Jackson turns his historical eye onto the intriguing case of the 'Torquay murder', providing new insights into nineteenth century anxieties about illegitimacy, baby-farming, gender, and crime. He is a masterful storyteller.

Joanna Bourke, Professor Emerita at Birkbeck, University of London, UK

By focussing on the two trials resulting from the death of a single infant, Mark Jackson combines a gripping narrative with a wealth of detail about the legal and medical professions, the development of criminal procedure and evidence, and the practice of 'baby farming'. Infanticide and baby-farming are key issues in understanding the historical interplay of gender, crime and justice, and this book will be essential reading for anyone interested in these aspects of Victorian society.

Tony Ward, Professor of Law, Northumbria University, UK