True crime Books

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

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Book SynopsisAs one of al-Qaeda’s most respected bomb-makers, Aimen Dean rubbed shoulders with the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden. As a double agent at the heart of al-Qaeda’s chemical weapons programme, he foiled attacks on civilians and saved countless lives, brushing with death so often that his handlers began to call him their spy with nine lives. This is the story of how a young Muslim, determined to defend his faith, found himself fighting on the wrong side – and his fateful decision to work undercover for his sworn enemy. From the killing fields of Bosnia to the training camps of Afghanistan, from running money and equipment in Britain to dodging barrel bombs in Syria, we discover what life is like inside the global jihad, and what it will take to stop it once and for all.Trade Review‘Nerve-shredding.’ * Daily Mail *‘It is rare that Western secret services place an agent within an organisation such as al-Qaida… It is unprecedented that any such individual publishes a detailed memoir of more than a decade of his activity at very nearly the highest possible levels of Islamist militancy.’ * Observer *‘A major contribution to the literature of espionage, and a rare book to say something original about contemporary jihadism.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘An endlessly fascinating portrayal of al-Qaeda and the jihadist movement before and after 9/11…a thrill ride of an autobiography…Nine Lives is also an exquisite portrait of what it is like to be a secret agent caught in limbo between the West and the Middle East… A must-read for anyone who seriously wants to end the scourge of jihadi terrorism in the West and the East.’ * New York Journal of Books *‘A compelling and invaluable account of life inside al-Qaeda through the eyes of a first-rate spy. This unique narrative throws open the shutters of the secret world of terror.’ -- Lawrence Wright, author of The Looming Tower‘Aimen Dean has been on most of the major jihadist battlefields of the past three decades and met many of the most significant figures… Not only a gripping page-turner, but also an extraordinary contemporary history of the global terror threat.’ -- Raffaello Pantucci, author of “We Love Death As You Love Life”: Britain’s Suburban Terrorists‘This captivating real-life spy-thriller is a must-read to understand the enduring threat of global terror. It provides a fascinating account of one of the most lethal terrorist groups, from the unique perspective of a courageous double agent – an excellent read all round.’ -- Ali Soufan, former FBI Special Agent and author of Anatomy of Terror and The Black Banners‘One of the most extraordinary, captivating and insightful accounts of involvement in the violent global jihad. For many years, Aimen Dean risked his life time and time again, penetrated the leadership of al-Qaeda and saved many lives. Britain owes him a debt of gratitude. A seminal book.’ -- Richard Walton, Head of Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), New Scotland Yard, 2011–2016‘An incisive history of the war on terrorism and a riveting true-life thriller… An important book that sheds new light on al-Qaeda’s violent trajectory and its continued, stubborn resilience.’ -- Professor Bruce Hoffman, Georgetown University, and author of Inside Terrorism‘A must-read for anyone interested in the inside story of the last two decades of the so-called War on Terror. This book defies easy classification. Is it an insightful book on intelligence tradecraft? Certainly so. Is it an important primer on the evolution of radical jihadism? Without question. Is it a key resource for our understanding of counter-terrorism policy and practice in the twenty-first century? Absolutely.’ -- Dr Vince Houghton, Historian and Curator, International Spy Museum, Washington, DC‘Nine Lives provides a stunning inside account of the making of a senior al-Qaeda operative, who trained with the organization’s master bomb-maker and WMD-specialist, who turned into an MI6 spy, foiling terrorist plots and uncovering al-Qaeda networks. The story of Aimen Dean is as close as you’ll ever get to the real thing. The book provides unique intelligence insights into the inner workings of al-Qaeda before and after 9/11. It also reveals how MI6 used him as one of its most valuable intelligence weapons in the global war on terrorism.’ -- Dr Magnus Ranstorp, Research Director, Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies, Swedish Defence University, and Quality Manager, EU Radicalisation Awareness Network, Centre of Excellence‘This is the most fascinating book about al-Qaeda I’ve read in a long time. It is a realistic and down-to earth account of al-Qaeda’s chemical weapons programme, told by one of its insiders. It’s a must-read for everyone who wants to understand al-Qaeda and the evolution of international terrorism.’ -- Anne Stenersen, author of Al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Al-Qaida’s Quest for Weapons of Mass Destruction

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Book Synopsis*Now a major ITV drama starring Martin Clunes*What does it take to catch a predator who has terrorised southeast England for over fifteen years?Delroy Grant - dubbed the Night Stalker - was one of the nation's most wanted men, a shocking sex predator. During his seventeen-year reign of fear, he established a clear MO. Visit a target at night. Remove a window pane and slide in. Unscrew the lightbulbs. Cut the power. Rip out the telephone wires. Tiptoe to the bedroom. Wake the victim by shining a torch in their eyes. What followed was often unspeakable. When SIO Colin Sutton was drafted into the case, Grant had been at large for over a decade. Stepping up where others had failed, he began the determined, relentless police work that had marked the end for infamous serial killer Levi Bellfield. Case by case, clue by clue. Night Stalker is the chilling true story of one of the most testing manhunts the Metropolitan Police have ever undertaken. It is a glimpse into the heart of darkness - and into the mind and work of the brilliant detective who brought one of London's most feared monsters to justice.

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Book SynopsisWhen you think of serial killers throughout history, the names that come to mind are ones like Jack the Ripper and Ted Bundy. But what about Tillie Klimek, Moulay Hassan, Kate Bender? The narrative we're comfortable with is the one where women are the victims of violent crime, not the perpetrators. In fact, serial killers are thought to be so universally, overwhelmingly male that in 1998, FBI profiler Roy Hazelwood infamously declared in a homicide conference, 'There are no female serial killers'.Lady Killers, based on the popular online series that appeared on Jezebel and The Hairpin, disputes that claim and offers fourteen gruesome examples as evidence. Though largely forgotten by history, female serial killers such as Erzsebet Bathory, Nannie Doss, Mary Ann Cotton, and Darya Nikolayevna Saltykova rival their male counterparts in cunning, cruelty, and appetite for destruction.Each chapter explores the crimes and history of a different subject, and then proceeds to unpack her legacy and her portrayal in the media, as well as the stereotypes and sexist cliches that inevitably surround her. The first book to examine female serial killers through a feminist lens with a witty and dryly humorous tone, Lady Killers dismisses easy explanations (she was hormonal, she did it for love, a man made her do it) and tired tropes (she was a femme fatale, a black widow, a witch), delving into the complex reality of female aggression and predation. Featuring 14 illustrations from Dame Darcy, Lady Killers is a bloodcurdling, insightful, and irresistible journey into the heart of darkness.Trade ReviewTelfer proves that you can stab, poison, and suffocate the predictable tropes about female killers and still write something salacious and entertaining. * Caitlin Doughty, New York Times bestselling author of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and From Here to Eternity *A fascinating, creepy and insightful read that will make you question everything you think you know about the supposedly fairer sex. * Mara Altman, author of Thanks For Coming and Gross Anatomy *

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

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Book SynopsisIn January 1959, ten experienced young skiers set out for Mount Otorten in the far north of Russia. While one of the skiers fell ill and returned., the remaining nine lost their way and ended up on another mountain slope known as Kholat Syakhl (or ‘Mountain of the Dead’).

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA fast-paced debut...Espionage buffs will savor this vibrant account. — Publishers WeeklyA U.S. naval counterintelligence officer working to safeguard Pearl Harbor; a Japanese spy ordered to Hawaii to gather information on the American fleet. On December 7, 1941, their hidden stories are exposed by a morning of bloodshed that would change the world forever. Scrutinizing long-buried historical documents, NCIS star Mark Harmon and co-author Leon Carroll, a former NCIS Special Agent, have brought forth a true-life NCIS story of deception, discovery, and danger. Hawaii, 1941. War clouds with Japan are gathering and the islands of Hawaii have become battlegrounds of spies, intelligence agents, and military officials - with the island''s residents caught between them. Toiling in the shadows are Douglas Wada, the only Japanese American agent in naval intelligence, a

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Book SynopsisDrawing on extensive interviews and correspondence with many of Tann's surviving victims, Barbara Raymond shows how Tann not only popularised adoption - which until then had been feared and discouraged - but also commercialised and corrupted it. She tells how Tann abducted babies or coerced women to leave their children in her care and then sold them. To cover her kidnapping crimes she falsified birth certificates, a practice that was approved by legislators who believed it would spare adoptees the taint of illegitimacy - an one that still holds today in the form of 'amended' birth certificates and closed adoption records. Uncovering many life-shattering stories along the way, Raymond recounts how Tann openly sold more that 5,000 children, and killed so many through neglect that Memphis's infant mortality rate soared to the highest in the country. She explores how Tann's operation was able to thrive in a Tennessee governed by 'Boss' Ed Crump and the political network that allowed her to operate with impunity. And she portrays the lack of options available to women, affecting not only the birth mothers she robbed, but also Tann herself, who turned to social work after having been barred for a 'masculine profession' - the law. Written by an adoptive mother, The Baby Thief is part social history, part detective story, and part expose. It is a riveting investigative narrative that explores themes that continue to reverberate in the modern era, when baby sellers operate overseas. It is particularly relevant at this time in the UK, amidst heated national debate over the controversial adoption targets that seem to provide a perverse incentive to remove babies from birth parents.

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Book SynopsisWhen Anne Darwin told the world and her family that her husband, John, had disappeared while canoeing in the North Sea, her life changed forever.She had just lied to the police, the press, her friends and neighbours, insurance companies and her own sons.While her husband hid in a bedsit in their rental house next door, Anne had to face the music. She claimed the life insurance payouts, endured the police questioning, accepted the consolations and left the country she loved to start her life again.But why, when she had been perfectly happy with her lifestyle, knowing her actions would hurt those she held most dear, did she do it?After years of remaining silent, Anne Darwin finally reveals the truth behind the crime that tore her family apart.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author, Carl ChinnThe Peaky Blinders as we know them, thanks to the hit TV series, are infused with drama and dread. Fashionably dressed, the charismatic but deeply flawed Shelby family have become cult anti-heroes. Well-known social historian, broadcaster and author, Carl Chinn, revealed the true story of the notorious gang in his bestselling Peaky Blinders: The Real Story and now in this follow-up book, he explores the legacy they created in Birmingham and beyond. What happened to them and their gangland rivals?In Peaky Blinders: The Legacy we revisit the world of Billy Kimber's Peaky Blinders, exploring their legacy throughout the 1920s and 30s, and how their burgeoning empires spread across the UK. Delve into the street wars across the country, the impact of the declaration of War on Gangs by the Home Secretary after The Racecourse War in 1921, and how the blackmailing of bookmakers gave way to new and daring opportunities for the likes of Sabini, Alfie Solomon and some new faces in the murky gangland underworld.Drawing on Carl's inimitable research, interviews and original sources, find out just what happened to this incredible cast of characters, revealing the true legacy of the Peaky Blinders.

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Book Synopsis BE THE FIRST TO READ DAVID WILSON''S NEW TRUE CRIME BOOK A PLOT TO KILL BY PRE-ORDERING NOW ''Hugely insightful and thought provoking . . . I read it from cover to cover in one go'' - Emilia Fox''With characteristic brilliance and admirable sensitivity, Wilson illuminates the complex causes of their often horrific crimes'' - Professor Simon Winlow, Vice President of the British Society of CriminologyProfessor David Wilson has spent his professional life working with violent men - especially men who have committed murder. Aged twenty-nine he became, at that time, the UK''s youngest ever prison Governor in charge of a jail and his career since then has seen him sat across a table with all sorts of killers: sometimes in a tense interview; sometimes sharing a cup of tea (or something a little stronger); sometimes looking them in the eye to tell them thTrade ReviewA riveting exploration of the psychology of those who have committed unthinkable crimes. It's also hugely insightful and thought provoking about our justice system, I read it from cover to cover in one go. David's professional experiences make an absolutely compelling read for anyone who is interested in the criminal mind and its motivationsWilson's fascinating career brought him into contact with Britain's most violent criminals. In this gripping book, he moves beyond the usual media sensationalism to discuss in detail his life among our prison system's most notorious murderers, serial killers, sex offenders and hitmen. With characteristic brilliance and admirable sensitivity, Wilson illuminates the complex causes of their often horrific crimes. And in the background of Wilson's pitch-perfect central narrative, lies an accompanying account of a strained criminal justice system and the gradual disintegration of the rehabilitative ideal. Page-turning stuff. I'm sure this book will prove to be a great hit

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Book SynopsisA fascinating true crime account of one of America's most notorious mass murderers.

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Book Synopsis‘Absolutely gripping. Impeccably researched and written with the pace and narrative drive of a thriller, but attentive too to the dignity of the victims.’ - Daragh Carville, creator of ITV’s The BayThe true story of the shocking 1930s murder case, and the revolutionary investigation that changed forensics forever. Lancaster, 1935. In a jealous rage, Dr Buck Ruxton kills his wife, Isabella, and their children’s nanny, Mary, before dismembering the bodies in the bathtub. When walkers discover the remains scattered in a ravine in the Scottish Borders, police are confronted with a gruesome jigsaw puzzle that they must piece together – not only to give the women their names back, but also to catch their killer.Using new research, Jeremy Craddock tells the full story of this landmark case in British criminal history. The Jigsaw Murders brings to life Dr Ruxton, the investigators, the legal figures, and silent witnesses Isabella and Mary, recreating the dramatic scenes that shook the world.Trade ReviewJeremy Craddock [gives] an unprecedented voice to Ruxton’s female victims. -- Elaine Collins

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Book SynopsisOn a Sunday night in 1998, Bishop Juan Gerardi, Guatemala's leading human rights activist, was bludgeoned to death. Two days earlier, a Church-sponsored report had implicated Guatemala's government in the disappearances of 200,000 civilians. The Church, feeling that it could not rely on the legal system, took the controversial decision to assemble a team of men, Los Intocables (The Untouchables), to take down Gerardi's killers.In a gripping reconstruction, worthy of Graham Greene, Francisco Goldman traces Los Intocables struggle with the Guatemalan authorities to reveal the true story, uncovering the involvement of youth gangs, political corruption and organised crime. Most of all, he tells the story of an extraordinary group of courageous people and their fight for justice.Trade Review"'A multi-layered real-life whodunnit... Forensic and chilling.' Rory Carroll, Guardian 'A truly extraordinary book' George Rosie, Sunday Herald 'It simply seethes with violent action and counter-action, conspiracy and intrigue.' Ciaran Cosgrove, Irish Times 'As gripping as a thriller' Duncan Campbell, The Week 'A hugely impressive account: passionate, involving and profoundly moving.' Peter Standford, Independent on Sunday 'Passionate and stunningly researched... Goldman's book portrays the hysterical confusion, the dark fog that power - corrupt, ruthless and enduring - can impose on a society.' Richard Eder, New York Times"

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Book SynopsisA narrative nonfiction about the mysterious disappearance of American backpacker Justin Shetler in India's Parvati Valley, known for similar incidents. Justin, a seasoned traveler, embarked on a global journey seeking authentic experiences, documenting on Instagram. His quest for extremes led him to the remote Himalayan region in 2016.

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Book SynopsisHarry Markopolos and his team of financial sleuths discuss first-hand how they cracked the Madoff Ponzi scheme No One Would Listen is the exclusive story of the Harry Markopolos-led investigation into Bernie Madoff and his $65 billion Ponzi scheme.Trade Reviewupdated account of his struggle to alert authorities to Madoff s crimes. (Guardian, February 2011).Table of ContentsForeword. Who’s Who. Introduction. Chapter 1. A Red Wagon in a Field of Snow. Chapter 2. The Slot Machine That Kept Coming Up Cherries. Chapter 3. Falling Down the Rabbit Hole. Chapter 4. Finding More Peters (to Pay Paul). Chapter 5. The Goddess of Justice Wears a Blindfold. Chapter 6. Didn’t Anyone Want a Pulitzer? Chapter 7. More Red Flags Than the Soviet Union. Chapter 8. Closing the Biggest Barn Door in Wall Street History. Chapter 9. Soaring Like an Eagle Surrounded by Turkeys. Epilogue. Mr. Pinkslip Goes to Washington. Appendix A. Madoff Tops Charts; Skeptics As How. Appendix B. The World’s Largest Hedge Fund Is a Fraud. Appendix C. Online Resource Guide for the Classroom and Beyond. A Note on Sources. About the Author. Acknowledgments. Index.

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Mindhunter, Criminal Minds, and My Favorite Murder, a riveting memoir of a trailblazing woman''s life hunting down serial killers as one of the first female profilers of the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit and the real-life model for Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs.''Jana Monroe is the single most influential woman to ever serve in the FBI.''-Joe Navarro, bestselling author of What Every BODY Is SayingJana Monroe was no ordinary cop. One of the first analysts-and, at the time, the only female agent-in the world-renowned FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit at Quantico, she consulted on more than 850 homicide cases, including infamous serial killers Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Edmund Kemper, and Aileen Wuornos. Monroe was also the model for Clarice Starling in the movie version of The Silence of the Lambs; she even helped train Jodie Foster for her Oscar-winning role. Monroe''s later years found her dealing with the aftermath of Colum

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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, Bowd

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The Red Market is a thrilling adventure into the global body business, with keen insight into the economics that drive it. Scott Carney investigates both our insatiable need for replacement human parts and the uncanny and often disturbing ways we go about getting them." -- Chris Anderson, author of The Long Tail "The Red Market is an unforgettable nonfiction thriller, expertly reported. Scott Carney takes us on a tremendously revealing and twisted ride, where life and death are now mere cold cash commodities." -- Michael Largo, author of Final Exits: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of How We Die

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Book SynopsisIn December 1968 two girls who lived next door to each other - Mary, aged eleven, and Norma, thirteen - stood before a criminal court in Newcastle, accused of strangling two little boys;Trade ReviewGitta Sereny has worked with disturbed children, and her dignified, compassionate book is a mile away from the usual tawdry accounts of sensational murder trials... The story of Mary Bell in all its terrifying detail is told here with fine lucidity, joined to remarkable charity and understanding. -- Julian Symons * Washington Post *Accurate and scrupulously fair -- T.C.N. Gibbons * New Society *Gitta Sereny's clear and readable book will help many people to make sense of the story... She also draws out the lessons to be learned both by professional workers, and by society at large. -- W.H. Allchin * Mind *

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Book SynopsisPiltdown. Even today the name sends a shiver down the collective spine of the scientific community, for this was the most dramatic and daring fraud ever perpetrated upon the world of science and academia. Between 1908 and 1912, a series of amazing discoveries relating to what appeared to be the earliest human were made close to the little village of Piltdown in Sussex. These remains belonged to the developmental missing link' between man and ape. The basic principles of evolution, first propounded by Charles Darwin some fifty years before, now appeared as indisputable fact. The Manchester Guardian ran the first headline: THE EARLIEST MAN?: REMARKABLE DISCOVERY IN SUSSEX. A SKULL MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD' it screamed, adding that the discovery was one of the most important of our time'. The news spread quickly around the world, with many voicing their eagerness to examine the find. Few archaeological discoveries have the capacity to be front-page news twice over, but Piltdown Man' is a rar

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A gripping true story of violence, double-cross and corruption, Black Mass takes us deep undercover, exposing one of the most outrageous scandals in FBI history.Boston, 1975. Under a harvest moon, 'Whitey' Bulger, godfather of the Irish Mob, waits for an old school buddy. Since they last met, Little John Connolly has become a high-ranking FBI agent. Connolly needs an informant - someone with a good view of Boston's dark side. Whitey needs certain priority treatment. Soon the die is cast.Trade ReviewBlack Mass succeeds admirably in showing just how fragile FBI integrity can be when the good guys lose sight of the truth, the rules, and the law * * Washington Post * *A jaw-dropping, true-life tale of how two thugs corrupted the FBI * * Baltimore Sun * *A work of rare lucidity, high drama, journalistic integrity and plain courage -- James Carroll, author of An American RequiemBlack Mass should prompt a reevaluation of the uses and misuses of informers by law-enforcement officials throughout the country * * New York Times Book Review * *

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Book Synopsis**THE TRUE STORY BEHIND MAJOR ITV DRAMA WHITE HOUSE FARM, NOW ON NETFLIX**'An extraordinary book . . . both deeply moving and quietly inspiring' FREDDIE FOX'A beautiful, very moving book' CRESSIDA BONASIn 1985, the shocking murder of a family of five in a quiet country house in Essex rocked the nation. The victims were Nevill and June Bamber; their adopted daughter Sheila Caffell, divorced from her husband Colin; and Sheila and Colin's twin sons, Nicholas and Daniel. Only one survivor remained: the Bamber's other adopted child, Jeremy Bamber. Following his lead, the police - and later the press - blamed the murders on Sheila, who, so the story went, then committed suicide.Written by Sheila's ex-husband Colin and originally published in 1994, In Search of the Rainbow's End is the first and only book about the White House Farm murders to have been written by a family member. It is the inside story of two families into whose midst the most monstrous events erupted. When Jeremy Bamber is later convicted on all five counts of murder, Colin is left to pick up the pieces of his life after not only burying his ex-wife, two children and parents-in-law, but also having to cope with memories of Sheila almost shattered by a predatory press hungry for stories of sex, drugs and the high life. Colin's tale is not just a rare insider's picture of murder, but testimony to the strength and resilience of one man in search of healing after trauma: he describes his process of recovery, a process that led to his working in prisons, helping to rehabilitate,among others, convicted murderers. By turns emotive, terrifying, and inspiring, Colin Caffell's account of mass murder and its aftermath will not fail to move and astonish.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Blood Relations, a compelling account of Britain's most baffling unsolved murder, described by P. D. James as 'more mysterious and fascinating than any crime fiction'.Trade ReviewIt is a formidable, indeed a damning indictment and Wilkes presents the result of his detective work with journalistic panache. -- P. D. James * Times Literary Supplement *Roger Wilkes's seminal book lays out the facts . . . one of the great unsolved murders of the century. -- Craig Taylor * Guardian *I call it the impossible murder because Wallace couldn't have done it. And neither could anyone else. -- Raymond ChandlerEngrossingly readable. -- Christopher PymFor once the blurb lives up to expectation. This is a real life whodunnit. * Solicitors' Journal *If you're given to nightmares, read no further. Liverpool's notorious Wallace case is straight out of Poe or Kafka. -- Irene McManus * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'The first thing that caught my eye was the geezer with the gold tooth - the second was that he was holding a shooter - and the third that he was pointing it at me.' Carlton Leach is a gangland legend - the mere mention of his name strikes fear into his enemies; yet to his friends he is as loyal and caring as they come. If trouble comes calling, Carlton isn't afraid to let his fists do the talking and woe betide anyone who crosses him, or those close to him. At last, in Rise of the Footsoldier, Carlton gives the full account of his life including how his story has been made into a hugely successful film. Born and raised in East London, Carlton was a key member of the notorious Essex Boys gang and the West Ham InterCity Firm, one of the most violent hooligan gangs to trouble the football terraces during the eighties. He's been shot at, stabbed, glassed - he's even had an axe in his head. Yet the event that really brought turmoil into his life was the murder of his best friend in the infamous Range Rover murders. Carlton vowed that he would find those responsible and make them pay. There isn't much that Carlton hasn't seen or experienced in his life and his tales of violence, gang wars and close calls with death will have you on the edge of your seat. He knows how close he has come to dying and has therefore shut the door on a gangland life. He may have changed but, as he himself says, 'I'll always need to exercise the Carlton Leach brand of justice. It's in me - '

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Book Synopsis‘He pushed open the door, and I saw that he was pulling something out of a bag he was carrying. It was a gun – a sawn-off shotgun.’Featured on ITV's Lorraine with Michael Sheen and Rachel Williams. Darren was funny and attractive, and 21-year-old Rachel fell head-over-heels for him; it wasn’t long before they moved in together, and she fell pregnant with his child. But his inner demons soon surfaced... Weakened and alone, Rachel was beaten and tormented by him for 18 years, until one day, Darren turned up at her place of work with a shotgun and left her for dead. But her ordeal wasn’t over… Devastating yet inspiring, Rachel’s story of hope tells of how you can always find the light, even in the very darkest of times.‘Incredibly poignant and powerful.’ – Victoria Derbyshire ‘Transformative. Life changing.’ – Michael SheenTrade ReviewIncredibly poignant and powerful -- Victoria Derbyshire

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Book SynopsisThe real story of the shocking Jeffrey Dahmer murders, as told by the reporter who broke the story.

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Book Synopsis9.30am on 22 January 1993. The moment in crime history that one of Britain's most audacious thefts ever took place and the legend of 'Fast Eddie' was created.This is the story of how Securicor guard Eddie Maher managed to pull off a £1.2 million heist, fled the country despite every port being closed, spawned an international manhunt, and managed to evade capture for 20 years. As Britain's Most Wanted Man, he led 30 detectives, FBI and Interpol on a wild goose chase across the USA.Dubbed 'Fast Eddie' by the press, he was always one step ahead and after two decades on the run with his family using a series of of aliases and identities, Eddie began to think he'd committed the perfect crime until a cruel and dramatic betrayal proved otherwise...Like a Hollywood movie script and told in full for the first time, Fast Eddie is the compelling story of how an ordinary British man became America's most notorious fugitive.

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Book SynopsisWith startling new evidence, this gripping reexamination of the Black Dahlia murder offers a definitive theory of a quintessential American crime.Trade ReviewA magnificent, meticulous and startling re-examination of a crime that haunts the world's imagination * Geoffrey Wansell, author of 'An Evil Love: The Life of Frederick West' *A compelling read, in both style and substance, and one which packs a heavyweight punch in terms of the evidence uncovered and the resolution offered. This is a comprehensive account of the sad and ultimately tragic life of Elizabeth Short, and the web of intrigue that surrounds her death is untangled here in fascinating and painstaking detail. A must-read for anyone with an interest in the Black Dahlia - or indeed any fan of the true-crime genre. * Rod Reynolds *Eatwell writes brilliantly . . . After decades of cultural appropriation by journalists, novelists and film-makers, Eatwell has finally offered [Elizabeth] Short a type of belated justice. Her book reads like a thriller, but it never loses sight of the real woman whose life was so savagely extinguished' -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times *Compulsively readable, impeccably researched and heart-rending at times, BLACK DAHLIA RED ROSE deserves a place at the top of any true crime aficionado's bookshelf . . . Superb * Sarah Lotz, author of The Three and The White Road *Written in a narrative style that evokes the smoky noir of LA in the 1940s, it's a gripping tale featuring a host of colourful characters - from hard-boiled cops and intrepid journalists to wannabe actresses and Hollywood gangsters. It was hard to put down. When I wasn't reading it, I found myself thinking about the Dahlia and her untimely death. After three years of painstaking research, she puts forward a compelling and convincing conclusion. It's a must-read. * Daily Record *A meticulously researched work that is delivered with all the punch, pace and suspense of the finest noir thrillers . . . Eatwell never forgets the tragic figure at the heart of her story, while emphasising the callousness of the post-second World War era in which she was so brutally murdered' * The Irish Times *Piu Eatwell applies rigorous deductive reasoning . . . The characters she encounters are straight from the sets of film noir . . . She pursues her suspect to the nightmarish end, uncovering corruption of every kind, and offers a convincing solution. -- Lillian Pizzichini * Mail on Sunday *Eatwell's historical crime study is an expansive work that delves into the broader culture of post-war Los Angeles . . . her immersive style is filled with camera-ready period detail * New York Times *'[Eatwell] evokes the Los Angeles era in which the murder was committed with pinpoint accuracy and feeling . . . she meticulously draws together in her investigative web all the necessary threads and makes the affair clearer despite its inherent complexity. Probably the final book on the case and the best, as the author's exemplary research collects all available data and allows the reader to make his mind up. -- Maxim Jakubowski * CrimeTime *I adored this book. It really does plunge the reader into the grime behind the glamour, bringing to gory life the moral repugnancy of a post-war Gomorrah known as LA. The reader is utterly transported - so close to the action that it felt as though I was riding in the squad car, watching the grotesque autopsies and taking knuckle-dusters to head from the Gangster Squad. As far as I'm concerned, it's case closed. Absolutely masterful. The perpetrator of whichever unsolved case Piu Eatwell tackles next should be very nervous. * David Mark, bestselling author *Readable and convincing * The Times *

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Book SynopsisCaptivated by the hit ITV true crime drama DES? Uncover the truth behind the trial of Rosemary West, another of Britain''s most infamous serial killers.''Anyone reading this brilliant book will wonder whether justice was really done.'' Evening StandardIn 1994, Frederick West was arrested and accused of murdering twelve young women. But it was the trial of his wife, Rosemary West, that became Britain''s serial-killer trial of the century...Detained for the murder of the twelve women found at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, Frederick West hung himself on New Year''s Day 1995. The case had enraged the nation, and the subsequent trial of Rosemary for the same crimes caused a media sensation.How are ordinary human beings driven to become serial killers? How did this psychopath ensnare so many women? And how much was Rosemary truly involved?Brian Masters attended the Rosemary West trial on a daily basis. In She Must

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Book Synopsis_____________________________THE NEW YORK TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER on the murder behind the Netflix documentary Killer InsideHe had it all. A $40 million NFL contract. Fame. Adoration – until he was convicted of murder, and jailed for life without parole.A true story told by the master of crime fiction, All-American Murder is the tale of Aaron Hernandez, once the NFL's youngest player, a star for the New England Patriots and a Super Bowl veteran. His every move played out in the headlines, and yet he led a secret life – one that ended in a maximum-security prison. What drove him to go so wrong, so fast?This explosive account of the rise and fall of a life cut short in the dark shadow of fame, culminating in Hernandez's own untimely death behind bars, is built on original, in-depth reporting. Was Hernandez a victim himself, suffering violence-inducing brain damage from the sport that meant everything to him – or was he just a heartless killer?_____________________________‘The man behind the hugely popular Alex Cross series has interviewed those closest to Hernandez to get the full, winding story on the NFL star turned murderer.’ The Sun‘Patterson unravels Hernandez’s complicated and troubling story.’ CBS News'This disturbing true-crime thriller is another fast and captivating Patterson read.' USA TodayTrade ReviewThe man behind the hugely popular Alex Cross series has interviewed those closest to Hernandez to get the full, winding story on the NFL star turned murderer. * Sun *Patterson unravels Hernandez’s complicated and troubling story. * CBS News *This disturbing true-crime thriller is another fast and captivating Patterson read. * USA Today *

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Book SynopsisDennis Nilsen was one of Britain''s most notorious serial killers, jailed for life in 1983 after the murders of 12 men and the attempted murders of many more.Seven years after his conviction, Nilsen began to write his autobiography, and over a period of 18 years he typed 6,000 pages of introspection, reflection, comment and explanation.History of a Drowning Boy - taken exclusively from these astonishing writings - uncovers, for the first time, the motives behind the murders, and delivers a clear understanding of how such horrific events could have happened, tracing the origins back to early childhood.In another first, it provides an insight into his 35 years inside the maximum-security prison system, including his everyday life on the wings; his interactions with the authorities and other notorious prisoners; and his artistic endeavours of music, writing and drama. It also reveals the truth behind many of the myths surrounding Dennis Nilsen, as reported in the media.Nilsen was determined to have his memoir published but to his frustration, the Home Office blocked publication during his lifetime. He died in 2018 entrusting the manuscript to his closest friend and it is now being published with the latter''s permission.Any autobiography presents the writer''s story from just one perspective: his own, and as such this record should be treated with some caution. An excellent foreword by criminologist Dr Mark Pettigrew offers some context to Nilsen''s words, and this important work provides an extraordinary journey through the life of a remarkable and inadequate man.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the notorious Jewish gangster who ascended from impoverished beginnings to the glittering Las Vegas stripTrade Review"Fast-paced and absorbing. . . . With a keen eye for the amusing, and humanizing detail, [Shnayerson] enlivens the traditional rise-and-fall narrative."—Jenna Weissman Joselit, New York Times Book Review "[A] brisk-reading chronicle of Siegel’s life and crimes."—Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal“A pacey and thoughtful biography...part of Yale University Press's excellent Jewish Lives series”—The Economist“This latest, punchiest and most compact biography of Siegel arrives in the Yale ‘Jewish Lives’ series...Shnayerson’s brief life of Bugsy is a fun, absorbing read that helps make sense of an emotionally complex gangster. And it’s just long enough to fill one of those transatlantic flights many of us are waiting to take again."—Scott Bradfield, The Spectator “This is an excellent biography for those more interested in the shape of Siegel's life and career rather than the lurid details, and it is admirably cautious on the mythology.”—Strong Words“Shnayerson does a remarkable job of humanizing a man he admits to being "a vicious killer”....He even poses reasonable objections to the common belief that Siegel was a sociopath."—Michael Saler, Times Literary Supplement“An amazing job. I learned a lot. A great book about real gangsters when gangsters were real.”—Nicholas Pileggi, author of Wiseguy“Insightful, well-written, and carefully researched, this is the best and most complete biography of the notorious gangster Benjamin ‘Bugsy’ Siegel in print.”—Robert Rockaway, author of But He Was Good to His Mother: The Lives and Crimes of Jewish Gangsters“A wonderful exploration of the dark side of the American dream via Bugsy Siegel, the personification of the dark side and the dream. Just as stylish as Bugsy himself. A fabulous book.”—Rich Cohen, author of Tough Jews: Fathers, Sons, and Gangster Dreams

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Book Synopsis'If you are susceptible to Miss Marple and Harriet Vane you must read The Adventures of Maud West. You will never know the difference between fact and fiction again.' – Jill Paton Walsh, author of the Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane mysteries.Maud West ran her detective agency in London for more than thirty years, having started sleuthing on behalf of society’s finest in 1905. Her exploits grabbed headlines throughout the world but, beneath the public persona, she was forced to hide vital aspects of her own identity in order to thrive in a class-obsessed and male-dominated world. And – as historical researcher Susannah Stapleton reveals – she was a most unreliable witness to her own life. Who was Maud? And what was the reality of being a female private detective in the Golden Age of Crime? Interweaving tales from Maud West’s own ‘casebook’ with social history and extensive original research, Stapleton investigates the stories Maud West told about herself in a quest to uncover the truth. With walk-on parts by Dr Crippen and Dorothy L. Sayers, Parisian gangsters and Continental blackmailers, The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective is both a portrait of a woman ahead of her time and a deliciously salacious glimpse into the underbelly of ‘good society’ during the first half of the twentieth century.Trade ReviewTerrific ... A brilliant literary sleuth tracks down a real one, uncovering a flabbergasting hidden life along the way. -- Lissa Evans, author of Old Baggage and Crooked HeartDeliciously entertaining, meticulous and affectionate ... Criminally good. I loved it. -- Mel McGrath, author of Give Me the Child and The Guilty PartyA powerhouse of a book ... The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective is, as one suspects Maud herself was, sweet, and wonderful company, and absolutely determined to discover the truth. -- Judith Flanders, author of The Invention of Murder and the Sam Clair mysteriesMaud West is a gloriously English eccentric - think Miranda Hart meets Margaret Rutherford - brought to vigorous life by present day sleuth Susannah Stapleton. -- Sean O'Connor, author of Handsome BruteSusannah Stapleton’s dogged sleuthing of Maud’s own complicated, messy, spunky life reveals the wider story of a little-explored sliver of life between the wars. I loved it. -- Kate Colquhoun, author of Mr Briggs' Hat and Did She Kill Him?If you are inclined to regard the “Golden Age” detective stories as obviously a fantasy form — and never more fantastic than when the sleuth is a woman, Susannah Stapleton’s book will astound you. “Maud West” was a real woman detective, but her story blurs the margin between possible truth and impossible invention till your head spins. If you are susceptible to Miss Marple and Harriet Vane you must read The Adventures of Maud West. You will never know the difference between fact and fiction again. -- Jill Paton Walsh, author of the Lord Peter Wimsey-Harriet Vane novelsCompulsively absorbing . . . delightfully well written, with both sympathy and empathy; it is jaunty, engaging and witty without being arch. A triumph. -- Lucy Lethbridge * Literary Review *[A] charming light-hearted investigation into the life of Maud West, a lady detective. A sort of “Miss Marple on the trail of Miss Marple” . . . frank and funny. -- Ysenda Maxtone-Graham * The Times Review *Intriguing * Woman’s Weekly *Impressive . . . more fascinating than any fictional detective story * Choice *Susannah Stapleton’s erudite but hugely entertaining debut is a true-life detective story about a true-life detective . . . [an] exhilarating eye-opener of a book * Spectator *Highly entertaining * The District Messenger, The Newsletter of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London *Although Stapleton does not engage in much literal leg-work – she is able to do a lot of her research in her pyjamas – this account of her pursuit of the will-o’-the-wisp-like Maud through the maze of online archives and registries is utterly enthralling, often even thrilling * Daily Telegraph *Shot at in Paris, blackmailed in Bloomsbury: the self-promoting cases, and many faces, of a fearless female sleuth . . . breezy * Guardian *This romp through the life of one of Britain’s first female detectives sets out to solve one central mystery: who was Maud West? Her story is told in tantalising detail by Susannah Stapleton * 5 stars, Mail on Sunday *Fascinating * Sunday Times *A gripping read * Daily Mirror *Meet a fantasizing, sharpshooting, cross-dressing, self-advertising female star of the early twentieth century . . . It's all about women, this book. -- Libby Purves * TLS *A glorious, gripping read, constructed just like the detective stories Stapleton so admires, with clues, cliffhangers, blind alleys and revelations aplenty, uncovering the many truths about Maud and her exceptional life. -- Charlotte Heathcote * The Sunday Express *Table of ContentsSection - i: Prologue: The Lady Vanishes Chapter - 1: The Documents in the Case Section - ii: The Creeping Tiger by Maud West Chapter - 2: The Body in the Library Section - iii: The Lady with the Blue Spectacles by Maud West Chapter - 3: Crooked House Section - iv: The Apaches of Saint-Cloud by Maud West Chapter - 4: They Do It With Mirrors Section - v: The Diamond Necklace by Maud West Chapter - 5: The Shadow in the House Section - vi: The Prince of Lovers by Maud West Chapter - 6: To Love and Be Wise Section - vii: The Chelsea Artist by Maud West Chapter - 7: A Kiss Before Dying Section - viii: A Lady's Folly by Maud West Chapter - 8: The Secret Adversary Section - ix: The Clairvoyante Case by Maud West Chapter - 9: Wanted: Someone Innocent Section - x: The Countess and the Snowman by Maud West Chapter - 10: Tracks in the Snow Section - xi: An Unusual Pastime: as related by the San Francisco Examiner Chapter - 11: Partners in Crime Section - xii: The Fatal Letter by Maud West Chapter - 12: The Wrong Man Section - xiii: A Poisonous Revenge by Maud West Chapter - 13: Sweet Danger Section - xiv: The End of His Tether by Maud West Chapter - 14: Look to the Lady Section - xv: Such a Dull Job! Or, Fifteen Minutes with a London Section - xvi: Woman Detective: Interview with Maud West Chapter - 15: A Case of Identity Chapter - 16: Farewell, My Lovely Acknowledgements - xvii: Acknowledgements Section - xviii: Bibliography Section - xix: Notes Picture - xx: Picture Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING BENICIO DEL TORO, PRODUCED BY LEONARDO DICAPRIOCuba, 1961.A failed invasion at The Bay of Pigs results in Fidel Castro tightening his hold over Cuba. José Miguel Battle Sr., a former cop and member of the counter-revolutionary group intent on overthrowing him, is captured.Miami, 1962.José Miguel Battle Sr. travels to the USA, chased from the island by revolution, and is renamed The Godfather. A 2,500 strong Cuban-American criminal alliance is established.Known on both sides of the law as 'The Corporation', its powerful members were fellow outcasts and enemies of Castro. A hero to many Cuban-Americans, The Godfather created a unit of trusted men who fought alongside him to reclaim their nation from the Marxist dictator.Gaining money, power and inluence by running gambling rackets, money- laundering, drug trafficking and murder, The Corporation never gave up the dream of killing Castro and reclaiming their homeland. This explosive biography reveals how an entire generation of political exiles, refugees, racketeers, corrupt cops, hitmen (and their wives and girlfriends) became caught up in this violent desire, and built a criminal empire surviving over 40 years.An epic tale of gangsters, drugs and violence, learn how The Corporation grew into one of the USA's most sordid and deadly organisations.

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Book Synopsis'A case study in human frailty, jealousy and desire ... fascinating.' The Times, Best Books of 2019 'Meticulously researched...superbly evocative and gripping...a narrative that builds with the intensity of an approaching thunderstorm.' The Spectator 'Sean O'Connor can't resist striking a theatrical note in this 'biography of murder'.' Sunday Times Adultery, alcoholism, drugs and murder on the suburban streets of Bournemouth.   The Rattenbury case of 1935 was one of the great tabloid sensations of the interwar period. The glamorous femme fatale at the heart of the story dominated the front pages for months, somewhere between the rise of Hitler and the launch of the Queen Mary.   With painstaking research and access to brand new evidence, Sean O’Connor vividly brings this epic story to life

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Book SynopsisZachary Swan: world-class smuggler of the finest cocaine, wicked genius, first-class fool. In his brief and brilliant career as a founding father of the trade, Swan serves the world's most elegant clientele by the most inelegant means, always staying just one step ahead.Robert Sabbag's rip-roaring modern classic of reporting follows Zachary from the streets of Bogotá to the nightclubs of New York, charting the soaring high and the crashing comedown of a legend.Trade ReviewSabbag is an incisive reporter and a stylish class-A writer * * The Times * *A flat-out ballbuster. It moves like a threshing machine with a fuel tank of ether * * Hunter S. Thompson * *One of the first books about the cocaine trade and it is still among the best * * Norman Mailer * *An extremely rare cut of dry wit, poetry, rock-hard fact and relentless insight into modern American morality * * Rolling Stone * *The scammer's bible . . . Snowblind has stood the test of time. It's still the best * * Howard Marks * *Un-put-downable . . . the best book ever written about cocaine * * Loaded * *

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Book SynopsisIn November 2007 the body of British student Meredith Kercher was discovered in her bedroom in Perugia, Italy. She had been brutally killed. Over the course of the next eight years one man, Rudy Guede, would be convicted of her murder and two other suspects, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, would be convicted, acquitted and convicted again for their part in the crime, before having their convictions overturned for the final time in 2015.Almost two decades on from this horrific event Rudy Guede is now a free man, released in 2021 after spending 13 years in jail. Amanda Knox is married with a daughter and Raffaele Sollecito has slipped into relative obscurity.For many, Amanda was, and remains, the central character in this story. Why? And why the controversy? Through piecing together a timeline of events and investigating the conflicting opinions found in the countless books, articles, films, documentaries, and discussions which have emerged over the years, the author takes the reader

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Book SynopsisThe autobiography of Cass Pennant is packed with amazing stories of a life lived on the edge of the law. In this thrilling book, he tells of how he saved World Boxing Champion Frank Bruno from a potentially vicious attack; how he was shot three times in the chest and still kept on fighting, and how he was alleged to be the leader of the notorious West Ham 'InterCity Firm'.This is the astonishing account of a boy abandoned by his mother and brought up by adoptive parents (who were white) - a boy who triumphed against all the odds.A bestseller on its publication, Cass is also a major film directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Nonso Anozie in the title role, and Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya as Young Cass.

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Book SynopsisThe Doomsday Mother is the astonishing and twisted tale of Lori Vallow, accused of having her two children murdered to start a new life with her new husband, doomsday prepper Chad Daybell. At first, the residents of Kauai Beach Resort took little notice of their new neighbours. The glamorous blonde and her tall husband fit the image of the ritzy gated community. The couple seemed to keep to themselves until the police knocked on their door with a search warrant. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had fled to Hawaii in the midst of being investigated for the disappearance of Lori’s children back in Idaho, Tylee and JJ, who hadn’t been seen alive in five months. For years, Lori Vallow had lived a life of devotion to her children and her Mormon faith. But when her path crossed with Chad Daybell, a religious zealot who taught his followers how to prepare for the end-times, the tumultuous relationship transformed her into someone unrecognizable. As authorities searched for Lori’s children, they uncovered more suspicious deaths with links to both Lori and Chad, including the death of Lori’s third and fourth husbands, her brother, and Chad’s wife. In June 2020, the gruesome remains of JJ and Tylee were discovered on Chad’s property. In a shocking development, horrifying statements revealed that the couple’s fanatical beliefs had convinced them the children had become zombies. John Glatt takes readers deeper into the devastating crimes of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell in an attempt to unravel the lethal relationship of this doomsday couple.

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Book SynopsisA riveting look at the perpetrators, victims, and whistleblowers behind financial crimes, from forensic accounting expert and documentarian Kelly Richmond Pope.Have you ever wondered why Bernie Madoff thought he could brazenly steal his clients' money? Or why investors were so easily duped by Elizabeth Holmes? Or how courageous people like Jeffrey Wigand are willing to become whistleblowers and put their careers on the line?Fraud is everywhere, from Nigerian "princes," embezzlers, and Ponzi schemers to corporate giants like Enron and Volkswagen. And fraud is costly. Each year, consumers, small businesses, governments, and corporations lose trillions of dollars to financial crime.We're so accustomed to hearing about fraud that our abilities to identify it and speak about it are limited.No more. In Fool Me Once, renowned forensic accounting expert Kelly Richmond Pope shows fraud in action, uncovering what makes perps tick, victims so gullible, and whistleblowers so morally righteous, while also encouraging us to look at our own behaviors and motivations in the hope of protecting ourselves and our companies.By the time you finish this book, you'll have a better understanding of—and perhaps even compassion for—perpetrators, a renewed connection to victims, and an appreciation for those who blow the whistle.Filled with fascinating stories and insightful analysis, Fool Me Once will open your eyes and challenge your thinking. It will inspire you to question your own preconceived notions about fraud. It will challenge your beliefs about yourself and other people. And it will help you understand a phenomenon that most of us fail to grasp—until it's too late.Trade Review"With Fool Me Once, Ms. Pope reveals the vulnerabilities that we all share and offers advice on how to guard against those who would prey on us." — The Wall Street JournalNamed one of "40 Nonfiction Books to Watch Out for in 2023" by The Next Big Idea ClubAdvance Praise for Fool Me Once:"Fool Me Once is a lively, relatable, and pragmatic approach to the subject of 'everyday fraud'—the quotidian scams that don't always make headlines but that do always take their toll in human misery, economic disruption, and social mistrust. Intimate stories of victims, perpetrators, and whistleblowers deepen the impact of Kelly Richmond Pope's research, giving us uncommon insights into these all-too-common crimes." — Diana B. Henriques, author, New York Times bestseller The Wizard of Lies"Fool Me Once is insightful, educational, and highly entertaining. Based on hundreds of hours of direct personal contact with fraudsters, Kelly Richmond Pope offers a riveting take on the human side of fraud. A must-read!" — Bethany McLean, coauthor, New York Times bestseller All the Devils Are Here"As someone who has been a certified fraud examiner for most of my career, I have long been fascinated with the psychology of human behavior. I have lived through the WorldCom fraud and have witnessed the devastating impact that fraud can have on the lives of so many people. Fool Me Once is required reading for anyone who wants to better understand perpetrators, victims, and whistleblowers and how to better prevent, detect, and investigate fraud." — Cynthia Cooper, international speaker; author, Extraordinary Circumstances"Accessible, humorous, and engaging, Fool Me Once includes fascinating stories from the perspective of one of the nation's foremost fraud research experts. I recommend this book for corporate and academic discussion or for anyone interested in understanding and preventing fraud. I do not recommend it for potential fraudsters!" — Paula A. Price, former Chief Financial Officer, Macy's; senior lecturer, Harvard Business School"Fool Me Once sets the bar high for how to protect yourself from scammers. It is an essential read." — Joe Navarro, former FBI Special Agent; author, Dangerous Personalities"Kelly Richmond Pope's Fool Me Once is a gripping examination of the growing world of fraud and white-collar crime. Based on a decade of research and interviews with perpetrators, whistleblowers, and victims, the book delves deeply into the motivations behind corruption in all its forms. Pope's expert insights as a forensic accountant, combined with her narrative skills, make the book a must-read for anyone looking to better understand the forces driving this spiraling problem." — Bradley Hope, coauthor, New York Times bestseller, Billion Dollar Whale

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF BEST NEW AUTHOR AT THE TRUE CRIME AWARDS 2024*AS FEATURED ON CHANNEL 4''s 24 HOURS IN POLICE CUSTODY*''Not many people know how much their life is worth. I do.''The value of my life, or more specifically the cost of ending it, can be measured on a sliding scale based on method, reliability and efficiency. Fifteen thousand pounds would buy you plausible deniability and a brick across the back of the head from a London-based professional hitman. Or, if you''re on a budget, five grand for some nutter to come down from Glasgow.''Rob and his now ex-wife, Victoria, met at university. Their relationship started off happily, they married and moved to Falmouth in Cornwall. However, it quickly descended into a nightmare marriage of psychological manipulation, coercive control and emotional abuse - all from the woman who was supposed to love him.Rob''s life was gradually destroyed as Victoria extended a web of lies around h

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Book SynopsisJohn Gilligan is one of the most notorious and hated criminal figures in Irish history. His name is indelibly etched in the national psyche a quarter of a century after he crossed the line to organise the execution of the fearless, high-profile journalist Veronica Guerin. Gilligan's motive for the assassination was, in the words of the prosecution at a subsequent murder trial, 'the necessity of having to protect an evil empire'. At the time Gilligan was one of the most powerful and feared godfathers in the country who controlled a colossal drugs empire and the underworld's most dangerous mob.Gilligan tells the story of a young man's rise through the ranks of gangland following his journey from petty thief to public enemy number one. He was part of the generation of young criminals - like the General, the Cahills, the Hutches - who ushered in the phenomenon of organised crime in Ireland and became household names in the process.This close-up look at a criminal mastermind contains new details including a graphic account of the planning of the Guerin murder, drawn from a sealed statement which was never used, and the prison time and criminal activity which have occupied Gilligan since, up to his recent arrest in Spain on drug trafficking charges.Table of Contentsi: Prologue 1: The Making of a Mobster 2: Factory John 3: Heists 4: A Godfather of Crime 5: A Deadly Alliance 6: The Master Plan 7: Getting Started 8: The Soldier and the General 9: Victory Over the Law 10: Greed 11: The Gambler and the Mistress 12: The Inquisitive Crime Journalist 13: Paradise Lost 14: Unwanted Attention 15: Prelude to Murder 16: The Hit 17: Prime Suspect 18: The Investigation Begins 19: Blackmail and Dirty Tricks 20: Loose Ends 21: Gang Busters 22: Closing In 23: Battlelines 24: Supergrasses 25: Facing Justice 26: Gilligan's Last Stand 27: Back Inside 28: Freedom and Pain xxix: Acknowledgments xxx: Index

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