This book was amazing. So well done the art deserves to be on display. I love the way the book was laid out. So good.

I enjoyed learning more about Murder Ballads and the history and origins of many of them. Perfect for music fans and history fans alike.

Ever since I first heard Ceoltoiri's haunting version of "The Cruel Sister" on their Women of Ireland CD 25 years ago, I've been haunted by that moment when "the harp began to play alone" - those goosebumps still chill me every single time. Katy Horan's Murder Ballads feels like the perfect companion to that long fascination, bringing together her beautifully unsettling illustrations with meticulous research into twenty traditional murder ballads and their real-world origins. She doesn't just retell these dark stories but excavates their histories, tracing how some songs evolved from actual murders while others spring from pure folklore and mythic tradition. Her approach is both scholarly and sensitive, restoring humanity to victims often reduced to cautionary tales while examining the genre's troubling roots in patriarchal violence and white supremacy. Each ballad entry includes recommended recordings, making this as much a gateway into the music as it is a cultural study. Horan's art has a strange, folkloric beauty: darkly whimsical but never twee, weaving folk tradition and rustic charm alongside a gothic sensibility that's been touched by shadow and mystery. A quality of illuminated manuscripts crossed with old Appalachian almanacs and herbalist guides. For anyone drawn to the darker threads of folk tradition, this is an essential and beautifully crafted exploration of how real tragedy and timeless myth both become song.

I am rather obsessed with the concept of murder ballads so this was a PERFECT arc for me to receive. The history and the lyrics were very interesting but I was shocked at how beautiful the book was. I definitely plan to pick it up as a physical copy in the future.

(This did not download properly so I ultimately borrowed from the local library after the book was released.)

This was really interesting and the addition of art for each ballad added an extra layer that I have not seen in similar books. I enjoyed the information about the history of the ballads and variations, but would have liked more versions of the ballads to be included, particularly when the author compared two versions or gave a lot of information about a specific version and then included only one that was not the one I was expecting from. This did spark a new interest, however, and I will likely be listening to murder ballads for the next while.

Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics and Lore by Katy Horan

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
3.75

Another fascinating work of horror, history and illustration

What I loved💕:
💕 beautiful illustration
💕 interesting history around the murder ballods
💕 Exposing historical injustices
💕Shows the importance of song as a tradition in our collective history
💕 reflection on murder victims

What wasn’t my cup of tea ☕️
☕️Pace - I wanted less ballods but a more concentration of only the truly bizarre or strange
☕️ wanted more bizarre lore & amp up the horror/ creep factor

Not good or bad but it was more political than expected.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, Murder

4.25/5

This was a really interesting read. I wasn't familiar with the ballads included, but I enjoyed learning about their origins and variations. The beautiful illustrations in between each entry really added a lot.

The illustrations are 5 stars, beautiful and detailed.

The layout of the book is 1 star, it's strange that the explanation, analysis and historiography of the lyrics (primary source)before the primary source is introduced.

There is no epilogue or conclusion to the book so it abruptly ends. Also, the citations are jarring and would be better suited with footnotes rather than parenthetical citations it interrupts the flow of reading.

This wasn't my typical read, but that was also why I requested it. The concept of the book was too interesting not to. And i was pleasantly surprised by how neat and cool it was!!

Firstly I would like to extend my gratitude to Andrews McMeel, Katy Horan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid 3.25 star read. The author curated a rich selection of ballads—many outside my usual musical tastes—which led me to explore various versions and histories I might not have encountered otherwise. I found myself enthralled with stories, particularly those dating back centuries, however after a while they did begin to feel repetitive in nature. Despite its niche subject matter, the writing is welcoming and accessible, never making me feel out of place which I appreciate. I also liked the illustrations. Decent read and a definite recommend for anyone with more interest in the subject matter.

Katy Horan’s Murder Ballads shines the spotlight on the oft unspoken narratives that shape women’s lives. Through her intricate and evocative illustrations, Horan invites the readers into a word that feels ancient and contemporary evoking feminine archetypes, folklore and myth.

Each ballad is accompanied by the story/folklore/myth that led to its creation, how it spread or was made popular through the folk singers of the region, and lastly, deeply haunting illustrations of the ballad.

All the ballads offer lyrics — sparse and haunting, written in an almost mesmerising spell format or as an ode of remembrance to those before them. The ballads are not passive, but active bearers of grief, betrayal, and endurance. The reinforce the book’s main theme, the sacredness of the feminine, and the need to preserve their stories otherwise lost to annals of time.

Horan’s selection of the ballads in the collection spans genres. There is the Cruel Mother, where the victims returns as a ghosts, often to issue warnings or shame on her murderer. Parental opposition is explored in The Bloody Gardner, Frankie & Johnny looks at the murdered sweetheart.

Some ballads used real-life incidents and infused them with an artistic flair — the ballad of Pearl Bryant, and Alice Mitchell & Freddy Ward, warning future victims of love against the rules of society.

Murder Ballads is not a traditional book reading in the sense that it serves as poetic tribute to the ballads of the yore, with graphic illustrations making it part art book, part academic telling with an impressive atmosphere.

According to Horan, ballads are not judged by their historic accuracy nor are the women who actually lived the ones the lyrics often mourn. But women’s stories are important, and a woman’s story must be told. And, as you turn the last page of the book, some of the lyrics from the pages stick with you, just like an old song you can’t get out of your head.

What a wonderful book! I love history and true crime and this book tickled both those fancies. I had previously listened to a podcast all about murder ballads and was so happy to learn even more about this slice of Americana. The illustrations are gorgeous and just add to the wonderful experience. Loved every minute of this reading experience!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this. 3.5/5 stars.

I loved the topic, the lore, the history, and the art. I didn't like how it felt like there was a LOT of text (also discovered I have a pet peeve of 2 column text in a book like this). I felt like with the giant text blocks of SO much writing, I found myself skimming and jumping around while reading it.

Murder Ballads: Illustrated Lyrics & Lore by Katy Horan

This unique book, illustrated by Katy Horan, serves as a guide to the origins and impact of murder ballads on music, exploring their modern relationship with true crime. It features twenty ballads, each accompanied by a beautifully morbid illustration and a detailed overview of the song's history.

My favourite illustration (on the second slide) is of Delia, inspired by the 1920 ballad "Delia's Gone," despite the grim story it tells. The book is not only filled with stunning illustrations but is also beautifully designed.

Body count? Well, there's at least one per song.

If you enjoy quirky, dark stories, beautiful illustrations, and folk music, this book is for you!

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#AndrewsMcMeel #NetGalley @andrewsmcmeel @netgalley

#Bookstagram #booksdeeit'seads #2025bookshelf #goreadabook #allthebooks #booknerd #Designer #GraphicDesign #DesignNerd #designdeevaa #CreativeLife #DesignInspiration #ArtAndDesign #Designer #GraphicDesign #DesignNerd #murdermystery #NetGalley

I don't know what I expected going into a book with this title. This was, let's be real, a title grab. Tell me more, tell me more. And I absolutely got what I asked for.

BUT HOLY CRAP.

I enjoy that the author really researched the origins of these songs, the folklore and actual people behind some of the MOST HORRIFIC SONGS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD.

That's not fair. People are probably way ahead of me on this. I've only ever heard of one, and even that was a cover done by Nirvana that I DIDN'T REALIZE WAS A MURDER SONG.

Seriously, this book deserves all the capslock.

Unfortunately, and rudely, so rudely, the part I criticize is the illustrations. Again, not sure what I expected, but these stories are so horrifying, and the art is so...underwhelming. Each piece is almost a cut and paste of the other, with a few things changed and maybe some variants thrown into the background.

It's a beautiful style, to be sure. I don't want it to seem like I am criticizing the artist's talents. But we're talking about songs where women stab newborns and women are cut into three pieces by their siblings. Like, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more.

I will be listening to all of these songs. And I will be judging the artists who did Delia wrong VERY HARSHLY. Looking at you, Dylan.

This book covers both gives information about murder ballads, and then lyrics and illustrations of a range of ballads within. I found it interesting and enjoyed reading the information around Murder Ballads. They are not something I have read or heard about before so it was a great introduction to them, but I would have preferred more detail. The illustrations really added a lot to the book and I greatly enjoyed the folk style of them. I think this would make a wonderful book to dip into time and again, rather than to sit and read in one sitting.
Thank you to NetGallley for the complimentary copy of this book, opinions are my own.

"Murder Ballads" by Katy Horan is a collection that brings together twenty traditional murder ballads, each accompanied by short background information, lyrics, and a visual interpretation by the author. The idea behind the book is to explore the dark roots and enduring legacy of these songs, some of which date back centuries.

What I enjoyed most was learning about the stories behind each ballad—some were familiar to me, others completely new. It was interesting to get a sense of where they came from, how they’ve evolved, and how often they reflect larger themes like gender roles and violence. I also appreciated the concept of pairing each ballad with art. I found myself looking forward to the illustrations after reading about each song and going through the lyrics.

That being said, I found the actual content a bit underwhelming. The background information for each ballad felt quite surface-level, more like a quick summary than a real deep dive. The tone of the writing didn’t draw me in, and I found it hard to stay fully engaged. At times, I had to push myself to keep reading. The artwork, while a nice addition, didn’t consistently resonate with me either.

Overall, while I appreciated the concept, I didn’t feel fully satisfied with the execution. I’d give it 2 out of 5 stars. It had potential, but it didn’t quite deliver the depth or engagement I was hoping for.

Murder Ballads by Katy Horan was a quick read; but deeply interesting, well written and clearly thoroughly researched. I read it in one sitting and very much enjoyed it. It's a fascinating subject with a rich history that, until I read this book, I was quite ignorant of. Horan spans the well-known to the highly obscure and explains the impact that historic murder ballads have had on modern music, folklore, and popular culture/modern sentiments. I highly recommend this book.


I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley, for reading and review.

These Dark Folk Tales are perfect for Halloween! So Gothic.

I personally like how we have the story, it's publication varients, and how it's used nowadays. the illustrations are dark but beautiful. If I loved Country songs, it would've been amazing, so for music folks, it's perfection...

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

Until today I have never heard of a murder ballad, now I'm filled with morbid folksong knowledge and I believe this is just the tip of the iceberg.

I find the research into the legitimacy of the ballad to be the most fascinating part. Finding out who these victims were and their story brings the ballad to life.

If you like folk songs, murder or the macabre this is for you.