Short Synopsis
From Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes to the cozy crimes of the Golden Age, renowned historian Lucy Worsley explores the evolution of the traditional English murder and reveals why we are so fascinated by this sinister subject.

Full Synopsis
Murder: a dark, shameful deed, the last resort of the desperate or a vile tool of the greedy—and a very strange, very English obsession. But where did this fixation develop? And what does it tell us about ourselves?

In The Art of the English Murder, Lucy Worsley explores this phenomenon in forensic detail, revisiting notorious crimes like the Ratcliff Highway Murders, which caused a nationwide panic in the early nineteenth century, and the case of Frederick and Maria Manning, the suburban couple who were hanged after killing Maria's lover and burying him under their kitchen floor. Our fascination with crimes like these became a form of national entertainment, inspiring novels and plays, prose and paintings, poetry and true-crime journalism. The Art of the English Murder is a unique exploration of the art of crime—and a riveting investigation into the English criminal soul.

"[Anne] certainly has an excellent professional reading voice. Her intonation is perfect." ---Publishers Weekly Audio Review

"An able guide, Flosnik navigates the years from 1800-1946 via gory newspaper items, garish "penny dreadfuls" based on real crimes, and the rise of true-crime journalism." ---AudioFile

"This appetite for gore as entertainment spawned a major industry in print, theater and artifacts in 19th-century England." ---New York Times

"I think if you love mystery and history the thesis of the book will grab you from the start. If you write mystery, or make a habit of reviewing them, it is a must read." ---Fangs Wands & Fairy Dust

"Worsley's vivid account excites as much as its sensational subject matter, and edifies, too, thanks to her learned explications." ---Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Worsley captures this bloody love affair very well." ---The Independent

"[T]he audiobook would be perfect for car trips, exercise sessions, or relaxing evenings at home." ---Library Journal Audio Review

Publishers Weekly Review