Scotland Yard: A Bloody History

(Paperback)

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'A true crime history that reads like a thriller . . . A macabre and fascinating page-turner' John Douglas, bestselling co-author of Mindhunter

'A great true crime history that reads like one of the best page-turning thrillers . . . Riveting' Sunday Post

'Scotland Yard: A Bloody History is beautifully researched, elegantly written, and brimming with vivid characters and detail' Daniel Stashower, bestselling author of American Demon

'Triumphant . . . Indispensable for anyone drawn to true crime and the darker districts of history' Lindsey Fitzharris, bestselling author of The Butchering Art

'Scotland Yard is a riveting and novelistic deep dive into the true history of one of the world's great institutions . . . essential reading for anyone even mildly curious about the history of investigative technique' Alex Grecian, bestselling author of The Yard

Katherine Webster: dismembered and gutted her former employer, boiling the parts down into a sludge and selling it to the local pub as the 'best dripping'.

George Joseph Smith: married several women under different aliases, only to drown each of them while they bathed.

Patrick Mahon: swept pregnant Emily Kay off her feet and brought her to his house of horrors, where he chopped her up into 37 different pieces and torched her bones.

From the torched bones to the dismembered bodies hidden in haystacks, London has been home to some of the most gruesome murders in history. Based on official case files, trial transcripts and first-hand accounts, Scotland Yard follows some of their most notorious murders to look at how they pushed the police force to its limit, forcing them to grow and develop new techniques.

Filled with stories of decapitation, public executions, poisoning and more, Scotland Yard is a fascinating look into some of the most horrific crimes in history and how they've shaped the police force into what it is today.

Reviews

A true crime history that reads like a thriller, SCOTLAND YARD is a foggy, lamp-lit descent into the chilling cases that established the Yard's reputation. A macabre and fascinating page-turner. * John Douglas, bestselling co-author of Mindhunter *
We love a great true crime history that reads like one of the best page-turning thrillers. And this one has it all, from tales of poisonings, drownings and decapitation, right down to dismembered corpses in train station luggage racks ... This exciting tome charts the beginnings of the police force in the capital and the dramatic history of its HQ, Scotland Yard ... Riveting. * The Sunday Post *
Marrying rigorous research with smooth storytelling, this is a must-read for fans of true crime. * Publishers Weekly *
Entertaining and atmospheric ... True crime enthusiasts will relish these many murders most foul. * Kirkus Reviews *
Triumphant. Expertly navigates the blood-soaked alleyways of Scotland Yard and keeps the reader engaged from the very first page. Indispensable for anyone drawn to true crime and the darker districts of history. * Lindsey Fitzharris, bestselling author of The Butchering Art *
Scotland Yard is a riveting and novelistic deep dive into the true history of one of the world's great institutions. The book is peppered with enough blood-soaked crimes to keep readers up all night turning its pages. This vivid account of the Yard's early years, now nearly two centuries old, is essential reading for anyone even mildly curious about the history of investigative technique. * Alex Grecian, bestselling author of The Yard *
Simon Read takes us on a thrilling tour of Scotland Yard's most gripping cases, from the sinister alleyways of the Ratcliffe Highway to the lamp-lit cobblestones of Whitechapel. Scotland Yard: A Bloody History is beautifully researched, elegantly written, and brimming with vivid characters and detail. * Daniel Stashower, bestselling author of American Demon *

Author Bio

Simon Read is the author of nine previous works of non-fiction, his most recent being The Iron Sea.

His books Winston Churchill Reporting: Adventures of a Young War Correspondent and Human Game: Hunting the Great Escape Murderers have been optioned for screen adaption.

Originally from Britain, he currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.