'This engaging and authoritative book presents a comprehensive analysis of how the musical genre of murder ballads have essential themes and messages for the understanding of law and justice. This innovative text pushes at disciplinary boundaries to illustrate how music has much to tell us about fairness, injustice, inequalities and resistance. This is a must read for anyone interested in the law, culture and justice.' Eleanor Peters , Edge Hill University, UK ''Law' and 'justice' are rarely associated with music, unless 'the law' uses 'justice' to criminalise music-making. Daniel Newman goes a step further, inviting us to think about law and justice through popular music--not just a topic to be studied, but as an instrument for understanding law, violence and society. Lambros Fatsis , City St George's, University of London, UK 'There is nothing more human than music and nothing more legal than death. In this comprehensive and deeply engaging book, Newman charts how the murder ballad is at the foundational nexus of culture and law; how the best and worst of humanity is entwined in our entertainment, our politics and our identities.' Kieran Tranter , Queensland University of Technology, Australia.