Book Description:
‘Hugely insightful and thought provoking . . . I read it from cover to cover in one go’ – Emilia Fox
‘With characteristic brilliance and admirable sensitivity, Wilson illuminates the complex causes of their often horrific crimes’ – Professor Simon Winlow, Vice President of the British Society of Criminology
Professor David Wilson has spent his professional life working with violent men – especially men who have committed murder. Aged twenty-nine he became, at that time, the UK’s youngest ever prison Governor in charge of a jail and his career since then has seen him sat across a table with all sorts of killers: sometimes in a tense interview; sometimes sharing a cup of tea (or something a little stronger); sometimes looking them in the eye to tell them that they are a psychopath.
Some of these men became David’s friends; others would still love to kill him.
My Life with Murderers tells the story of David’s journey from idealistic prison governor to expert criminologist and professor. With experience unlike any other, David’s story is a fascinating and compelling study of human nature.
My Thoughts:
I was fortunate enough to see the author at an event in Bloody Scotland in 2019. Having found his talk extremely intriguing as well as spellbinding, I could have happily sat there all day and listened to him talking, I bought a copy of this book after the event where he was signing copies.
Ashamedly it has taken me sometime to get to it. It has been sat on my bedside table waiting patiently to be read but am glad to say that I have now read it and it was every bit as interesting as I had hoped for and more.
I’m sure I am not on my own in having a fascination when it comes to serial killers and murderers. With so many crime books, shows, films, they make for compelling screen and reading time. For me I suppose it’s the whys. Why would someone murder someone or multiple people? Is it events from their own childhood that has shaped them into who they are today or can you really just be born evil? What goes on in that persons mind?
The author’s professional experiences, lets us get a step closer into meeting these people and finding out. Through David’s own thoughts and the conversations he has with these people, it in some ways opened my eyes and was fascinating learning about techniques they use in trying to uncover the truth. His conversation and dealings with some of the more well known killers, was especially interesting.
My Life With Murderers is a must read for any crime fans, more so for ones who enjoy true crimes and non fiction. There is something more chilling when you are reading about real murderers rather than fictional characters. Professor David Wilson is someone who I urge if you ever get the opportunity to, to go experience one of his talks in person. You won’t be sorry. It certainly had me hotfooting it to get one of his books to find out more and I was every bit as fascinated about the work he does as well as the people who have committed the crimes.
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