The Book of Murder: A Prosecutor’s Journey Through Love and Death

Matt Murphy

4.5 stars

Format: Audiobook

After listening to Matt Murphy’s interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, hosted by Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, I was compelled to download this audiobook and learn more about the former senior deputy district attorney’s career and notable cases. Read by the author, Matt Murphy provides a thorough and unmasked depiction of the most horrific crimes he has witnessed in the field.

A few disclaimers before throwing yourself into this biography: the crimes committed are real and truly awful. He doesn’t sugarcoat the atrocities these people thought they could get away with. With respect to the victims’ families he provides an honest recount, which can be triggering for many readers. True crime fans may not balk at the stories told, but I sure did! At one point, Matt lists the bad behaviors of men that you should not ignore: controlling, jealous, etc.  I suppose he knows the demographics of true crime junkies and who is reading his book (women).

Matt Murphy is a talented writer and navigates difficult topics with grace. We learn about his backstory and how he ended up in Homicide. We learn about the sacrifices to his personal life in exchange for the job. A highlight of this book is the author’s descriptions of the legal system and what a prosecutor does to succeed. Getting a glimpse into the nuances of this world is crucial to understanding the complexities of the cases, and Matt offers explanations for the layperson; for example, the differences between First and Second Degree Murder.

I recommend The Book of Murder for all those interested in true crime. While he uses humor in appropriate places and shares personal anecdotes, this is not a light book with easily-consumable content. Tread lightly or skip altogether if violence upsets you.