The Irish Republic has been horrified by the recent crime wave and the brutality of some of the incidents involved. This work provides an insight into the criminal mind - the mind of the murderer, rapist, arsonist or child sex abuser. It also examines in detail the effects such crimes have on the minds of their victims. Composite and fictionalized case histories are used to bring to life the facts about criminal behaviour. Some of the cases outlined pose the following questions: why did a man who murdered his wife say at his trial, "I have killed the only woman I ever loved"; why did one man rape a woman, and expect to go on a date with her the following night; and why did a particular man beat his wife for ten minutes on the morning after their wedding? Art O'Connor's work with criminals and victims reveals the following facts: 95 per cent of all crimes are committed by men; approximately 60 per cent of convicted rapists are intoxicated at the time of the offence; approximately 50 per cent of fathers convicted of incest have alcohol problems; and arsonists get a sexual thrill from fire-setting. The book outlines how a forensic psychiatrist looks at crime issues and how victims and offenders can be helped. It looks at age-old issues, written for the general public, as well as for professionals and volunteers working with offenders and victims of crime.