Book Review: ‘Whack Job' tells the story of a simple survival tool turned murder weapon

Winnipeg Free Press

13-05-2025

From the murder of a Neanderthal-like man to the infamous Lizzie Borden, 'Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder' provides a sarcastic, witty and quirky look at the history of a rather simple tool often found at the scene of a crime: an axe.
Rachel McCarthy James spends each chapter of 'Whack Job' detailing an instance where 'axe murder' has occurred, but for true crime fans the book might not make the cut.
Instead of looking at the gory details and dramatizing events, James examines the social-economic, political issues and human nature that caused these individuals to befall their fate to an axe. As such, the book, while having a true crime element, is ultimately a history crash course on the axe's evolution — from a survival tool in 430,000 BCE to a modern-day weapon of murder.
Still, this is what makes the book intriguing — even if, like me, you were hoping it would dive deeper into the axe murder itself.
James has fun with the topic, describing what makes the axe the perfect weapon in each instance, keeping the true crime fan in me thoroughly engaged.
A book such as this, focused on history and facts, could become tedious to a casual reader, but James knows how to disarm readers with properly timed humor and quippy theories.
True crime fan or not, James' book is a great primer of 'axe murder' in all its shapes and forms
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
___
AP book reviews: https://apnews.com/hub/book-reviews