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  • © 2019

Serial Killers and the Media

The Moors Murders Legacy

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Uses the Moors Murders as an example for exploring social, media and cultural responses to serial murder and violence
  • Offers a truly multi-dimensional analysis of the themes surrounding serial killers and the media, including exploring the modern fixation on celebrity and serial killers
  • Draws upon other international serial killer case studies
  • Discusses the recent death of Ian Brady

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Crime, Media and Culture (PSCMC)

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-vi
  2. Introduction

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 1-14
  3. The Moors Murders: A Brief History

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 15-30
  4. The Trial

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 31-50
  5. Victims

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 51-65
  6. Serial Killing: A Modern Phenomenon

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 67-87
  7. Brady and Hindley: Serial Killers and Celebrity Culture

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 89-114
  8. Hindley: ‘The Most Evil Woman in Britain’?

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 115-134
  9. ‘… One of the Moors Murderers Has Died’

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 135-157
  10. Reading and Writing About Serial Killing and Serial Killers

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 159-178
  11. Conclusion

    • Ian Cummins, Marian Foley, Martin King
    Pages 179-187
  12. Back Matter

    Pages 189-211

About this book

This book examines the media and cultural responses to the awful crimes of Brady and Hindley, whose murders provided a template for future media reporting on serial killers. It explores a wide variety of topics relating to the Moors Murders case including: the historical and geographical context of the murders, the reporting of the case and the unique features which have become standard for other murder cases e.g. nicknames for the serial killers, and it discusses the nature of evil and psychopaths and how they are represented in film, drama, novels and art. It also questions the ethics of the “serial killing industry” and how the modern cultural fixation on celebrity has extended to serial killers, and it explores the impact on the journalists and police officers from being involved in such cases including some interviews with them. The treatment of Brady and Hindley by the media also raises profound questions about the nature of punishment including the links between mentalillness and crime and whether there is ever the prospect of redemption. This book draws on cultural studies, criminology, sociology and socio-legal studies to offers a multi-dimensional analysis of the impact of this case and then uses this as a basis for the analysis of more recent cases such as the crimes of Peter Sutcliffe and Harold Shipman.


Authors and Affiliations

  • School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Salford, UK

    Ian Cummins

  • Department of Social Care and Social Work, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

    Marian Foley

  • Department of Health Care Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

    Martin King

About the authors

Ian Cummins is Senior Lecturer at the University of Salford, UK. His research focuses on mental health issues in the Criminal Justice System.

Marian Foley is Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Her research focuses on the impact of sexual violence on women and children.

Martin King is Principal Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. His research focuses on masculinity, celebrity, fandom and popular culture. 

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access