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The Mind of a Murderer

A glimpse into the darkest corners of the human psyche, from a leading forensic psychiatrist
By Richard Taylor
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Mind of a Murderer by Richard Taylor delves into the psychological complexities and motivations behind criminal behaviour in real-life murder cases. Taylor explores the depths of the human psyche, uncovering the mindsets and circumstances that drive individuals to commit such heinous acts. This gripping examination offers insights into the intricate intersections of psychology and crime, keeping readers deeply engaged in the dark thrill of understanding what makes murderers tick.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$10100

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This intriguing delve into the psychological motivations behind criminal behaviour may captivate you if you're fascinated by the complex minds of those who commit crime. Blending criminal psychology with real-world anecdotes, it offers an insightful exploration that thriller and true-crime enthusiasts could find compelling.

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A gripping and eye-opening insight into life as a forensic psychiatrist, from one of the most experienced doctors in the field

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
'An intricate and brilliantly written psychiatric perspective on the most perplexing of crimes' Kerry Daynes, author of The Dark Side of the Mind 'Beautifully written and very dark' Nimco Ali OBE 'Whodunnit' doesn't matter so much, not to a forensic psychiatrist. We're more interested in the 'why'. In his twenty-six years in the field, Richard Taylor has worked on well over a hundred murder cases, with victims and perpetrators from all walks of life. In this fascinating memoir, Taylor draws on some of the most tragic, horrific and illuminating of these cases - as well as dark secrets from his own family's past - to explore some of the questions he grapples with every day: Why do people kill? Does committing a monstrous act make someone a monster? Could any of us, in the wrong circumstances, become a killer? As Taylor helps us understand what lies inside the minds of those charged with murder - both prisoners he has assessed and patients he has treated - he presents us with the most important challenge of all: how can we even begin to comprehend the darkest of human deeds, and why it is so vital that we try? The Mind of a Murderer is a fascinating exploration into the psyche of killers, as well as a unique insight into the life and mind of the doctor who treats them. For fans of Unnatural Causes, The Examined Life and All That Remains. MORE PRAISE FOR THE MIND OF A MURDERER: 'A fascinating insight into what drives criminality - and a punchy polemic against mental-health service cuts' Jake Kerridge, Sunday Telegraph 'A fascinating, well-written and compelling account of the mental state in homicide' Alisdair Williamson, TLS 'A dark, fascinating and often surprising glimpse into the minds of those who kill, from a forensic psychiatrist who's seen it all' Rob Williams, writer of BBC's The Victim 'An excellent, engaging and honest book, full of interesting, powerful and important observations' Alison Liebling, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Cambridge

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Mind of a Murderer by Richard Taylor is praised for providing an absorbing and intricate look into high-profile criminal cases through a psychiatric lens. The book is described as both heartbreaking and insightful, with a fascinating glimpse into the minds of killers. Additionally, it is recognised for its commentary on the pressures within psychiatry and as a critique against cuts in mental health services.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472268204

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 July 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Wildfire

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 36.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 432

Collections

Biography & Memoir Crime & Thriller Education & Reference Fiction Richard Taylor True Crime

About the Author

Richard Taylor was born in Singapore and grew up in the south of England. He trained as a doctor at University College London, and was inspired to move into psychiatry, and then forensic psychiatry, by some of the stabbing victims he treated in A&E as a junior doctor; long after the life-threatening injuries had been dealt with, he would find himself wondering about the narrative behind the crime - who attacked whom, and why?

He completed post-graduate training at the Bethlem and Maudsley hospitals and then took up a post as Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist. Since then he has gained extensive experience working on cases involving all types of crime including rape, arson, serious violence, murder and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. He has dealt with murder cases of all types over his nearly three-decade psychiatry career, both as an expert witness and as a treating forensic psychiatrist.

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