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Christos Markogiannakis

A Short History of the World in 50 Murders

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Imprint: O'Mara Books

Publication date: 03/12/2026

ISBN: 9781789297737

Subject: Non-Fiction

Category: Science - History - Philosophy

Binding: Hardback

Size: 178 x 129 mm

Extent: 288 pages

Illustration: b/w line linocuts

Territorial Rights: World (All Languages)

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Summary:

Taking readers on a world-wide journey, criminologist and award-winning author Christos Markogiannakis examines how fifty murders shaped the course of history. From early serial killers to the birth of criminology, he shows how such tragic loss of life can have history-changing consequences.

From ancient Rome to the twentieth century, the reader is taken on a global exploration behind the history of the most heinous of crimes – murder.

Including iconic cases such as Liu Pengli, the Han Dynasty Prince who became one of the world’s first-known serial killers; the twisted history of Romanian ruler, Vlad Draculea, better known as Vlad the Impaler; and the mysterious murders tied to Mary Queen of Scots.

Throughout this book, Markogiannakis charts the evolution in how we view murder, through the rise in criminology from the 1700s and early understanding of criminal psychology and even mental health. Alongside delving into our centuries’ long true crime fascination, this thoroughly explores the impact of front-page stories such as Lizzie Borden and Jack the Ripper on how we view crime today.

Also available:
A Short History of the World in 50 Tyrants (9781789298437)
A Short History of the World in 50 Failures (9781789296938)
A Short History of the World in 50 Lies (9781789294606)
A Short History of the World in 50 Books (9781789294088)
A Short History of the World in 50 Animals (9781789292954)
A Short History of the World in 50 Places (9781789291971)

Sales points:

  • Written by an expert author: Christos Markogiannakis is a criminologist, art historian and award-winning author, whose books have been translated into several languages. He is available for PR.

  • Split up into 50 chilling chapters: An informative yet thrilling journey that explores the peak of criminality across the globe. From the infamous Jack the Ripper to the curious cases of the Poisoning Ring and the Jigsaw Murders, 50 Murders showcases the most chilling side of humanity.

  • Also in the series: A Short History of the World in 50 Lies (Over 100,000 copies sold in the English language), A Short History of the World in 50 Failures (Over 35,000 copies sold in the English language), A Short History of the World in 50 Books, A Short History of the World in 50 Places and A Short History of the world in 50 Animals. The series has also been translated in 20 languages worldwide.

About the Author:

Christos Markogiannakis

Christos Markogiannakis is a Greek criminologist and author based in Paris. His work explores the dark intersection of crime psychology and art. He is the creator of Criminart, an original concept that investigates murders depicted in artworks across the world’s greatest museums, combining forensic analysis with art history and storytelling. His crime fiction has received critical acclaim and major literary distinctions, including the Prix Méditerranée du Polar, in 2023. His latest novel, Omero, le fils cache (Plon, 2023), is a psychological drama imagining the secret son of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. Translated in several languages and presented internationally, Markogiannakis was appointed in 2025 Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Republic.

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