Crime is an endlessly fascinating subject - crime novels sell in their millions each year; detectives - amateur and professional - have been a staple in the cinema and on television ever since the media were invented. Readers and viewers thrill to their exploits as they solve seemingly baffling crimes, apprehend the baddies and bring them to justice.
However, as this fascinating survey of 501 Most Notorious Crimes by best-selling author and crime historian Paul Donnelley shows, true crime is often more bizarre than its fictional counterpoint.
As well as recounting the details of each crime, Donnelley tells you what happened afterwards - what happened to the participants and often the criminals and their victims speak for themselves, revealing their reasoning behind their actions.
501 Most Notorious Crimes is far more riveting than any crime novel!