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Book In Cold Blood

    Book Details:
  • Author : Truman Capote
  • Publisher : Modern Library
  • Release : 2013-02-19
  • ISBN : 0812994388
  • Pages : 417 pages

Download or read book In Cold Blood written by Truman Capote and published by Modern Library. This book was released on 2013-02-19 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time From the Modern Library’s new set of beautifully repackaged hardcover classics by Truman Capote—also available are Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Other Voices, Other Rooms (in one volume), Portraits and Observations, and The Complete Stories Truman Capote’s masterpiece, In Cold Blood, created a sensation when it was first published, serially, in The New Yorker in 1965. The intensively researched, atmospheric narrative of the lives of the Clutter family of Holcomb, Kansas, and of the two men, Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith, who brutally killed them on the night of November 15, 1959, is the seminal work of the “new journalism.” Perry Smith is one of the great dark characters of American literature, full of contradictory emotions. “I thought he was a very nice gentleman,” he says of Herb Clutter. “Soft-spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat.” Told in chapters that alternate between the Clutter household and the approach of Smith and Hickock in their black Chevrolet, then between the investigation of the case and the killers’ flight, Capote’s account is so detailed that the reader comes to feel almost like a participant in the events.

Book Stay Sexy   Don t Get Murdered

Download or read book Stay Sexy Don t Get Murdered written by Karen Kilgariff and published by Forge Books. This book was released on 2019-05-28 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The instant #1 New York Times and USA Today best seller by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, the voices behind the hit podcast My Favorite Murder! Sharing never-before-heard stories ranging from their struggles with depression, eating disorders, and addiction, Karen and Georgia irreverently recount their biggest mistakes and deepest fears, reflecting on the formative life events that shaped them into two of the most followed voices in the nation. In Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered, Karen and Georgia focus on the importance of self-advocating and valuing personal safety over being ‘nice’ or ‘helpful.’ They delve into their own pasts, true crime stories, and beyond to discuss meaningful cultural and societal issues with fierce empathy and unapologetic frankness. “In many respects, Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered distills the My Favorite Murder podcast into its most essential elements: Georgia and Karen. They lay themselves bare on the page, in all of their neuroses, triumphs, failures, and struggles. From eating disorders to substance abuse and kleptomania to the wonders of therapy, Kilgariff and Hardstark recount their lives with honesty, humor, and compassion, offering their best unqualified life-advice along the way.” —Entertainment Weekly “Like the podcast, the book offers funny, feminist advice for survival—both in the sense of not getting killed and just, like, getting a job and working through your personal shit so you can pay your bills and have friends.” —Rolling Stone At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Book True Crime Story

    Book Details:
  • Author : Joseph Knox
  • Publisher : Sourcebooks, Inc.
  • Release : 2021-12-07
  • ISBN : 1728245877
  • Pages : 407 pages

Download or read book True Crime Story written by Joseph Knox and published by Sourcebooks, Inc.. This book was released on 2021-12-07 with total page 407 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Cleverly blending the real and imagined worlds until the reader can't differentiate the two, Knox has created a twisty, turny thriller that cuts through the heart of the modern true crime fascination, all while keeping us enraptured by it."—BuzzFeed THE #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER! For fans of true crime documentaries and Only Murders in the Building comes the chilling story of a university student's sudden disappearance, the woman who became obsessed with her case, and the crime writer who uncovered the truth about what happened... What happens to all the girls who go missing? In 2011, Zoe Nolan walked out of her dormitory in Manchester and was never seen or heard from again. Her case went cold. Her story was sad, certainly, but hardly sensational, crime writer Joseph Knox thought. He wouldn't have given her any more thought were it not for his friend, Evelyn Mitchell. Another writer struggling to come up with a new idea, Evelyn was wondering just what happens to all the girls who go missing. What happens to the Zoe Nolans of the world? Evelyn began investigating herself, interviewing Zoe's family and friends, and emailing Joseph with chapters of the book she was writing with her findings. Uneasy with the corkscrew twists and turns, Joseph Knox embedded himself in the case, ultimately discovering a truth more tragic and shocking than he could have possibly imagined... Just remember: Everything you read is fiction. Praise for True Crime Story: "Stunningly unique...For fans of stories with a little something extra, this book is set up like an oral history, complete with emails, newspaper clippings and photos that propel the story all the way to a shocking and satisfying conclusion." —Newsweek "Mr. Knox is a fantastic writer. His ambitious fourth novel satirises and celebrates the true-crime genre with glee. True Crime Story, by turns horrific and hilarious, is scandalously entertaining." —The Times (UK) "The gifted Joseph Knox continues his upwards trajectory with True Crime Story forging something original and innovative." —Financial Times (UK) "This is one of the most engaging cold-case novels I have read." —Literary Review (UK)

Book Real Life Monsters

    Book Details:
  • Author : Stephen J. Giannangelo
  • Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
  • Release : 2012-07-06
  • ISBN : 0313397856
  • Pages : 216 pages

Download or read book Real Life Monsters written by Stephen J. Giannangelo and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2012-07-06 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents an in-depth psychological analysis of the development of the serial killer personality that will fascinate all readers, from the experienced criminology student to the casual true-crime reader. Real-Life Monsters: A Psychological Examination of the Serial Murderer takes a different approach than most titles on a similar topic: the author develops and proposes an original psychological explanation, rather than simply repeating some of the long-held theories for these criminals' heinous actions. The work addresses current issues, presents detailed commentary and personal observation, and contains photographs that will fascinate general readers interested in the subjects of true crime, serial killers, and psychopathology. The first part of the book carefully examines the research past and present regarding clinical, psychological, societal, and biological bases for violent behavior, specific to the serial murderer. Part two establishes a novel theory of the pattern of violence and then explores this hypothesis through eight case studies, interviews with serial killers, and elemental analysis. The work also contains a chapter based on conversations between the author and a convicted serial murderer.

Book TIME LIFE Mysteries of the Criminal Mind

Download or read book TIME LIFE Mysteries of the Criminal Mind written by The Editors of TIME-LIFE and published by Time Inc. Books. This book was released on 2015-12-15 with total page 807 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Is it nature or nurture that shapes a serial killer? What drives a person to become a kidnapper or a terrorist? And can such behaviors be predicted — or even stopped before they occur? As advances in science unlock the secrets of our DNA and reveal the inner workings of the human brain, Time-Life Books explores the fascinating findings that are shedding new light on the criminal mind. What role does birth order, divorce, media influence, and other societal pressures play in how criminals are formed? By examining some of the most notorious criminals from history and our modern era — from Al Capone and Charles Manson to Scott Peterson and Dzohkhar Tsarnaev — and their characteristics, the nature of their deeds and the possible formation of their pathologies. Readers will explore the roots of crime, going on the streets to meet the authorities who deal with criminals on a daily basis and have developed unique insights into the criminal mentality. Packed with infographics, sidebars and lists, this book is a compelling yet easy introduction to the new age of crime and punishment — a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how crimes begin and how we can help end them.

Book Death Sentence

    Book Details:
  • Author : Jerry Bledsoe
  • Publisher : Diversion Books
  • Release : 2014-05-18
  • ISBN : 1626812888
  • Pages : 546 pages

Download or read book Death Sentence written by Jerry Bledsoe and published by Diversion Books. This book was released on 2014-05-18 with total page 546 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this “true story that reads like a novel,” the #1 New York Times–bestselling author reveals the facts behind a notorious Southern murder case (Library Journal). When North Carolina farmer Stuart Taylor died after a sudden illness, his forty-six-year-old fiancée, Velma Barfield, was overcome with grief. Taylor’s family grieved with her—until the autopsy revealed traces of arsenic poisoning. Turned over to the authorities by her own son, Velma stunned her family with more revelations. This wasn’t the first time she had committed cold-blooded murder, and she would eventually be tried by the “world’s deadliest prosecutor” and sentenced to death. This book probes Velma’s stark descent into madness, her prescription drug addiction, and her effort to turn her life around through Christianity. From her harrowing childhood to the crimes that incited a national debate over the death penalty, to the final moments of her execution, Velma Barfield’s life of crime and punishment, revenge and redemption, this is crime reporting at its most gripping and profound. “A painfully intimate, moving story about the life and death of the only woman executed in the U.S. between 1962–1998 . . . With graceful writing and thorough reporting, it makes the reader look hard at something dark and sad in the human soul . . . Breathes new life into the true crime genre.” —The News & Observer “Undertakes to answer the questions about the justice system and the motives that drive women to kill.” —The Washington Post Book World “An extraordinary piece of writing . . . The most chilling description of a legal execution that we are ever likely to get.” —Citizen-Times “Taut and engrossing on the nature of justice and the death penalty as well as on guilt and responsibility.” —Booklist

Book True Crimes

Download or read book True Crimes written by Kathryn Harrison and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In essays written over the course of more than a decade, Harrison has created a beautifully detailed and rigorously honest family album. She writes for the first time in almost two decades about her affair with her father, and how she has reckoned with the girl she once was. Harrison writes about the birth of her youngest daughter, and how she finally came to understand her own mother's attitudes toward parenting. And she reflects on the loss of her beloved father-in-law, and how he managed to repair something her own father had broken.

Book Curious Cases  True Crime for Kids

Download or read book Curious Cases True Crime for Kids written by Valley and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2022-07-19 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduce middle-grade readers to the intriguing and exciting history of true crime, including capers, stories, unsolved crimes, daring escapes, famous art heists, and much more, in this first-ever true crime book specifically for kids. True crime is a genre that captures readers of all ages, but oftentimes the stories are too intense—even for kids who love spooky books and movies. Curious Cases: True Crime for Kids presents a slew of fascinating stories that are all age-appropriate, including: -The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft -The cold case of D. B. Cooper -The disappearance of Masterpiece the poodle -Two brothers' cunning escape from Alcatraz -Sherlock Holmes and the Fairy Photographs -Real-life Ghostbusters -and much more! Plus, kids will love the breakdowns of some of the most iconic pop culture detectives and mystery writers like Agatha Christie. The book even includes some fun forensic science activities that kids can do at home to help them better understand how evidence is found and how mysteries can be solved.

Book True Crime Philadelphia

    Book Details:
  • Author : Kathryn Canavan
  • Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
  • Release : 2021-11-15
  • ISBN : 1493036165
  • Pages : 265 pages

Download or read book True Crime Philadelphia written by Kathryn Canavan and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2021-11-15 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Serial killer H.H. Holmes built his murder castle in Chicago, but he met the hangman in Philadelphia. Al Capone served his first prison sentence here. The real-life killers who inspired HBO’s Boardwalk Empire lived and died here. America’s first bank robbery was pulled off here in 1798. The country’s first kidnapping for ransom came off without a hitch in 1874. A South Philadelphia man hatched the largest mass murder plot in U.S. history in the 1930s. His partners in crime were unhappy housewives. Catholics and Protestants aimed cannon at each other in city streets in 1844. Civil rights hero Octavius V. Catto was gunned down on South Street in 1871. Take a walk with us through city history. Would you pass Eastern State Penitentiary on April 3, 1945, just as famed bank robber Willie Sutton popped out of an escape tunnel in broad daylight? Or you might have been one of the invited guests at H.H. Holmes’ hanging at Moyamensing Prison on a gray morning in May 1896. It still ranks as one of the most bizarre executions in city history. Or, if you walked down Washington Lane on July 1, 1874, would you have been alert enough to stop the two men who lured little blond Charley Ross away with candy? You might have stopped America’s first kidnapping for ransom, the one that gave rise to the admonition, “Never take candy from a stranger.” The case inspired the Leopold and Loeb kidnapping. Then there was the bank robber whose funeral drew thousands of spectators and the burglary defendant so alluring that conversation would stop whenever she entered the courtroom. Mix in murderous maids, bumbling burglars, and unflinching local heroes and you have True Crime Philadelphia.

Book Famous Crimes the World Forgot Volume II

    Book Details:
  • Author : Jason Lucky Morrow
  • Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Release : 2017-03-24
  • ISBN : 9781544677026
  • Pages : 384 pages

Download or read book Famous Crimes the World Forgot Volume II written by Jason Lucky Morrow and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-03-24 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Famous Crimes the World Forgot Volume II uncovers more amazing true crimes that exploded into the national news, shocking Americans from coast to coast-crimes that were eventually forgotten-until now. Each one of these stories transports you back to the time they happened, propels you through all the suspense-filled developments, and explores each one with an in-depth look into the actions of humans so evil, it's hard to believe they were real. They include: a serial poisoner who laughed when thought he got away with murdering a brother and sister, but cried when he was arrested; a woman with a history of being robbed by two men until the third time it happened when they killed her husband, or so she said; a mail-order bride lured to her death 3,000 miles away by a man with a wife and five children; a serial-rapist and possible serial-killer who murdered two sisters on their way to church; a five-time loser turned drifter who gunned down four men for $40 inside a hermit's shack; an escaped convict turned serial-killer with a taste for red-heads; the mysterious car bomb murder of a wealthy Texas socialite which churned up a cast of sordid characters who captivated an audience for what was America's first live-televised murder trial; and Milwaukee's first serial-killer who stabbed young girls with a seven-inch stiletto.

Book No Place Like Murder

    Book Details:
  • Author : Janis Thornton
  • Publisher : Quarry Books
  • Release : 2020-09-29
  • ISBN : 0253052793
  • Pages : 271 pages

Download or read book No Place Like Murder written by Janis Thornton and published by Quarry Books. This book was released on 2020-09-29 with total page 271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A modern retelling of 20 sensational true crimes, No Place Like Murder reveals the inside details behind nefarious acts that shocked the Midwest between 1869 and 1950. The stories chronicle the misdeeds, examining the perpetrators' mindsets, motives, lives, apprehensions, and trials, as well as what became of them long after. True crime author Janis Thornton profiles notorious murderers such as Frankie Miller, who was fed up when her fiancé stood her up for another woman. As fans of the song "Frankie and Johnny" already know, Frankie met her former lover at the door with a shotgun. Thornton's tales reveal the darker side of life in the Midwest, including the account of Isabelle Messmer, a plucky young woman who dreamed of escaping her quiet farm-town life. After she nearly took down two tough Pittsburgh policemen in 1933, she was dubbed "Gun Girl" and went on to make headlines from coast to coast. In 1942, however, after a murder conviction in Texas, she vowed to do her time and go straight. Full of intrigue and revelations, No Place Like Murder also features such folks as Chirka and Rasico, the first two Hoosier men to die in the electric chair after they brutally murdered their wives in 1913. The two didn't meet until their fateful last night. An enthralling and chilling collection, No Place Like Murder is sure to thrill true crime lovers.

Book True Crime Online

    Book Details:
  • Author : Jayne A. Hitchcock
  • Publisher : Information Today
  • Release : 2012
  • ISBN : 9781937290009
  • Pages : 0 pages

Download or read book True Crime Online written by Jayne A. Hitchcock and published by Information Today. This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Revealing many of the most extreme and horrifying examples of modern cybercrime, acclaimed investigator J. A. Hitchcock seeks to educate the millions of YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook users about the various hazards posed by new media. Covering the identity theft and subsequent murder of Amy Boyer in 1999, avoiding sexual predators, defending bank accounts against fraudulent phishing scams, and the rise of online bullying, Hitchcock provides a compelling, broad-ranging collection of case studies from which consumers can learn to defend themselves and their families against online criminals. Guaranteed to shock and surprise, this book will forever change the way users experience the internet.

Book TRUE CRIME USA   Real Crime Cases From The United States   Adrian Langenscheid

Download or read book TRUE CRIME USA Real Crime Cases From The United States Adrian Langenscheid written by Adrian Langenscheid and published by . This book was released on 2019-12-17 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: TRUE CRIME USA: Real Crime Cases From The United States - 14 Shocking Short Stories Taken From Real Life "Adrian's unsparing short stories are like the tragic storm that unexpectedly strikes. Before you know it, all he left behind is destruction. What remains are strong emotions, many questions and the feeling of being thrown back on what really matters in life." "Langenscheid's cool, clear short stories don't seem to aim for emotion, but precisely because of their brutal, matter-of-fact, neutral portrayal they are so incredibly shocking." TRUE CRIME USA - REAL CRIME CASES FROM THE UNITED STATES Cold blooded murders, fatal family dramas, and a spectacular robbery. It's no secret that True Crime is not for the faint-of-heart. These true and authentic criminal cases tell the stories of people known to us - friendly neighbours, devoted parents and/or loving partners. This book is about the people behind their bourgeois façade, where unspeakably deep human abysses exist that nobody, not even those closest to them, would have thought was possible. In his second book "TRUE CRIME USA"", one of Germany's bestselling true crime authors, Adrian Langenscheid once again documents the real crimes from real neighbourhoods. This time, the tales originate from the United States of America. Crimes that actually happened - you will be captivated and shocked, amazed and moved to tears. Shaken to the core, you will question everything you think you know about human nature. Even investigators, judges, defense lawyers and public prosecutors are not immune to the fact that these defendants are on trial for particularly horrific acts. The heartbreaking fates of the victims and their relatives are gradually exposed. In an ideal world, the final verdict ensures the just punishment of the perpetrators - but what punishment is truly-just in the face of such cruel reality? In fourteen true crime short stories, you will get to know some of the most-spectacular American true crime cases of the last few decades. The well-known German crime podcast, "Wahre Verbrechen", features two additional, spectacular cases. Crimes such as murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, abuse, fraud, treason and robbery often involve "people like you and me" whose lives have suddenly and completely changed from one day to the next due to tragic circumstances. Was it greed, the lust for murder, a perverse sexual inclination or a blackout, that made the serial killer act so ruthlessly? Does the perpetrator hide his true motive? Does he suffer from a psychological anomaly, like bipolar disorder or the Münchhausen deputy syndrome? How is it possible for such a small motive to erase the life of a child? What distinguishes us from those who take others' lives? Which criminalistic methods and procedures of modern psychology help to identify the most terrible murderers of our time? Each chapter of True Crime USA details a real criminal case, factually, truthfully and free of any greed for sensationalism. This poignant book gets under your skin. Heinous acts like the cold-blooded murder of five siblings by their own mother or the tearful death of an unjustly-condemned, coloured-boy who was never allowed to grow up. Every story in this book is an authentic portrayal of a serious crime. Life writes the most horrific stories and this book sums them up. Immerse yourself in the shocking world of true crime cases and real crimes! True Crime USA.

Book The Best New True Crime Stories  Serial Killers

Download or read book The Best New True Crime Stories Serial Killers written by Mitzi Szereto and published by Mango Media Inc.. This book was released on 2019-11-19 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Travel around the world and inside the minds of monsters in this true crime anthology featuring sixteen astonishing serial killer exposés. Serial killers: Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and Jeffrey Dahmer are often the first names that spring to mind. Many people assume serial killers are primarily an American phenomenon that came about in the latter part of the twentieth century—but such assumptions are far from the truth. Serial killers have been around for a long time and can be found in every corner of the globe―and they’re not just limited to the male gender, either. Some of these predators have been caught and brought to justice whereas others have never been found, let alone identified. Serial killers can be anywhere. And scarier still, they can be anyone. Edited by acclaimed author and anthologist Mitzi Szereto, The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers reveals all-new accounts of true-crime serial killers from the contemporary to the historic. The international list of contributors includes award-winning crime writers, true-crime podcasters, journalists, and experts in the dark crimes field such as Martin Edwards, Lee Mellor, Danuta Kot, Craig Pittman, Richard O. Jones, Marcie Rendon, Mike Browne, and Vicki Hendricks. This book will leave you wondering if it’s ever really possible to know who’s behind the mask you’re allowed to see. Perfect for readers of true crime books such as I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, Mindhunter, The Devil in the White City, or Sons of Cain. “An engrossing and multi-faceted anthology for a new era of true crime writing.” ―Piper Weiss, author of You All Grow Up and Leave Me

Book TRUE CRIME USA

Download or read book TRUE CRIME USA written by Adrian Langenscheid and published by True Crime International. This book was released on 2021-12-16 with total page 115 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Real Crime Cases From The United States | 14 Shocking Short Stories Taken From Real Life "Adrian's unsparing short stories are like the tragic storm that unexpectedly strikes. Before you know it, all he left behind is destruction. What remains are strong emotions, many questions and the feeling of being thrown back on what really matters in life." "Langenscheid's cool, clear short stories don't seem to aim for emotion, but precisely because of their brutal, matter-of-fact, neutral portrayal they are so incredibly shocking." TRUE CRIME USA – REAL CRIME CASES FROM THE UNITED STATES Cold blooded murders, fatal family dramas, and a spectacular robbery. It's no secret that True Crime is not for the faint-of-heart. These true and authentic criminal cases tell the stories of people known to us - friendly neighbours, devoted parents and/or loving partners. This book is about the people behind their bourgeois façade, where unspeakably deep human abysses exist that nobody, not even those closest to them, would have thought was possible. In his second book "TRUE CRIME USA"", one of Germany's bestselling true crime authors, Adrian Langenscheid once again documents the real crimes from real neighbourhoods. This time, the tales originate from the United States of America. Crimes that actually happened - you will be captivated and shocked, amazed and moved to tears. Shaken to the core, you will question everything you think you know about human nature. Even investigators, judges, defense lawyers and public prosecutors are not immune to the fact that these defendants are on trial for particularly horrific acts. The heartbreaking fates of the victims and their relatives are gradually exposed. In an ideal world, the final verdict ensures the just punishment of the perpetrators - but what punishment is truly-just in the face of such cruel reality? In fourteen true crime short stories, you will get to know some of the most-spectacular American true crime cases of the last few decades. Crimes such as murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, abuse, fraud, treason and robbery often involve "people like you and me" whose lives have suddenly and completely changed from one day to the next due to tragic circumstances. Life writes the most horrific stories and this book sums them up. Immerse yourself in the shocking world of true crime cases and real crimes! True Crime USA.

Book Fear  Justice and Modern True Crime

Download or read book Fear Justice and Modern True Crime written by Dawn K. Cecil and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For centuries, people have been drawn to true stories of crime and the justice system. But what began primarily as a literary genre focusing on murder has evolved. From docuseries and podcasts to Facebook groups and events such as CrimeCon, modern true crime has become diverse, complex, and interactive. In Fear, Justice, and Modern True Crime, Dawn Cecil examines the genre to uncover the messages it conveys. Modern true crime, Cecil argues, has the potential to inform people about crime-related issues and the criminal justice system--but it can also reinforce popular stereotypes. Her work deftly unpacks the impact of true crime stories on our perceptions, our fears, and even the process of justice.

Book True crimes in eighteenth century China

Download or read book True crimes in eighteenth century China written by and published by University of Washington Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The little-examined genre of legal case narratives is represented in this fascinating volume, the first collection translated into English of criminal cases - most involving homicide - from late imperial China. These true stories of crimes of passion, family conflict, neighborhood feuds, gang violence, and sedition are a treasure trove of information about social relations and legal procedure. Each narrative describes circumstances leading up to a crime and its discovery, the appearance of the crime scene and the body, the apparent cause of death, speculation about motives and premeditation, and whether self-defense was involved. Detailed testimony is included from the accused and from witnesses, family members, and neighbors, as well as summaries and opinions from local magistrates, their coroners, and other officials higher up the chain of judicial review. Officials explain which law in the Qing dynasty legal code was violated, which corresponding punishment was appropriate, and whether the sentence was eligible for reduction. These records began as reports from magistrates on homicide cases within their jurisdiction that were required by law to be tried first at the county level, then reviewed by judicial officials at the prefectural, provincial, and national levels, with each administrator adding his own observations to the file. Each case was decided finally in Beijing, in the name of the emperor if not by the monarch himself, before sentences could be carried out and the records permanently filed. All of the cases translated here are from the Qing imperial copies, most of which are now housed in the First Historical Archives, Beijing.