Scotland Yard's Murder Squad

Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad written by Dick Kirby and published by

Pen & Sword Books - £25.00 - Hardback - Pages 264

In 1906 the Metropolitan Police Commissioner was asked by the Home Office to make available skilled investigators for murder enquiries nationwide as few constabularies had sufficiently skilled – or indeed, any - detectives.

Thus was born the Reserve Squad, or Murder Squad, as it later became known. Despite a reluctance by some forces to call upon The Met, the Murder Squad has proved its effectiveness on countless occasions with its remit extended to British territories overseas. A particularly sensitive case was the murder of a local superintendent on St Kitts and Nevis.

A former Scotland Yard detective, the Author uses his contacts and experiences to get the inside track on a gruesome collection of infamous cases. Child murderers, a Peer’s butler, a King’s housekeeper, gangsters, jealous spouses and the notorious mass murderer Dr Bodkin Adams compete for space in this spine-chilling and gripping book which is a testament to the Murder Squad’s skills and ingenuity - and the evil of the perpetrators.

Brimming with gruesome killings, this highly readable book proves that there is no substitute for old fashioned footwork and instinct.

In another Dick Kirby book, I’m certainly not complaining as I’m becoming to love a good Dick Kirby book about true crime. The good thing about a Dick Kirby book is that he as the author has been there and done it, which I would say is one of the main things that come through the book/s and we have great books to read. The book covers 14 chapters looking at various murders of different types, such as murdering of children, deadly doctors, affairs of the heart and female killers to name a few of the cases. 

The cases always come across as informed, direct and very well written and this is probably due to the experience and history of the writer having been a former police officer. It is my belief that Dick Kirby is fast becoming an excellent crime writer, I can only recommend his books as I have never read a poor book. As it seems that True Crime never seems to end I really do look forward to reviewing his next book.