Books published by Pen & Sword Books

Crime, Clemency and Consequence in Britain 1821-1839

A short review of the letters appealing for clemency that were sent to the Home Secretary during the 1820s and 1830s.

Reviewed on 09 June 2018 by Kim Fleet

Bad Girls From History

An anthology of prostitutes, mistresses, murderers and troublemakers.

Reviewed on 28 April 2018 by Kim Fleet

Digging in the Dark

A history of the Yorkshire resurrectionists: body snatchers who robbed graves and sold the cadavers to medical schools for research.

Reviewed on 14 October 2017 by Kim Fleet

The Yorkshire Witch: The Life and Trial of Mary Bateman

The true story of 19th century thief, con artist and poisoner Mary Bateman, known as the Yorkshire Witch.

Reviewed on 22 July 2017 by Kim Fleet

Mad or Bad: Crime and Insanity in Victorian Britain

A history of the insanity plea and how ‘mad doctors’, judges and the public reacted to claims some criminals weren’t bad, just mad.

Reviewed on 08 July 2017 by Kim Fleet

Crime and Corruption at the Yard

DI David Woodland’s 19 years service covers the growing pressure on the capital’s police, its major scandals, and the current problems faced by a depleted, demoralised force hamstrung by gutless bosses and the effects of PC and ‘human rights’ on the preservation of law and order.

Reviewed on 24 December 2016 by John Cleal

Mary Ann Cotton - Dark Angel: Britains First Female Serial Killer

A methodical account of the life of Mary Ann Cotton, the woman often labelled as Britain’s first female serial killer, which casts new light on that claim.

Reviewed on 24 December 2016 by Chris Smart