It's True - Crime Doesn't Pay
Beverley MacDonald
Andrew Weldon

Allen & Unwin 2004
88pp., pbk., $12.95
174114275X

Crime Doesn’t Pay is definitely a five star book. An interesting topic – great facts and funny – well drawn cartoons. This 88-page book (4 pages of info. at the back) is full of true facts about the long history of crime and crime solving.

It starts with a theory that in the Stone Age a man wanted his friend’s new axe, so he offered his friend a string of beads in exchange for the axe but his friend refused. But he still really wanted the axe so he decided to steal it. So he stole it and became the first thief. There was crime in ancient times because 4,000 years ago in Babylon King Hammurabi’s law said that thieves had their hands cut off.

There are the ways that people were found innocent or guilty. Ordeal by combat – there was a fight – the winner was innocent. Ordeal by water – if anyone was suspected of being a witch they were tied up in a sack and thrown into the water. It they drowned they were innocent. If they floated they were found guilty and hanged. These are all examples of crazy ways to judge if people are right or wrong.

When London had many problems with crime first they increased the hangings but when that did not work so someone decided it would be a good idea to send convicts to America. But when America gained independence they couldn’t do it any more. When Australia was discovered they sent convicts there.

Throughout this book there are lots of interesting people like Jonathan Wild who made thieves give back what they had stolen and they’d both share the reward. Henry Fielding had a group of men who identified and caught robbers.

Crime solving was hard until using fingerprints was thought of. These days it is easier to work out crimes e.g. DNA testing but there is one thing to remember – crime doesn’t pay.

By Nicholas, Age: 11 ACT

Crime Doesn't Pay is a really interesting book about all the ways that detectives can figure out who committed a crime, and how they did it before there was DNA testing. It is just right for this time when there are so many television programs like CSI.

I think the most interesting thing is that you had better not tell your mum a lie because she will find you out faster than a detective! It was also interesting that the courts believe that once you have turned eight you are old enough to know the difference between right and wrong and you have to take responsibility for your actions.

This is a fascinating book. I couldn't put it down and I kept interrupting my family to tell them about the things I was reading. Dad got a bit cranky though when I told them about maggots and flies invading a dead body while we were having tea.

I think all kids over ten should read this book just in canse they are thinking of doing something they shouldn't. Because it proves that you will be caught and that crime doesn't pay.

Jerome, 11, Melbourne