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The Invention of Murder
The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime | Judith Flanders
"Superb... Flanders's convincing and smart synthesis of the evolution of an official police force, fictional detectives, and real-life cause clbres will appeal to devotees of true crime and detective fiction alike." -Publishers Weekly, starred review In this fascinating exploration of murder in nineteenth century England, Judith Flanders examines some of the most gripping cases that captivated the Victorians and gave rise to the first detective fiction Murder in the nineteenth century was rare. But murder as sensation and entertainment became ubiquitous, with cold-blooded killings transformed into novels, broadsides, ballads, opera, and melodrama-even into puppet shows and performing dog-acts. Detective fiction and the new police force developed in parallel, each imitating the other-the founders of Scotland Yard gave rise to Dickens's Inspector Bucket, the first fictional police detective, who in turn influenced Sherlock Holmes and, ultimately, even P.D. James and Patricia Cornwell. In this meticulously researched and engrossing book, Judith Flanders retells the gruesome stories of many different types of murder in Great Britain, both famous and obscure: from Greenacre, who transported his dismembered fiance around town by omnibus, to Burke and Hare's bodysnatching business in Edinburgh; from the crimes (and myths) of Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper, to the tragedy of the murdered Marr family in London's East End. Through these stories of murder-from the brutal to the pathetic-Flanders builds a rich and multi-faceted portrait of Victorian society in Great Britain. With an irresistible cast of swindlers, forgers, and poisoners, the mad, the bad and the utterly dangerous, The Invention of Murder is both a mesmerizing tale of crime and punishment, and history at its most readable.
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ReadingOver50
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Mehso-so

This is nonfiction and details how the Victorians used murder as entertainment. After it describes each murder it then goes into great detail about the books, songs and plays that were inspired by the event. It is a lot of information and it becomes too much. This book feels much longer than it needs to be. 2.5 stars

Bluebird Interesting topic! What a shame it was a disappointment! 3mo
ReadingOver50 @Bluebird yes, I had high hopes for this but it just wasn‘t that great. 3mo
63 likes1 stack add2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Mehso-so

I FINALLY finished this. It‘s interesting if you like repetitive content. Much of it was this is the murder, this is the trial and how newspapers portrayed it, this is the extras that were written, these are the plays/performances. On to the next murder and all the same things. There were interesting bits like how famous authors interwove the themes of the murders/murders/victims into their writing.
Unless you are really into Victorian era, pass.

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HotMessJess
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I défend my portfolio/thesis this week, so ready to have time to read again after the last 3 years of work.

charl08 Good luck💪 13mo
Dragon 🙌💚🐉 13mo
17 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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My bedside stack that I created recently when I semi forced myself to start reading again at bedtime.
The tagged book has been there a while. I had to stop reading it because it was annoying me. Not sure if I will go back to it.
Women Talking is my current.
Anne of Manhattan is next for the buddy read.
The others called to me from my shelves.
A little #littenkitten in there too 😊

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OrangeMooseReads
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I had a $25 gift card for B&N and they had buy one get one half off.
I have the second book in ‘The Mysterious Benedict Society‘ don‘t remember how I ended up with the second one.
I‘ve wanted the tagged book for a while.
I couldn‘t pass up these bookmarks.

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Birch
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Pickpick

I love reading about this time period, and the argument is sort of brilliant. This book, though — you ever talk to someone you didn‘t know has a graduate degree, and then inadvertently ask them about their area of expertise that is going un-tapped. un-sung, and unused in their day-to-day life? Reading this book was quite a bit like that: filled to the brim with and extraordinary amount of detail; which is to say, amazing, but kind of exhausting.

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LoverOfLearning
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Been ever so slowly reading this one! I wish they condensed it down it's way to long! But I love the information in it!

lazydaizee Looks interesting, scary cover. 3y
LoverOfLearning @lazydaizee so scary and very informative. But whew it is a marathon! 3y
49 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BekaReid
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Rainy evenings call for reading with tea and crumpets

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shanaqui

I had NO idea that Hare and his family (of Burke and Hare fame, i.e. the resurrectionists who decided to just create some extra dead bodies) were not imprisoned/executed and actually went free after turning king's evidence! I'm not surprised there was an attempted lynching when they were recognised.

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shanaqui

Grasshopper mind is onto another different topic! I feared this might be a bit dry, but I basically swallowed the first ~45 pages whole, so I think me and this book will get on. I think Judith Flanders has written a few other non-fic books which I'm interested in, too, so that's a good sign.

12 likes1 stack add
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SpookyDonut
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Been in a reading slump for awhile now. Trying to pull myself out of it. #theinventionofmurder #history #crime #bookslump

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Bookishlie
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Bailedbailed

Yeah - no. Wasn‘t for me. I tried really hard but got 82 pages in and gave up. Moving on to the next person who hopefully will love this more than I did. #lmpbc E

rsteve388 Yeah, not my best pick. 3y
Annie1215 I think you‘ll enjoy the next book more! 3y
Bookishlie @rsteve388 that‘s ok. I did that last round so I feel yeah! 3y
25 likes3 comments
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Bookishlie
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Bailedbailed

Ok I tried. I usually have a 100 page rule before I bail. I‘m at 87 and I can‘t. I have too many books I want to read. I‘m sorry. Just can‘t. #LMBC fail for me. It was bound to happen when I join groups out of my comfort zone......

rsteve388 No worries. It was rough. Glad to know the book made it to you. 3y
Amiable What was it that made you bail? The subject matter? The writing style? I have this book in my pile at home and haven‘t read it yet. 3y
Bookishlie It was very dense informational reading and to me there was no spark that made it more interesting. It just seemed to read out dates, this happened , that happened, next thing. I‘m also very much a mood reader and this wasn‘t for me. 3y
28 likes1 stack add3 comments
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rsteve388
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Mehso-so

This book had a lot of detail.regarding the many murders that took place throughout Victorian London.and how it influenced novels, stage plays and entertainment overall. It was a bit too long for my liking and I found myself having to push through the book in order to finish it. Had this book been developed into two.books it might be easier to handle all the details.

#LMBC @Annie1215 Sending you the book on Monday.

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rsteve388

#NFN2020 Emails have gone out for points for week 3!

Don't forget to do the TIL for anything you learn! It's an easy five points!

Happy Reading Y'all

alisiakae Oops forgot to fill out my week 3 form! Can I still do it? 3y
rsteve388 Yes but I won't count it till.i do week 4 pts. 3y
veritysalter Oh no, I forgot too 😳 3y
17 likes4 comments
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rsteve388

#NFN2020 Folks, I have just sent out point emails for week two!

I am so excited for all of you and your mom fiction reading!

rsteve388 did I say mom fiction reading and no one said anything... i can not rely on any of you.... shakes head 3y
alisiakae 🤣🤣 loving my mom reading fiction this month! 😜 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I'm super late seeing this, not participating, and thought I missed a prompt about moms, but I definitely paused to think about the mom fiction. 🤣🤣🤣 3y
rsteve388 Smartasses. 3y
19 likes4 comments
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rsteve388

I am really struggling with this book. Over this weekend I am gonna try my best to do the first 299 pages of the book.

#NFN2020

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rsteve388
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I have started reading this for #NFN20 and #LMPBC

#NFN20 peeps it's Sunday! Record your points for the week. I'll tally your numbers tomorrow and send you an email Tues or Weds.

Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YgraCMDM7h7k73ahJFhXYOqVRUrH2qsNdt_-MecklPU/edi...

veritysalter I loved this book 3y
29 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Chrys
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Brought this to read during downtime at work, I am getting some odd looks from my coworkers ☠️

32 likes3 stack adds
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CoffeeK8
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Encountered some friends on my #audiowalk this morning 🦌

Crazeedi They are so beautiful 4y
valeriegeary They still have their cute little spots! 🥰 4y
kspenmoll Sweet! 4y
43 likes3 comments
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NotCool
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Pickpick

If this book taught me nothing else it taught me this, the Victorians LOVED to turn gruesome murders into rhymes. “Mary Ann Cotton, She‘s Dead and rotten, She lies in her bed, With her eyes oppen. Sing, sing, what can I sing? Mary Ann Cotton is tied up with string.”

8 likes1 stack add
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Raiyine
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I am obsessed with this book. 30% in and I can‘t get enough.

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r0sepetals
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Merry Christmas and a very Happy Holiday season to everyone. I for one am full, tired and ready to get started on some new books I received tonight. I hope everyone is in a safe space, and enjoying time with those who mean the most to you. 🎅🏼❄️🎄🎁📚💕

35 likes1 stack add
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LoverOfLearning
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Stopping at page 85 for the night. This book is deeply interesting! Too bad I have to study for a final now. 🙄😑

Buechersuechtling I hope your preparation goes/went well. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼 for your exam. Good luck. 🍀 4y
LoverOfLearning @Buechersuechtling awe thanks! Got a 98% on one... and waiting for the professor to open the 2nd final. 4y
38 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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LoverOfLearning
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Just bought this book yesterday. I am so excited to read this. The Victorian era was crazy with all of the medical discoveries and medicine concoctions that were found to be unsafe. So creepy and interesting to me.

erzascarletbookgasm I have this waiting for me :) 4y
46 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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LeahBergen
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DGRachel I think I have this one on Kindle, but I haven‘t read it, yet. 4y
LeahBergen @DGRachel It‘s still TBR for me, too. 😆 4y
Aimeesue I have that book, but with a much less interesting cover! I've only read half, I'm afraid. 4y
See All 6 Comments
jillrhudy On the TBR, probably on your former recommendation! 4y
LeahBergen @Aimeesue I‘ve only dipped into it a little myself. 😄 4y
73 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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ofbooksandme
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There was no walking today for me because it's been like this all day long. So, a little view of my backyard as I settle inside with some mate and my audiobook with the rain as company.
#Litsywalkers
@kaye

Kaye Better luck tomorrow maybe ! 5y
Bklover So pretty! 5y
40 likes2 comments
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ofbooksandme
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Following @kaye idea, I went for a walk with my audiobook of choice (started the tagged one).
Today was a very hot summer day but, on your typical Buenos Aires' way it was also rainy and the humidity was just awful. 👌
While I live about 40 minutes away from city center, Buenos Aires is a HUGE city so I kind of still live in the city and my view is basically streets and buildings, so I decided to go to the park. Hence the view.
#LitsyWalkers

Kaye Very pretty park, and good job on your walk ! 5y
DarcysMom How nice to have a park close by to walk in! 5y
Lauram Beautiful! 5y
43 likes3 comments
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Grrlbrarian
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It‘s 2 pm and we‘re fairly snowed in. I‘m still in my pajamas, have done almost no chores, and am tucked up reading the book that @Ashley31 got me for Christmas. Life is good ❄️📚

8little_paws Snowing here too! So the rest of the day will be on the couch with books :) 5y
mrsmarch Where are you snowed in at? 26 and windy here in BOS but no snow in sight! 5y
RealBooks4ever High winds here in Portland, Oregon! Can‘t stand wind so I‘m staying cozy inside! 🌬 ☕️📚 5y
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Grrlbrarian @mrsmarch Central Illinois. Not sure how much snow we‘ve gotten total - somewhere between 9-12 inches today probably. Stay warm: and you too, @8little_paws and @RealBooks4ever 5y
8little_paws I'm in chicago and we only got like maybe 2 inches I think but it was like flurries all day 5y
Grrlbrarian @8little_paws 10-11 inches total here. Blech! 5y
55 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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TheBookkeepersApprentice
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What will most likely be my last read of 2018 and it is a great one! It‘s been my before-bed book for a while, and I took it on the long train ride home from a wonderful family vacation so I only have about 100 pages left! #currentlyreading #nonfiction #truecrime #murderino

21 likes1 stack add
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Grrlbrarian
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Enjoying this A++ surprise book gift from the amazing @Ashley31 ❤️ It‘s such a juicy, anecdote-filled deep dive into the dawn of detection. Thanks a million for the spellbinding read! 🔪💉💀🕵️‍♂️

62 likes6 stack adds
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SnazzyShelbey91
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Now that the semester is over, I can finally read something other than The Fundamentals of Nursing!

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TheBookkeepersApprentice
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My anxiety is up, so I‘m curled up all cozy with a fireplace on my tv, an evergreen candle, a quilt, a snuggly dog by my side, and a good book.

11 likes1 stack add
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knotmagick
Pickpick

I cannot give this book enough stars. It's an amazing piece of nonfiction and a must for anyone interested in the Victorian period.

3 likes1 stack add
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knotmagick
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I haven't highlighted a book this much since my freshman year of college

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knotmagick
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The cloud reader is a beautiful thing.

6 likes1 stack add
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TheRomantiCate
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May 4: #ReadingResolutions— Cool covers; I‘m obsessed with this one... I think cool is in the eye of the beholder 😎🤓😜

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TheRomantiCate
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February 1: #RiotGrams #shelfie

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Emmalibby
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#anticipatedfebruaryread for #febinbooks18
I got this from the library a couple of weeks ago and am looking forward to starting it. (Though maybe not tonight, I've been watching The Exorcist tv show all evening and I need something lighter!)

#readingchallenge #challenge #febinbooks18 #nonfiction #history #crime

61 likes1 stack add
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WarpedSweetness
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These are the only #BlackandWhite books that I own. I haven't read them yet, but they're on my list to read by the end of this year.

#SpookyOctober @Jess7

LibrarianRyan I have heard good things about Asylum. 6y
WarpedSweetness @LibrarianRyan Me too! Plus Emilie Autumn is one of my favourite musicians, so I have to read it. 6y
42 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TheRomantiCate
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#Riotgram DAY 1: SHELFIE—

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WarpedSweetness
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@UnidragonFrag tagged me in #fivestarpredictions
So here are a few books I own that I think will warrant five stars from me.

Sace I really like the cover for The Asylum. 7y
night_shift I agree with the above! Also think I might read the tagged book. Sounds interesting. Great choices! 7y
WarpedSweetness @RestlessFickleBookSlut Me too! I currently have it as my phone background. The author is a musician that I've loved since MySpace days. @UnidragonFrag I ordered it from Amazon because it sounded amazing!! I can't wait to read it. 7y
28 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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islandstorygirl
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Pickpick

A detailed and thought-provoking look at Victorian England's fascination with murder. It's a thick volume but it's a fairly easy read, switching its focus from the grisly deaths (so it reads less like a collection of true crime stories) and towards the public's collective response. Murders have been the impetus for detection, legislation, and enforcement, but also (quite interestingly) pomp and spectacle. A really good read for a rainy weekend!

8 likes2 stack adds
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wingedsnails
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I was thinking I should read more non-fiction, and then I ended up in the true crime section of the library...

10 likes1 stack add
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books_bgames_bgowns
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'Pleasant it is, no doubt, to drink tea with your sweetheart, but most disagreeable to find her bubbling in the tea-urn.'

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ScarletQuill
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Yes! So. Juiced.

15 likes2 stack adds
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wanderaven
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#RiotGrams catch up Day 12: #summerreads Pretty sure my typical sort of favourite read doesn't exactly match up with many readers' ideas of a summer read.

Bklover This actually sounds fascinating! 7y
wanderaven @Bklover Based on the quarter I've read so, it's living up to expectations! 7y
7 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ladyclassics
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Pickpick

Book two in my 19th century murder history binge: I LOVED this one. 466 pages packed with every last grisly detail behind the most (and least) infamous murders of the epoch, their repercussions and effect on society, as well as the everlasting impact they had on literature. I am a sucker for alternative history on the Victorian Era, and I definitely geeked out about how much I learned from this book. On to murder book number three!

21 likes2 stack adds
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tracy.anne8
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I'm a little behind on my #junebookbugs so here is yesterday's. I read a lot of mysteries which usually include death of some sort but I decided on this and the history of our obsession with #death and murder.

21 likes1 stack add