Murder: The Biography is an interesting journey through the long history of the laws relating to murder in the UK. If you are looking for lurid descriptions of gruesome deaths and forensic investigations this is really not the book for you. There are some horrific crimes included but the details given are more focused on the motivation and legal ramifications of the cases and their relevance within the complex set of laws relating to homicide. The author, Kate Morgan, is a solicitor and writer who uses her experience to give an insight into the judicial system. She discusses defence strategies such as necessity to murder, provocation, and diminished responsibility; how they have been used; and how the definitions of murder and manslaughter have changed over the years. It's not a light read but i found it fascinating, shocking and enlightening.