REFERENCE

The True Crime Dictionary: From Alibi to Zodiac; The Ultimate Collection of Cold Cases, Serial Killers, and More

by Amanda Lees

Ulysses. Jun. 2021. 344p. ISBN 9781646042005. pap. $15.95. REF

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Novelist and BBC radio contributor Lees has long felt the pull of crime and mystery; here, she compiles crime-related terms, from the basic to the arcane. She covers poisonous herbs (henbane, hemlock), legal terms (statute of limitations, accessory), and acronyms (AK-47, CCTV), with brief bios of serial killers. Short definitions and occasional longer discussions (cozy mystery, “Romeo” espionage) will clarify vocabulary for true crime aficionados.

VERDICT An interesting if occasionally grisly addition for most libraries.

Reviewed by Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley Sch., Fort Worth, TX , Oct 01, 2021

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