Murder, Torture, Depravity

Two beltin' goals in the onion bag and now the lady's clean through and on for a crackin' hat trick. She shoots… she scores!

Thunderous applause, the net ripples, a Mexican wave and the celebrations begin. A new edition to the series. Following on from her hip and groovy excursions into genre (vampire lovers and ghosthunters) related influences, this book's another winner. Same publisher, same format (if it ain't broke don't fix it). A large sized paperback, around 160 pages, well designed in a pleasing format, containing a few photos and some superb graphics. The usual high production values Batsford are known for in fact. As to the author. Well, surely this famous icon of cinematic horror needs no kind of introduction from me. Suffice to say, she is, and always will be, a goddess, queen of the "Scream Queens" and I am unanimous in that. Do I make myself clear?

What should be better known is the fact that Ingrid Pitt is a mighty fine writer. Publishing deals don't come easy, yet Batsford keep knockin' 'em out… go figure! This time up, the lady with the dark interests brings the focus down onto another major influence on the horror genre. Take a bow murder, torture and depravity. Delivering the goodies in her unique, inimitable style, brimming with wit, insight and personal observations, Ingrid showcases some of the most demented, dangerous and twisted "human beings" to grace the pages of history, or should it be (dis)grace? I should imagine that many of the "usual suspects" rounded up for presentation are more than a little familiar to you good people out there. But I'd be very surprised if you'd seen them struttin' their stuff the way Ingrid lays it down.

Jumping backwards and forwards across the centuries, one by one, these murderous maniacs take centre stage and let it all hang out (Ho, Ho!) big time. 22 chapters in all, covering a whole spectrum of man's (and woman's!) inhumanity to his fellow man. I think a roll call is warranted of some of the "stars" included in the book. Some you may know very well, others not so well. So, step forward please, Edward Gem, Peter Kurten, John Christie, 'Ivan the Terrible', Josef Mengele, Belle Gunness, Caligula, 'Sawncy Bean', Erzebet Bathory. Neville Heath and even those legal killers, the Pierrepoints. The crimes committed by these monsters sometimes defy all logic. What lights the spark of homicidal madness? This book may or may not throw up some answers, but it's a gripping, scary, well written and brilliantly researched reference work. Put simply - it rocks!