This book is designed to serve up a potpourri of delectable information about crime in a manner that’s entertaining, informative, and satisfying. It should be right down the average crime lover’s gurney—or rather, alley.
This book serves up crime in a variety of ways. There are Notable Quotables (quotes from people involved in crime in one way or another), straight facts and factoids, match games (such as matching the correct mafia nicknames to the correct mobster), Q & A’s, “Who Am I?” brain teasers, and many lists— everything from the characteristics of a serial murderer to characteristics of kids who murder their parents. Also included is the jargon that particular groups of criminals use (such as prisoners, who say “family style” to describe the missionary position for sodomy in prison).
But not all the entries have a serious side. Crime Can Be Funny, and entries so marked describe encounters New York cops have had with criminals; many of these stories describe criminals who were just plain dumb. These pieces came from the book The Funniest Cop Stories Ever, by Tom Philbin and Scott Baker.