Scotland Yard
A History of the London Police Force's Most Infamous Murder Cases
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- $27.99
Publisher Description
A riveting true-crime history of London's first modern police force as told through its most notorious murder cases.
The idea of "Scotland Yard" is steeped in atmospheric stories of foggy London streets, murder by lamplight, and fiendish killers pursued by gentleman detectives. From its establishment in 1829 through the eve of World War II, Scotland Yard—the world’s first modern, professional, and centrally organized police force—set new standards for policing and investigating.
Scotland Yard advanced ground-breaking use of forensics—from fingerprints to ballistics to evidence collection—made the first attempt at criminal profiling, and captivated the public on both sides of the Atlantic with feats of detective work that rivaled any fictional interpretation.
Based on official case files, contemporary newspaper reporting, trial transcripts, and the first-hand accounts of the detectives on the beat, Scotland Yard tells the tales of some of history’s most notorious murders—with cases that proved to be landmarks in the field of criminal inquiry.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Journalist Read (Human Game) shrewdly synthesizes a wealth of material in this insightful survey of London's Scotland Yard police force from its 1829 founding to the 1930s. Utilizing court transcripts, investigative files, and other sources, Read traces how the force evolved into a world-renowned pioneer in forensic science and criminal investigation. He begins the account with the 1811 Ratcliffe Highway murders, in which two East London families were slaughtered within days of each other; the attack spurred public interest in better policing and resulted in the establishment of the London Metropolitan Police (which took the nickname "Scotland Yard" from the street where its headquarters were located). From there, he documents Londoners' initial worries about police interference in their lives, and then recounts the department's most consequential cases, including the Jack the Ripper murders, which led to major advancements in fingerprinting and ballistics analysis. He doesn't shy away from controversy, memorably highlighting 1877's "Trial of the Detectives," which uncovered corruption in the Yard's upper ranks. Marrying rigorous research and smooth storytelling, this is a must-read for fans of true crime. Photos.
