I love this piece! Exactly - why shouldn't women be interested in true crime when we've grown up being told to be on the look out? At (my all-girls') school, a policeman came in regularly to tell us how to look out for, and avoid, creepy men, as well as teaching us some sweet moves to escape. It was simultaneously terrifying and empowering.
I've written two books of true crime from the 1800s. One was specifically about poisoning crimes when the accused were mostly women, the other was the first book-length biography of "the father of forensic science" (my mum, who is also fascinated by crime, was *so impressed* when I told her a copy had made its way into the FBI's library in Quantico). My counsellor, meanwhile, was absolutely flummoxed that I'd written about such dark things and was trying to get to the bottom of it. In the end, he seemed to think that it was because, for the first ten years of my life, my dad was an undertaker. In fact, our family car was a black Volvo estate which doubled as a private ambulance and smelt of formaldehyde and meat left out on a warm day (really). *That* was why. Although since then, I've realised that plenty of women are voracious fans of true crime, and they can't all have "funeral director" in the "father's occupation" box on their birth certificates.
What an amazing comment! Thank you so much for sharing – and I'm delighted you enjoyed the piece. I'm immediately going to look up the biography you wrote. It's definitely not only your mum who is impressed that it's found its way into Quantico! I'm obsessed with that place. What a fantastic achievement. Congrats! And I LOVE the story of your family car!
Thank you! It's called "Fatal Evidence". I think they have a big collection of history of forensic science books, which might explain how Professor Taylor ended up on the shelves!
I have watched and then rewatched Criminal Minds. I gravitate to serial killer movies. But my true passion is female hit woman movies! I was so bored during lockdown that I made a list of my faves! So I can relate!
Enjoyed this, Jo. I used to be into those kind of shows until I started as a probation officer a few years ago - feels a bit close to the bone now (and I’m getting softer with age!) Prefer gentler stuff in the evenings these days - The OC for example. What a show!
Thanks so much for the comment – I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I can definitely see how and why deep-diving into serial killers could be too close to the bone with your job, though (which sounds bloody interesting, by the way).
I love this piece! Exactly - why shouldn't women be interested in true crime when we've grown up being told to be on the look out? At (my all-girls') school, a policeman came in regularly to tell us how to look out for, and avoid, creepy men, as well as teaching us some sweet moves to escape. It was simultaneously terrifying and empowering.
I've written two books of true crime from the 1800s. One was specifically about poisoning crimes when the accused were mostly women, the other was the first book-length biography of "the father of forensic science" (my mum, who is also fascinated by crime, was *so impressed* when I told her a copy had made its way into the FBI's library in Quantico). My counsellor, meanwhile, was absolutely flummoxed that I'd written about such dark things and was trying to get to the bottom of it. In the end, he seemed to think that it was because, for the first ten years of my life, my dad was an undertaker. In fact, our family car was a black Volvo estate which doubled as a private ambulance and smelt of formaldehyde and meat left out on a warm day (really). *That* was why. Although since then, I've realised that plenty of women are voracious fans of true crime, and they can't all have "funeral director" in the "father's occupation" box on their birth certificates.
What an amazing comment! Thank you so much for sharing – and I'm delighted you enjoyed the piece. I'm immediately going to look up the biography you wrote. It's definitely not only your mum who is impressed that it's found its way into Quantico! I'm obsessed with that place. What a fantastic achievement. Congrats! And I LOVE the story of your family car!
Thank you! It's called "Fatal Evidence". I think they have a big collection of history of forensic science books, which might explain how Professor Taylor ended up on the shelves!
Jo - I absolutely want to read about the top 10 things your research taught you. Morbid, yes. Fascinating, oh yes. Bring. It. On.
Okay, sold! Thank you! I'm genuinely excited to write it.
I have watched and then rewatched Criminal Minds. I gravitate to serial killer movies. But my true passion is female hit woman movies! I was so bored during lockdown that I made a list of my faves! So I can relate!
Ha! I've actually written a piece about Criminal Minds, I'm so obsessed with it. I'm right there with you! Now I clearly need to get into hit-woman movies too... https://jousmar.substack.com/p/obsessed-with-criminal-minds
Enjoyed this, Jo. I used to be into those kind of shows until I started as a probation officer a few years ago - feels a bit close to the bone now (and I’m getting softer with age!) Prefer gentler stuff in the evenings these days - The OC for example. What a show!
Thanks so much for the comment – I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I can definitely see how and why deep-diving into serial killers could be too close to the bone with your job, though (which sounds bloody interesting, by the way).