While crime statistics trend downward, the appetite for stories about crime just keeps growing. This abiding interest makes historical crime a tempting area for historians to pursue their own interests or write histories that people want to read. Associate Professor Nancy Cushing was our guest for the RAHS Day Lecture on 1 May 2024. Her topic was 'What Is So Good About Crime'. Nancy spoke about why crime can be so fruitful for historians, illustrating her points with examples from Australia’s criminal past.