BOOK BRIEF

Murder by the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London

Claire Harman
Guide cover placeholder

Murder by the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2019

Book Brief

Sparkles iconBeta
Claire Harman

Murder by the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2019
Book Details
Pages

272

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Genre
Mystery & Crime Fiction
Period
Victorian Era
Setting

London • 1840s

Topic
World History
Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Murder by the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London, Claire Harman explores the real-life murder of Lord William Russell in 1840. This crime, which impacted Charles Dickens and his contemporaries, examines the intersection of literature and crime in Victorian London, highlighting societal influences on both criminal behavior and literary reactions.

Mysterious

Informative

Dark

Unnerving

Reviews & Readership

3.5

1,487 ratings

36%

Loved it

45%

Mixed feelings

19%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Claire Harman's Murder by the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London offers a well-researched dive into a Victorian-era murder case. Readers praise its engaging narrative style and historical insight. However, some find the pacing uneven and desire more depth in character exploration. Overall, it's a compelling mix of true crime and literary history.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Murder by the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London?

Readers fascinated by historical crime and Victorian-era London will enjoy Murder by the Book: The Crime That Shocked Dickens's London by Claire Harman. Fans of The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher and The Devil in the White City will find the blend of true crime and literary history compelling.

3.5

1,487 ratings

36%

Loved it

45%

Mixed feelings

19%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

272

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Genre
Mystery & Crime Fiction
Period
Victorian Era
Setting

London • 1840s

Topic
World History
Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!