A gripping and eye-opening insight into life as a forensic psychiatrist, from one of the most experienced doctors in the field

A glimpse into the darkest corners of the human psyche, from a leading forensic psychiatrist

In his three decades in the field, Richard Taylor has worked on well over a hundred murder cases, with victims and perpetrators from all walks of life. In this fascinating memoir, Taylor draws on some of the most tragic, horrific and illuminating of these cases - as well as dark secrets from his own family's past - to explore some of the questions he grapples with every day:

Why do people kill?
Does committing a monstrous act make someone a monster?
Could any of us, in the wrong circumstances, become a killer?

As Taylor helps us understand what lies inside the minds of his patients, he presents us with the most important challenge of all: how can we even begin to comprehend the darkest of human deeds, and why it is so vital that we try?

'Heartbreaking, horrifying, but a brilliant and insightful book. Beautifully written and very dark' Nimco Ali OBE

A dark, fascinating and often surprising glimpse into the minds of those who kill, from a forensic psychiatrist who's seen it all' Rob Williams, writer of BBC's The Victim

A fascinating insight into what drives criminality - and a punchy polemic against mental-health service cuts