Join the UK’s leading criminologist Professor David Wilson, author of the fascinating new book Murder At Home as he explores how, for so many victims, their safest space is the place they are most in danger. Delving into infamous as well as lesser-known cases, this examination of how murderers have used different rooms in a house is perfect for fans of The Dark Side of the Mind and The Mind of a Murderer. I received this book as part of my last A Box of Stories book delivery and was quite excited by it. I was looking forward to reading all about the interviews with the murderers and learning about the psychology of why they committed these acts. Unfortunately, this wasn't what I got.

My Life With Murderers - Professor David Wilson - TicketSource My Life With Murderers - Professor David Wilson - TicketSource

In a career spanning 40 years, David has met all sorts of killers: hitmen, mass, spree and serial killers and those murderers who seem to kill “in 5 minutes of madness”. Sometimes he meets them in a tense interview in a cell; sometimes to share a cup of tea (or something a little stronger); or sometimes just to look them in the eye as he tells them that, yes, they really are a psychopath. David’s recent TV work has included BBC Scotland's David Wilson's Crime Files.He appeared with Emilia Fox in Channel 4's Walking in Killer's Footsteps and also helped to devise and present Radio 4's In The Criminologist’s Chair. Now you have the opportunity to hear David’s story from idealistic prison governor straight out of Cambridge University to expert criminologist and emeritus professor.

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Thoroughly enjoyable and knowledgeable, especially if you thinking of going going down the criminology route as am I. But it’s all great for learning things that you’ve not heard of before. Or a more better insight into things; such as psychopathy. David has advised on live police investigations related to a linked series of murders and has provided training to new Senior Investigating Officers who will take charge of murder inquiries.

My Life with Murderers: Behind Bars with the World’s Most

I also thoroughly enjoyed the little titbits into prison life with Charles Manson (I laughed out loud at the, in all honestly, bizarre scenario of Manson threatening to stab the prison guards with his moustache while stark naked and covered in shoe polish) and a ‘Furries’ convention that Wilson inadvertently ended up getting in the mix with. I would have enjoyed some more of these personal insights, as they added some much needed light relief to a heavy topic. The best section was toward the end when he discussed the making of the documentary 'Interview with a Murderer'. He spends some time discussing the murder of a teenage paper boy with the convicted Murderer Bert Spencer, who was suspected of killing the boy. I know I'm not the only one who spends their time watching YouTube videos about serial killers. This book is the ideal companion to that pastime. It’s clear that Wilson knows his stuff. Without having read any of his previous novels, it’s clear that he has years of experience dealing with various psychopaths and murderers and knows their personalities inside and out. He takes a more scientific approach compared to his American contemporaries too, relying more heavily of the psychology of victims and evidence based practice compared to ‘one off interviews’ and showman ship. It’s a refreshing and more reliable approach to others I’ve read (ie John Douglas, who gets a sound dressing down here). In a career spanning 40 years David has met all sorts of killers: hitmen, mass, spree and serial killers and those murderers who seem to kill “in 5 minutes of madness”. Sometimes he meets them in a tense interview in a cell; sometimes to share a cup of tea (or something a little stronger); or sometimes just to look them in the eye as he tells them that, yes, they really are a psychopath.

My Book Notes

Wilson writes well, smooth simple prose that aids in eliminating any pretension whatsoever and yet carries a rather nuanced but striking knowledge base that’s undoubtedly dripping with murderous intrigue.

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He intersperses stories of notorious cases - from Denis Nilsen to the murder of James Bulger - to illustrate his themes which include the social nature of crime, and how the murderer is a product of society. Some of the sections were interesting. His description of the rehab techniques some of the prisons use was intriguing. And his comparison of US and UK interview techniques was unsurprising but interesting anyway. David Wilson is Professor of Criminology and founding Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology at Birmingham City University – one of the university’s “research centres of excellence”. He is the co-Editor of the prestigious Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, which is produced five times per year. Prior to taking up his academic appointment in September 1997, David was Senior Policy Advisor to the Prison Reform Trust, and between October 1983-April 1997 he worked as a Prison Governor.

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The tour, which begins in April in Salford and travels to multiple venues across the country before culminating in Cardiff in May, draws on David’s unique experiences and unparalleled knowledge of murder, sharing his unusual career journey, discussing his fascinating and compelling study of human nature, and delving into infamous as well as lesser-known true crime cases in an attempt to make sense out of the senseless. He will be coming to Exeter’s Northcott Theatre on 16 April. Stars — This is exactly what you think it is, and I — For One — Am extremely grateful for that, because David Wilson is perhaps the true Prof of all things murder and crime so hearing his personal journey through the murky depths of psychopathic Rabbit Warrens is one I strapped in for whole-heartedly. This book is incredibly insightful intro he life of David Wilson and his exposure to the criminal men of Britain. We’re introduced into the world of prison life and what needs to be done. I hold the same views as Professor David Wilson in the rehabilitation of men, that that is extremely important.

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It’s fascinating stuff: my only criticism would be that it’s not the most linear narrative. Sometimes I felt like I was taking a meandering trip through Wilson’s thought processes! Overall an interesting book. What stood out for me was the contrast with UK and US police interrogation techniques. One investigatory and the other accusatory. I liked the PEACE mnemonic for investigatory procedures: Ashamedly it has taken me sometime to get to it. It has been sat on my bedside table waiting patiently to be read but am glad to say that I have now read it and it was every bit as interesting as I had hoped for and more.I was fortunate enough to see the author at an event in Bloody Scotland in 2019. Having found his talk extremely intriguing as well as spellbinding, I could have happily sat there all day and listened to him talking, I bought a copy of this book after the event where he was signing copies. Hugely insightful and thought provoking . . . I read it from cover to cover in one go' - Emilia Fox