On May 6, 1840, a murder shook the upper echelons of London society to their very core: Lord William Russell, a well-respected elderly gentleman, was murdered in his sleep, his throat cut and his valuables stolen. Even more horrifying, the murderer claimed to have been influenced by Jack Sheppard, a sensational novel that swept through London and left dozens of crimes inspired by the tale in its wake. As the murderer's motives unfolded, the city was abuzz with talk of literature's impact on a person's character. Author Claire Harman layers the crime itself alongside the ongoing discussion between authors—including Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray—about vice, virtue, and their moral responsibility as writers. Murder by the Book is a fascinating look at an infamous crime and the literary scandal that accompanied it.