The Beast of Birkenshaw: Peter Manuel
Between 1956 and 1958, Peter Manuel terrorized Scotland in a killing spree that would claim at least seven lives and expose catastrophic failures in mid-century law enforcement. Born in New York and raised in poverty, Manuel evolved from a bullied child into one of Britain's first recognized serial killers, murdering entire families in their beds and taunting police with his intelligence and legal acumen.
This comprehensive account examines Manuel's psychological development from his traumatic childhood through his years mastering criminal law in Peterhead Prison, to his methodical execution of the Watt and Smart families. The book reveals the near-miscarriage of justice that saw innocent William Watt imprisoned for murders Manuel committed, the breakthrough provided by sequential banknotes, and Manuel's audacious decision to defend himself at trial.
Beyond the crimes themselves, this work explores Manuel's lasting legacy: the transformation from fragmented local constabularies to unified Police Scotland, the limitations of pre-DNA forensic science, and the role his case played in abolishing capital punishment. Drawing on trial transcripts, investigative records, and contemporary accounts, this is the definitive examination of the Beast of Birkenshaw and his enduring impact on Scottish criminal justice.
外文書商品之書封，為出版社提供之樣本。實際出貨商品，以出版社所提供之現有版本為主。部份書籍，因出版社供應狀況特殊，匯率將依實際狀況做調整。
無庫存之商品，在您完成訂單程序之後，將以空運的方式為你下單調貨。為了縮短等待的時間，建議您將外文書與其他商品分開下單，以獲得最快的取貨速度，平均調貨時間為1~2個月。
為了保護您的權益，「三民網路書店」提供會員七日商品鑑賞期(收到商品為起始日)。
若要辦理退貨，請在商品鑑賞期內寄回，且商品必須是全新狀態與完整包裝(商品、附件、發票、隨貨贈品等)否則恕不接受退貨。
