The Mammoth Book of Unsolved Crime: The Biggest and Best Collection of Unsolved Murder and Mystery Cases

by Roger Wilkes (Editor)

This compelling volume presents thirty-five of the most intriguing crime cases that still defy solution, as reported by leading authors and journalists in the field of crime writing. Expanded and updated, this new edition of The Mammoth Book of Unsolved Crime includes such recent cases as British backpacker Peter Falconio, lost in the Australian outback, and reporting as diverse as Colin Wilson's look at the Zodiac Killer of California and Russell Miller's examination of the ongoing obsession with LA's Black Dahlia Killer, to Sydney Horley on the woman who was cleared of murdering her husband and went on to become a Broadway star, and Philip Sugden on that most mythic criminal enigma of them all, Jack the Ripper. Nearly all the cases involve one or more acts of murder, and all are left with a question mark hanging over them—real-life whodunits that offer a continuing challenge to all who find fascination in the criminal mind.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Anthologies, Mystery

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Siobhan]

We all have those family members who like to lumber you with things once they find out about your interest.

Well this book came from my aunt when she found out about my interest in forensic psychology. Supposedly I need to become an expert in the criminal world – mainly I need to be able to recite the heinous acts of countless individuals across history.

Okay, maybe she did not put it like that but it sort of felt that way when she handed me numerous books on the topic.

Still, despite the fact that such a thing can be viewed as being exceptionally weird, the books she gave me were all interesting reads. This one included. It is educational (even if it is not the kind of topic you would want to teach at school) and an interesting read.

Whilst not my usual I rather enjoyed reading the details of this book.

[Dawn]

Ih, I've had this one for a long time & have read bits at a time. It just doesn't grab me, despite my fascination with True Crime.

[Lawrence]

This compelling volume presents thirty-five of the most intriguing crime cases that still defy solution, as reported by leading authors and journalists in the field of crime writing. Expanded and updated, this new edition of The Mammoth Book of Unsolved Crime includes such recent cases as British backpacker Peter Falconio, lost in the Australian outback, and reporting as diverse as Colin Wilson's look at the Zodiac Killer of California and Russell Miller's examination of the ongoing obsession with LA's Black Dahlia Killer, to Sydney Horley on the woman who was cleared of murdering her husband and went on to become a Broadway star, and Philip Sugden on that most mythic criminal enigma of them all, Jack the Ripper. Nearly all the cases involve one or more acts of murder, and all are left with a question mark hanging over them—real-life whodunits that offer a continuing challenge to all who find fascination in the criminal mind.
Of the thousands of mostly non-fiction books I have read-this has to be among my top twenty,
Very readable, a thinking person's kind of book.

[Graham Clayton]

This compendium was assembled by British broadcast journalist Roger Wilkes, author of three previous true-crime books. He covers forgotten and familiar cases, but instead of retelling the stories himself, he instead chooses excerpts from books published over the past 75 years which cover those cases. This anthology displays a diverse lineup of 38 writers and journalists.

Excerpts feature Colin Wilson and the ‘Zodiac’ killer of California; Russell Miller and the obsession with the Black Dahlia; Rebecca West on the killing of Stanley Setty; Brian Masters on the killing of Rachel Nickell; Kenneth Alsop on who shot ‘Jake’ Lingle and Philip Sugden on the most famous serial killer of all time - Jack the Ripper.

A very entertaining read, not only for the cases but also because of the wide variety of the writing styles featured in the excerpts.

[Tina Maria]

Boring...could barely get through half of the book!

[Jeremiah]

Some were great and very well written, others not as much and too much emphasis on victorian poisoning crimes but did expose me to a writer named Alan Hutt who I will try to find more of.

[Linda Thompson]

Love me some olden day crimes

[Starry Freya]

A great collection of cases from different countries.

[Sarah D Bunting]

Poorly edited, choppy, pompous writing -- even for the genre, it's rather bad. I was really excited about it, too. A few selections are readable and interesting, and it's okay as a bathroom book, I guess, but for sitting and reading, you're better off with something else.

[kylajaclyn]

An alternative title for this book should be: The Mammoth Book of Death by Arsenic and Other Poisonings. Anyway, besides the high profile cases mentioned in this book, there isn't a whole lot in here worth reading, which is a shame.

[Lynda Kelly]

Another helpful murderous reference book !!

[Morgan]

Dry account of popularly rehashed cold cases.

[Amy]

Cases were too dated for my taste.