Unveiling the Darkness: A Deep Dive into "The Mind of a Murderer" - Book Review

The Mind of a Murderer - What Makes a Killer? By Dr Richard Taylor

ID: THIS PICTURE IS THE COVER OF A BOOK ENTITLED THE MIND OF A MURDERER BY DR TAYLOR. IT HAS AQUA BLUE COLOURED COVER WITH AN INK BLOT IN THE MIDDLE THAT LOOKS LIKE A SKULL. COVER DESIGN IS COPYRIGT PROTECTED AND OWNED BY THE AUTHOUR.

It's New Year's eve and whilst at home with the family and friends celebrating the evening, your phone starts ringing non stop. You don't hear it until late. When you do check your phone you notice that an important contact is trying to get hold of you. Why? You ring back only to have your worst fears confirmed - they have struck again! Welcome to the world of internationally renowned Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Richard Taylor.

Of us who work or volunteer in frontline healthcare know that feeling of being on call or missing family gatherings or days off. As a Forensic Psychiatrist, Dr Taylor is on call 24/7 and can end up anywhere in the United Kingdom or in the world for that matter. What is a Forensic Psychiatrist? The word forensic literally means 'officer of the court'. So this shows us they are trained not just in clinical medicine and mental health but engage in additional specialist training to support government or law enforcement bodies such the Ministry of Justice, Home office, FBI, CIA, National Crime Agency (NCA), police, UN, Interpol etc. He covers the crimes of those who are or suspected of being mentally disturbed or of having a personality disorder and commit crimes such as murder, rape, arson, attempted murder or Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), domestic violence and weapons offences. Although the news agencies around the world claim that murder is being committed at every occasion, this is just not the case and this is especially the case with those who suffer from mental distress.

I have been asked numerous times as a forensic professional what causes someone to become a criminal? Are they born that way? Dr Taylor explains this question too. Although we all tend to look at things in two dimensional ways, life has a way of reminding us that the world is a multi dimensional universe. It may sound Star Trek Next Generation (Paramount/CBS, 1989) stuff but I promise its not. Life is not just about nature or nurture - born that way or made like it. Dr Taylor rightly reminds us we are born with the genetic DNA of both parents and even some of the predispositions of our grandparents then society and familial dynamics from our parents and closest relatives, to our friends, the community and country we live in and our health, just to name a few. Every time Dr Taylor examines a patient or carries out a risk/clinical assessment he has to bear this in mind.

He writes about cases he can say about as the information about them is in the public domain such as - Anthony Hardy, Lee Watson, Daniel Joseph, Dennis Costas as well as many more who he cannot name. Richard has also worked with many women in HMP Holloway until it closed and then its replacement HMP Bronzefield. Most of the women and men that Dr Taylor has supported or assessed over the years have been victims long before they ever turned to crime. To, illustrate, most women in Bronzefield have been raped, sexually assaulted, victims of childhood abuse, victimised by partners and exposed to domestic violence, neglect and total controlling behaviours. These ladies are not just from poor disadvantaged backgrounds, but also from middle and upper class families too.

Dr Taylor has written this book with an engaging narrative and writing style that is suitable for all audiences not just the professional. This book had been hooked from chapter one to the finish. One of the things I like and respect about this book is that he weaves in-between his cases of female offenders and victims, a very private family experience about his grandmother who killed her child and attempted to kill her other one. This must be so devastating and humiliating but instead Richard has used this sad series of family events to inspire him to work and advocate for women and even work in the places that she was held (Holloway and Broadmoor). If you are looking for a true crime book with a difference, this book is it! Its not about the grotesch crimes but the human behind the crimes, the victims and the cost to their families.

I can not highly recommend The Mind of a Murderer - What Makes a Killer? by Dr Richard Taylor enough. This book is available in paperback (my preferred favourite - I like the smell of the paper), hardback, audio and e-pub/ebook - so you are spoilt for choice. You can also rent this book from your local library. So what are you waiting for? Got get a copy now.

The Mind of a Murderer - What Makes a Killer? By Dr Richard Taylor. ISBN: 978-1-4722-6820-4 RRP: £12.99 / USA $17.99 / CAN $19.99. Published by Wildfire as part of Headline Publishing Group/Hatchette (c) 2021. Printed in Great Britain. 417 pages. Available in all good book stores, online retailers, major supermarkets and local public libraries. You can usually purchase this book on offers to reduce the RRP.