Book Review: Trading life: organ trafficking, illicit networks, and exploitation by Seán Columb

Abstract

Seán Columb ’ s study of Egypt ’ s illicit market in organ transplantation works on many levels. It is simultaneously an empirically rich exploration of the organ trade, a fascinat-ing account of that trade ’ s transformation from a relatively non-violent aspect of the informal economy into a form of violent ‘ organised crime ’ , and a thoughtful re fl ection on the challenges of regulating a highly stigmatised and potentially exploitative economic transaction. The monograph should interest a wide range of audiences within criminology, including scholars wishing to gain additional perspective on related phenomena such as migrant smuggling and the sex trade.