True crime: serial killers and murderers Books

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Book of the Year and Audiobook of the Year at the 2023 True Crime AwardsStreet kid turned undercover cop. 'This time he wasn't getting up. Neither were the two young women he'd just murdered. The two unarmed young police officers he cut down in a hail of 32 bullets and the fragments of a grenade, ending their promising lives so savagely, so senselessly. I felt empty. Cold. How had it come to this?'Shay Doyle grew up on a tough Manchester council estate where drugs and gangs were rife. A life of crime would have been an easy path to take. So it went against everything that was expected of him when he joined the police.It wasn't long before Shay's prodigious talent caught the attention of the top and he was called upon to join the secret Level 1 undercover unit, Omega. He was given a new identity and his DNA and fingerprints were removed from the national database.In a distinguished covert career spanning 17 years, Shay led covert operations tackling high-profile murder cases and came face to face with some of Britain's most dangerous gangsters, often risking his own life. But there would be a heavy price to pay for a life in the shadows, where any mistake could have lethal consequences...Trade ReviewA phenomenal story of the life of a Level 1 undercover police officer with the courage to step into the lion's den every day, not knowing if it would be his last. -- James Deegan

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Book SynopsisA thrilling investigation of a true Victorian crime at Dublin railway station, shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction 2022.'All the shocks and surprises of the best crime fiction' The Times Crime ClubDublin, November 1856: George Little, the chief cashier of the Broadstone railway terminus, is found dead, lying in a pool of blood beneath his desk.Yet there is no sign of a murder weapon and the office door is locked, apparently from the inside. Thousands of pounds in gold and silver are left untouched at the scene of the crime.Augustus Guy, Ireland's most experienced detective, teams up with Dublin's leading lawyer to investigate the murder - but the case defies all explanation. Then a local woman comes forward, claiming to know the killer...'An intriguing and compelling true-crime whodunnit' Irish Times'A true-crime masterclass... As compelling as any thriller' Philip Gray, author of Two Storm WoodTrade ReviewThis meticulous non-fiction account of a once-famous murder mystery has all the shocks and surprises of the best crime fiction * The Times Crime Club *The plot of this real-life murder mystery had as many twists and turns as an Agatha Christie whodunit * Daily Mail *In The Dublin Railway Murder, Thomas Morris unpacks this baffling case with the taut, just-the-facts spareness of the best police procedurals...[He] deftly peppers the narrative with historical context...An intriguing and compelling true crime whodunit as well. * Irish Times *As compelling a read as any fiction thriller * i *Written like a whodunit and wearing its vast research into Victorian Dublin ever so lightly, Thomas Morris's wholly factual murder mystery is easily one of the most entertaining page-turners I've read this year. It's a compelling, evocative, thrilling must-read, and proof, if further proof is ever required, that fact is often so much stranger - not to mention more entertaining - than fiction * Sunday Independent *

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Book SynopsisFor fans of ITV's 'Des', starring David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen.Only one TV interview with a serial killer has ever been recorded in a British jail and broadcast. This is the exclusive story of that dramatic event, carried out by award-winning documentary maker Mike Morley with Dennis Nilsen, then the country's most prolific murderer.In what became front page news, Morley overcame two eleventh hour government attempts (in the High Court and Court of Appeal) to stop ITV in the UK screening any extracts of the Nilsen interview. Controversially, the court ruled no more than 4 minutes of a four-hour interrogation should ever be shown.The Dennis Nilsen Tapes: In Jail with Britain's Most Infamous Serial Killer covers those full four hours, plus two days spent face to face with Nilsen in Albany Prison and two years of graphic correspondence and confessions from the infamous Scottish serial killer.With fresh insight from world famous psychological profilers and a leading pathologist, Morley completes almost three decades of investigation into what turned the former chef, policeman and civil servant into one of the world's most notorious murderers and necrophiles.

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Book Synopsis"WHEN THE MOON TURNS TO BLOOD is a harrowing and fascinating tale of apocalyptic obsession and murder. Leah Sottile leads us down every head-shaking twist and turn of the case, an expert guide to the dark tributaries of religious extremism that run closer to the American mainstream than we'd ever like to believe."?Jess Walter, American author of Ruby RidgeWhen police in Rexburg, Idaho perform a wellness check on seven J.J. Vallow and his sister, sixteen-year-old Tylee Ryan, both children are nowhere to be found. Their mother, Lori Vallow, gives a phony explanation, and when officers return the following day with a search warrant, she, too, is gone. As the police begin to close in, a larger web of mystery, murder, fanaticism and deceit begins to unravel.Vallow's case is sinuously complex. As investigators prod further, they find the accused Black Widow has an unusual number of bodies piling up around her.WHEN THE MOON TURNS TO BLOOD tells a gripping story of extreme beliefs, snake oil prophets, and explores the question: if it feels like the world is ending, how are people supposed to act?

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Book SynopsisWhen police in Rexburg, Idaho perform a wellness check on seven J.J. Vallow and his sister, sixteen-year-old Tylee Ryan, both children are nowhere to be found. Their mother, Lori Vallow, gives a phony explanation, and when officers return the following day with a search warrant, she, too, is gone. As the police begin to close in, a larger web of mystery, murder, fanaticism and deceit begins to unravel.Vallow's case is sinuously complex. As investigators prod further, they find the accused Black Widow has an unusual number of bodies piling up around her.WHEN THE MOON TURNS TO BLOOD tells a gripping story of extreme beliefs, snake oil prophets, and explores the question: if it feels like the world is ending, how are people supposed to act?

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of What You Did comes a true-crime investigation that cast a dark shadow over the Ireland of her childhood. Ireland in the 1990s seemed a safe place for women. With the news dominated by the Troubles, it was easy to ignore non-political murders and sexual violence, to trust that you weren’t going to be dragged into the shadows and killed. But beneath the surface, a far darker reality had taken hold. Through questioning the society and circumstances that allowed eight young women to vanish without a trace―no conclusion or conviction, no resolution for their loved ones―bestselling crime novelist Claire McGowan delivers a candid investigation into the culture of secrecy, victim-blaming and shame that left these women’s bodies unfound, their fates unknown, their assailants unpunished. McGowan reveals an Ireland not of leprechauns and craic but of outdated social and sexual mores, where women and their bodies were of secondary importance to perceived propriety and misguided politics—a place of well-buttoned lips and stony silence, inadequate police and paramilitary threat. Was an unknown serial killer at large or was there something even more insidious at work? In this insightful, sensitively drawn account, McGowan exposes a system that failed these eight women—and continues to fail women to this day.Trade Review“A chilling book of true crime featuring important social issue concerns.” —Kirkus Reviews “Thought-provoking, compelling true crime.” —Library Journal “McGowan writes for the justice of the lost and murdered women and for change in Ireland.” —Booklist

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Book SynopsisNo body, no cause of death, no physical evidence—and yet, after ten years, a murder conviction . . . Janet March, artist and wife of corporate lawyer Perry March, had it all: two children she adored, a promising career as an artist, supportive parents, and a dream house she designed. But behind closed doors her husband led a destructive double life of secrets and lies. On August 16, 1996, Janet had an appointment to finally file for divorce; she never made it to see her lawyer—because on the night of August 15, she vanished. Her disappearance incited a massive search and media frenzy that revealed to the world Perry March’s seedy dealings in the underbelly of Nashville. But he took his children and absconded away to a new life in Mexico. For ten years, Janet’s parents fought their depraved son-in-law through the court system in what would become an international custody battle culminating in Perry’s dramatic extradition to Tennessee. Meanwhile, the Nashville Police Department investigated the case from every possible angle but never found a body. In spite of overwhelming odds, cold case detectives and prosecutors were determined to find justice for Janet—and with the help of a shocking surprise witness, they did.Trade ReviewAn Unfinished Canvas "Michael Glasgow and Phyllis Gobbell have created a tense saga that fully paints the amazing series of events that make up the Janet March murder case...An Unfinished Canvas paints a broad swath of facts—from news reports, court documentation and interviews—and lets the reader decide whether justice was done...The authors’ enticing storytelling pattern results in a comprehensive guide to the legal wrangling that eventually brought Perry down." —The Tennessean “Tortuous tale...Michael Glasgow and Phyllis Gobbell paint a portrait of a man who, if not for his arrogance, could have gotten away with murder.” —Nashville Scene Praise for Phyllis Gobbell and Pursuit in Provence “Gobbell brings the Provence backdrop to vivid life while dropping enough clues to keep readers focused on the mystery involved.” —Booklist starred review “Seasoned with humor and evocative descriptions of magnificent historic sites, this whodunit should appeal to fans of both cozies and traditional mysteries.” —Publishers Weekly “Gobbell’s debut, first in a planned series, combines mystery, informative travelogue and enjoyable characters.” —Kirkus Review “A twisty tale of treachery. Phyllis Gobbell’s debut suspense novel is distinguished by authentic characters and a glorious evocation of Provence.” —Carolyn Hart, recipient of Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master Award “A delight! With Jordan Mayfair, Phyllis has given us a protagonist who will resonate with every woman who’s ever lived with love, loss, and struggle, and managed to triumph over it all. Add in an exquisitely intricate plot, a quirky and appealing supporting cast, and all the flavor of the French countryside, and you’ve got a winner! So uncork a nice Semillon and enjoy this one.” —Steven Womack, Edgar and Shamus award winner Praise for Phyllis Gobbell and Treachery in Tuscany “There are plot twists and intrigue, family secrets and rivalries, a debonair lover, a delicious locale and all the usual accoutrements of the satisfying travel cozy, but Phyllis Gobbell gives the proceedings her own particular spin.” —Kate Falvey, Ph.D., Editor in Chief, 2 Bridges Review Praise for Phyllis Gobbell and Secrets and Shamrocks “A visit to the verdant Irish countryside is marred by murder. The second in Gobbell’s travel series is filled with delightful descriptions of Ireland and offbeat characters.” —Kirkus Review “Gobbell’s enjoyable sequel to 2015’s Pursuit in Provence takes Savannah, Ga., architect Jordan Mayfair and her travel writer uncle, Alex Carlyle, to Ireland. Jordan’s keen knowledge of architecture and history comes in handy in her efforts to uncover the truth. Fans of travel cozies will find plenty to like.” —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisThe incredible story of a 1958 murder that ended with the last woman to ever be executed in California—a murder so twisted it seems ripped from a Greek tragedy. Deborah Larkin was only ten years old when the quiet calm of her California suburb was shattered. Thirty miles north, on a quiet November night in Santa Barbara, a pregnant nurse named Olga Duncan disappeared from her apartment. The mystery deepens when it is discovered that Olga’s mother in-law—a deeply manipulative and deceptive woman—had been doing everything in her power to separate Olga and her son, Frank, prior to Olga’s disappearance. From a forged annulment to multiple attempts to hire people to “get rid” of Olga, to a faked excoriation case, Elizabeth seemed psychopathically attached to her son. Yet she denied having anything to do with Olga’s disappearance with a smile.But when Olga’s brutally beaten body is found in a shallow grave, apparently buried alive, a young DA makes it his mission to see that Elizabeth Duncan is brought to justice. Adding a wrinkle to his efforts is the fact that Frank—himself a defense attorney—maintained his mother’s innocent to the end. How does a young girl process such a crime along with the fear and disbelieve that rocked an entire community? Decades later, Larkin is determined to revisit the case and bring the story of Olga herself to light. Long overshadowed by the sensationalism and scandal of Elizabeth and Frank, A Lovely Girl seeks to reveal Olga as a woman in full. Someone who was more than the twisted family that would ultimately ensnare her.As we follow the heart-pounding drama of the case through Larkin's young eyes—her father was the court reporter—A Lovely Girl is by turns page-turning yet poingnant, and makes the reader reexamine how we handle fear, how we regard mental illness, and how we understand family as we carve our own path in a dangerous world.Trade Review"[Deborah] has penned a meticulously researched and deeply personal page-turner that is a suitable tribute to both the victim and to her father." * The San Diego Union-Tribune *" In writing about what proved to be the most memorable and formative years of her life, Larkin portrays her Scout-Atticus Finch love for her father and for justice in general. The book honors Olga and her community and shows the impact that horrific crime can have on all those who bear witness." * Booklist *"Readers will be drawn to Larkin’s first-person narrative of the events as well as her reconstruction of this tragic true-crime story." * Library Journal *"In this excellent debut, educator Larkin revisits the case of Elizabeth Duncan, who was convicted of the 1958 murder of her daughter-in-law and was the last woman to be executed in California before the Supreme Court suspended the death penalty in 1972...Larkin writes beautifully about her own coming-of-age, sibling rivalry, and pet bird, intermingled with the details of the horrific case. Captivated by her father’s front-page stories on the trial, she brought the newspaper to class for show-and-tell and spent hours listening to her parents discuss the case over dinner. As a result, Larkin became a lifelong true crime fan. This page-turner is not to be missed." * Publishers Weekly, starred review *

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Book SynopsisUnsolved Crimes, Cold Cases, and Mysterious Stories“Haunting and heartbreaking, The Best New True Crime Stories: Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries lives up to its title, and is a must-read for true crime aficionados...”—Alex Finlay, author of Every Last Fear and The Night Shift#1 New Release in Medical Forensic PsychologyThis collection of cold cases examines crimes that are dark, scary, mysterious, and still waiting to be solved.Unsolved crimes, unanswered questions. Crimes are meant to be solved. But what happens when they’re not? For the individuals involved—from the victims and their families to police investigators—this is the most frustrating part of all. For them there’s no resolution, no justice, no tidy boxes in which to pack away all the bits and pieces of a puzzle that finally links together. Instead, they are only left with questions that may never get answered. Chilling cold cases & unexplained mysteries. The Best New True Crime Stories examines a fascinating assortment of unsolved murders, unsolved crimes, serial killers, and mysterious stories from around the world, from the past to the contemporary. Like the previous anthologies in The Best New True Crime Stories series, this volume contains all-new and original nonfiction accounts penned by international writers from across the literary spectrum, from true crime and crime fiction to journalism. Contributors include Dean Jobb, Joan Renner, Cathy Pickens, Lindsey Danis, Anya Wassenberg, and many others.Inside, you’ll find: A varied assortment of unsolved crimes and mysterious murders Murder cases to solve, told by writers from around the world France’s “Valley of Hell” mystery and the story of Austria’s most wanted If you like books about murder cases or liked The Book of Cold Cases, If You Tell, or Unmasked, you’ll love The Best New True Crime Stories.Trade Review“...The sixth in the long running series presented by master editor Mitzi Szereto.... The Best New True Crime Stories Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries is for those of us who love this genre.”—Midwest Book Review"Great book, highly recommended for all fans of crime stories, true or otherwise." —Readers' Favorite“Haunting and heartbreaking, The Best New True Crime Stories: Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries lives up to its title, and is a must-read for true crime aficionados. It’s an ambitious collection of unsolved mysteries, spanning the globe and time—from France in the Roaring Twenties to Los Angeles in the 1960s to the Appalachian Trail in the 1990s, and beyond. The authors skillfully shed new light on long-forgotten murders, chronical a baffling and brazen art heist, and lay bare the systemic and societal failures in each case. But most of all, the authors honor the victims. Because maybe, just maybe, these renewed accounts will spawn new clues that will provide answers to grieving families, and perhaps even justice. I can’t stop thinking about these stories, and I highly recommend.” —Alex Finlay, author of Every Last Fear and The Night Shift “Ever since reading Megan Abbott’s The Song Is You, I can’t get enough of Jean Spangler, so I was thrilled to see the bizarre 1949 disappearance of the Hollywood bit actress turn up in Mitzi Szereto’s latest collection of unsolved true crimes. If you love history and mystery, you’ll love this book.” —David Bushman, author of Murder at Teal’s Pond: Hazel Drew and the Mystery That Inspired Twin Peaks “An unusually moving read. I was struck by the compassion and sensitivity with which the murders were described, as each of the authors felt a personal sympathy with and even a connection to the case.” —Linda Stratmann, author of thirty true crime and crime fiction books, including her new series featuring a young Sherlock Holmes “Quality literature always leaps from the pages when professional true crime writers dip quills into ink. This book is no exception. A great compilation of gut-wrenching cases giving ‘reader involvement and participation:’ the authors ‘talk to the reader’ not ‘at the reader,’ which is a style I encourage and thoroughly endorse. Well laid out. Dedicated research. This is a must-read book for all those interested in true crime.” —Christopher Berry-Dee, criminologist; christopherberrydee.com “Author and editor extraordinaire Mitzi Szereto has assembled an outstanding group of leading authors from throughout the world for this incredible collection—The Best New True Crime Stories: Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries. A truly fantastic anthology!” —Dan Zupansky, author and host of True Murder“People can’t seem to get enough of true crime stories these days, and I’m one of them. The Best New True Crime Stories: Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries, the sixth installment of Mitzi Szereto’s franchise, features award-winning writers Dean Jobb, Joan Renner, Cathy Pickens, Lindsey Danis, Janel Comeau, Anya Wassenberg, David Breakspear, Mitzi Szereto, and many others; the book features true crime stories from around the world.”—Horror Fuel”There are a lot of books about true crime and unsolved mysteries. However, this one has something I covet and not always find: the right tone…. The stories in Szereto’s book all run in perfect pace, are all very well-written, and all hit the right tone. All authors connect to their story and their victims. It will leave you thinking and that’s the hallmark of a great book. Highly recommended reading!”—Defrosting Cold Cases”Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries, edited by Mitzi Szereto, the sixth in the excellent The Best New True Crime Stories series.”—Choice Magazine UK

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Book Synopsis2023 Edgar Award FinalistOne of the New York Times' Best True Crime Books of 2022"Trailed is meticulously investigated, achingly intimate, and doggedly persistent in the pursuit of justice." -Robert Kolker, bestselling author of Hidden Valley RoadIn May 1996, two skilled, free-spirited backcountry leaders, Lollie Winans and Julie Williams, entered Virginia's Shenandoah National Park for a week-long backcountry camping trip. During the couple's final days in the park, they descended the narrow remnants of a trail and pitched their tent in a hidden spot. After the pair didn't return home, park rangers found a scene of horror at their campsite: their tent slashed open, their beloved dog missing, and both women dead in their sleeping bags. The unsolved murders of Winans and Williams continue to haunt all who had encountered them or knew their story.When award-winning journalist and outdoors expert Kathryn Miles looks into the case, she discovers conflicting evidence, mismatched timelines, and details that just don't add up. With unprecedented access to crucial crime-scene forensics and key witnesses-and with a growing sense of both mission and obsession-she begins to uncover the truth. An innocent man, Miles is convinced, has been under suspicion for decades, while the true culprit is a known serial killer, if only authorities would take a closer look.Intimate, page-turning, and brilliantly reported, Trailed is a love story and an urgent call to make wilderness a safe space for women-a story destined to become a true crime classic.Trade Review"Trailed is a beautifully written account of a great American tragedy—the unsolved murders of an undetermined number of young women, all by the same serial killer, who got away. The truth is still buried. I couldn’t put it down."—John Grisham, #1 New York Times bestselling author"Trailed is a beautifully written account of a great American tragedy—the unsolved murders of an undetermined number of young women, all by the same serial killer, who got away. The truth is still buried. I couldn’t put it down."—John Grisham, #1 New York Times bestselling author “A gripping look inside a tragic, unsolved case.”—People “The true-crime book that has stayed with me this year is Kathryn Miles’s TRAILED: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders… Miles not only solves the case, she shines a light on the crime rate in the country’s national parks.”—The New York Times "A tragic story of young lovers, gone too soon. A #metoo reckoning, long overdue. A study of trauma’s ripple effects, extending for decades. Trailed is meticulously investigated, achingly intimate, and doggedly persistent in the pursuit of justice."—Robert Kolker, bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road “Engrossing . . . Miles takes a comprehensive look at police procedures in federal parks and violence against women in rural areas . . . A must for true crime buffs.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Riveting . . . Trailed is a fascinating story about the search for justice – and for social change.”—Apple Books, Best Books of May “Mesmerizing journalism… Utterly engaging and always respectful, Trailed is highly recommended for true crime fans.”—Booklist (starred review) “Disturbing and provocative…Gripping and thoughtful, this book will appeal to those with an interest in true-crime stories and unsettling truths about places deemed safe for all.” —Kirkus Reviews “Passionate . . . What starts as a true crime narrative about a single horrific event turns into something much larger. In investigating how and why [Julie] Williams and [Lollie] Winans died, Miles connects the women’s deaths to complex questions of who has access to the wilderness, and how the National Park Service, guardians of vast swaths of land, fails to protect those who seek peace in wild spaces.”—Lorraine Berry, Boston Globe "TRAILED is gripping, immersive, first-rate true crime—engagingly told, respectful in tone, damning in its conclusions. Miles digs deep into investigative records to document the wrong turns and flawed assumptions that produced a dubious suspect and ignored evidence that linked a serial murderer and rapist to the crime scene… How can true crime fans resist?"—Dean Jobb, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine “A gripping, literary account of a spate of unsolved murders, a serial killer on the loose, and a decades-long investigation, and an urgent plea to make the wilderness a safer space for women.”—Sierra “A beautiful story about a female journalist seeking clarity and life for two women she never knew, and looking to restore the wilderness as a place of healing and safety for all women in the process. An established backcountry hiker herself, Miles follows a serpentine trail of misogyny and the resilience and joy of women in spite of it. Trailed is also a love story. You will turn pages as fast as you can.” —Lacy Crawford, author of Notes on a Silencing “In an outdoor atmosphere where women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals are working hard for equal footing, Trailed explores the root of sexism and bigotry in the outdoor community and becomes a rallying cry for moving forward together.” —Jennifer Pharr Davis, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and author of The Pursuit of Endurance “Beyond an illumination of the murders of two young queer women, this book is a deeply empathetic inquiry into who has the right to venture into the woods and to do so safely. Miles' book is nothing less than a parsing of the forces that have long stood between women and queer people and their physical freedom.” —Emma Copley Eisenberg, author of The Third Rainbow Girl “This is a sleepless night of a book, a toss-and-turn story about a double homicide near America's legendary footpath that wrestles with intimacy, anger, and our ideas of safety. We get the fascinating, uncomfortable opportunity to join an increasingly-obsessed journalist on her quest to puzzle out what happens when a wild and peaceful place is shattered by violence.” —Ben Montgomery, author of A Shot in the Moonlight and the New York Times bestselling Grandma Gatewood’s Walk “Miles brings Winans and Williams (and other female victims of backcountry violence) into tender human focus, while shining a light on deficient law enforcement practices that don't fully serve the people they are designed to protect.”—Shelf Awareness “It is a thrilling, gripping book, sure to appeal to true-crime fans and backcountry aficionados alike… a moving tribute to the inspiring and promising lives of two talented young women whose lives were cut tragically short…true crime aficionados and mystery fans will greatly enjoy this book.”—The Trek “Far from true-crime sensationalism, Trailed paints a heartbreaking portrait of two promising young women’s lives cut short and a sobering picture of how murderers slip through cracks in the justice system…A page-turner.”—Chapter16.org “Trailed offers a thoughtful braided narrative that delves into these devastating murders and the author’s own growing obsession with the case, while asking fundamental questions about justice in the national parks and who is safe in the backcountry.”—Orion “Miles strikes a good balance between laying out the details of the crime and investigation, and fully developing the stories of the victims’ lives. Fans of unsolved cases will appreciate this well-researched, compelling story.”—Library Journal “The fast-paced and dark story is a remarkable read for true-crime fans.”—425 Magazine “One of the most gripping books I’ve read this year.”—Dana Wilde, CentralMaine.com “While Miles’s thoroughly researched and rigorous account of Winans and Williams’s murders remains the focus of the book, Trailed also tells the much larger story of how women, BIPOC, and the LGBTQ+ community experience nature. The book ultimately serves as a crucial call to action for how nature must be made accessible and safe for all.”—Atlas Obscura“A gripping look inside a tragic, unsolved case.”—People"A tragic story of young lovers, gone too soon. A #metoo reckoning, long overdue. A study of trauma’s ripple effects, extending for decades. Trailed is meticulously investigated, achingly intimate, and doggedly persistent in the pursuit of justice."—Robert Kolker, bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road“Riveting.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune“If you are a true-crime fan, or even an investigative journalist, you’ll like this one.”—Denver Post“Engrossing . . . Miles takes a comprehensive look at police procedures in federal parks and violence against women in rural areas . . . A must for true crime buffs.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review“Riveting . . . Trailed is a fascinating story about the search for justice – and for social change.”—Apple Books, Best Books of May“Mesmerizing journalism… Utterly engaging and always respectful, Trailed is highly recommended for true crime fans.”—Booklist, starred review“Disturbing and provocative…Gripping and thoughtful, this book will appeal to those with an interest in true-crime stories and unsettling truths about places deemed safe for all.”—Kirkus Reviews“Passionate . . . What starts as a true crime narrative about a single horrific event turns into something much larger. In investigating how and why [Julie] Williams and [Lollie] Winans died, Miles connects the women’s deaths to complex questions of who has access to the wilderness, and how the National Park Service, guardians of vast swaths of land, fails to protect those who seek peace in wild spaces.”—Lorraine Berry, Boston Globe“A gripping, literary account of a spate of unsolved murders, a serial killer on the loose, and a decades-long investigation, and an urgent plea to make the wilderness a safer space for women.”—Sierra“A beautiful story about a female journalist seeking clarity and life for two women she never knew, and looking to restore the wilderness as a place of healing and safety for all women in the process. An established backcountry hiker herself, Miles follows a serpentine trail of misogyny and the resilience and joy of women in spite of it. Trailed is also a love story. You will turn pages as fast as you can.”—Lacy Crawford, author of Notes on a Silencing“In an outdoor atmosphere where women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals are working hard for equal footing, Trailed explores the root of sexism and bigotry in the outdoor community and becomes a rallying cry for moving forward together.”—Jennifer Pharr Davis, National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and author of The Pursuit of Endurance“Beyond an illumination of the murders of two young queer women, this book is a deeply empathetic inquiry into who has the right to venture into the woods and to do so safely. Miles' book is nothing less than a parsing of the forces that have long stood between women and queer people and their physical freedom.”—Emma Copley Eisenberg, author of The Third Rainbow Girl“This is a sleepless night of a book, a toss-and-turn story about a double homicide near America's legendary footpath that wrestles with intimacy, anger, and our ideas of safety. We get the fascinating, uncomfortable opportunity to join an increasingly-obsessed journalist on her quest to puzzle out what happens when a wild and peaceful place is shattered by violence.”—Ben Montgomery, author of A Shot in the Moonlight and the New York Times bestselling Grandma Gatewood’s Walk“Miles brings Winans and Williams (and other female victims of backcountry violence) into tender human focus, while shining a light on deficient law enforcement practices that don't fully serve the people they are designed to protect.”—Shelf Awareness“It is a thrilling, gripping book, sure to appeal to true-crime fans and backcountry aficionados alike… a moving tribute to the inspiring and promising lives of two talented young women whose lives were cut tragically short…true crime aficionados and mystery fans will greatly enjoy this book.”—The Trek“Far from true-crime sensationalism, Trailed paints a heartbreaking portrait of two promising young women’s lives cut short and a sobering picture of how murderers slip through cracks in the justice system…A page-turner.”—Chapter16.org“Trailed offers a thoughtful braided narrative that delves into these devastating murders and the author’s own growing obsession with the case, while asking fundamental questions about justice in the national parks and who is safe in the backcountry.”—Orion“Miles strikes a good balance between laying out the details of the crime and investigation, and fully developing the stories of the victims’ lives. Fans of unsolved cases will appreciate this well-researched, compelling story.”—Library Journal“The fast-paced and dark story is a remarkable read for true-crime fans.”—425 Magazine“One of the most gripping books I’ve read this year.”—Dana Wilde, CentralMaine.com

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Book SynopsisBefore Charles Manson, there was Tony Costa-the serial killer of Cape Cod1969: The hippie scene is vibrant in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Long-haired teenagers roam the streets, strumming guitars and preaching about peace and love... and Tony Costa is at the center of it all. To a certain group of smitten young women, he is known as Sire-the leader of their counter-culture movement, the charming man who speaks eloquently and hands out hallucinogenic drugs like candy. But beneath his benign persona lies a twisted and uncontrollable rage that threatens to break loose at any moment. Tony Costa is the most dangerous man on Cape Cod, and no one who crosses his path is safe.When young women begin to disappear, Costa's natural charisma and good looks initially protect him from suspicion. But as the bodies are discovered, the police close in on him as the key suspect. Meanwhile, up-and-coming local writers Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer are locked in a desperate race to secure their legacies as great literary icons-and they both set their sights on Tony Costa and the drug-soaked hippie culture that he embodies as their next promising subject, launching independent investigations that stoke the competitive fires between two of the greatest American writers.Immersive, unflinching, and shocking, Helltown is a landmark true crime narrative that transports us back to the turbulent late 1960s, reveals the secrets of a notorious serial killer, and unspools the threads connecting Costa, Vonnegut, and Mailer in the seaside city that played host to horrors unlike any ever seen before.

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Book SynopsisIn 2007 Carl Williams was convicted of three murders and sentenced to 35 years' jail. Yet his role in the Melbourne Gangland Wars went far beyond a handful of killings, however brutal, and had made him one of the most infamous names in Australian criminal history. The unlikely gang boss with a baby face and friendly grin had played a leading role in the savage long-running conflict that saw more than 30 gang-related murders on the streets of Melbourne.Williams began serving his sentence in a high-security unit at Victoria's Barwon Prison. In October 2008 he was given access to a personal computer. Confined to a tiny cell for most of the day, and having limited contact with the outside world, the computer was a godsend. As soon as he received it, Carl began a daily correspondence with his friends and family, covering his life in jail, his thoughts and hopes for the future, and his views and opinions on everyone from barristers and judges to fellow criminals and deadly rivals. Just a year and a half later, Williams was bashed to death by a trusted friend and fellow prisoner.Using his letters, Life Sentence paints a vivid picture of Carl's last eighteen months. His writing is surprising, often manipulative, frequently self-serving, and always a fascinating and revealing insight into the mind of one of Australia's most notorious criminals.'For years, others have spoken for Carl. In these letters, Carl tells his own story for the first time. It's like meeting the man behind the myth.' - Adam Shand

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION ALCS GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION 'Brilliant and extraordinary' Philippe Sands'Astonishing ... Cooper is one hell of a detective' Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, author of The Fact of a Body'Seductive ... Haunting' Ariel Levy, author of The Rules Do Not ApplyIn 1969, Jane Britton, an ambitious graduate student at Harvard, was found bludgeoned to death in her apartment. A whisper network kept Jane's story alive: a rumour of an affair with a professor that ended in tragedy when Britton threatened to expose him.Forty years later, when curious undergrad Becky Cooper first heard the story, she felt compelled to find out more. We Keep the Dead Close is an account of her complex and fascinating investigation spanning a decade.Trade ReviewA brilliant and extraordinary book. -- Philippe SandsExhilarating ... Becky Cooper masterfully uncovers the story of Harvard undergrad Jane Britton * Vogue *Exhilarating and seductive ... Haunting, fascinating, and surprising. Cooper will keep you riveted.Ambitious ... A highly sophisticated investigation of a cold case mixed with elements of memoir and trendy cultural criticism. * Spectator *This is an astonishing book: circuitous yet taut with suspense, layered yet gripping. Cooper is one hell of a detective, chasing a long-buried murder mystery not only to the victim and her killer, but to the very core of how we understand one another. Most remarkable is how contemporary and vital every bit of questioning Cooper does here feels. Jane Britton died decades ago, but in Cooper's hands, Britton's tragic murder teaches us about ourselves and the dangers of the institutions we uphold. -- Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, author of THE FACT OF A BODY

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Christopher Berry-Dee's Talking with Serial Killers series, this chilling new book explores the dark heart of Russia. For decades, it has been assumed that the United States of America was the serial killer capital of the world.Now, criminologists believe that Russia (and previously the Soviet Union) has been, secretly, the biggest home of serial killers for almost a century.In Serial Killers of Russia, bestselling true crime author Wensley Clarkson reveals the inside stories and gruesome details behind the country's most notorious and previously unknown murderers. Using information from a vast range of new and archive sources, Clarkson tells stories of the dangerous, the devious and the truly shocking, and tackles why the nation has become a breeding ground for humanity's most evil.These are the most horrifying cases from the darkest corners of Russia.

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Book SynopsisThe unbelievable account of life as a hitman from a man who has been doing it for decades. Hitmen commit heinous crimes virtually every day of the week and, in most instances, we don't even realise.I've been a killer for hire for more than twenty years now, but life as a fulltime professional assassin has never been easy.There have been close calls, failed attempts and a lot of looking over my shoulder.And now, I've decided to come clean and seek atonement for my life as a murderer and one of the most covertly dangerous men alive.This is an account of a life lived between our world and a shadowy underworld of criminals... a life lived under the radar of the law... a life lived in death.This is the story of my life as a hitman.

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Book SynopsisOne chance encounter, one murder, will change everything.DI Thomas Ridpath is in the process of getting his life back together when everything goes wrong. Caught in a gruesome motorway incident, one question remains: why did nobody else see what happened? Ridpath’s investigations soon pulls the police force itself into question, and hints at something even more sinister.With Manchester on the brink of violence unlike anything seen in decades, Ridpath must battle this unprecedented conflict alongside his own demons…A nail-biting crime thriller, MJ Lee’s Where the Dead Fall is an absolute must-read, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Peter James.

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Book SynopsisTHE DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT OF THE MOST INFAMOUS STREET GANG IN AMERICAIn the 1980s, El Salvador was involved in a bloody fight for control of the government. To escape the guerrilla assaults and death squads many fled to the US. As a survival instinct, they formed a group called the Mara Salvatrucha Stoners, a relatively harmless social network bound by rock and roll. But later, as they brushed against established local gangs, the group took on a harder edge, selling drugs, stealing cars and killing rivals who threatened their territories. As authorities cracked down, gang members were incarcerated and deported. But in the prison system, the group only grew stronger.Today, MS-13 is one of the most infamous street gangs on Earth, with tens of thousands of members operating in a half-dozen nations and two continents, and linked to thousands of grisly murders each year. Through the story of former gang member Norman and his family, journalist Steven Dudley brings readers inside the deadly group.

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Book SynopsisThis highly revelatory book, based on original research and completely new analysis, presents a compelling new suspect as the most notorious serial killer of all time: Jack the Ripper.Using a different analytical approach, for the first time, Sarah Bax Horton identifies a named perpetrator as Jack the Ripper by linking eye-witness accounts of the killer’s distinctive physical characteristics to his official medical records. It argues that his broken left arm, which left him unable to work in early 1888, was one of his triggers to kill as part of a serious physical and mental decline caused by severe epilepsy.This new perpetrator fits the profile as stated by the police of the day: a local man of low class of whom they became aware after the final murder, when they launched an unsuccessful surveillance operation against him. As has never been done before, the author – an experienced former government researcher with specific expertise in research and analysis – formulates a complete analysis of the killer and his methodology, including how he accosted his victims, where he took them to their deaths, his unique modus operandi of a blitz-style attack, and how he escaped from each crime scene without detection.Each of the six murders – from Martha Tabram to Marie Kelly – is discussed and reconstructed as perpetrated by this man, with his escalating violence clearly demonstrated.Trade ReviewWe have waited three decades for a book-length examination of Hyam Hyams and thankfully Sarah Bax Horton has given us one - and what an excellent job she has done. This is a well-researched, well-written, and long-needed book-length examination of a likely suspect. If you have an idea of the sort of man Jack the Ripper might have been, Hyam Hyams could be it. * Paul Begg *A book that has been too long coming...her book is well researched and written. One-Armed Jack should be on the bookshelf of everyone interested in the Whitechapel Murders...Buy it now * Adam Wood, Ripperologist and editor of Crime Through Time *

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Book SynopsisThis highly revelatory book, based on original research and completely new analysis, presents a compelling new suspect as the most notorious serial killer of all time. Using a different analytical approach, for the first time, Sarah Bax Horton identifies a named perpetrator as Jack the Ripper by linking eye-witness accounts of the killer’s distinctive physical characteristics to his official medical records. It argues that his broken left arm,which left him unable to work in early 1888, was one of his triggers to kill as part of a serious physical and mental decline caused by severe epilepsy. This new perpetrator fits the profile as stated by the police of the day: a local man of low class of whom they became aware after the final murder, when they launched an unsuccessful surveillance operation against him. As has never been done before, the author – an experienced former government researcher with specific expertise in research and analysis – formulates a complete analysis of the killer and his methodology, including how he accosted his victims, where he took them to their deaths, his unique modus operandi of a blitz-style attack, and how he escaped from each crime scene without detection.Each of the six murders – from Martha Tabram to Marie Kelly – is discussed and reconstructed as perpetrated by this man, with his escalating violence clearly demonstrated.Trade ReviewWe have waited three decades for a book-length examination Hyam Hyams and thankfully Sarah Bax Horton has given us one - and what an excellent job she has done. This is a well-researched, well-written, and long-needed book-length examination of a likely suspect.If you have an idea of the sort of man Jack the Ripper might have been, Hyam Hyams could be it. * Paul Begg *

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Book SynopsisThe heartbreaking true story of two families' thirty-year fight for justice for their murdered daughtersOn 9 October 1986, Russell Bishop sexually assaulted and strangled nine-year-old Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, in woods near Brighton. He did not answer for his crimes for over thirty years.Bishop - a petty criminal known to both girls' families - was charged after his suspiciously close involvement in the search for the bodies. But a last-minute change of testimony from his then-girlfriend allowed him to go free, and the Babes in the Woods murders became one of Britain's most infamous cold cases.In this first book on the case, veteran crime reporter Paul Cheston brings to life this thirty-year saga of murder, betrayal and injustice - before three decades of hurt led, at last, to healing, justice and hope for the parents of two murdered girls.Written with the approval and cooperation of the Fellows family, The Babes in the Woods Murders sheds light once and for all on the awful truth behind what happened on 9 October 1986, and how the courtroom dramas that unfolded over a generation finally brought down one of Britain's most depraved killers.

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Book SynopsisWhen Kate married gangster Ronnie Kray, he introduced her to the most deadly criminals ever known. She persuaded them to talk about their crimes, fears and dreams. The result is a book offering an authentic, shocking and gripping insight into the criminal mind. In this true crime classic, Kate Kray delves into the world of some of Britain's most dangerous prisoners, conducting first-hand interviews with them in order to better understand their crimes. From cold contract killings to crimes of passion, this is a fascinating insight into the minds of murderers who have been punished with the longest sentence of all.

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Book SynopsisBy an expert with over twenty-five years' experience interviewing more than thirty of the most dangerous male and female serial killers of contemporary times, this latest book from the bestselling author explores the darkest corners of these thrill-killers' minds.As all law-enforcement authorities, including the FBI's elite Behavioral Science Unit, will confirm, the majority of sexual psychopaths gain most of their perverse thrills from the stalking of their unsuspecting victims, often in so many different ways.For them, the actual kill is frequently something less, after which the dead body is treated like so much garbage and simply abandoned or thrown away. Yet as these cases show, a victim has often been unwittingly followed, watched, or even visited before they are attacked, sometimes for weeks or even months.Having exhaustively studied the case histories of more than sixty modern-day sexually motivated serial murderers - some still alive, others subsequently executed - the author zeros in on the Internet porn industry as one of the main motivating drivers in cultivating fantasy stalking, which can lead to rape, multiple rapes, and homicide graduating to serial murder. Even more chillingly, anyone who is active on social media is a potential stalker's victim.

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Book SynopsisA natural subject for the UK's bestselling true-crime author: a study of people who randomly kill large numbers of others (spree killers), or who set out to do so in specific places or situations (mass killers). Because of the ease of obtaining firearms in the USA, many of these, inevitably, are American, but there have been other recent examples in New Zealand and Norway, while three major mass shootings took place in the UK at Hungerford in 1987 (17 dead, including the killer), Dunblane in 1996 (18, including the killer), and in Cumbria in 2010 (13, including the killer).As such killings become more frequent, it is easy to blame them on the ready availability of firearms and weak or non-existent background checks, even though many countries, including the UK, have extremely robust firearms legislation. What is more difficult to establish, however, is the motivation behind such killings: some are occasioned by grievance, real or imagined, while others have their origins in a sense of failure or feelings of inadequacy. Other killers, however, seem to be driven by a desire for power over their fellow humans, often coupled with an overriding contempt for the lives of others. In search of answers to the questions raised, Christopher Berry-Dee offers case studies in some of the most infamous mass killings of the past fifty years, from school massacres to workplace killings, hate crimes to familicides. In doing so he demonstrates, chillingly, that such murders are almost impossible to predict, and therefore almost impossible to prevent.

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Book SynopsisThe incredible crimes of Britain's most notorious schoolboy serial killer, Graham Young, as told by the bestselling and much-respected true crime author of The Murders at White House Farm. There are few criminal cases more astonishing yet less well known than that of Graham Young. A quintessentially British crime story set in the post-war London suburbs, it involves two sensational trials, murders both certain and probable, a clutch of forgiving relatives, and scores of surviving victims.Fourteen in the summer of 1962, Graham stood in the Old Bailey dock charged with poisoning a schoolfriend and family members by adding antimony to their packed lunches, Sunday roast and morning cups of tea. Diagnosed with multiple personality disorders, Graham's trial resulted in his detainment at Broadmoor, where he was the youngest patient.But it was on his release from Broadmoor that Graham caused the greatest harm. Finding employment in Hadlands, a photographic supplies firm, his role as junior storeman meant he was expected to make tea and coffee for his colleagues. And very soon, numerous members of staff began experiencing crippling stomach pains...A psychologically astute insight into the mind of a complex and intriguing individual, A Passion for Poison is true crime at its best. Praise for Carol Ann LeeSomebody's Mother, Somebody's Daughter: Victims and Survivors of the Yorkshire Ripper'My book of the year... the first time the stories of the women who came into the sights of notorious serial killer Peter Sutcliffe have been told, and it gives voice to their families... deeply poignant' - Lynda La PlanteOne of Your Own: The Life & Death of Myra Hindley'Scrupulously unsensational and as good a biography of Hindley as we'll get' - Sunday Times

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Book Synopsis'The whole story is so terrible. You will be disgusted and amazed.'Graham Young, confessing his crimes to detectivesThere are few criminal cases more astonishing yet less well known than that of Graham Young. A quintessentially British crime story set in the post-war London suburbs, it involves two sensational trials, murders both certain and probable, a clutch of forgiving relatives, and scores of surviving victims.Fourteen in the summer of 1962, Graham stood in the Old Bailey dock charged with poisoning a schoolfriend and family members by adding antimony to their packed lunches, Sunday roast and morning cups of tea. Diagnosed with multiple personality disorders, Graham's trial resulted in his detainment at Broadmoor, where he was the youngest patient.But it was on his release from Broadmoor that Graham caused the greatest harm. Finding employment in Hadlands, a photographic supplies firm, his role as junior storeman meant he was expected to make tea and coffee for his colleagues. And very soon, numerous members of staff began experiencing crippling stomach pains...A psychologically astute insight into the mind of a complex and intriguing individual, A Passion for Poison is true crime at its best.Praise for Carol Ann LeeSomebody's Mother, Somebody's Daughter: Victims and Survivors of the Yorkshire Ripper'My book of the year... the first time the stories of the women who came into the sights of notorious serial killer Peter Sutcliffe have been told, and it gives voice to their families... deeply poignant' - Lynda La PlanteOne of Your Own: The Life & Death of Myra Hindley'Scrupulously unsensational and as good a biography of Hindley as we'll get' - Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisThe reverberations from Fred West's crimes continue to this day. The story never dies.West was perhaps one of Britain's most evil, feared serial killers. His horrifying compulsion to kidnap, rape and torture his victims before murdering them showed a savagery and cruelty that can barely be believed. His 'House of Horrors' at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, became a burial ground for the women who fell into his hands.This new publication of Geoffrey Wansell's iconic, bestselling true crime masterpiece comes thirty years after West was arrested, in 1992. Dead by suicide by 1994, he never truly faced justice for the twelve murders he was charged with.Wansell, chosen as West's official biographer, gained exclusive access to all West's police interviews, prison diaries, papers, solicitor interviews - and his private collection of video tapes, as well as all the interviews given by his wife, Rose West.Once and for all, he reveals the full story of Fred and Rose West's lives and crimes, in a chilling book that sets the standard for exploring the minds of our most feared serial killers - up close and personal.

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Book SynopsisLondon, 1888, and one-man's brutal campaign of violence has taken the lives of unsuspecting victims, cut London to the core and carved his name into history. Well, not his name, exactly. Whomever this man was, remains a mystery but there are few people who haven't heard of his nickname: Jack the Ripper.The same is true for those said to have died at his hands. If Polly Nicholls, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly had not fallen to his knife, their names would have been lost to history. Instead, they themselves are as much a part of the folklore as their killer. Then there are those who investigated the crimes: the ordinary men, doing their jobs as best they could, who will always be associated with the failed attempts to catch this monster. But if those crimes had happened today, how would they be investigated and how would the approach differ? There is no doubt, how detectives work has changed dramatically over those 130 years. Although, in many senses, things are very much the same. Solving murders relies on an understanding of people, be that the victims, the witnesses and, most importantly, the killers themselves.In Murder Investigation Team: Jack the Ripper, while journeying through these infamous murders, through meticulous contemporary research, witness statements and reporting, ex-detective Steven Keogh will revisit the crimes that were committed, why these lives were taken, and attempt to discover just who was Jack the Ripper? Applying modern-day investigative approaches to the 19th century investigation, and with ground-breaking insight from one of the UK's leading criminal profilers, Pippa Gregory, join Steven on a gruesome and incredible journey of discovery into one of the most infamous crimes in British history.

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Book SynopsisThe plea of insanity in criminal cases can be traced back at least to the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi, which dates from 1755-1759 BC. It is a complicated defence, and its origins in modern law lie with the 'M'Naghten Rules' of 1843, formulated by British judges as a jury instruction in cases where a plea of insanity had been entered. Daniel M'Naghten shot and killed one Edward Drummond, believing him to be the British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, and was acquitted on the grounds of insanity, and the M'Naghten Rules still exert considerable influence over defences today.Clearly a plea of insanity in murder cases is of critical importance when the death penalty is still applied, and even today it may still be the difference between a life sentence in a high-security prison, or an indeterminate one in a secure psychiatric hospital. Meanwhile, 27 of the USA's 50 states have retained or readopted the death penalty, and at least 54 other countries, including China, Russia, India, Iran and Saudi Arabia, also retain it. Naturally, a criminal who was liable to swing for murder could, and sometimes did, make every attempt to appear insane, and this book examines some of these cases, as well as trials in which the accused was indeed judged to be insane. The failure rate is high; of seven American serial killers who deployed the defence in their trials, only two were successful, ending their days in secure psychiatric facilities; two were executed, and the other three either died or were killed while serving full-life sentences, or are still in gaol.

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Book SynopsisIn Tangled Vines, bestselling true crime author John Glatt reconstructs the rise of the prestigious Murdaugh family and the shocking double murder that led to the downfall of its patriarch, Alex Murdaugh.Among the lush, tree-lined waterways of South Carolina low country, the Murdaugh name means power. A century-old, multimillion-dollar law practice has catapulted the family into incredible wealth and local celebrity--but it was an unimaginable tragedy that would thrust them into the national spotlight. On June 7th, 2021, prominent attorney Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on the grounds of their thousand-acre hunting lodge. The mystery deepened only months later when Alex himself was discovered shot in the head on a local roadside.But as authorities scrambled for clues and the community reeled from the loss and media attention, dark secrets about this Southern legal dynasty came to light. The Murdaughs, it turned out, were feared as much as they were loved. And they wouldn't hesitate to wield their influence to protect one of their own; two years before he was killed, a highly intoxicated Paul Murdaugh was at the helm of a boat when it crashed and killed a teenage girl, and his light treatment by police led to speculation that privilege had come into play. As bombshells of financial fraud were revealed and more suspicious deaths were linked to the Murdaughs, a new portrait of Alex Murdaugh emerged: a desperate man on the brink of ruin who would do anything, even plan his own death, to save his family's reputation.Trade Review"Glatt has produced the equivalent of a juicy John Grisham novel, featuring a lead more 'dark and totally devoid of conscience' than anyone he's ever researched. This real-life Southern noir lingers." * Publishers Weekly *"Readers will be swept up in this account." * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisFact. Fiction. Legend. The predatory ritual, the escalating savagery of the crimes, the grisly trophies taken from his victim's bodies, the games played with his pursuers, the cannibalism: Jack the Ripper's reign of terror in London's East End during the autumn of 1888 casts a long shadow. Many have murdered more, but few have killed so brutally and none have forged such an enduring legend. For a century and a quarter the Ripper's crimes have appalled and fascinated in equal measure, inspiring over one hundred theories about this prototypical serial killer's identity and spawning thousands of works of fiction. This collection is the ultimate exploration of the Ripper legend. It sifts through Jack's legacy, blending the true story (told via contemporary reports and a century's worth of the best analysis) with the best crime and horror fiction his depraved deeds have inspired. Some of these stories are classics, some have been written especially for this volume. Including writing from Jeffery Deaver, Anne Perry, George Bernard Shaw, Ellery Queen, Boris Akunin, Ramsey Campbell, Harlan Ellison and Robert Bloch. '1000 pages of fascinating Ripperama' The Times 'Otto has assembled a truly stellar cast of contributors' Shots Magazine 'Fascinating and thought-provoking. Not a stone is left unturned in this vast exploration of all the horrors that Jack the Ripper committed' The BookbagTrade ReviewPenzler has dug deep in producing Jack the Ripper, a carefully chosen 1000 pages of fascinating Ripperama... Not meant for quick absorption, but dipping in and out is thoroughly recommended' * The Times *This is far more than a re-tread of the known facts... Otto has assembled a truly stellar cast of contributors... The perfect nugget nestling at the heart of this mammoth compendium, however, is the chance to read Marie Belloc Lowndes' influential The Lodger in both forms' * Shots Magazine *Fascinating and thought-provoking. Not a stone is left unturned in this vast exploration of all the horrors that Jack the Ripper committed * The Bookbag *

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Five brutal murders shocked London in the summer and autumn of 1888. They have never been forgotten.The Jack the Ripper case has never been solved - the killer remains a blood-spattered silhouette. Although ‘Jack’ as an entity was almost certainly invented by an unscrupulous journalist, he became an archetype - decked in the top hat and cloak of a Victorian melodrama villain, stalking the fog-wreathed streets of the old East End. The numerous Ripper theories which emerged at the time tell us more about Victorian attitudes than they do about the killer’s true identity.In Jack the Ripper the authors follow the grim homicidal trails that have permeated popular culture since the Whitechapel murders of 1888. It tells the victim’s stories in all their desperate poignancy, and explores the theories and suspects of the burgeoning field of ‘ripperology’. Conspiracy theories and myths that swirl around the case to this day, from black magicians to the royal family, are considered, as is the modern forensic view of the Ripper murders as sex crimes, with reference to disturbing modern cases such as that of the ‘Plumstead Ripper’.Terrifying and unignorable, this is the ultimate book on Jack the Ripper.

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Book SynopsisThe police believed Sutcliffe was operating only in the Greater Manchester Police, South Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police force areas, using his car. In fact, Sutcliffe was operating nationally and internationally, using his employer’s lorry to commit attacks. Authors Chris Clark and Tim Hicks have meticulously researched Sutcliffe’s crimes and reveal many of his previously unknown victims for the first time. The police failed to deliver justice for the victims’ families, and the media has failed to hold the police to account for this failure – both in the original investigation and in subsequent cold-case investigations. The authors hope that by bringing more of the facts of the case into the public domain and by telling the victims’ stories, they can help to bring closure for friends and relatives of victims of the Yorkshire Ripper.Trade Review'Gripping. A fascinating insight.’ -- Crime Monthly Magazine'A detailed and fascinating account. A forensic investigation with methodical collating of murders and attempted murders.' -- Keith Tordoff MBE

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Book SynopsisA collection of chilling stories of murders from Mexico, one of the world's most prolific hunting grounds for serial killers. 'If I was a serial killer looking for new victims, I'd head over the border to Mexico because life is cheap there and the police have got so much other sh*t to investigate, they don't bother with random killings.' - A former FBI agentFor decades, America has been considered to be the natural home of serial killers. Infamous names like Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer are internationally known and feared, and rightly so. But what if, just south of the border, there was a far more active network of serial killers? What if the perfect storm of crime, fuelled by this nation's deadly narco wars, has turned Mexico into an ideal hunting ground for many of the most bizarre and blood thirsty serial killers the world has ever seen?Serial Killers of Mexico delves into this criminal underbelly to tell the stories of the psychopathic loners, professional narco assassins and the overwhelmed law enforcement trying desperately to hunt them down.

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Book SynopsisFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling author of If You Tell comes the chilling, unputdownable story of Sharon Nelson, the minister's wife whose two husbands mysteriously ended up dead.Colorado, 1976. When Reverend Mike Fuller and his beautiful wife Sharon arrive in the sleepy town of Rocky Ford, local residents think something's off about the new couple. The God-fearing minister is gruff and cold, while charismatic Sharon has her husband wrapped around her finger.It isn't long before Sharon is charming her husband's congregation, and finds herself in a tryst with local, married optometrist Perry Nelson. After the affair ends both their marriages, Sharon and Perry tie the knot. But shortly afterwards, Perry disappears. When his body is shockingly discovered the bottom of a canyon, his death is ruled an accident, allowing grieving widow Sharon to claim his substantial life insurance.Trying to move on from the tragedy, Sharon soon remarries fireman Glenn Harrelson. But when the charred remains of Glenn's body are discovered with two bullet holes in his skull, the police can't help but question if both men dying in such mysterious circumstances is one coincidence too many...Shocking, sensational and gripping, this is the true story of the black widow Sharon Nelson, a must-read tale of greed, sex and murder in a sleepy Colorado town that will have true crime fans of The Staircase, American Mother and Making a Murderer hooked from start to finish.This book was originally published as Confessions of an American Black Widow and Bitch on Wheels.Read what everyone is saying about American Black Widow:"Another winner from Gregg Olsen!!! If you really love a great, nail-biting true crime novel, THIS is it!! Once you start, it's darned hard to put down. Seriously. Mr Olsen again takes you on a twisty, narrow road... you just cannot put this book down." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Gripping... keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end... peppered with shocking revelations, twists, and turns... captivating and spine-chilling." Goodreads reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Oh my goodness... I could not put this book down... fabulous." Goodreads reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"You pick up this book and start to read. Suddenly you realize you cannot stop reading, you need to know what happened next... a page turner... this book deeply affected me and I eat true crime books for breakfast... amazing... one of Gregg Olsen's finest." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"I read this book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"I couldn't put it down. Brilliantly written. I just found my favorite author." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Olsen is an incredible author. I couldn't put it down. Excellent read!... Bravo!!" Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Amazing... WOW! Another winner for Gregg Olsen!" Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Amazing... I literally could not put the book down." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Kept me riveted from the very beginning to the very last page! I strongly recommend this book for any true crime fan." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"I couldn't put the book down. The author made all the characters come alive." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Once you start you don't want to stop until you are done." Goodreads reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Amazing... a must read." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Loved the book!... I could not ask for a better read!" Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Incredible." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Excellent... kept me on the edge of my seat... You had better hang onto your hat for this read." Goodreads reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Amazing... A great page turner." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"A true story that you just can't put down!" Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Gregg Olsen always writes in a style that makes you want to read all night... keeps your attention until the end." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆"Outstanding true-crime." Amazon reviewer, ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

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Book SynopsisSandtown is one of the deadliest neighbourhoods in the world; it earned Baltimore its nickname Bodymore, Murderland, and was made notorious by 'The Wire.' Drug deals dominate street corners and ruthless, casual violence abounds.Montana Barronette grew up in the centre of it all. The leader of the gang 'Trained to Go,' or TTG, when he was finally arrested, he had been nicknamed 'Baltimore's Number One Trigger Puller.' Under Tana's reign, TTG dominated Sandtown. When a string of murders were linked to TTG, each with dozens of witnesses too intimidated to testify, three detectives set out to put Tana in prison for life. For them, this was never about drugs: It was about serial murder.Acclaimed journalist Mark Bowden, who spent his youth in the white suburbs of Baltimore, returns to the city with exclusive access to the FBI files and unprecedented insight into one of the city's deadliest gangs and its notorious leader. As he traces the rise and fall of TTG, Bowden uses wiretaps, police interviews, trial transcripts and his own ongoing conversations with Tana's family and community to create the most in-depth account of an inner-city gang ever written.With his signature precision and propulsive narrative, Mark Bowden positions Tana - as a boy, a gang leader, a killer, and now a prisoner - in the context of Baltimore and America, illuminating his path for what it really was: a life sentence.Trade ReviewGripping and revealing...A powerful, nuanced depiction of gang violence in America that makes a strong case for meaningful reform * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *A scorching true-crime narrative. . . Bowden pulls no punches in his indictment of the ways in which the richest country in the world has allowed Black children for decades to be born into blighted urban neighborhoods, and saddled them with burdens that they must struggle to surmount to lead meaningful lives. This account of 'young men growing up in a place where murderous violence has become a way of life' will haunt readers long after they finish it * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *A masterpiece, right up there with Black Hawk Down and Guests of the Ayatollah. It's gripping, it's fast, it's deeply insightful and empathetic, and it's brilliantly and exhaustively reported. People should read it. -- Matt Bai, author of ALL THE TRUTH IS OUT[Bowden is] a Woodward that outdoes even Woodward. -- Malcolm Gladwell * New Yorker *Bowden turns his masterful storytelling talent to chronicling the gang's reign of terror and law enforcement's Herculean efforts to end it * Booklist *Table of Contents1: The Game (or, The Greased Path) 2: Shabangbang Shaboing 3: The Fulton Avenue Wall 4: Either You Got to Be That, or You Ain't 5: Shit Be Catching Up with Them 6: Here Come Landsman 7: The Ballad of Ronnie Jackass 8: We Hunting 9: Number One Trigger Puller 10: Gotta Take It on the Chin 11: Drinking from a Fire Hose 12: What Are We Supposed to Do Now, Clap? 13: Crabs in a Bucket

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Book SynopsisA gripping compendium of some of the world's most infamous and shocking mass murderers, such as John Wayne Gacy, the Boston Strangler, the Moors murderers and Harold Shipman, as well as some lesser-known figuresWho was the Zodiac Killer?What drove Jeffrey Dahmer to dismember his 17 victims?How many women really fell prey to Ted Bundy?Maybe it's because our animal instincts draw us to dangerous situations; maybe it's because reading about predators allows us to learn about their behaviours in a safe setting. Whatever the reason, serial killers and their crimes have fascinated us for centuries.This true crime compendium not only relates the disturbing events that transpired but also delves into the psychology of the perpetrators. The stories within are shocking and often difficult to comprehend, but with this deep dive into the world of the macabre, readers may gain a greater understanding of the motivations and thought processes of these murderers. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the psychology of crime and the human mind.

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Book SynopsisThe FBI estimate that there are between 25 and 50 serial killers at large in the USA at any given time. But the truth is few people kill. We occasionally say we could kill someone, but that is usually hyperbole. Most of us can imagine what it might be like to be driven to a senseless act of violence in an unendurable situation. To kill once is one thing; to kill over and over again is quite another. What drives these people who kill and kill again? Are they evil or are they mad? Serial killing is a worldwide phenomenon and no two killers are alike. Each one comes with a grisly though compelling tale that takes the reader to the darkest reaches of the human psyche.

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Book SynopsisThere are few people alive who are so cruel, so heartless and so undeniably evil that they will kill again and again. Yet at any one time, there are between 25 and 50 active serial killers in the USA, and their chilling crimes have fascinated us since the days of Jack the Ripper. Here you will discover how these heartless killers committed their gruesome deeds, what motivated them to kill and how, eventually, they were caught. This collection features more than 50 compelling stories, including:• Ed Kemper, who dismembered the bodies of his victims once he had finished with them;• Ted Bundy, who abducted, raped and brutally killed more than 30 women;• Charles Manson, who led a cult of mayhem and murder;• Jeffrey Dahmer, who stored a human head in his freezer;• Randy Kraft, who was pulled over for drunk driving with a body in the trunk of his car;• Alexander Pichushkin, who aimed to kill a person for every square on the chessboard.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of a brilliantly forged Emily Dickinson poem sold at Sotheby’s in 1997. The author’s detective work led him across America to a prison cell in Salt Lake City, where the world’s greatest literary forger, Mark Hofmann, is serving a life sentence for double-murder. When the author sets out on the trail of a forged Emily Dickinson poem that has mysteriously turned up for sale at Sotheby’s in New York, he finds himself drawn into a world of deception and murder. The trail eventually leads, via the casinos of Las Vegas, to Utah and the darkly compelling world of Mark Hofmann, ex-Mormon and one of the most daring literary forgers and remorseless murderers of all time. As the author uncovers Hofmann’s brilliant, and disturbing, career, he takes the reader into the secret world of the Mormon Church and its controversial founder, Joseph Smith. Deeply researched but with the narrative pace of a novel, Worrall’s investigation into the life and crimes of this charismatic genius is a real-life detective story you simply won’t be able to put down. On the way, you will meet an eclectic cast of characters: undercover detectives and rare book dealers, Dickinson scholars, forensic document experts, hypnotists, gun-dealers and Mormons. As the story reaches its gripping climax, Hofmann becomes trapped in the web of his own deceptions … and turns to murder.Trade Review‘A cracking tale: the labyrinthine story he uncovers is beautifully paced and as complex as any conspiracy theory: a work of non-fiction, it reads like a thriller.’ Observer ‘Utterly enthralling’ Simon Winchester, author of ‘The Professor and the Madman’ ‘A terrific story, terrifically told’ New York Daily News ‘An adventurous and sensational narrative’ Peter Ackroyd, The Times

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Book SynopsisOn the eve of her hanging, Ruth Ellis wrote to a friend: 'I must close now but remember I am quite happy with the verdict, but not the way the story was told, there is so much that people don't know.' Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in Britain. This is her story.In July 1955 Ruth Ellis was sentenced to death for the shooting of her lover, motor-racing driver David Blakely. Barely three months later she was executed at Holloway prison. In this book, Robert Hancock sets the record straight. Using official documents including the transcript of her trial at the Old Bailey, he unlocks the full, secret background to the story of the last woman to be hanged in Britain. Meticulous and fair in its analysis, The Last Woman to be Hanged is an absorbing portrait of the tragic life of a young woman, a vivid snapshot of an era and a gripping account of a notorious case that shocked the nation.

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Book SynopsisIn 1973, Myra Hindley, the most notorious woman in Britain, is serving a life sentence for the moors murders - a case that shocked the world. Behind bars she has fallen in love.When Hindley is refused parole she persuades a sympathetic prison officer and former nun to help her break out of London's grim Holloway prison. The women plan to run away together to Brazil.Twenty years after Hindley's death, this extraordinary true story is brought to life in vivid new detail by Howard Sounes, author of the true crime classic Fred & Rose, drawing on unseen prison files and new interviews with former Holloway inmates, prison officers and detectives. It is a tale of infatuation and manipulation, crime and punishment.Despite her part in the appalling murders of five children and teenagers, Myra Hindley is revealed as a highly complex woman of intelligence and charm, which she used to get what she wanted. Or was she, as her supporters claimed, a misunderstood person who regretted her past and only attempted to escape out of desperation?Revealing the 'most wicked woman in Britain' in new light, This Woman is an atmospheric prison story and a love story that will make readers think again about the woman behind the moors murders.

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Book Synopsis* BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK * LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA'S ALCS GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION AWARD *---'Impressive at every level' - Jeremy Vine'Poignant, funny, engrossing' - Jo Brand'A sensitive and immersive voyage through the career of a forensic psychiatrist' - Kerry Daynes'A beautifully balanced and compassionately written memoir... This is a fascinating account of a fascinating journey' - Dr Richard ShepherdMeet Dr Ben Cave. For over thirty years he has worked in prisons and secure hospitals diagnosing and treating some of the most troubled men and women in society. A lifetime of care takes us from delusional disorders to schizophrenia, steroid abuse to drug dependency, personality disorders to paedophilia, and depression so severe a mother can kill her own baby.These are the human stories behind the headlines. The reality of a life spent working with patients with the severest mental health disorders. The tragic and often frightening truth about what happens behind closed doors.Dr Ben Cave takes us on a journey to the heart of this highly emotive environment, putting himself under the microscope as well as his patients. In the process, he allows us to share what they have taught each other, and how it has changed them. To share the psychological battle scars that come with a career on the frontline of our health service. To learn about the brilliant mental health nurses for whom physical injury and verbal abuse are a daily hazard. To learn about ourselves, and what we fear most.---Thoughtful, revealing, often haunting and always enlightening, if you liked Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd, Do No Harm by Henry Marsh and This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay this book is for you.Trade Review'A beautifully balanced and compassionately written memoir ... This is a fascinating account of a fascinating journey.' - Dr Richard Shepherd, bestselling author of Unnatural Causes'Impressive at every level. If mental illness is now being talked about, then this is the book to start the conversation. What happens when the brain breaks? Read Dr Cave to find out.' - Jeremy Vine, journalist and broadcaster'A beautifully written invitation to glimpse into Cave's often painful, but ultimately uplifting journey.' - Kerry Daynes, bestselling author of The Dark Side of the Mind 'Dr Ben Cave approaches what is often a much misunderstood area of mental illness with sensitivity and pragmatism. His sense of humour and humanity shine through.' - Jo Brand'Delightfully entertaining, witty, surprising, horrifying, and harrowing - all part of life in forensic mental health services' - Professor Kamaldeep Bhui, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford'The expert knowledge contained in this book will help us all gain a crucial understanding of the complex issue of mental health.' - Jonathan Agnew, cricket commentator and former professional cricketer'the most mesmerising, haunting and seductive book I have read in years... I have no doubt it will take it's place atop the new wave of literary, medical professionals.' - Amol Rajan, journalist and media editor'A compelling insight into the tragic and at times frightening truth about what happens behind locked doors.' - Marjorie Wallace CBE, founder and CEO of SANE'A riveting, moving, frightening, highly personal, at times depressing and yet surprisingly humorous account of a life in forensic psychiatry.' - Dr Phil Hammond, British physician, broadcaster, comedian and commentator'Cave has a compassionate, hopeful attitude towards his work, despite some incredibly sad experiences and challenging situations' - Charlotte Runcie, Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe No 1 Bestseller!'A triumph' Nicola Tallant, Sunday World Crime World podcast'An incredible catalogue of mayhem ... amazing' Pat Kenny, Newstalk'Riveting' Irish TimesMeet the Wilsons - the deadliest family in crimeBrothers Eric, Keith and John Wilson, their cousin Alan, and nephew Luke shared a trade - assassination. Working for Ireland's criminal gangs they brought bloodshed and chaos to the streets.The Wilsons were not choosy about their targets. Hutches, Real IRA chiefs or random opponents from pub rows - they were all the same to them. Nor were they picky about motives - as long as the price was right, they asked no questions.The Hitmen is the shocking story of how a family cornered the market in intimidation and vengeance. It details the terrible cost in human suffering, particularly the death of an innocent teenage girl, Mariaora Rostas, when she randomly crossed their path. And it reveals how, one by one, each of the Wilsons was put out of business.The Hitmen draws on exclusive access to wire taps, case files and interviews with sources close to the gang who have never spoken before. No 1 bestselling authors Stephen Breen and Owen Conlon have written an extraordinary account of a family business like no other.Trade ReviewRiveting * Irish Times *An extraordinary story . . . fascinating -- Claire Byrne * RTÉ *An incredible catalogue of mayhem -- Pat Kenny * Newstalk *A triumph -- Nicola Tallant * Sunday World *

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Book SynopsisRe-examines this unresolved murder in Kenya and the underlying role of rumour, the media and inter-state relations on how the death has been reported and investigated. Julie Ann Ward was a British tourist and wildlife photographer who went missing in Kenya's Maasai Mara Game Reserve in 1988 and was eventually found to have been murdered. Her death and the protracted search for her killers, stillat large, were hotly contested in the media. Many theories emerged as to how and why she died, generating three trials, several "true crime" books, and much speculation and rumour. At the core of Musila's study are thefollowing questions: why would this young woman's death be the subject of such strong contestations of ideas and multiple truths? And what does this reveal about cultural productions of truth and knowledge in Kenya and Britain, particularly in the light of the responses to her disappearance of the Kenyan police, the British Foreign Office, and the British High Commission in Nairobi. Building on existing scholarship on African history, narrative, gender and postcolonial studies, the author reveals how the Julie Ward murder and its attendant discourses offer insights into the journeys of ideas, and how these traverse the porous boundaries of the relationship between Kenya and Britain, and, by extension, Africa and the Global North. Grace A. Musila is a lecturer in the English Department of Stellenbosch University, South AfricaTrade ReviewA sensitive, sophisticated and subtle work...readers interested in modern African politics, the legacies of colonialism or the ethics of development will benefit greatly from Musila's insights. * RED PEPPER *Feminism and gender studies, history, international studies, African studies and literature, sociology and creative writing programmes would be among the priority home disciplines for this book. * JOHANNESBURG REVIEW OF BOOKS *What Musila does with the questions that she takes up is brilliant. This is a smart book-smart in its interconnectivity, in its insights, and in the voracious mind behind it. A Death Retold in Truth and Rumour should be assigned to upper-level classes in African studies and cultural studies. Scholars might know some of this already, but we have never seen it put together just this way. * AFRICAN STUDIES REVIEW *Grace Musila has managed to produce what must be termed an academic thriller. . . . [Her] text is an achievement - a study in the postcolonial hangovers and political ruthlessness besetting Kenya and countries like it that also exposes the lingering racism and greed of British involvement. * SAFUNDI *A mix of erudite critical analysis of the range of stories that emerged from the death of Julie Ward; examining the conduct and narratives of officialdom, the pain and search efforts of Julie's father; the seeming unwillingness of the Kenyan state to fully support Mr Ward's quest for truth and justice, as well as the British government's not-too-convincing involvement, among others. * DAILY NATION *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Versions of Truth Portrait of an Assassin State Sex, Gender and the 'Criminal' State Julie Ward's Death and the Kenyan Grapevine Wildebeest, 'Noble Savages' and Moi's Kenya: Cultural Illiteracies in the Search for Julie Ward's Killers Farms in Africa: Wildlife Tourism, Conservation and Whiteness in Postcolonial Africa Faultlines in the Official British Response to the Julie Ward Mystery Engaging Modernity Afterword by Stephanie Newell

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Book SynopsisRipper Murders From Old Photographs is not a standard retelling of the story of the Whitechapel Murders but the tale of historically important photographs connected to the case, discovered by the author in 2007. Half of the book deals with The Whitby Collection. This is a surviving series of 27 images taken by the amateur criminologist John Gordon Whitby in 1961. They show many of the murder locations and related streets as they looked at that time. The book will not only tell the known facts about the photographer, but will - for the first time - reproduce every one of the photographs, along with modern comparison shots in colour. The second half of the book deals with an image that some have described as the most important photographic discovery in the Jack the Ripper case for quarter of a century. Before the discovery of a unique image purchased on eBay for less than $5, no photographic image was known to exist of the murder location of supposed Ripper victim Elizabeth Stride. Not only will this book present the photograph to the world for the first time, it will also discuss in detail the vast amount of research that has been undertaken to authenticate and date the image and, with frequent reference to the photo album it came from, will try to close in on identifying the photographer.

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Book SynopsisBizarre tales of murder and investigation in the drumlins, valleys and towns of Monaghan in the nineteenth century, based upon a casebook just recently discovered that has never been lodged in any archive anywhere. This is NEW information and highlights such cases as: The Illigitimate Half-Sisters Of Oscar Wilde - Emily and Mary Wilde died tragically at Drumaconner House while dancing by the fire - their deaths are kept quiet so as not to shame Sir William Wilde. The Legend Of The Sleepwalking Nun - Sister Mary Keogh is discovered drowned in the Convent lake near the Crannog - to this day, local legend tells the story of her death.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2022 British Academy Prize for Global Cultural Understanding. Novelist Alia Trabucco Zeran has long been fascinated not only with the root causes of violence against women, but by those women who have violently rejected the domestic and passive roles they were meant by their culture to inhabit. Choosing as her subject four iconic homicides perpetrated by Chilean women in the twentieth century, she spent years researching this brilliant work of narrative nonfiction detailing not only the troubling tales of the murders themselves, but the story of how society, the media and men in power reacted to these killings, painting their perpetrators as witches, hysterics, or femmes fatales . . . That is, either evil or out of control. Corina Rojas, Rosa Faundez, Carolina Geel and Teresa Alfaro all committed murder. Their crimes not only led to substantial court decisions, but gave rise to multiple novels, poems, short stories, paintings, plays, songs and films, produced and reproduced throughout the last century. In When Women Kill, we are provided with timelines of events leading up to and following their killings, their apprehension by the authorities, their trials and their representation in the media throughout and following the judicial process. Running in parallel with this often horrifying testimony are the diaries kept by Trabucco Zeran while she worked on her research, addressing the obstacles and dilemmas she encountered as she tackled this discomfiting yet necessary project.Trade Review'Throughout [When Women Kill], the language is both precise and evocative, and the author's evaluation of the various circumstances is readable, trenchant, and intersectional. A formally inventive, lyrical, feminist analysis of Chile's famous female murderers.' Kirkus Reviews, starred review ---- 'Exquisitely translated by Sophie Hughes, When Women Kill conveys the wonder of a writer determined to uncover the truth about factual events by using story.' Megan Bradbury, Times Literary Supplement ---- 'This book fascinates, illuminates and horrifies in equal measure ... It's an elegant examination of how the act of murder uncovers truths society never wants to confront.' Neil Mackay Herald Scotland ---- 'Are we as women in any way implicated by these four murderers? . . . In its portrait of the media, in the echo from the streets, in the judicial process and sentence of each of the four female killers here, we recognise the judgment of society itself, from which we cannot escape.' Nona Fernandez, La Tercera ---- 'When Women Kill is an entertaining, intelligent and well-written book that, in the process of deconstructing machismo, reflects on the power of story - be it through literature, court proceedings, news, articles, or photos - and its ability to intervene in our lives.' Marta Sanz, El Pais ---- 'When Women Kill is a magnificent work of creative nonfiction: provocative, intelligent, and moving. In it, Alia Trabucco Zeran makes use of her talents as a writer and researcher to reconstruct the complex stories of four women accused of violent crimes in the twentieth century. The result is a masterful and pertinent account full of humanity and emotion.' Fernanda Melchor ---- 'This brilliant work of essayistic nonfiction reveals forcefully and convincingly the rhetorical operations used by the patriarchy.' Lina Meruane ---- 'Tales of love and hate, exposed with a forensic and lyrical power that is rare, brilliant and deeply affecting.' Philippe Sands

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