Introduction.-Section One.-Homicide data in Europe: Definitions, sources and statistics.-Long-term historical trends of homicide in Europe.-Contemporary differences in rates and trends of homicide among European nations.-Regional variation in Europe between homicide and other forms of external death and criminal offences.-Theory and explanation in contemporary European homicide research -- A review of the cross-national empirical literature on social structure and homicide -- Explaining variation in homicide rates across Eastern and Western European cities: The effects of social, political and economic forces -- The effects of political, economic, and social changes on homicide in Eastern Europe -- Family Violence in Europe: Child homicide and intimate partner violence.-Rural homicide in Europe.-Homicide followed by suicide in Europe.-Terrorism in Europe from 1945-present.-Alcohol and homicide in Europe.-Immigration and homicide in contemporary Europe.-Firearms and homicide in Europe.-Homicide and punishment in Europe -- Section Two.-Homicide in England & Wales.-Homicide in France -- Homicide in Germany.-Homicide in the Netherlands -- Homicide in Switzerland -- Homicide in Spain.-Homicide in Italy.-Homicide in Finland -- Homicide in Sweden -- Homicide in Estonia.-Homicide in Lithuania.-Homicide in Russia, Ukraine & Belarus.

This comprehensive work provides a  reference for the substantive, methodological, and policy-oriented aspects of homicide research in Europe.  Part one of this work covers the most recent substantive and methodological information about European homicide research. The second part will contains detailed case studies on homicide research in 15-20 individual European nations. This work will be both conceptual and practical. conceptual and practical. Conceptual aspects will focus on theoretical frameworks and patterns and trends of violence in Europe. Practical aspects will examine the results of empirical research, topics relating to different data sources and the variation of legal definitions of violence throughout Europe, and policy issues relating to variation in homicide prevention and punishment of homicide offenders throughout Europe. This handbook will not only provide an up-to-date reference that brings together known information, but will also offer previously unpublished comprehensive literature reviews and original research findings. The editors’ distinctive approach is to provide readers with an English-language central source of information about the voluminous literature on European homicide research that is currently spread widely in dozens of different European and American journals.