Scotland Yard: A History of the London Police Force’s Most Infamous Murder Cases

Journalist Read (Human Game) shrewdly synthesizes a wealth of material in this insightful survey of London’s Scotland Yard police force from its 1829 founding to the 1930s. Utilizing court transcripts, investigative files, and other sources, Read traces how the force evolved into a world-renowned pioneer in forensic science and criminal investigation. He begins the account with the 1811 Ratcliffe Highway murders, in which two East London families were slaughtered within days of each other; the attack spurred public interest in better policing and resulted in the establishment of the London Metropolitan Police (which took the nickname “Scotland Yard” from the street where its headquarters were located). From there, he documents Londoners’ initial worries about police interference in their lives, and then recounts the department’s most consequential cases, including the Jack the Ripper murders, which led to major advancements in fingerprinting and ballistics analysis. He doesn’t shy away from controversy, memorably highlighting 1877’s “Trial of the Detectives,” which uncovered corruption in the Yard’s upper ranks. Marrying rigorous research and smooth storytelling, this is a must-read for fans of true crime. Photos. Agent: Jonathan Lyons, Curtis Brown. (Sept.)