A first-hand riveting and dramatic account by a master journalist of one of the “crimes of the century”—the killing of two-year-old James Bulger in England, which caused a worldwide sensation as the murderers were two boys themselves. Includes a new introduction for the ibooks edition. More than almost any recent crime, the killing of two-year-old James Bulger shocked and horrified all those who witnessed its unfolding on security camera footage. The discovery that the killers were but boys themselves forced a national (and international) self-examination: what kind of society could breed such a monstrous act? Reporter Mak Thomas tells the story of this unthinkable crime and its aftermath. He asks the questions, “How did it happen?” and “How can we make sure it will never happen again?” Mark Thomas is a journalist for the Press Association, Britain’s national news service, and in the past worked as a newspaper crime reporter. He lives in London.