A brilliant non fiction read that was really insightful. As a history lover this is perfect for other history buffs

I feel like I liked this but would like to do a second do over of this book because I don't think I appreciated it enough.

I have this eerie fascination with old asylums and sick houses. You just can't make this stuff up. Like, I can see how you would want a place for a family member that you can't handle or care for, but it just seems so cold. It doesn't surprise me anymore the things that human beings will do to one another, but it just makes me sad. We can do better.

This book was great, it felt fresh and not like anything else I've read lately. It kept me intrigued all the way through, I didn't want to put it down.

As someone who is obsessed with Genealogy, I love reading stories from the past. Especially ones that include criminals, or mental asylums, and this did not disappoint. The stories are nice and short and packed with information. I did end up coming out of some of the scenarios with sympathy, but most were just wild.

I would recommend picking this up if you have any kind of interest in criminal history, as it is incredibly interesting and well-put together.

I really enjoy true crime reads and this one did not disappoint. It was such an interesting book about prison inmates and that area always intrigues me. A good one to add to your true crime shelf.

Woman- either poisoned someone or killed her kids GUILTY
MAN-whose throat did he slit GUILTY
THE END

This book was quite repetitive. Quite repetitive. I made it to the in but the majority of the cases could have been fill in the blanks. Typically I’m all for foreign true crime and I alway share the crazy stories, but there was nothing entertaining about any of these crimes, and by entertaining I mean worth reading and storming in one of my brain file cabinet drawers.

I will not be reading this again.

The book sparked my interest when I was researching true crime story which happened on Jersey Island on August 14th 2011. Damian Rzeszowski killed six people, including his wife and small children, with two knives. He ended in Broadmoore instutution.
"Broadmoor Inmates: True Crime Tales of Life and Death in the Asylum" by Nicola Sly is a chilling exploration of the lives and crimes of individuals confined to the notorious Broadmoor Asylum. The book stands out for its meticulous research and detailed accounts, providing readers with a haunting glimpse into the dark corners of criminal history and mental health treatment.

One commendable aspect of the book is Nicola Sly's dedication to unraveling the true stories behind Broadmoor's inmates. The author's thorough research and attention to historical accuracy create a comprehensive and immersive narrative. Sly delves into the backgrounds of the inmates, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the crimes that led to their confinement in one of the world's most infamous psychiatric hospitals.

Sly's writing style is both informative and engaging, presenting the true crime tales with a balance of detail and readability. The book's organization allows for easy navigation through the various cases, each providing a glimpse into the complexities of criminal psychology and mental illness. The inclusion of historical context adds depth to the narratives, making them more than just accounts of individual crimes.

However, some readers may find the content of the book intense and unsettling due to its focus on true crime and the darker aspects of mental health history. Potential readers should be aware of the nature of the material, as it can be emotionally challenging.

In conclusion, "Broadmoor Inmates" offers a compelling and well-researched exploration of true crime tales from the infamous psychiatric institution. Nicola Sly's dedication to historical accuracy and narrative depth makes the book a valuable resource for those interested in the intersection of criminality and mental health. While the subject matter may be intense for some readers, the book succeeds in shedding light on the fascinating and often disturbing stories within the walls of Broadmoor Asylum.

An excellent book from true crime shelf. The book it's a collection of stories of criminally insane inmates of the mental institution Broadmoor. The book is well-written and well -researched. It's not an easy read but highly recommended for lovers of this genre,

Princess Fuzzypants here: A straightforward compilation of various inmates of Broadmoor, it describes the person’s life up to and including the crime for which they were committed and a little bit about the time in the asylum until their death. While it is interesting, it does not add any insights or conclusions about the systems under which they laboured. Some of the stories are quite sad.

In some cases, insanity is exacerbated by circumstances. In others, nothing nor anyone seems to have “pushed the buttons”. They were simply disaster waiting to happen. From reading other stories about Broadmoor, there were worse places where someone might have been committed.

Four purrs and one paw up.

This book is a must for anyone with an interest in true crime & history. So fascinating to see how the criminally insane were treated, with stories about individual people from 1800 and up to 1956. Each one unique and detailed. I particularly liked the photos of the locations and judges involved. A great deal of effort and research must have gone into this book. Excellent!

Not a bad book to read but maybe one you dip in and out of as they are very short pieces on each person. Some were very interesting and chronicled the before and after the crime.. going into more detail of what happened when they were committed to Broadmoor.
It was sad to see how many women were committed following what is now recognised as post natal depression... but at that time they were declared insane.
Watch out for the month of May as a lot of crimes seem to have been committed then.

Eye opening! This is a great book which is very well researched but it made me worry about all the horrid things which happened years ago and those poor people that got put in prison for such mundane things. Mental Illness wasn’t recognised back then and it has made me so grateful that we are as a society where we are now

Really enjoyed reading about broadmoor inmates- found it so interesting and a nice change to read some non fiction.

It was clear that the book was very well researched and the information was written and presented clearly so that the reader can understand and relate to each case even though we are living in completely different times

Stories detailing the many criminally insane souls who were incarcerated and largely forgotten are fairly common but Nicola Sly writes her book on those committed to Broadmoor with so much knowledge of her subject , that one cannot help feeling a small empathy with these unfortunates despite their heinous acts. It is definitely a book to pick up and browse the different stories, too many at one sitting might prove a bit much! My thanks to Pen &Sword for their high quality book and Netgalley for the chance to read and review Broadmoor Inmates.

Was a really interesting book, would have liked it more if there was more recent patients in here. I currently study criminology so was a good read into what people have done and why

I find books about Broadmoor very interesting. I thought this was a really good book. I liked the shorter stories. I took a while to read it as I could pick it up and put it down when I felt like a bit more it wasn't something I read from front to back but I thought that wad fine and I enjoyed my reading experience!

I found this an interesting exploration of the history of Broadmoor, it was a little too dry for me in places but it wasn't bad. I would've liked this to be a bit more interesting in tone as i was losing interest in this because of the writing style. I left this book feeling like i'd learnt something new as it offered an interesting approach to the history of the prison.

The book gave you a real insight into the world of Broadmoor prison and some of the patients who previously spent time in there. It’s interesting to find out more about those patients who were not broadly showcased by the media, finding out about the deeper realms of mental health and other contributing factors such as their lifestyle and some being in poverty.

What I found quite powerful is the way the author writes the stories in a way which at times make you empathetic towards the patients, even though you are aware of the terrible crimes committed.

Was a very intriguing read and would love to read more by this author. Would recommend to all.

An intriguing look into the inhabitants of broadmoor, detailing what they did, how they were caught and what in was like inside. Quite an eye opener. Lots of short tales so a book you can pick up and put down.