True crime Books

Book SynopsisPatrick Radden Keefe is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of the bestsellers Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty (winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction), Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks (a collection of his New Yorker stories) and Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland (named one of the 20 Best Books of the 21st Century by the New York Times and now streaming as a limited series on Disney+), as well as two previous critically acclaimed books, The Snakehead and Chatter. He is the writer and host of the eight-part podcast Wind of Change, which The Guardian named the #1 podcast of 2020, and the recipient of the National Magazine Award for Feature Writing, the Orwell Prize for Political Writing and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction. He lives in New York.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThe Peaky Blinders as we know them, thanks to the hit TV series, are infused with drama and dread. Fashionably dressed, the charismatic but deeply flawed Shelby family blind enemies by slashing them with the disposable safety razor blades stitched in to the peaks of their flat caps, as they fight bloody gangland wars involving Irish terrorists and the authorities led by a devious Home Secretary, Winston Churchill.But who were the real Peaky Blinders? Did they really exist? Well-known social historian, broadcaster and author, Carl Chinn, has spent decades searching them out. Now he reveals the true story of the notorious Peaky Blinders, one of whom was his own great grandfather and, like the Shelbys, his grandfather was an illegal bookmaker in back-street Birmingham. In this gripping social history, Chinn shines a light on the rarely reported struggles of the working class in one of the great cities of the British Empire before the First World War. The story continues after 1918 as some Peaky Blinders transformed into the infamous Birmingham Gang. Led by the real Billy Kimber, they fought a bloody war with the London gangsters Darby Sabini and Alfie Solomon over valuable protection rackets extorting money from bookmakers across the booming postwar racecourses of Britain.Drawing together a remarkably wide-range of original sources, including rarely seen images of real Peaky Blinders and interviews with relatives of the 1920s gangsters, Peaky Blinders: The Real Story adds a new dimension to the true history of Birmingham's underworld and fact behind its fiction.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTop Mafia hit man. Doting father. For 30 years, Richard 'the Ice Man' Kuklinski led a double life beyond anything ever seen on The Sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in American history while hosting neighbourhood barbecues in suburban New Jersey. Kuklinski was Sammy 'the Bull' Gravano's partner in the killing of Paul Castellano, John Gotti hired him to kill his neighbour and he was also intimately involved in the killing of Jimmy Hoffa. He conducted this sadistic business with cold-hearted intensity, never disappointing his customers. For an additional price, he would make his victims suffer. By his own estimate, he killed over 200 men, taking enormous pride in his cunning and the ferocity of his technique. The Ice Man is a blood-chilling insight into the mind of one of the world's most prolific contract killers.Trade ReviewA dramatic biography . . . uncovers Kuklinski's trail of blood in terrifying graphic detail * News of the World *With brutal honesty, Carlo writes from the heart -- Robert De Niro on Philip Carlo's work

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Not just a readable, pacey account of an extraordinary individual and his quixotic quest but also a troubling exposé of the fragility of our entire financial system I loved it'Oliver Bullough, author of MoneylandFor fans of Bad Blood and The Big Short, the story of how one reclusive trading prodigy manipulated Wall Street and amassed millions from his childhood bedroom then short-circuited the global market.A real-life financial thriller, Flash Crash gives panoramic insight into our economic landscape its weaknesses, its crooks and its exploitable loopholes and uncovers the remarkable, behind-the-scenes narrative of a mystifying market crash, a globe-spanning investigation into international fraud, and the man Navinder Singh Sarao at the centre of it all.Depending on whom you ask, Sarao was a scourge, a symbol of a financial system run horribly amok, or a folk hero: an outsider who took on the tyranny of Wall Street and the high-frequency traders.Trade Review Longlisted for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award 2020 ‘The U.K.'s pre-eminent chronicler of financial crime’ New Yorker ‘This is not just a readable, pacey account of an extraordinary individual … but also a troubling exposé of the fragility of our entire financial system … I loved it’Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland ‘The definitive account of one of the most mysterious events in the recent history of financial markets …Tells the irresistible personal tale of the unlikely character—finance whiz, social misfit, brazen cheater, folk hero, fraud victim—who finds himself at the centre of a vast global scandal’David Enrich ‘A fascinating journey through the heart of the financial markets and the battle between man and machine’Bradley Hope ‘An elegant and fast-paced narrative … Through meticulous reporting and a gripping story, Vaughan has filled in many of the missing pieces. You won’t be able to put it down.’William D. Cohan ‘A cautionary tale of the fragilities baked into the financial system … An engaging history lesson on the evolution of modern trading … And it is a pacy account that swings from humour to horror of a vulnerable man who is out of his depth … Compelling’Financial Times ‘An extremely well-researched and clearly written book’Spectator ‘Extraordinary … vivid detail … The real bandits are still out there, cloaked in political cover and respectability yet rigging the markets at scale’Wall Street Journal ‘So compelling … He brings out the moral subtleties. It isn’t a simple story of good versus evil … Tells the story beautifully’Daily Mail, Book of the Week ‘A magnificently detailed yet pacy narrative. Think Trading Places meets Wall Street … Vaughan achieves something even more remarkable. He makes you sympathise … Meticulous reporting’Sunday Times

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Shocking... a damning portrait of a man who, in the name of psychiatric progress, left a trail of broken lives in his wake'' Telegraph, five stars''Compelling'' Sunday Times''A gripping expose'' Financial Times''Lacerating'' Blake Morrison, Guardian Book of the Day ''A beautifully researched, wildly unsettling study of a psychiatrist running amok'' Sam Knight, author of The Premonitions Bureau''Shocking investigation'' The Times, chosen as a best book of 2025The Royal Waterloo Hospital, London in the 1960s. Six young women lie asleep on low beds. Day and night no longer exist, extinguished by a potent cocktail of antipsychotic, sedative and anti-depressant drugs. The women are taken from their beds by the nurses and given electroconvulsive therapy before being put to sleep again. All under the predatory eye of Dr William Sargant.THE SLEEP ROOM is a chilling exposé of Sargant''s bizarre psychiatric treatments that were inflicted on hundreds of women with mental illness - among them the actor Celia Imrie. At the story''s centre is a sinister and charismatic doctor, who was a hugely influential figure in post-war British society - lauded by Robert Graves and Aldous Huxley as well regularly appearing on the BBC. When Sargant died in 1988, the obituaries were glowing.But since then, women treated without their consent and with often horrific side-effects lasting decades have been campaigning to tell the truth about Sargant. Author Jon Stock tells these women''s stories as well delving into the murky history of Sargant''s links with the CIA and M15, both of which took a close interest in his efforts to reprogramme the human mind.As compulsive as a thriller, The Sleep Room finally gets to the truth of a scandal at the heart of the British medical establishment.''A devastating account of the effects one unchecked psychiatrist had on vulnerable mental patients.''Lisa Appignanesi, author of Mad, Bad and Sad: A History of Women and the Mind Doctors''A gripping medical biography that encompasses sex, drugs, brainwashing, intelligence operations, murder and several scandals'' Frank Tallis, author of Mortal Secrets: Freud, Vienna and the Discovery of the Modern Mind''A chilling case study in dangerous psychiatry, Stock''s gripping exposé of the invasive and reckless interventions inflicted on women in the Sleep Room will keep you wide awake.'' Cordelia Fine, author of Patriarchy Inc. and Testosterone Rex

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow filmed as ''The Irishman'' starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci ''I heard you paint houses'' are the first words Jimmy Hoffa ever spoke to Frank ''the Irishman'' Sheeran. To paint a house is to kill a man. The paint is the blood that splatters on the wall and floors. In the course of nearly five years of recorded interviews Frank Sheeran confessed to Charles Brandt that he handled more than twenty-five hits for the Mob, and for his friend Hoffa. Sheeran learned to kill in the US Army, where he saw an astonishing 411 days of active combat during World War 2. After returning home he became a hustler and a hit man, working for legenday crime boss Russell Bufalino. Eventually Sheeran would rise to a position of such prominence that he was named as one of only two non-Italians on a list of the twenty-six most wanted Mob figures. When Bufalino ordered Sheeran to kill Hoffa, the Irishman did the deed, knowing that if he refused, he would haveTrade ReviewOn July 30, 1975, Hoffa disappeared. Sheeran explains how he did it in prose reminiscent of the best gangster films. * The Associated Press *Brandt's book gives new meaning to the term "guilty pleasure." * New York Times *Told with such economy and chilling force as to make The Sopranos suddenly seem overwrought and theatrical. * New York Daily News ***** * Metro *

Read more less

Book Synopsis The explosive memoir of legendary DEA agents and the subject of the hit Netflix series Narcos, Steve Murphy and Javier F. Peña For the first time, legendary DEA operatives Steve Murphy and Javier F. Pena tell the true story of how they took down Pablo Escobar. Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar''s brutal Medellin Cartel was responsible for trafficking tonnes of cocaines to North America and Europe in the 1980s and ''90s. Colombia became a war zone as his sicarios mercilessly murdered thousands of people - competitors, police and civilians - to ensure he remained Colombia''s reigning kingpin. With billions in personal income, Escobar bought off politicians and lawmen and became a hero to poorer communities by building houses and sports centres. He was untouchable. But when Escobar became one of America''s most wanted, agents Steve Murphy and Javier F Pena were tasked with ending his reign of terror. For eighteen months, Steve and JaTrade ReviewManhunters is a gripping story about two true patriots who were the difference makers in the final hunt for Pablo Escobar. They are heroes to a world that was otherwise held captive by the evil of the planet's first narco-terrorist. Their bravery is unparalleled, and we owe them a great deal of gratitude for their selfless sacrifices. It is an honor to know them and their story. * Robert Mazur, New York Times bestselling author of The Infiltrator *A fast-paced tale by two agents for the DEA who had the inside track on bringing down the most wanted man in recent U.S history. * Bruce Porter, New York Times bestselling author of Blow and Snatched *Steve Murphy and Javier Pena recount their involvement in the pursuit and ultimate victory over a savvy and ruthless killer who declared an uncivil war against his own country. Never failing to credit Colombian heroism in this gripping struggle, Murphy and Pena offer fresh details of the chase for Pablo Escobar that resulted in his defeat and reclamation of the country from the deadly forces of narco-terrorism. A must-read for any fan of Narcos! * Chris Brancato, Executive Producer, "Narcos" *Riveting. A must-read for anyone interested in one of the major campaigns on the war on drugs. * Publishers Weekly *A thriller-esque account...keep[s] the pages turning. * Kirkus Reviews *A gripping insider account of the hunt for Pablo Escobar. Brilliant, bold, and no holds barred, this is an impeccable true crime story, told by the two brave men who risked everything to bring down the world's first narco-terrorist. A five-star read! * Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Spymaster *Steve Murphy and Javier Pena are the real deal; true heroes of the drug war. Manhunters outlines the most important operation in the history of DEA; the killing of the most brutal and notorious drug lord in the world, Pablo Escobar. They give an incredible account of that day in Medellin, Colombia, when Pablo was killed by Colombian police that were supported, advised, and trained by these two American warriors who were on the scene when it all happened. This book is a great read and a critical account of DEA's finest hour * LTG (Ret.) William G. Boykin, Former Commander of U.S. Army Special Forces and Founding Member of Delta Force *Manhunters grabs you from the first page and gives you a front-row seat into the harrowing inter-agency and international hunt for the brutal narcotrafficker Pablo Escobar. Two unlikely heroes recount their stories in a way that is both compelling and captivating. * US Congresswoman Mary Bono *A compelling read about the adventures of two true American law enforcement heroes who ultimately took on the world's first narco-terrorist, the world's most wanted criminal, the world's largest cocaine baron, Pablo Escobar, and won! They include accounts of other investigations, personal challenges, and the sacrifices made not only by them but their families as well. * Barbara Comstock, former US congresswoman *Manhunters is a riveting account of two brave DEA Agents who put their lives, along with their families lives, on the line to fight the war on drugs in the US and Colombia. A must read on the take down of Pablo Escobar and the part they played in the investigation * Joe Pistone, a.k.a. Donnie Brasco *Steve and Javier's experience on the front lines of the war on drugs over the last thirty years made them an invaluable source of information for us. Their contacts, both foreign and domestic, allowed us to put together a narrative of one of the most complex, poorly reported, and misunderstood chapters in our recent past. * Eric Newman, Executive Producer, "Narcos" *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'ASTONISHING AND ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING' - LYNDA LA PLANTE'Engrossing, emotionally honest and forensically fascinating' - Dr Richard Shepherd, author of Unnatural CausesEVERY BODY LEAVES A MARKIn Traces, Professor Patricia Wiltshire will take you on a journey through the fascinating edgeland where nature and crime are intertwined. She'll take you searching for bodies of loved ones - through woodlands and plantations, along hedgerows and field-edges, from ditches to living rooms - solving time since death and how remains were disposed of. She will show you how pollen from a jacket led to a confession and how two pairs of trainers, a car and a garden fork led to the location of a murdered girl. She will give you glimpses of her own history: her loves, her losses, and the narrow little valley in Wales where she first woke up to the wonders of the natural world.From flowers, fungi, tree trunks to walking boots, carpets and corpses' hair, Traces is a fascinating and unique book on life, death, and one's indelible link with nature.Trade ReviewAstonishing ... absolutely fascinating. * Lynda La Plante *One of those extraordinary books that will appeal to almost everyone. * The Washington Post *There is so much excellent crime, crime scene and laboratory detail in this engrossing book, but also warmth and emotion, which combined with Pat's immense forensic academic work, meant that I found Traces very difficult indeed to put down. It's truly forensically fascinating (even for someone in the field!) while also being emotionally honest and challenging at times. Pat is really to be congratulated for an excellent and engrossing book. * Dr Richard Shepherd, author of Unnatural Causes *Traces is proof that real-life can be more startling than fiction. The insights into the natural world are every bit as absorbing as the behind-the-scenes details of forensic investigation, while Patricia Wiltshire's own story is as remarkable as any of the cases she's worked on. Poignant, frank and utterly fascinating. * Simon Beckett *This is a fascinating combination of a moving and human personal story with a real insight into the value of a lesser known area of forensic science. In telling her story Pat makes little of her remarkable academic achievements and her contribution to the Criminal Justice System. An inspiring and interesting read. * Dr Ann Priston, OBE, FCSFS *

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn screen, Danny Trejo is the most recognisable anti-hero in Hollywood. But off screen, he is so much more. The ultimate hard-knock-lifer, and a true man of the world, he has all the stories, and all the scars. Raised in an abusive home, Danny struggled from an early age with heroin addiction, doing time in some of the country's most notorious prisons, before breaking into acting. Starring in modern classics and cult hits alike, including Heat, Breaking Bad, From Dusk Till Dawn and Sons of Anarchy, Danny has worked with silver-screen icons like Robert De Niro and Charles Bronson. Now, Danny recounts how he survived the horrors of jail, rebuilt his life, and drew inspiration from the adrenaline-fueled robbery heists of his past to forge his on-screen legend. Redemptive and raw, Trejo is an unforgettable journey through tragedy, pain, and success. Told with cowboy appeal, gritty rebel wisdom, and total honesty, these are outlaw stories from the frontiers: the frontiers of prison, of Hollywood, and of life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collection of real-life UK cases based on interviews with actual female police officers, anonymized for their protection, showing their bravery and dedication. Alice Vinten, a former Met Police Constable with over 10 years of service on the force, shares the stories of brave and dedicated policewomen who have been involved in real-life cases in Yorkshire, based on a series of interviews with these women who have spent their entire careers at the sharp end of crime-fighting.The Real Happy Valley reveals what life on the beat is really like. From dealing with domestic abuse cases to facing personal assaults, gang crime and murder, these courageous women stop at nothing to bring criminals to justice, never failing to put others' safety before their own.Gripping and inspiring, The Real Happy Valley is a celebration of our finest policewomen's extraordinary courage, and their peerless commitment to protect and serve.Trade ReviewAlice Vinten has published an important book on policing. She is a credit to the profession. I hope this signals a fresh approach to policing. * Dr Charlotte Proudman, Founder of Right To Equality *

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBullied at school, and growing up dreaming of revenge, Mark 'Chopper' Read determined to be the toughest in any company. He became a crime commando who terrorised drug dealers, pimps, thieves and armed robbers on the streets and in jail - but boasts never to have hurt an innocent member of the public. Streetfighter, gunman and underworld executioner, he has been earmarked for death a dozen times, but has lived to tell the tale. This is his story.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ''Riveting and often shocking'' Sunday Times ''Dripping with jaw-dropping revelations'' Telegraph''Absorbing'' New York Times In a dramatic account of violence and espionage, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Ronan Farrow exposes serial abusers and a cabal of powerful interests hell-bent on covering up the truth, at any cost.In 2017, a routine network television investigation led Ronan Farrow to a story only whispered about: one of Hollywood''s most powerful producers was a predator, protected by fear, wealth and a conspiracy of silence. As Farrow drew closer to the truth, shadowy operatives, from high-priced lawyers to elite war-hardened spies, mounted a secret campaign of intimidation, threatening his career, following his every move and weaponizing an account of abuse in his own family. All the while, Farrow and his producer faceTrade Review[A] scoop-filled book, part reporting memoir, part spy thriller . . . Riveting and often shocking . . . Catch and Kill has gone off like a hand grenade in the world of New York media . . . compelling * Sunday Times *A thriller. My word, you thirst for more . . . Catch and Kill is a rip-roaring account of the years spent chasing the Weinstein story and its spin-offs. It's a deep dive into the world of US media, Hollywood pay-outs, Donald Trump's eccentric ways, spies and spineless editors. And is it gripping . . . The page-turner, as illustrated by Farrow's Weinstein confrontation, is dripping with jaw-dropping revelations and moments of astonishing pathos . . . Farrow's reporting is incredibly rigorous. He has spoken, he said, to over 200 sources. It's evident in the book; the breadth of the story is staggering. He has the private eyes and the NYPD, the accusers and the whistleblowers. It's a rollicking read; I found myself laughing out loud, aghast, at the details, or else reading out segments to colleagues. Not since Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury - an eye-watering account of life inside the White House, in the first months of the Trump presidency - has a book so comprehensively lifted the lid on something so troubling * Telegraph *Farrow knows he has a humdinger of a story, but he also has a nuanced appreciation of how women are smeared and discredited, of how the lines dividing news and show business have blurred . . . lively and wide-ranging * The Times *Extraordinary . . . As some American critics have already observed, Farrow's narrative has the pace of a thriller . . . Farrow's book captures the terror and paranoia that eat away at Weinstein's victims for the simple reason that he comes to experience them himself, a human mirror. The producer's sphere of influence extends ever outwards, like the powerful arms of some giant squid -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *Meticulous and devastating . . . Catch and Kill is part All the President's Men, part spy thriller * Associated Press *Moves at a brisk pace, feeding readers each revelation in real time, interspersed with personal notes that make the stories stick -- Claire Landsbaum * Vanity Fair *Read this book . . . Farrow's greatest success was to listen, believe and act, even at his own peril -- Maria L. La Ganga * Los Angeles Times *Absorbing . . . The behavior documented in Catch and Kill is obviously and profoundly distressing . . . But there are some hopeful threads, too -- Jennifer Szalai * New York Times *Darkly funny and poignant . . . a winning account of how it feels to be at the centre of the biggest story in the world. It is also, of course, a breathtakingly dogged piece of reporting, in the face of extraordinary opposition -- Emma Brockes * Guardian *At the heart of every great noir is a conspiracy of evil that imbues the initial crime uncovered by the hero with a weightier resonance than was immediately obvious. So it goes with Catch and Kill -- Emma Bruenig * Washington Post *Reads like a thriller ...The reveal in Catch and Kill is not that there are corrupt people; it's that corrupt people are in control of our media, politics, and entertainment and that, in fact, many of them remain in control -- Rebecca Traister * The Cut *The year's best spy thriller is stranger - and more horrifying - than fiction . . . He weaves a breathless narrative as compelling as it is disturbing . . . bracingly exposes the rot that's persisted across elite American institutions for decades -- David Canfield * Entertainment Weekly *Engrossing * Hollywood Reporter *Catch and Kill is exhaustively reported . . . and compulsively readable, with nearly every page revealing a provocative detail about a household name in media or entertainment -- E. J. Dickson * Rolling Stone *Humour is the impressive and, indeed, surprising quality found in this meticulous account of how Farrow helped bring down Harvey Weinstein in 2017 . . . An essential account of the story that will scar Hollywood for years * Sunday Times *Gripping * The i *Gripping and humorous * Mail on Sunday *Packed with skulduggery and subterfuge, this is the account of how Harvey Weinstein tried to stop Farrow breaking his Pulitzer-winning story on him in October 2017. It's a deep dive into the world of US media, Hollywood payouts, spies and spineless editors. And is it utterly gripping * Daily Telegraph *I have rarely read a more compelling account of the systematic reality of sexual harassment in the workplace. Things might be slowly changing but this book shows that the culture that normalises abusive behaviour remains pervasive and owes its persistence to the insidious ways in which it downplays the emotional toll this has on women -- Luigi Gioia * The Tablet *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSelected as a Book of the Year 2017 in the Guardian'Maggie Nelson’s short, singular books feel pretty light in the hand... But in the head and the heart, they seem unfathomably vast, their cleverness and odd beauty lingering on' ObserverIn 1969, Jane Mixer, a first-year law student at the University of Michigan, posted a note on a student noticeboard to share a lift back to her hometown of Muskegon for spring break. She never made it: she was brutally murdered, her body found a few miles from campus the following day.The Red Parts is Maggie Nelson’s singular account of her aunt Jane’s death, and the trial that took place some 35 years afterward. Officially unsolved for decades, the case was reopened in 2004 after a DNA match identified a new suspect, who would soon be arrested and tried. In 2005, Nelson found herself attending the trial, and reflecting with fresh urgency on our relentless obsession with violence, particularly against women. Resurrecting her interior world during the trial – in all its horror, grief, obsession, recklessness, scepticism and downright confusion – Maggie Nelson has produced a work of profound integrity and, in its subtle indeterminacy, deadly moral precision.Trade ReviewA harrowing but clear-eyed examination of crime's emotional fallout -- David NichollsMaggie Nelson’s short, singular books feel pretty light in the hand... But in the head and the heart, they seem unfathomably vast, their cleverness and odd beauty lingering on...her work is blazingly intimate -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *Powerful and searingly honest * Guardian *Remarkable. I'm still reeling from its exhilarating brilliance -- Claire-Louise BennettA book-long riff on the first-person essay that Joan Didion built... Nelson eschews tidy resolution. She argues that stories are by nature imperfect – and yet she also shows us how they can become totally worthwhile * Time Out *In writing The Red Parts, Nelson has made her own box holding the fragments of many things. It’s not a beautiful object, but a valuable, coolly shimmering one, which captures the raw bewilderment that can affect a family for generations after a violent loss * San Francisco Chronicle *There is something daring in the intimacy of Nelson’s work... Her books, five works of nonfiction and four books of poetry, are light in your hands but heavy and powerful in all the nonliteral senses * New York Magazine *Nelson balances starkness with sensitivity and salvages beauty from trauma, while also perverting every strong statement – arguing, softly, against absolutes in general and her own convictions in particular…uncertainty and vulnerability are what is so special about Nelson’s writing... The result is a victim impact statement as complex and perplexing as the case itself… By bouncing everything through the prism of her strong relations; by refusing to be intimidated by originality, Nelson is a true original * Irish Times *Maggie Nelson is one of the most electrifying writers at work in America today, among the sharpest and most supple thinkers of her generation -- Olivia Laing * Guardian *Nelson is candid, funny and – for many years a poet – has a talent for compression and juxtaposition that makes for an enthralling use of language -- Paul Laity * Guardian *It’s Nelson’s articulation of her many selves – the poet who writes prose; the memoirist who considers the truth specious; the essayist whose books amount to a kind of fairy tale, in which the protagonist goes from darkness to light, and then falls in love with a singular knight – that makes her readers feel hopeful * New Yorker *Nelson’s cathartic narrative encompasses closure of unrelated events in her own life, such as mourning her dead father, dealing with a recent heartache and reconciling with her once-wayward sister. Her narrative is wrenching * Publishers Weekly *There’s no one quite like Maggie Nelson writing right now... We are lucky to have her * Bookriot *A memoir by a very cool writer – Maggie Nelson reminds me a bit of Joan Didion… Grim, but very well told. -- William Leith * Evening Standard *Nelson confronts both her own and society’s disquieting fascination with the murder of pretty white women – as well as memory of her father’s sudden death…and the way such ruptures inspire a craving for story-making, catharsis, justice and reassuringly tidy ethical lines * Times Literary Supplement *

Read more less

Book SynopsisLondon has a history that emerges from the mist of time some 1500 years ago and is one that evolves yet never ends. It has always been a breeding ground for crime as people from around the world are drawn by its numerous attractions and opportunities. Each generation has produced its own colourful cast of robbers, murderers and fraudsters. Much of the crime was prompted by poverty and foul living conditions, but the main driver has always been the desire or need for money by whatever means and the risks involved. Until the eighteenth century this often involved a trip to perform the Tyburn jig' in front of a baying crowd of thousands. For a time Londoners staggered around in a gin-induced haze. Mothers often abandoned or even sold their children, just for a chance to block out the horrors of a seething London. The lanes and alleys around Covent Garden were lined with prostitutes, many still children. Famous beauties were kept by aristocrats and royalty and referred to as courtesans, although in many cases the dividing line between them and their less fortunate sisters lining the streets was thin indeed. The ending of the Great War saw the appearance of drugs, although at this stage they were mainly confined to the rich and influential as London entered the jazz age'. The second world war and the Blitz was not all about the spirit and bravery of Londoners, as gangs plundered wrecked houses and even stole from corpses. After the war the likes of the violent Jack Spot and Billy Hill were superseded by the Kray twins and the sadistic Richardson brothers, as they fought for control of London's drinking clubs. A little light relief was offered throughout the years by a succession of sexual scandals. Those particularly welcome involved senior politicians. A heady brew indeed covering centuries of crimes and indiscretions brought together this very readable account by author and social historian Mike Hutton.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat makes ordinary people, living normal lives, abandon everything to join a cult? Emma Kenny - psychologist and true crime expert - delves into gripping true stories of cults, operating all around us.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWHEN YOU THINK YOU''RE SAFE,WHEN YOU THINK YOU''RE ALL ALONE,THAT''S WHEN HE''LL COME FOR YOU...A silent killer stalks the city, targeting those home alone at night, playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with the victims.As panic spreads, Detective Inspector Helen Grace leads the investigation, but is herself a hunted woman, her every step shadowed by a ruthless psychopath bent on revenge.As she tracks the murderer, Grace begins to suspect there is a truly shocking home truth that connects these brutal crimes. But what she will find is something more twisted than she could ever suspect...Check the windows, lock the doors - this is a twisted page-turner that will prey on your darkest fears, in the way only M.J. Arlidge can._____________________PRAISE FOR MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER M.J. ARLIDGE''Helen Grace is one of the greatest heroes to come along in years'' Trade ReviewTerrifying and wildly compelling in equal measure. Nobody does chilling suspense quite like MJ Arlidge, and Cat & Mouse is a superb addition to the Helen Grace series. * BP WALTER *

Read more less

Book SynopsisJeremy Johns provides a pictorial history of smuggling in Cornwall.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom Bill Minutaglio and Steven L. Davis, authors of the PEN Center USA award-winning Dallas 1963, comes a madcap narrative about Timothy Leary's daring prison escape and run from the law.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHEY STEAL IDENTITIES.THEY BREAK THE LAW.THEY SLEEP WITH THE ENEMY.THEY ARE THE UNDERCOVER POLICE.This is the breathtaking story of forty years of state espionage revealed by award-winning journalists Rob Evans and Paul Lewis.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom Boy Scout to assassin – the true confessions of a cartel hitmanAt the age of twelve Martin Corona started dealing drugs. After years in and out of prison, he rose through the ranks to become the leader of an elite killing squad for a notorious Tijuana drug cartel. Now haunted by his past deeds, he lives with the fact that he once pulled the trigger on a pregnant woman in front of her seven-year-old child, and accidentally shot a cardinal while hunting down El Chapo in an airport. Martin Corona has been convicted of multiple murders committed during his time as a cartel career hitman. These killings were brutal and cruelly efficient. Corona's gang would cross into the United States from their luxurious hideout in Mexico, eradicate whoever needed to be killed north of the border, and return home in the afternoon.In this book, Martin’s shocking first-hand confessions illuminate his descent from teenage drug dealer to murderous member of the drug cartel run by the Arellano brothers that dominated the Southern California drug trade - and initiated much violent gang warfare - for decades. Martin's story illuminates how a young boy, who played Little League football and was a Boy Scout, became a vicious criminal. Both shocking and powerful, it asks us how someone can inflict so much evil and whether they can find forgiveness on the other side.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this astonishing account, Iceberg Slim reveals the secret inner world of the pimp, and the smells, sounds, fears and petty triumphs of his world. A legendary figure of the Chicago underworld, this is his story: from defending his mother against the men in their lives to becoming a giant of the streets. A seething tale of brutality, cunning and greed, Pimp is a harrowing portrait of life on the wrong side of the tracks, and a rich warning from a true survivor.Trade ReviewSlim belongs to the knuckle-duster-in-the-face school of storytelling * * Sunday Times * *Slim always told it as it was, without compromise -- IRVINE WELSHPimp is hot and frantic, a remarkable tour de force of carnality and violence * * The Times * *This brutally honest memoir . . . is as shocking today as ever. A precursor of forty years of black-street culture, this is uncompromising and harrowing, but a landmark book nonetheless * * Big Issue * *Iceberg Slim does for the pimp what Jean Genet did for the thief * * Washington Post * *Pimp is an eye-boggling netherworld documentary, a tear-arse tale of ferocious emotion, expressed through action * * Q magazine * *Iceberg Slim always kept it real. It is blatant, uncompromising, and as close to the truth as you can get without going there yourself -- Ice-T

Read more less

Book SynopsisAS SEEN IN THE SUNDAY TIMES, THE UK'S NO.1 FORENSIC ECOLOGIST LOOKS AT HER MOST HIGH-PROFILE AND INTERESTING CASES...'I love puzzles, and finding answers is the only truly enjoyable part of what I do.' Professor Patricia Wiltshire is a forensic ecologist, her days spent at crime scenes collecting samples, standing over dead bodies in a mortuary, or looking down her microscope for evidence.Working at the interface of where the criminal and natural world interact, Patricia has been involved in some of the most high-profile murder cases. Now, through a study of her most infamous, and fascinating cases - including the murder of Sarah Payne, and the Soham murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman - Patricia will show us how she finds the answers to some of the worst crimes imaginable. Not only does she help the police solve crimes and give answers to the most bemusing circumstances, she can help to exonerate t

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHere are 18 tales of bloody murder, arson, assault and theft from the Ross of Mull and Kintyre to the Bridge of Awe and Dunoon.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom brainwashing and blackmail to manipulation and murder, explore the terrifying world of cults in this pocket guideThe strange and disturbing world of cults is fascinating and horrifying in equal measure. Led by charismatic and deceptively charming leaders, these shadowy organizations lure people in with promises of good futures and fortune, and then trap them and control them.The Little Book of Cults is an insight into this sinister world. Discover famous cult leaders and the psychological mind games they played to gain followers; learn about the different types of cults that have sprung up throughout history, the things they believe, how they began - and how they ended - and read the true stories of the brave people who escaped these organizations and told the world the truth. Uncover shocking facts about some of the most notorious cults to ever exist, such as:- What happens to doomsday cults when the world doesn''t end- Why it can

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC, on 17 June 1972. Bob Woodward, a journalist for the Washington Post, was called into the office on a Saturday morning to cover the story. Carl Bernstein, a political reporter on the Post, was also assigned. They soon learned this was no ordinary burglary. Following lead after lead, Woodward and Bernstein picked up a trail of money, conspiracy and high-level pressure that ultimately led to the doors of the Oval Office. Men very close to the President were implicated, and then Richard Nixon himself. Over a period of months, Woodward met secretly with Deep Throat, for decades the most famous anonymous source in the history of journalism. As he and Bernstein pieced the jigsaw together, they produced a series of explosive stories that would not only win the Post a Pulitzer Prize, they would bring about the President's scandalous down

Read more less

Book SynopsisA remarkable investigation into the story of an undetected serial killer operating in the north west of EnglandTrade Review'A truly astonishing murder mystery - this is proper journalism' -- Jeremy Clarkson'A book set to become a classic of the true crime genre. This is a page-turning thriller I couldn't put down.' -- Sophy Ridge'A shocking and thoroughly engaging work more terrifying than any horror story. An I’ll Be Gone In The Dark for the north west of England.' -- Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code'The Hunt for the Silver Killer is a gripping and haunting account, all the more so because of its unanswered questions. A serial killer at large is one thing - but a serial killer clever enough never to have been caught is another order of scary.' -- Christopher Hart * Sunday Times *'Astonishingly good, a true story that grips like the very best thriller - I defy anyone to put this down' -- Peter James'When the suburban dream becomes the suburban nightmare. Shocking and powerful in equal measure. Investigative journalism at its finest.' -- Nazir Afzal, author of The Prosecutor'This is a skilful telling of a gripping true story about the investigation and detection of murder. Readers will be captivated, as I was, by the determined quest of one remarkable woman - risking her reputation and career to try and prove the presence of a serial killer among us.' -- David James Smith, author of The Sleep of Reason'An extraordinary true crime story, written by a Sunday Times journalist, that reveals a string of deaths in the northwest and the as yet unidentified serial killer who may be responsible for them.' * Sunday Times Summer Reading *

Read more less

Book Synopsis“Riveting…an electrifying true crime story of the Mafia-smitten eighties and nineties. Suspenseful and multifaceted, The Gotti Wars can’t be missed.” —Esquire, The Best Nonfiction Books of the YearA “meticulous chronicle of good triumphing over evil” (The Washington Post) from the determined young prosecutor who, in two of America’s most celebrated trials, managed to convict famed mob boss John Gotti—and ultimately took down the Mafia altogether. John Gotti was without a doubt the flashiest and most feared Mafioso in American history. He became the boss of the Gambino Crime Family in spectacular fashion—with the brazen and very public murder of Paul Castellano in front of Sparks Steakhouse in midtown Manhattan in 1985. Not one to stay below law enforcement’s radar, Gotti instead became the first celebrity crime boss. His penchant for eye-catching apparel earned him the nickname “The Dapper Don;” his ability to beat criminal charges led to another: “The Teflon Don.” This is the captivating story of Gotti’s meteoric rise to power and his equally dramatic downfall. Every step of the way, Gotti’s legal adversary—John Gleeson, an Assistant US Attorney in Brooklyn—was watching. When Gotti finally faced two federal racketeering prosecutions, Gleeson prosecuted both. As the junior lawyer in the first case—a bitter seven-month battle that ended in Gotti’s acquittal—Gleeson found himself in Gotti’s crosshairs, falsely accused of serious crimes by a defense witness Gotti intimidated into committing perjury. Five years later, Gleeson was in charge of the second racketeering investigation and trial. Armed with the FBI’s secret recordings of Gotti’s conversations with his underboss and consigliere in the apartment above Gotti’s Little Italy hangout, Gleeson indicted all three. He “flipped” underboss Sammy the Bull Gravano, killer of nineteen men, who became history’s highest-ranking mob turncoat—resulting in Gotti’s murder conviction. Gleeson ended not just Gotti’s reign, but eventually that of the entire mob. A spellbinding, page-turning courtroom drama, The Gotti Wars “tells us in electrifying detail how the good guys finally won, how justice triumphed over evil, and how Gleeson himself was transformed by his long war” (Nelson DeMille).Trade Review“A useful reminder, especially for Mafia romanticizers, that we’re dealing with sociopathic knuckle scrapers who settle scores with casual brutality…Gleeson, a lawyer in private practice these days, is an able storyteller [and his book displays] keen insights and neat turns of phrase.” —New York Times “The Gotti Wars is the riveting story of Gleeson’s fight to bring Gotti to justice, which spanned years, brought him into the crosshairs of organized crime, and ultimately took down five major mob families. It’s an electrifying true crime story of the Mafia-smitten 80s and 90s, to be certain, but also a vivid memoir of Gleeson’s development as a lawyer, and an excavation of the celebrity culture that turned a murderer into a superstar. Suspenseful and multifaceted, The Gotti Wars can’t be missed.” —Esquire, "The Best Nonfiction Books of 2022 (So Far)"“In this exceptional debut, former federal prosecutor Gleeson chronicles his efforts to bring Gambino family crime boss John Gotti to justice…A must-read for anyone interested in organized crime.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)“Compelling…Gleeson has crafted this retelling as carefully as he prepped the two cases [against the mobster]. His description of the politics behind the scenes and his interactions with the likes of U.S. Attorney Rudy Giuliani and Attorney General Bill Barr are icing on the cake….Do we need yet another book on Gotti? Gleeson answers the question with a resounding yes.” —Library Journal (starred review)"A memoir from the federal prosecutor who took down the “Teflon Don” 30 years ago…Gleeson is a thorough writer…[The Gotti Wars] offers a realistic portrait of how big cases are pieced together." —Kirkus Reviews“Spellbinding...tells us in electrifying detail how the good guys finally won, how justice triumphed over evil, and how Gleeson himself was transformed by his long war.” —Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author of The Gold Coast and Wild Fire “Vivid, evocative, and genuinely suspenseful…An impressively detailed account of what it was like in the late 80’s and early 90’s to be chasing a flashy, dangerous mobster who had morphed into a pop culture icon…. John Gleeson is one of the most gifted prosecutors ever to match up against the Mafia. As I should have guessed, he is also an immensely gifted storyteller.” —Mary Jo White, former Chair of the SEC, former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and former Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York “Unflinchingly honest…contains moments that are both frightening and funny. I covered the rise and fall of John Gotti for seven years—through three trials and a dozen murders. I thought I knew this story inside and out, but this book shows I was mistaken. As John Gleeson tells the full story of how he built his ironclad case, you’ll feel like you’re sitting in the room where it happened—with the same nerve-jangling anticipation of how it will all turn out.” —John Miller, former co-anchor of 20/20 and, currently, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism for the NYPD “A unique unveiling of the prosecutorial strategy that vanquished the American Mafia's most exalted late 20th century gangster. As a bonus, Gleeson offers candid views of the skills and shortcomings of his main opponents: the Teflon Don's battery of mob lawyers. Perhaps from his former perch on the bench his next book should pinpoint the frailties of our creaky criminal-justice system.” —Selwyn Raab, New York Times bestselling author of The Five Families “John Gotti flashed an arrogance and audacity that became a gauntlet thrown down to law enforcement. To his credit, Gleeson shows, in this absolutely riveting memoir, that Hollywood’s image of a prosecutor who does it all by himself is pure fantasy. Ultimately, The Gotti Wars is a testament to the camaraderie that forms around any consequential prosecution. In these pages, you get to experience how touch and go it actually was.” —Eric Holder, 82nd Attorney General of the United States "Well-written…John Gleeson, who took the swagger away from John Gotti, shares his up-close and personal view of Gotti, his cronies, and the Mafia world he observed before, during, and after his two knock-down, drag-out trials against the late Dapper Don." —Jerry Capeci, reporter-columnist at ganglandnews.com and coauthor of Mob Star: The Story of John Gotti and Murder Machine “Absorbing, even inspiring…Epicenters of media attention, the courtrooms in which the fates of John Gotti and his co-defendants were decided became—over a period of months and ultimately years—scenes of magnificent legal combat…. Second chair in the first case and lead prosecutor in the second, John Gleeson had to continually improvise to thwart defendants who would resort to any ploy, legal or otherwise, to gain their freedom.” —David N. Kelley, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York

Read more less

Book SynopsisA humorous graphic investigation of the author's obsession with true crime, the murders that have most captivated her throughout her life, and a love letter to her fellow true-crime fanatics.Why is it so much fun to read about death and dismemberment? In Murder Book, lifelong true-crime obsessive and New Yorker cartoonist Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell tries to puzzle out the answer. An unconventional graphic exploration of a lifetime of Ann Rule super-fandom, amateur armchair sleuthing, and a deep dive into the high-profile murders that have fascinated the author for decades, this is a funny, thoughtful, and highly personal blend of memoir, cultural criticism, and true crime with a focus on the often-overlooked victims of notorious killers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEach day we saw the outside world in all its splendour, and each day that view served as a reminder that we had wasted and ruined our lives. Jim Quillen, AZ586 - a runaway, problem child and petty thief - was jailed several times before his twentieth birthday. In August 1942, after escaping from San Quentin, he was arrested on the run and sentenced to forty-five years in prison, and later transferred to Alcatraz. This is the true story of life inside America's most notorious prison - from terrifying times in solitary confinement to daily encounters with 'the Birdman', and what really happened during the desperate and deadly 1946 escape attempt.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGrimly fascinating engrossing' Daily Mail NINE HISTORIC CRIMES. ONE FAMILIAR OBSESSION.In early modern England, murder truly was most foul. Trials were gossipy events packed to the rafters with noisome spectators. Executions were public proceedings which promised not only gore, but desperate confessions and the grandest, most righteous human drama. Bookshops saw grisly stories of crime and death sell like hot cakes.This history unfolds the true stories of murder, criminal investigation, early forensic techniques, high court trials and so much more.In thrilling narrative, we follow a fugitive killer through the streets of London, citizen detectives clamouring to help officials close the net. We untangle the mystery of a suspected staged suicide through the newly emerging science of forensic pathology. We see a mother trying to clear her dead daughter's name while other women faced the accusations sometimes true and sometimes not of murdering their own children.These stories are piece

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisGene Mustain and Jerry Capeci are reporters for the New York Daily News and are respected experts on the subject of organised crime. Their first book, Mob Star, received outstanding critical acclaim and became a bestseller. Both authors live in New York City.Trade ReviewGotti's swagger and seeming immunity from punishment earned him mythic gangster status * New York Times *The most feared and celebrated gangster since Al Capone * People *

Read more less

Book Synopsis***PRE-ORDER THE SPECIAL COLLECTOR''S EDITION OF PRECIPICE, THE THRILLING NEW NOVEL FROM ROBERT HARRIS, NOW. PUBLISHING AUGUST 2024, AVAILABLE ONLY WHILE STOCK LASTS AND EXCLUSIVE TO THE FIRST PRINT RUN***''Impossible to stop reading'' OBSERVER''Thrilling, intricate and hilarious'' DAILY MAILAPRIL 1945: From the ruins of Berlin, a Luftwaffe transport plane takes off carrying secret papers belonging to Adolf Hitler. Half an hour later, it crashes in flames.APRIL 1983: In a bank vault in Switzerland, a German magazine offers to sell more than 50 volumes of Hitler''s secret diaries. The asking price is $4 million.40 years from the alleged discovery, Robert Harris chronicles the gripping tale of one of the biggest frauds in history.''Brilliantly chronicled'' NEW STATESMAN''A masterly account'' LITERARY REVIEWTrade ReviewA stunning and compelling story of human folly, duplicity and wishful thinking. Brilliantly researched and narrated, Selling Hitler is as fascinating and as telling today as it was forty years ago -- William Boyd

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Humans of New York Instagram sensation, this is the inspiring, dramatic and heart-warming true story of family, justice and how we all deserve a second chance. The young Walter Miller was a product of his time. Growing up Black in the Jim Crow American South, he was in trouble with the police before his fourteenth birthday. And, like so many young Black men, once he''d landed in the criminal justice system it was hard to find a way out. Soon enough, he was facing a thirty-year prison sentence. But Walter was smarter than his jailers. He escaped prison and fled to New York with a hundred dollars in his pocket. He changed his name to Bobby Love, and began again - living a crime-free life for nearly forty years, with a steady job, a loving wife, a church-going family. And a big secret. Until the FBI came knocking one cold winter morning, and it all came crashing down.The Redemption of Bobby Love is an incredible true storyTrade ReviewLove's journey is an enthralling read... an engaging memoir of crime, redemption, faith and love. * The Herald *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA groundbreaking work of history and reportage that unveils the stranger-than-fiction world of multilevel marketing: a massive money-making scam and radical political conspiracy that has remade American society.Companies like Amway, Mary Kay, and Herbalife advertise the world?s greatest opportunity: the chance to be your own boss via an enigmatic business model called multilevel marketing, or MLM. They offer a world of pink Cadillacs, white-columned mansions, tropical vacations, and?most precious of all?financial freedom. If, that is, you?re willing to shell out for expensive products and recruit everyone you know to buy them, and if they recruit everyone they know, too, thus creating the ?multiple levels? of MLM.Overwhelming evidence suggests that most people lose money in multilevel marketing, and that many MLM companies are pyramid schemes. Yet the industry?s origins, tied to right-wing ideologues like Ronald Reagan, have escaped public scrutiny. MLM has slithered in the wake of every economic crisis of the last century, from the Depression to the pandemic, ensnaring laid-off workers, stay-at-home moms, and teachers?anyone who has been left behind by rising inequality.In Little Bosses Everywhere, journalist Bridget Read tells the gripping story of multilevel marketing in full for the first time, winding from sunny postwar California, where a failed salesman started a vitamin business, through the devoutly religious suburbs of Michigan, where the industry built its political influence, to stadium-size conventions where today?s top sellers preach to die-hard recruits. MLM has enriched powerful people, like the DeVos and Van Andel families, Warren Buffett, and President Donald Trump, all while eroding public institutions and the social safety net, then profiting from the chaos. Along the way, Read delves into the stories of those devastated by the majority-female industry: a veteran in Florida searching for healing; a young mom in Texas struggling to feed her children; a waitress scraping by in Brooklyn.A wild trip down an endless rabbit hole of greed and exploitation, Little Bosses Everywhere exposes multilevel marketing as American capitalism?s stealthiest PR campaign, a cunning grift that has shaped nearly everything about how we live, and whose ultimate target is democracy itself.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA tour of the dark side of Chesterâs 2,000-year-old-history. All these tales and much more will be of interest to all those who have lived in the city or know it well.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe most up-to-date research ever carried out on one of the most notorious series of crimes ever committed in the UK.

Read more less