David Wilson is the author of the gripping books My Life with Murderers, A Plot to Kill and new release Murder at Home. Emeritus Professor of Criminology at Birmingham City University and the founding Director of the university’s Centre for Criminal Justice and Research, he is also a respected TV presenter, most recently fronting Channel 4’s In the Footsteps of Killers with Emilia Fox and David Wilson’s Crime Files for BBC Scotland.

My Life with Murderers - Google Books My Life with Murderers - Google Books

His current research interests range from the phenomenon of British serial murder, family annihilation, hitmen and lethal violence within organised crime, to all aspects of prison history and penal reform. From idealistic prison governor straight out of Cambridge University to expert criminologist and emeritus professor, David has met hitmen, mass, spree and serial killers and those murderers who seem to kill “in five minutes of madness”. Sometimes he meets them in a tense interview in a cell; sometimes to share a cup of tea (or something a little stronger); or sometimes just to look them in the eye as he tells them that, yes, they really are a psychopath. Some of these men became David's friends; others would still love to kill him. Professor David Wilson has spent his professional life working with violent men – especially men who have committed murder. Aged twenty-nine he became, at that time, the UK’s youngest ever prison Governor in charge of a jail and his career since then has seen him sat across a table with all sorts of killers: sometimes in a tense interview; sometimes sharing a cup of tea (or something a little stronger); sometimes looking them in the eye to tell them that they are a psychopath.David thought that the Carl Bridgwater murder might have been largely forgotten in his chapter on the suspected perpetrator. Carl was about three weeks younger than me and the murder was relatively local, I remember the local news reports and information wanted posters outside my school gates. So, not totally forgotten by me although David’s award winning documentary about it had completely passed me by and maybe something I need to catch up on. Sad that all these years on minds have never really been put to rest. David Wilson has become quite a celebrity in the UK. Those of us who enjoy watching his programmes on cold cases are fascinated by his expertise; by his careful fitting together of all the pieces of evidence available to expose those who are guilty of heinous crimes.

My Life with Murderers by David Wilson | Hachette UK

Some of the sections were interesting. His description of the rehab techniques some of the prisons use was intriguing. And his comparison of US and UK interview techniques was unsurprising but interesting anyway. With characteristic brilliance and admirable sensitivity, Wilson illuminates the complex causes of their often horrific crimes' - Professor Simon Winlow, Vice President of the British Society of Criminology The author’s professional experiences, lets us get a step closer into meeting these people and finding out. Through David’s own thoughts and the conversations he has with these people, it in some ways opened my eyes and was fascinating learning about techniques they use in trying to uncover the truth. His conversation and dealings with some of the more well known killers, was especially interesting.My Life with Murderers’ will take you inside the prison walls where you find yourself immersed with Britain’s most dangerous psychopaths. Nothing exaggerated, David Wilson writes with integrity and sensitivity. Covering some of the most notorious and heinous crimes, with detailed accounts of interviews with infamous murderers and other criminals, you will feel you are sitting amongst them.