'Lively, extraordinarily comprehensive, accessible and provocative, this book will cheer students up and lighten the burden of teachers. It has two features wich especially impress me: it pays great attention to the wealth of criminological theory from the past whilst, at the same time, regularly and quite rightly, breaks the disciplinary boundaries of orthodox criminology.' - Professor Jock Young, City University of New York, USA 'This is a concise, innovative, engaging and informative textbook for introductory students in criminology. The quality of writing is quite outstanding, and the overall conceptual approach completely innovative. This book succeeds in stretching the discipline beyond the current orthodoxy. It is quite simply a pleasure to read.' - Dick Hobbs, Durham University, UK 'A successful text. It's coverage of material is comprehensive and in some cases innovative.

It is clear and accessible and uses learning aids such as boxes, key terms, a glossary, time lines and critical thinking questions well. It is more comprehensive than other introductions to criminology.' - Hazel Croall, Chair of Criminology, Glasgow Caledonian University 'An important teaching text in criminology for the foreseeable future and a welcome addition to the market. It is clearly and concisely written, which students will find appealing and teachers invaluable . covers a wide range of areas from traditional crime such as property crime to new and emerging crimes, such as environmental and cybercrime . exposes students to early writers in criminology such as Lombroso as well as to more contemporary thinkers such as Braithwaite, allowing the student to better understand the way crime and deviance have been socially constructed over time. The visual illustrations, case studies and examples make the study come alive.' - Toni Makkai, Director of Research, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra 'The Essex scholars tackle their task with verve and originality.

The critical approach that social life is "not as it seems" and that crime is the quintessential product of social construction gives this new text a provocative and challenging dimension so essential in stimulating introductory students . a key attraction is the commitment to giving wider sociological approaches a role in reinterpreting the complexities of modern crime and its manifestations . the depth and detail found in many of the topics covered and the challenging ways both new and old crimes and control issues are addressed. Considerable guidance is also given to the vast literature that confronts the new student and there are useful summaries for the more advanced student. This new text holds considerable promise as a broad introduction to the topic and should enjoy widespread acceptance in the UK and the commonwealth countries.' - Roderic Broadhurst, Centre for Criminology, Hong Kong University In British Society of Criminology Newsletter no 56, March 05: 'Presents an outstanding reference point for those starting out in criminology or for those wishing to go back and clarify their understanding of various issues or theories. As an introduction to criminology from a sociological perspective this text is an effective, informative and accessible teaching aid. Carrabine et al.

have produced a more comprehensive introduction to the study of crime than most other current examples.' - Ruth Penfold-Mounce, Centre for Criminal Justice Studies, Department of Law, University of Leeds In THES, 25 Feb 05 'I have battled for years to divert students from criminology to sociology, feeling that crime is, in a sinister way, too "attractive". With nicely structured and well written texts such as this, I feel that I am losing the.