Frances Timbers examines the superstitions and myths that continue to surround magic and witchcraft today by delving into the history of the misconceptions that have created these thoughts in A History of Magic and Witchcraft: Sabbats, Satan & Superstitions in the West. By bringing together Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, Christianity, popular culture, and gender beliefs in the Middle Ages and early modern period, Timbers examines how all of these elements contributed to the creation of the witch and the later prosecution of those identified by that word. This work hopes to reveal what was real and what is fiction in the history of witches and magic. Continue reading “A History of Magic and Witchcraft Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Kieran Kelly has been the subject of a three year investigation by journalist Robert Mulhern. This two-time convicted killer is believed to have actually killed 31 people. In 1983 Kelly confessed to having killed his cellmate and then went on to say he had killed many more people over roughly 30 years. These claims escaped public scrutiny until 2015, when a former police officer insisted the government had covered up these crimes. With media interest suddenly high a new investigation began and the Metropolitan Police chief at the time, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe committed to re-examining the case. The Secret Serial Killer: The True Story of Kieran Kelly spans two countries and three police forces as they search for the truth. Continue reading “The Secret Serial Killer Book Review from @kleffnotes”