Part taxonomy of murder, part prosecutor's handbook, and part personal memoir, The Book of Murder goes through a dozen cases and his recollections of his twenty-six years in the Orange County DA's office (seventeen in the Homicide Unit). Refreshingly honest about the toll such work takes on one's private life, Murphy weaves his personal narrative throughout his casework in a way that humanizes the people entrusted with the duty of seeking justice on behalf of the public. As he does so, he lays bare the decision-making a prosecutor goes through in building a case to ensure justice is met while telling captivating tale after captivating tale of the world's worst crime.

See how a prosecutor looks at--and lives with--the very worst crime. The insider's perspective that Murphy gives on the notorious cases of Skylar Deleon, Rodney Alcala, "Dirty John" Meehan, and many others is a vital read for true-crime fans everywhere.