- Hardcover: 448 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press; First Edition edition (2 Nov 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593045092
- ISBN-13: 978-0593045091
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16.2 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 401,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
It's all the fault of Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps not the first detective novels (William Godwin's Caleb Williams, according to Julian Symons in Bloody Murder, or more popularly The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins), the tales of the Baker Street sleuth nonetheless presented the first accounts of psychological profiling, characteristically drawing upon the faintest of clues. Away from one fictional figure, forensic psychologist Paul Britton was the inspiration for another, television's Cracker. Britton had been involved in the conviction of murderer Paul Bostock in 1979, now acknowledged as the first person to have been caught and convicted using psychological analysis, and he has been consulted on more than 100 subsequent cases. Picking Up the Pieces, the follow-up to The Jigsaw Man, parades a rogues' gallery of cases from his clinical casebook, as disparate and anguished as one might imagine: a man who electrocutes rabbits in place of his abusive father in a home-made electric chair; a woman possessed, supposedly after a ouija board encounter; Colin Ireland, the serial gay killer; various stalkers and rapists; and even his own Wolf-Man, like Dr Freud (though psychoanalysis barely gets a mention), who turns into a werewolf each day at 4pm. Britton's work is controversial--he was involved with the arrest of Colin Stagg for the horrific murder of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common in 1992, for which Stagg is considering legal action for entrapment--but when applied properly, amounts to little more than old-fashioned detective work, painstakingly worked through. The writing is sleekly episodic, wrapped around his own professional life, and while at times the neo-fictional dialogue can seem a little polished ("They used the garden because the house is full" is his response to an enquiry as to why the Wests buried bodies in the back-garden), the insights offered are genuinely interesting, and responsibly explained. And his conclusion makes grim reading: he is seeing more cases of institutionalised abuse than ever. Uncomfortably gripping. --David Vincent
Product Description
From Britain's foremost criminal psychologist and bestselling author, a companion volume to his award-winning autobiography, The Jigsaw Man.
Paul Britton can " walk through the minds" of those who murder, rape, torture, extort and kidnap. That is why the police call on him to help with many high-profile criminal investigations and catch those responsible. How does he do it? In this unique and revealing book, he reveals the psychological and forensic foundations upon which he has based his expertise. It is a remarkable journey into the darkest recesses of the human mind. From top-security prisons and mental hospitals to ordinary outpatients' clinics, Britton introduces us to his clinical and forensic work over the past twenty years. During that time, he has interviewed, assessed and treated people with damaged or broken minds. Paul Britton shows that the answers are often found, not at the crime scene, but hidden away within someone's mind, or deep in their past. Here he reveals the process by which he unlocks and deciphers the truth.
Paul Britton can " walk through the minds" of those who murder, rape, torture, extort and kidnap. That is why the police call on him to help with many high-profile criminal investigations and catch those responsible. How does he do it? In this unique and revealing book, he reveals the psychological and forensic foundations upon which he has based his expertise. It is a remarkable journey into the darkest recesses of the human mind. From top-security prisons and mental hospitals to ordinary outpatients' clinics, Britton introduces us to his clinical and forensic work over the past twenty years. During that time, he has interviewed, assessed and treated people with damaged or broken minds. Paul Britton shows that the answers are often found, not at the crime scene, but hidden away within someone's mind, or deep in their past. Here he reveals the process by which he unlocks and deciphers the truth.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Creating a follow-up to "The Jigsaw Man" was never going to be an easy task. Brittons first book provided an unique and highly descriptive insight into a world which most of us, thankfully, will never have to experience first-hand. With his new book, Paul Britton appears to have made a conscious decision to adopt a less graphic approach to his accounts of violent crime. The focus now is much more on the interactions within the clinical context - on understanding the roots of deviant behaviour and on using the psychoterapeutic relation to prevent violent fantasies from becoming reality. Structurally, this book is somewhat less clear than the previous one and initially, there is some degree of confusion as to what the author actually wants to tell the reader. However, stop expecting a second "Jigsaw Man" and chances are you will find yourself able to enjoy the book a lot more. The author has the ability to really let the reader into the minds of his clients, enabling you to understand - if not accept - some of the reasons underlying their thoughts, emotions and behaviour. All in all, a more introspective book from Paul Britton, but still very, very fascinating.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Self indulgent and cumbersome! After being absolutely enthralled by The Jigsaw Man, I was really looking forward to Picking Up The Pieces. The Jigsaw Man alluded to the fact that Britton had never been paid for his work (which I think he should have, and he should be proud of his pioneering work), however it becomes the underlying focus of Picking Up The Pieces. Very disappointing, a mere shadow of what it could have been.
14 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Paul Britton has delivered an amazing insight into the world of the criminal mind.In both this book and "The Jigsaw Man", he not only takes you on an amazing and sometimes disturbing journey, through the criminals thought process but also explains his reasoning and findings with ease.I have never felt the desire to meet an author and shake their hand until I read his work, a truly amazing person. Such was my reaction to both books, I am now studying psychology as a part time student!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
picking up the Pieces by Paul Britton
This book goes into the world of forensic psychology. It explains the subject to the layman in a readable and clearly set out manner. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. Robert Davie
Interesting read
Read Paul Britton's first book, found it really interesting if not a bit scary. This will be just as good.
Published 9 months ago by Mrs. Jacqueline P. Williams
Love it!!
This book is absolutely amazing. After reading the jigsaw man I was completely hooked so was excited to discover a second in the series, however I didn't think it would be possible... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Maisie
one star is way too generous
i think many people have already stated that they think this is another book written for the w h smiths crowd. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Andrew P. Kentish
paul britton jigsaw man
have read this years ago re read it recently definately a must gives a great insight into police forensic cases that have been high interest to the public .
Published 23 months ago by yorkshireange
And he is still rambling
I thought that it would be better written than The Jigsaw Man, but it's not. The same erratic writing style, the same mixing up unrelated personal impressions with actual case... Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by Reader's Digest
Enlightening read...
An excellent follow up to Jigsaw Man, couldn't put it down. The cases Mr Britton writes about are interesting and sad, gives you an insight into the world of the psychological... Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2010 by Angellus 5
Fantastic Read!
Having read The Jigsaw Man I was keen to read more about Paul Britton's cases so purchased this book and was not disappointed in any way. Read more
Published on 27 July 2009 by C. Williams
Shattered my illusions, but determined my future
I read this book, and it's forerunner, to learn about what it means to be an offender profiler. This detailed and down-to-earth book shattered all my illusions about the... Read more
Published on 12 July 2009 by Daniel Wa Johnson
Picking Up the Pieces
Absolutely brilliant book, if you've read Jigsaw Man and loved it you would want to read this too. If not then dont waste no time, read it!! Read more
Published on 23 April 2009 by Jenn P
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