This comprehensive book examines domestic murder-suicide through analysis of 116 men who contemplated or attempted killing their partners and themselves. Moving beyond victim-based research, the authors consider both perpetrators and victims to reveal why some men transition to these horrific acts while others do not. The research draws on interviews with men who contemplated and/or attempted murder-suicide, their partners and relatives, alongside newspaper reports of men who completed murder-suicides, providing insight into the fractious domestic relationships that lead to these deadly outcomes.
The book unpacks the source of perpetrators' rage by examining how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) create foundational trauma that shapes interior psychology and makes men vulnerable to murder-suicide ideation during relationship crises. Revealing that men who contemplated or attempted murder-suicide were not fundamentally different from those who completed the act, the research identifies the critical protective factor: intervention. Only 6 per cent of the men who received early, and meaningful intervention had planned or attempted murder-suicide compared to 82 per cent who had received none or were ill-advised
The book identifies key risk factors including inadequate support systems, power imbalances in relationships, depression, and inability to meet patriarchal expectations. It concludes with 20 policy recommendations for prevention, emphasizing that early meaningful intervention significantly reduces threats to both perpetrators and victims in domestic violence contexts.
A must-read for anyone interested in intimate-partner violence and domestic violence, this book will be particularly useful for students and professionals working in this area.
