****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This book is a classic !I am really happy, finally I have found a copy of the original version of this encyclopedia, the version written in 1982. If, like me, you buy a lot of books about History, True Crime, Serial Killers or Unsolved Cases then you must add this great book to your library, your collection will never be complete without a copy of this Encyclopedia.This 800 pages Encyclopedia is not only a first-rate reference but is also a compulsively readable account of some of the most colorful figures and fascinating tales in American History. In this Encyclopedia you'll find:- Biographies of some 1000 Gangsters, Swindlers, Assassins, Cutthroats, Mass Murderers, Prostitutes, Con Artists, Outlaws, Gangs, Policemen, Crime Reporters, Judges, Criminologists, Lawyers and other upholders of the law.- Descriptions of hundreds of infamous Crimes, Trials, Riots, Hoaxes, Weapons, Criminal Techniques, Detection Methods, Jailbreaks and more.- Histories of more than 350 Vice Districts, Types of Crime, Prisons, Execution and Punishment Practices, Criminal Haunts, Law Enforcement Agencies and more.- Definitions of Underworld Slang, Legal Concepts, Police Terminology, Penal Theories, and more.One thing I really like about this book is that most of the entries are about crimes from the 1800's and beginning of the 1900's, this book is more than a book about crime, it's one of the best History book ever written. A lot of these entries are about Outlaws and Pirates, very fascinating read. Funny note: I guess the term "Serial Killer" was not even created back in 1982, since author Sifakis describes these killers as "Mass Murderers", It brought a smile to my face when I first saw this. If, like me, criminology is more than a passion for you then you must buy this Encyclopedia, it's a classic, one I'm very proud of owning. :)
