College seminar series have historically served as a key resource for psychiatry trainees, providing a core knowledge base for their chosen subspecialty. Having recently accepted a higher training post in forensic psychiatry, I relied on this book to provide me with insight into my future career.

From the very first chapter one understands the relationship between violence and mental disorders. It is often difficult to assimilate a myriad of epidemiological data; however, graphical displays help visual learners conceptualise forensic statistics.

After establishing links between mental illness and crime, the authors neatly direct the reader through this history of forensic psychiatry, outlining high-profile cases and notable incidents that paved the way for change within the profession, an interesting introduction to the specialty.

The authors continue to explore diverse working environments within forensic psychiatry. Insight into mental health provision within prison was a useful addition to the book, although I would have appreciated a longer segment on suicide, self-harm and violence in prison, with the authors themselves reporting levels that are ‘astonishingly high’. It can be said, many readers within the psychiatry profession may be well versed in managing self-harm, a common presentation among other subspecialties.

The authors provide an understanding of the diverse role of a forensic psychiatrist. The expert witness role is explained along with legal tests. I found terminology easy to comprehend (not being from a legal background) but would have welcomed simulated scenarios to demonstrate tests in application. The book serves as a good reference point for legal tests. They are displayed in boxes and I can see myself referring to these in the future.

While the authors do well to explain legal terms, certain terminology – for example, acquittal, disposal and admissible – may be new to readers not well versed in legal terminology.

The book then explores risk assessment tools and there is a good amount of critical appraisal of tools and their effectiveness in clinical practice. It is interesting to identify how tools can help guide in-patient recovery, hospital leave and discharge. It shows the importance of a predictive and proactive nature of work.

I was particularly drawn to the chapters focusing on in-patient management and welcomed clinical material including reference to guidelines, which is particularly handy for psychiatry trainees.

The authors delve into the relationship between personality disorders and crime. While the book explores important differences between ICD-10 and DSM, this chapter could soon be dated with the emergence of ICD-11. Nonetheless, case studies are very useful for trainees to conceptualise the role of personality disorders in criminal behaviour.

From a trainee perspective, I found this book surprisingly therapeutic, relieving my anxiety of starting a completely new training post. For those at a more advanced stage in their career, there are plenty of references for further reading material at the end of each chapter. As I turned the final few pages, I was greeted with a message for newly qualified consultants – a fitting end to a book that can be perceived as a journey through forensic psychiatry training. This book is a must read for trainees and will sit in my bag for the exciting journey ahead.