York is an English city that's rich in history. I was fortunate enough to visit York several years ago, albeit briefly, so I was eager to learn a bit of its darker past in Keith Henson's book, Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths in York, which was recently reprinted by Pen & Sword.

This book provides just a taste of the city's tapestry of crime and executions. The stories collected here are interesting, entertaining and deliciously dark.

A bonus is the number of photos included, showing the locations tied to the incidents described, as well as some maps explaining the layout of events that transpired. It helps give the stories related here a real sense of place.

More importantly, Henson has obviously done a great deal of research so that his stories ring true, bringing people from the past -- victims, perpetrators and investigators alike -- to life for his readers.

This book should be enjoyed by anyone who has a fondness for English history or true crime with a touch of the macabre.