PROFESSOR DAVID WILSON

I’m used to killers explaining that they murdered their victim because they were jealous, out for revenge, or that they had merely killed in ‘five minutes of madness’.  Discussing this one day with Marcel, we discovered that there were also a surprising number of murderers who had killed because they had been ‘inspired’ to do so by a fictional character or by the plot of a novel.  But how does lethal violence emerge from the pages of a novel and seep into real life creating genuine victims?  Frankly, we have become obsessed with this question and we think that when you hear the stories of real murders that Marcel and I want to tell, you too will become fascinated by killer books.”

MARCEL THEROUX

“As a novelist, I’m fascinated by the way we make up stories and the power that stories have over us.  But I’m also wary of that power.   Stories have the power to do immeasurable harm: to isolate people, to justify violence, to strip away someone’s rights and humanity.  In Killer Books, Professor David Wilson and I will look at the role certain stories have played in acts of murder.   We’ll be looking at books that have been cited as inspiration for the most terrible crimes. “

Why do some novels inspire people to commit murder? Which fictional characters and plots arouse lethal violence in the real world? How does fiction become crime fact?

Novelist and presenter Marcel Theroux and one of the country’s leading criminologists Professor David Wilson combine their professional backgrounds to discuss books that have motivated murder and how fiction can sometimes become fact.

UK TOUR AUTUMN 2024

SEPTEMBER

Tue 10th

19.30

Floral Pavilion New Brighton

Wed 11th

19.30

Lancaster Grand Theatre 

Thu 12th

19.30

Memorial Theatre Sheffield

Fri 13th

19.30

Town Hall Birmingham

Wed 18th

19.30

Alhambra Dunfermline

Thu 19th

19.30

Tivoli Theatre Aberdeen

Sat 21st

19.30

Glasgow Old Fruit Market

Mon 23rd

19.30

Gardyne Theatre Dundee

Fri 27th

19.30

Beacon Arts Centre Greenock

Mon 30th

19.30

Apex Bury St Edmunds

OCTOBER

Tue 1st

19.30

Norwich Playhouse

Tue 22nd

19.30

Salford Quays Theatre

BOOK NOW

Sun 27th

19.30

Exeter Northcott

BOOK NOW

@ProfDavidWilson @Therouvian absolutely brilliant Killer Books being at Uni of Bham this evening. Thank you both!

Bernie Hynes , @TheBernie1967
Great night with @ProfDavidWilson and @Therouvian at @MyBCU @BCUCriminology. If you can get to see any shows on their tour this year, it’s a genuine “must-see”..
Matthew Davies, @Thefounded1877
Interesting evening yesterday listening to @ProfDavidWilson and @Therouvian talk Killer Books