The Prospect of Whitby and the Hanging Judge
Yes, that is a noose, and that is the River Thames. And yes, the gallows’ crossbeam is indeed aimed at the financial centre, Canary Wharf. The gallows is part of the Prospect of Whitby, one [...]
By Paddy
In Articles, books, Business, Case Study, crime, history, non fiction, Non-fiction, Writing, writing
Posted The murders that made the NYPD
When the Revolutionary War ended in 1783 and the King’s soldiers departed for England, the King’s laws went with them. Good riddance, most people said. British rule had been oppressive, [...]
By Paddy
Posted America’s First Murderer
“As far as I can tell, the first murder in New England was committed in 1630 with a gun.” Thomas McDade, The Annals of Murder. John Billington was probably not the first man to commit [...]
By Paddy
In Articles, books, Case Study, Education, history, Murder, Non-fiction, Uncategorized, Writing, writing
Posted The First American Psychos?
On a summer’s day in 1799, a group of men were driving cattle from Kentucky to Virginia, along a road known as Boone’s Trace, when the cows suddenly quit the road and rushed into the woods. Once [...]
Murder in the first degree – a history
I had always thought of ‘murder in the first degree’ as something dating back to mediaeval times in England. It certainly has that ring to it. But it turns out, it’s not an [...]
Wintering in Memphis
I just got back from a fantastic visit to Memphis, and the American Booksellers Association Winter Institute, which is an annual gathering of independent booksellers. The people I met there were [...]
Kill someone! Great lines from the biggest reviewer of crime.
“I will never read a normal novel. I just can’t. I won’t. I mean, I keep saying, you know, where’s the body? Kill someone! Let’s get out of here! Let’s move [...]
It’s all in their heads
Next month is the Anthony Boucher Memorial World Mystery Convention. Inevitably known as Bouchercon, it’s an annual convention of creators and devotees of mystery and detective fiction. [...]
