Very interesting book! I had heard of most of the cases, but Matt Murphy's details of things as a prosecutor really gave a better perspective of how long they work to get all the evidence to trial. I found his dedication to a job well done to be awe inspiring!

Thank you to Matt Murphy, Hyperion Avenue Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Book of Murder: A Prosecutor’s Journey Through Love and Death by Matt Murphy is a compelling and deeply personal memoir that offers a rare glimpse into the life of a prosecutor who has spent decades seeking justice for victims of violent crimes. Murphy, a former senior deputy district attorney and current ABC News Legal Analyst, brings his extensive experience and unique perspective to this gripping narrative.

Each chapter delves into a different case, providing detailed accounts of the investigations, trials, and the personal toll these cases took on him and his team. Murphy’s storytelling is both meticulous and engaging, drawing readers into the complexities of the legal process and the human stories behind the headlines.

One of the standout features of The Book of Murder is Murphy’s ability to humanize the victims and their families. He goes beyond the courtroom drama to explore the profound impact of these crimes on the lives of those left behind. His empathy and dedication to seeking justice are evident throughout the book, making it not just a legal thriller but also a poignant tribute to the resilience of the human spirit.

Murphy’s writing is clear and accessible, making complex legal concepts understandable for a broad audience. This blend of professional and personal narrative adds depth to the book, making it a compelling read for both true crime enthusiasts and those interested in the inner workings of the justice system.

The book also addresses the broader implications of the cases Murphy worked on, including the systemic issues within the legal system and the societal factors that contribute to crime. His critical analysis of these issues provides a thought-provoking backdrop to the individual stories, encouraging readers to consider the larger context of justice and reform.

The Book of Murder: A Prosecutor’s Journey Through Love and Death is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, legal drama, and the pursuit of justice. Matt Murphy’s candid and heartfelt account offers a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of a career dedicated to fighting for victims’ rights.

Whether you’re a legal professional, a true crime aficionado, or simply looking for a powerful and engaging read, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

The Book of Murder by Matt Murphy is a must-read for all true crime junkies out there. Law and forensic investigation have always fascinated me, and Murphy’s extensive experience with high-profile cases makes this book an absolute page-turner. You might recognize his name—Murphy was the prosecutor who put Dirty John behind bars, as well as Skylar Deleon and Rodney Alcala. Others may know him as a frequent guest on 20/20 or Good Morning America.

This book is part autobiography, part dos and don’ts of being a prosecutor, and part history of the horrific cases Murphy has worked on. He’s brutally honest about the toll his work took on his mental health, personal life, and relationships. His vulnerability and the regrets that came with throwing his entire life into his career add a raw and personal element to the story. Murphy gives readers an inside look at the emotional and mental strain of relentlessly fighting for justice.

I hesitate to call this an “enjoyable” read because the nature of the crimes Murphy prosecuted is so horrific but once I started reading, I was hooked—totally invested and unable to stop. His ability to bring criminals to justice is riveting, and his strong, clear voice makes him a master storyteller. If you’re a diehard true crime fan, you do not want to pass this one up. Even if true crime isn’t your usual go-to, this book is still worth diving into.

Murphy also shows a great deal of respect for his colleagues, even those on the other side of the courtroom. Often, you hear about bad blood between prosecutors and defense attorneys, but he seems to have genuine admiration for everyone involved in the process—from judges to fellow prosecutors and even defense attorneys.

I found myself constantly Googling the names, trying to put faces to the victims, heroes, and perpetrators alike. It felt like being in a twilight zone—totally invested and impossible to deter. This book offers an intense, all-consuming read, providing a gripping and insightful view into the life of a prosecutor who dedicated himself to seeking justice. Highly recommend!

As always, I encourage you to read this one for yourself and formulate your own opinion. Thank you to the author Matt Murphy, the publisher Hyperion Ave and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!

This book was AWESOME! We have all seen glimpses of Matt Murphy on TV. It's hard to watch tv coverage of big trials and not see him. He was a prosecutor in California and is now a legal analyst for ABC. This book is from him about some of the trials that he handled and those of some of his friends and collogues. This is a great read & a must read for true crime fans!

“This book contains detailed descriptions of bad people murdering (mostly) good ones.”

Matt Murphy is a former deputy district attorney who shares some of the most memorable cases from his twenty six year career. The cases are harrowing, disturbing, and just plain terrifying. Being from California and having a criminal Justice background I stay on top of crimes in my area and have read about a lot of frightening cases nearby but some of these were right in my backyard and I had no idea, which was terrifying! 😳

I googled most of the cases discussed and most of these will weigh heavily on my mind forever. I even broke down crying when I read about the monstrous Dating Game Killer. He was just that, a monster, who preyed on young women. We’ll never know how many he killed because the bastard died in prison in 2021.

This book isn’t for the faint of heart. If you dislike blood, guts, and body dismemberment I would recommend that you skip this one. For those of us that are true crime obsessed, please read so I can talk to you about these bizarre cases.

This book is fantastic, honest, relatable, and so satisfying.

Matt is a master storyteller, as anybody that has seen him on 20/20 or podcasts already knows. As he writes about each case from the initial call to the scene, throughout the investigation process, trial, and verdict you really get all the inside scoop.

What makes this book great are all the personal gems that are woven throughout. It’s as if he can read your mind as your reading and then drops in the thing you are wondering about. There are moments that tug at your heartstrings and moments that make you smile.

The author's experience and time as a prosecutor lend something different to this story of true crime. In his career he really did prosecute some of the worst of the worst, some of which readers have probably heard of, others that were terrible stories I hadn't heard before. It's interesting to have the author explain some of the legal hoops and maneuvers that impact these cases.

The Book of Murder is a great addition to the bookshelf of anyone who is interested in true crime, or true crime memoir books. The author relates many interesting cases from his years as a prosecutor, but he always remains focused on the victims and their families when telling the stories. Hearing the author share how he has devoted his life to getting justice for victims and their families was very inspiring, and you can tell how much he cares by the tone of the book. This book was well written and very interesting, it never got bogged down by extra detail, and I actually wished it had been longer, as I really enjoyed his stories.

What a fantastic read! This is a very compelling story, sharing some very high profile cases.

Matt Murphy has certainly had a great career. Reading through some of the cases he worked as deputy DA, and the ups and downs of each, was truly, a treat.

This book contains it all - true crime, murder, personal feelings, high-strung witnesses, and so much more!

This is a great book to get lost in, and one that will be hard to put down from page one.

The Book of Murder: A Prosecutor’s Journey Through Love and Death by Matt Murphy

This was an excellent true crime read that had similar vibes to Unmasked by Paul Holes. Murphy expertly walked the reader through nuances of the criminal justice system, particularly in California, where he spent his career.

Murphy had a distinct and clear point of view, and it was refreshing to see it put so plainly. He wholeheartedly agreed “the sacrosanct obligation of a prosecutor, after all, is to achieve justice, not convictions.” This whole book was structured around this belief as he went through cases he had previously worked.

I definitely saw the journey through death, but I felt like his connections to journeying through love were a little bit weaker. While the description mentions this story wove in Murphy’s personal life, I would say it more mentioned it a few times. If you’re looking for personal memoir about a personal life, you won’t find it; however, if you’re looking for an in depth look at murder cases and the process for charging the people responsible, you will be more than pleased.

Fans of true crime, understanding the legal system, and honest takes from authors will enjoy this one!

This book was completely unputdownable! I’m a big true crime fan, and have read & watched a lot from the viewpoint of detectives and reporters. It was so interesting to read it through the prosecutor’s perspective! You still get all of the spine-chilling details that you get in other true crime books & documentaries, with the added perspective of a prosecutor. Parts gave me goosebumps and were difficult to read at night, and this is coming from someone who falls asleep to true crime documentaries on the regular.

The crime stories don’t follow any type of timeline in this book, but it worked because it went along with the memoir of the author’s life. I enjoyed reading about Murphy’s life outside of his job, and how much it was affected by his job (spoiler: it was REALLY affected).

The author’s unwavering commitment to his oath to treat every victim—whether a celebrity or a sex worker—with the same respect, and to seek the same justice for them reminds me a lot of the oath we take in medicine (except our role is to save lives, his is to prosecute those who take them). It is admirable how he clung to that oath, even with the most vicious murderers.

This is a book that’s going to stick with me for a long time, and that I’ll be purchasing to add to my exclusive trophy shelf! A must read for true crime fans.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the gifted ARC!

As an avid true crime reader, I was excited to read from the perspective of a successful prosecutor. Matt Murphy not only weaves interesting stories that make you want to keep reading, but he also boils down complicated "legal-ese" in a way that the average true crime reader can understand. I actually read aloud to my husband the section where he thoroughly explains the difference between 1st degree murder, 2nd degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, etc. I've watched quite a bit of trial coverage in my time and not one "legal expert" on the networks have explained it as well as Murphy did. I do wish he would've given more insight into the cases themselves, but learning more about his own personal story was interesting, as well. Any Law & Order fan can totally get into this book, and while that sounds callous I do have to say I thought he told each case with the grace and sensitivity each deserved.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

The way Matt Murphy tells a story and describes complex legal issues is likely why he was successful as a prosecutor. It's not easy to be able to tell a story that's accessible to everyone and it's a critical skill for any top trial lawyer. Reading this book very much felt like I was having a drink with a career prosecutor and we were swapping war stories about interesting and complex cases. Part of me wishes that I could have read this book before going to law school just to know if my perception would be any different. Frankly, this book serves as a great recruiting tool for prosecutors! Thank you to the publisher for a copy; this review is my true and accurate opinion.

This was an interesting true crime novel that kept me wanting more war stories after each page. Matt Murphy was a District Attorney (prosecutor) in California and started out prosecuting misdemeanor cases and then moved on to Homicide cases.

Murphy describes some of the most sinister and difficult cases he prosecuted and some of the process in executing a successful prosecution to get these people behind bars. If you like to hear these true crime like stories, or like I like to call them, war stories, then this book will intrigue you.

My one criticism is that I thought it would be a little more in depth and more stories out of his experience, but instead Murphy focused a lot on the progression of his career and how these cases impacted him and the process he had to go through to successfully prosecute them. I would have liked more of the stories and all the evidence that he had to go through than his own personal experience and life story. It felt a little more like an autobiography/memoir than a true crime collection of stories.

I gave it 4 stars for this criticism, but otherwise, it was very interesting and worth a read. It comes out on September 17, 2024 and you should take a look at it if you are at all intrigued by true crime.

#TheBookOfMurder #NetGalley

This was so good!!! Matt Murphy takes you through cases of his career, making this book part true crime. He also tells how these stories affected his life, making it part memoir. It was the memoir part that I found the most interesting. I could imagine being the person who had to report on what he does, and it was fascinating to hear how it affected his life.

The view from the prosecution bench. As a retired jail RN who has had significant professional contact with law enforcement and the prosecution, I really understood where the author was coming from and the angst that comes with the job. Very well written and an excellent read for those who customarily favor the defense.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Hyperion Avenue via NetGalley.

As a lover of all things true crime, I was thrilled to dive into this book. I was immediately captured by the title and loved the idea of getting a behind the scenes look at some of the biggest cases. In this respect, Matt Murphy definitely delivers! He provides the right amount of detail and suspense to keep it interesting and keep things moving and doesn't get caught up in the weeds of any one case.

At times Matt Murphy delves into some of his personal life and his personal opinions. I wasn't particularly fond of those moments and didn't often agree with his perspective but did not find it so bothersome or lengthy that I did not finish the book. Overall, I'd say, if you're a lover of true crime or want to know more about the life of a Prosecutor, this is worth your while!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well written book about lawyers trailing murders. I enjoyed the different stories written. Very well written fast paced book

The cover brought my attention to this book. Never heating of this story prior I dove in without any knowing. Interesting & intriguing, thought provoking & unsettling. The author carries you through the gauntlet of emotions.

Books

The Book of Murder, a most excellent true crime read. A prosecutor takes us on his journey through the court rooms of California and into the minds of the cold blooded killers he dealt with throughout his career.

His narrative was strong, no nonsense and to-the-point. Nothing was said that didn’t need to be said yet I could feel the intensity, drive and passion through his words. I found it gripping to journey back through his career and visit the most heinous and memorable cases he prosecuted.

Some of the cases I already knew about such as the murder on the boat, having just read a book on the case. I found it gripping to read about the case from the prosecutor’s perspective who worked closely on the case. This book was about bringing justice to the families and the depth of work that goes on behind the scenes to make that come to fruition.

Highly recommend. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.