Professor authors The Murder Book

Murder, unfortunately, is fascinating. Kimberly Davies, chair of the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice, doesn’t dispute that statement. Her most recent work, The Murder Book: Examining Homicide, is a culmination of three years of research and writing, exploring both the sensational and everyday crime of murder and what makes it so interesting.

The idea for the book came from a simple need. Dr. Davies taught a class titled Sociology in Murder and encountered difficulty locating a suitable text book, one that didn’t just cover sensational crimes. So she decided to write one herself. Now she is using the book in the same class that spawned it.

“When I wrote this, I was thinking of our students,” she says. “I talk a lot about the reality of today. When you turn on the TV, you see homicide. I want people to think about, ‘Why is it that we find it so interesting, and why are the homicide rates so high in the United States?’”

Those in the Augusta area will notice the book contains several local connections. Dr. Davies says local convicted serial rapist and murderer Reinaldo Rivera and Augusta District Attorney Danny Craig are mentioned, as is a local group consisting of the parents of murder victims.
“Anybody locally who picks up the book will see some names that they recognize,” Dr. Davies says.

The Murder Book: Examining Homicide takes a detailed look at murder from many angles. It includes chapters on confrontational homicide, children who kill, mass murder, serial murder, and murder as a hate crime. Dr. Davies also explored the ways in which murders are solved and prosecuted.

“It’s a weird thing to focus on, murder. But I actually enjoyed doing it,” Dr. Davies says. “I’m just as fascinated as everyone else and troubled by my fascination.”

The book is available at the ASU Bookstore and Borders, as well as online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon for $53.33.

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November 2007
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