From 1877 to 1892, Dr. Thomas Neill Cream murdered seven women, all prostitutes or patients seeking abortions, in England and North America. A Prescription for Murder begins with Angus McLaren's vividly detailed story of the killings. Using press reports and police dossiers, McLaren investigates the links between crime and respectability to reveal a remarkable range of Victorian sexual tensions and fears. McLaren explores how the roles of murderer and victim were created, and how similar tensions might contribute to the onslaught of serial killing in today's society.
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A thorough history of a scandalous case. The organization of the book was interesting, with the facts about the murders discussed first and context discussed afterward; but the fact-relaying was a little hard to follow. The author jumps around in time and has a tendency to switch quickly from one set of people to another, so it takes some work to form a clear picture of the story.
