Whack Job explores the axe as both a tool and a weapon, tracing its role in human history from prehistoric murder to battlefield brutality and infamous executions. Through gripping true-crime accounts, it examines how this simple tool evolved alongside society, shaping both conflict and culture. This compelling study reveals how even our most violent impulses are woven into the stories we tell about the past and ourselves.

From the description, I was expecting this to be accounts of when the axe was used to murder someone and why. Some of the accounts shared are that, but it was a bit of a mixed bag about murders committed with an axe, people who must have been powerful because they were buried with an axe, and people who were executed by an axe. The only thing that connected them was that an axe is mentioned at some point. There were several times I was confused about why a story was being told.

Some of the true crimes were interesting, and it was what I was expecting. I thought this would be an unbiased factual approach to what led to the axe being used, but the author frequently offered her opinion on the matter.

Overall, it was interesting, if not exactly what I was expecting. True crime readers may enjoy this one.

Axe murders throughout history, from prehistoric mass graves in Spain, to axe-wielding warrior royalty of antiquity, the to the lurid tabloid accounts of the 19th and 20th centuries. We also learn about the humble axe itself, and the factors that cause it to go from utilitarian tool to weapon in crimes of passion. I liked that it managed to strike a balance between brainy (there is lots of talk about the role axes came to occupy following industrialization and mass production) and irreverent (one of the epigraphs is a line from an Insane Clown Posse song).

Interestingly enough, the chapter about Lizzie Borden, the most famous suspected axe murderer in history, is the weakest. It felt like something from an amateur true crime blog: basic details about the murder are peppered throughout the chapter instead of putting the important stuff first, the author spends a lot chapter space speculating as to what actually happened.

Whack Job is a well researched and fascinating look at the history of one of the craziest ways to die: Axe Murder. Rachel McCarthy James delivers a tour de force similar to History of the World in 6 Glasses diving into the popular stories of Axe Murders and the overall history of the sometimes tool and sometimes weapon.

I loved this so much. Great historical research, fantastic stories, and a wonderful writing style. I hope the actual book has illustrations that didn't show up on my kindle because some of these axes sound like they look amazing.