A Baker's Dozen Significant Books about Rural Crime in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Most of us have heard of and likely voiced the phrase a ‘baker’s dozen’ to refer to adding an extra item to a group of twelve to make sure there are enough. This review essay will abide by this centuries-old tradition, however, out of a necessity rather than incarceration. There are now enough monographs and edited books about rural crime and criminal justice topics that selecting a trim ten, a lissome eleven or a svelte dozen is impossible. Yet, even with 13, as the reader of this review essay will discover, there are plenty more books that could easily qualify for the list. To show no disrespect for those tomes not mentioned in the main text of this highly personalized version (or perhaps, highly biased rendition is the more accurate phrase) of a baker’s dozen, the essay will conclude with a brief mention of the others.