Looks at the serial murders in Britain from the 'gay murders' of Michael Copeland in 1960 to the Ipswich murders of 2006. This work follows events from a social and victim-related perspective. It also covers the following killers' victims: The Ipswich murders of 2006, Peter Sutcliffe (The Yorkshire Ripper), Dennis Nilsen, and Harold Shipman.

'The clue to this very well written book is on the front cover. Across it is a list of victims, some named, others identified by description only, who have suffered at the hands of British serial killers since 1960': The Justices' Clerk'This book is a stunning success, managing to both advance academic debate whilst at the same time, making the reformist agenda more accessible and attractive to a wider audience': Prison Service Journal'A timely - and because of its quality - a significant contribution to the field': Homicide Studies (USA)'Lifts the lid on the social, institutional, political and economic contexts that make serial killing possible': John Muncie, Professor of Criminology at The Open University. 'An interesting and very readable book that usefully reflects on serial homicides in ways which go beyond the usual focus of the clinical characteristics of such offenders. David Wilson paints on a much wider canvas reminding us that the common feature of British serial killing is the vulnerability of the victims. This leads to the ... message that 'Britain is inadequate in providing social and economic protection for the poor and vulnerable': Keith Soothill , Lancaster University. 'Very well written ... tackles the subject ... from a fresh perspective... It will undoubtedly stir up a great deal of debate': Roger Hood, All Souls College, Oxford University. 'A timely contribution to the literature ... perceptive and accessible to a wider audience than that normally addressed in criminological discourse ... David Wilson offers a new analysis on how to understand the failure of the police to stop the Ripper killings': Douglas Sharp, University of Central England.