(3.5 rounded down) This is exactly what the cover advertises - a history of axe murder. Twelve murders divided into twelve chapters. I definitely preferred the back half of the book to the front half. I found the chapters on crimes committed in ancient times to be hard to connect with - the writing was a bit clinical and I found myself reading without taking anything in. The crimes that were more modern and more well-known (Lizzie Borden, Candy Montgomery, and the axe murders at Frank Lloyd’s Wright’s Taliesin), I found to be easier to read (which is a weird sentence to write about axe murder, but hey, that’s what I signed up for with the title). It is nice to read a true crime-esque book that is focused on a central topic as opposed to a singular crime. It’s not exploitative due to the fact that the murders aren’t the central topic - the crime if axe murder is. If the title sounds interesting to you, I feel like you would enjoy your time with this.

Whack Job takes readers on an unflinching journey through humanity’s fascination with the axe, tracing its evolution from tool to terror. This captivating narrative hacks through centuries of bloody history—from ancient murder scenes to pop culture shockers. Sharp, brutal, and eerily illuminating, it’s a gripping exploration of how a simple blade has embedded itself into human lore. And that cover is to die for!

Whack Job doesn’t shy away from its bloody past; instead, it dives headfirst into infamous murders, historical executions, and the cultural legacy of this deadly tool. With each chapter, it challenges readers to confront the darker side of our relationship with tools—a reminder that behind every blade lies a reflection of our most primal instincts.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder prepublication.