A collection of 7 essays, originally published in 1936, on real-life murders, by leading crime writers of the 1930s. The first, Helen Simpson’s essay on the death of Henry Kinder is very dry, as is John Rhode’s analysis of Constance Kent, this story having interest as being about the events that inspired The Suspicions of Mr Whicher. Margaret Cole on Adelaide Barrett is slightly more lively, being more willing to offer opinion and observation. E R Punshon the the Landru case tells an interesting tale that feels like a short story, and perhaps to some extent is, as inevitably there is some element of speculation as to actual events, and in this particular case, no bodies were ever found, making Landru’s conviction all the more remarkable. Dorothy L Sayers’ essay on the still unsolved 1931 murder of Julia Wallace is a tale well told, as on the whole is Francis Iles on the murder of Francis Rattenbury, though it is a little drawn out, and I found myself annoyed at the casual sexism in the final pages examining whether Rattenbury’s wife had influence over her teenage lover, who was convicted of the murder. Women, it seems, could be blamed for most murders in one way or another. By far the most interesting was Freeman Willis Croft on the murder of Samuel and Christobel Lakey, for which Bill Bayly was convicted. The essay details the police investigation and the many pieces of evidence found and analysed. It is interesting as an essay on forensics. ( )