling like i'd learnt something new as it offered an interesting approach to the history of the prison.

The book gave you a real insight into the world of Broadmoor prison and some of the patients who previously spent time in there. It’s interesting to find out more about those patients who were not broadly showcased by the media, finding out about the deeper realms of mental health and other contributing factors such as their lifestyle and some being in poverty.

What I found quite powerful is the way the author writes the stories in a way which at times make you empathetic towards the patients, even though you are aware of the terrible crimes committed.

Was a very intriguing read and would love to read more by this author. Would recommend to all.

An intriguing look into the inhabitants of broadmoor, detailing what they did, how they were caught and what in was like inside. Quite an eye opener. Lots of short tales so a book you can pick up and put down.

"Broadmoor Inmates" introduces us to many of the patients who spent time at Broadmoor since it opened in 1863. It's fascinating to learn their stories and hear about the lives of some lesser-known personalities who eventually called the institution home. In some instances, patients had severe mental illness; in others, poverty, addiction, and social pressures contributed to their unfortunate futures. The research on each case feels extensive, and the author did an excellent job of using the details available to them to show the humanity of those declared criminally insane. I also appreciated how tightly edited this title was, taking us seamlessly from patient to patient.

However, I feel the title was misleading - most of the book focuses on how inmates ended up at Broadmoor, with brief footnotes on how they died. IMO, not enough time was dedicated to their lives inside the asylum. How many of them received much-needed help? How did developments in mental health awareness, treatment, and societal shifts contribute to how life changed for patients over the years? We know about many of Broadmoor's horrible abuses and injustices over the years, but I felt like we never got a deep dive into how this impacted the real people who lived their final days there.

Thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGallet for the ARC.

"Broadmoor Inmates: True Crime Tales of Life and Death in the Asylum" by Nicola Sly is a captivating and chilling exploration of the lives and crimes of individuals who found themselves incarcerated within the notorious Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum. This meticulously researched book delves into the histories of those who, due to their criminal insanity, were confined within the walls of Broadmoor, a place meant to protect both them and the public.


Sly expertly weaves together the stories of these inmates, shedding light on a dark and often forgotten aspect of society's past. The book covers a wide range of individuals, from addicts and the mentally deranged to the tragically depressed and delusional. Each character is presented as a complex human being, grappling not only with their own inner demons but also with the consequences of their actions on society.

One of the strengths of Sly's book is her ability to humanize these individuals, despite the heinous crimes they committed. Readers will find themselves both repelled and sympathetic as they learn about the lives of infamous figures like James Potter, Peter Whittle, Henry Dommett, James Senior, Mary Ann Parr, and Christiana Edmunds. Sly goes beyond the surface of their crimes to provide insight into their backgrounds, motivations, and the societal factors that contributed to their descent into madness.

Throughout the book, Sly's writing is both engaging and compassionate, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in these chilling true stories.

"Broadmoor Inmates" is not just a compilation of macabre tales; it is a historical exploration of how society once grappled with the concept of criminal insanity and its treatment. It offers a window into the past, where therapeutic tools were scarce, and the methods of containment were harsh and unforgiving. Nicola Sly's meticulous research and storytelling skills make this book a valuable addition to the library of true crime enthusiasts and anyone interested in the intersection of mental health, crime, and historical justice. "Broadmoor Inmates" is a haunting and thought-provoking journey into the minds of those who were once reviled and feared, now presented as complex and tragic figures of history.

I found Broadmoor Inmates to be interesting. I really enjoyed the pictures throughout of the old buildings and people. If you like history and learning about what would happen to people who were found criminally insane back in the 1800's, you would enjoy reading this book!