This book is more of a 3.75 for me. The cases were for the most part interesting and the scientific detail was fascinating, but I found I didn't care very much about the biographical elements. I also found the author quite hypocritical - he calls many people arrogant and then is very arrogant himself.

There are also some pretty dated views and language, which I expected, though the author is respectful of the dead. I felt quite uncomfortable with his views on suicide and if that is a topic you find difficult, you may want to skip chapter six.

Overall I liked this book, but I was expecting less biography and more case studies and I wouldn't say its the best book on the subject.