True crime Books

Book SynopsisThe story of a single family during the Irish Revolution, Four Killings is a book about political murder, and the powerful hunger for land and the savagery it can unleash. 'A vivid and chilling narrative... Confronts uncomfortable questions that still need answering' Roy Foster 'Marries acute storytelling skills with scholarship, fortified throughout by the author's wry sense of humour' Michael Heney 'Narrative history, told through a unique prism' Irish Sunday Independent 'Dungan knows his history; he also knows how to tell a story... A gem of a book' RTÉ Culture 'Sober and intelligent... Dungan does a fine job of showing that little people can make history too' Business Post Myles Dungan's family was involved in four violent deaths between 1915 and 1922. Jack Clinton, an immigrant small farmer from County Meath, was murdered in the remote and lawless Arizona territory by a powerful rancher's hired assassin; three more died in Ireland, and each death is compellingly reconstructed in this extraordinary book. What unites these deaths is the violence that engulfed Ireland during the war of independence, but also the passions unleashed by arguments over the ownership of the soil. In focusing on one family, Four Killings offers an original perspective on this still controversial period: a prism through which the moral and personal costs of violence, and the elemental conflict over land, come alive in surprising ways.Trade ReviewDungan knows his history; he also knows how to tell a story... A gem of a book' -- David McCullagh, RTÉ CultureA vivid and chilling narrative... Confronts uncomfortable questions that still need answering' -- Roy Foster, Emeritus Professor of Irish History, University of OxfordSober and intelligent... Dungan does a fine job of showing that little people can make history too' -- Andrew Lynch, Business PostNarrative history, told through a unique prism * Irish Sunday Independent *Marries acute storytelling skills with scholarship, fortified throughout by the author's wry sense of humour -- Michael Heney, author of The Arms Crisis of 1970An engrossing account of the intimacies of political violence through the meticulous excavation of an Irish family's entanglements with struggles over land and nation across two continents -- Maurice Walsh, author of Bitter FreedomNot just a riveting story of the fortunes of an extended family, but an object lesson in the interrogation of changing versions of history over time -- Catriona Crowe, author of Dublin 1911The book is written in a lively and flowing style, and the selection of black and white family photos provides a fascinating peek into the lives of those whose stories are portrayed * Family Tree Magazine *The story, told skilfully and coherently, holds the attention throughout and draws attention to an often-neglected aspect of the independence struggle – land hunger. The killings are treated sensitively, as are the consequences for all concerned * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisFascinating' Margaret AtwoodCan taking the law into your own hands be the right thing to do?In June 2013, three upstanding citizens of a small town in Nova Scotia murdered their neighbour, Phillip Boudreau, while out fishing.Boudreau was an inventive small-time criminal who had terrorised and entertained Petit de Grat for two decades. He had been in prison for nearly half his adult life. He was funny and frightening, loathed, loved and feared. Boudreau seemed invincible, a miscreant who would plague the village forever. As many people said, if those fellows hadn''t killed him, someone else would have.Blood in the Water is a gripping story in a brilliantly drawn setting, about power and law, security and self-respect, and the nature of community. And at its heart is a disturbing question: are there times when taking the law into your own hands is not only understandable but the responsible thing to do?

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Book SynopsisIt was said of the young Frank Sinatra that he came across as ‘St Francis of Assisi with a shoulder holster’. In Frank Sinatra and the Mafia Murders Mike Rothmiller and Douglas Thompson draw on previously secret Los Angeles Police intelligence files, a cache of FBI documents released to the authors in 2021 and extensive interviews with prime sources, including many who worked with Frank Sinatra and many more who tracked his long and fatal association with the American Mafia, notably his ongoing connection, after his original godfather was assassinated: Sam ‘Momo’ Giancana, who shared a lover with President John F. Kennedy. Sixteen days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy on 30 November 1963, nineteen-year-old Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped at gunpoint from his hotel room in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. A $240,000 ransom was demanded from his father. While the FBI and Nevada and California law-enforcement agencies sprang into action, Frank secretly contacted his Mafia friends for help. The Mafia believed they could free young Frank much more quickly through their underworld connections. Some of those they questioned died. Revealed here as never before is the extent to which Sinatra was adopted by the Mafia. They promoted his career and ‘watched his back’ and, in return, Sinatra danced to their tune. New information disclosed here shows that Sinatra also offered to spy for the CIA. Inside sources say Sinatra wanted the CIA to intercede to stop an investigation into his gaming licence in Las Vegas. But the CIA declined because they were already working with the Mob and were concerned Sinatra would learn of the Mafia’s connection to the CIA and leak it. Trade ReviewPraise for the authors’ Bombshell: ‘The claims are hard to believe . . . but the source is so solid and credible that you will find this amazing story hard to dismiss’ Daily Mail ‘A sensational new book’ Sun

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Book SynopsisThe astonishing true story of the Scottish coal miner’s daughter who took on the Mafia-backed creators of the world’s biggest financial fraud and helped the FBI to convict them Soon to be a major Hollywood film directed by Scott Z Burns ‘In the 1990s, Erin Brockovich showed what a difference one smart, angry woman can make in a world that marginalized her. Jen McAdam stepped forward in our time to shut down a diabolical fraud that preys those most desperate.’ Scott Z Burns, Director (Contagion and The Bourne Ultimatum)As featured on the hit BBC podcast The Missing CryptoqueenJen McAdam was a victim of the OneCoin global cryptocurrency fraud, which stole an estimated $27 billion from ordinary people around the world. The evil genius of the scam was its target, society’s ‘unbanked,’ not wealthy investors, and it robbed millions of their livelihood and futures. The poor became poorer. The brutal plundering led by self-styled Cryptoqueen Ruja Ignatova defied all legal and banking barriers bamboozling financial authorities — until Jen McAdam fought back. With a £15,000 inheritance from her father, saved from a careful life in a west of Scotland mining town, Jen wanted to invest wisely for her family’s future and was enraptured by the possibilities offered by OneCoin’s promotional material and convincing endorsements from celebrities and financial institutions. They, like all Dr Ruja’s flamboyant promises, were bogus. Jen McAdam was the first victim brave enough to fight back and despite death threats and an intimidating campaign to shut her down, and through a debilitating illness, strived tirelessly for justice – for herself, her family and friends, and the millions around the world who lost everything. She created and continues to lead victims ’support groups and in 2023, as the OneCoin bandits were being punished by international courts, spearheaded a move to get financial compensation for the many whose life hopes were cruelly crushed by the Cryptoqueen. This is a true David-and-Goliath story. It shows us the power we can have as individuals, even when things seem hopeless.Trade Review‘Swayed by the enigmatic business tycoon Dr Ruja Ignatova, McAdam didn’t realise she was giving her money to one of the world’s most sinister scams . . . A poignant dive into the rabbit hole of financial fraud and mysterious scammers.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘A cautionary tale and a story of endurance in the pursuit of justice . . . McAdam relates how she worked with law enforcement to uncover the scandal, weathered death threats, and continued to tell her own story and push for awareness in the media.’ * Booklist *“In the 1990s, Erin Brockovich bravely stood up to PG&E and showed what kind of difference one smart, angry woman can make in a world that marginalized her. Jen McAdam has stepped forward here— in our time— to shut down a diabolical fraud that preys on those made most desperate by their financial straits. Their opponents are certainly different, but the bravery of both these women comes from the same heroic place.” * Scott Z Burns, film director *'Exhilarating mix of memoir and true crime. This riveting account of a victim fighting back is an inspired, and inspiring, page-turner.' * Publishers Weekly *'In IT consultant McAdam’s book, cryptocurrency meets network marketing, and it’s a marriage made in hell. This is the story of her quest to take down a criminal enterprise, despite death threats and the cult mentality of OneCoin’s loyalists.' * Library Journal Advance Reviews *

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Book SynopsisBlack Yanks is the story of how an African American soldier from Missouri ended up on death row in D-Day Britain and the extraordinary campaign that set him free. The drama plays out over a tumultuous six weeks, set against a backdrop of the most audacious sea-borne invasion ever attempted.As the build-up to D-Day escalates, Leroy Henry's story unfolds, allowing us to view a pivotal point in history with an entirely new perspective: making race, the special relationship' and the British peoples' collective powerful key considerations.This fascinating, alternative timeline reveals an edgier wartime society, hidden tensions in Anglo-American relations and the moment the British tabloid press learned to roar. Ultimately, Leroy Henry's court martial and everything it stood for provoked mind-blowing decision-making at the highest military level.Kate Werran unearths a wealth of archival material to help disclose the story behind the first

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Book SynopsisTHE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF THE MAN WHO BROKE THE BANK AT MONTE CARLO.'Brilliant – a terrific read' - Michael Aspel OBE'The best book I’ve read all year' - Nigel Jones, editor, Devonshire MagazineCharles Deville Wells broke the bank at Monte Carlo – not once but ten times – winning the equivalent of millions in today’s money. He followed up with a colossal bank fraud in Paris, and became Europe’s most wanted criminal, hunted by British and French police and known in the press as ‘Monte Carlo Wells – the man with 36 aliases’.Is he phenomenally lucky? Has he really invented an ‘infallible’ gambling system, as he claims? Or is he just an exceptionally clever fraudster?

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Book SynopsisIn the early hours of Thursday, 8 August 1963, sixteen masked men ambushed the Glasgow–Euston mail train at Sears Crossing in Buckinghamshire.Making off with a record haul of £2.6 million, the robbers received approximately £150,000 each (over £2 million in today’s money). While twelve of the robbers were jailed over the next five years, four were never brought to justice – they evaded arrest and thirty-year prison sentences, and lived out the rest of their lives in freedom. In stark contrast to the likes of Ronnie Biggs, Buster Edwards and Bruce Reynolds, they became neither household names nor tabloid celebrities.Who were these men? How did they escape detection for so long? And how, almost sixty years later, are their names still not common knowledge? In No Case to Answer, Andrew Cook gathers and examines decades of evidence and lays it out end to end. It’s time for you to draw your own conclusions.

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Book SynopsisTruly Criminal showcases a group of highly regarded writers who all share a special passion for crime, reflected in this superb collection of essays re-examining some of the most notorious cases from British criminal history.Contributors are all members of the Crime Writers' Association (CWA), including leading novelists Peter Lovesey, Andrew Taylor and Catherine Aird (winner of the 2015 CWA Diamond Dagger). There is also a bonus essay by the late great Margery Allingham about the controversial William Herbert Wallace case, which has only recently been rediscovered.Among the real-life crimes explored in the book are the cases of some of the most infamous killers in British history, including Samuel Herbert Dougal, the Moat Farm murderer; George Joseph Smith, the brides in the bath' killer; and Catherine Foster, who murdered her husband with poisoned dumplings.With a foreword by international best-selling author Peter James and updated w

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of Oscar Slater, a Jewish immigrant in Glasgow, Scotland and two fellow Scottish scammers, Helen Lambie and Patrick Nugent. In the Christmas season of 1908, the trio conspired to rob an elderly, wealthy lady of her diamonds, and, in the course of which burglary, Oscar Slater murdered her on December 21, 1908. All, not some, authors and sleuths who researched the 1909 conviction emphatically supported Oscar Slater''s innocence, that he was misidentified and wrongfully convicted. In an effort to place guilt for Marion Gilchrist''s murder squarely on Oscar Slater, the conclusions here reach further back in the crime''s timeline to January 1908, about a year before the murder-the month that Patrick Nugent and Helen Lambie attended a New Year''s party. The Glasgow police investigation tarried at only 30 days leading up to the murder.  FROM THE INTRODUCTION "When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." Sherlock Holmes, Sign of Four. "If you''re looking for Trouble, you''ve come to the right place." Trouble, by Elvis Presley. "I am Woman, hear me roar." I am Woman, by Helen Reddy.

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Book SynopsisOn Thursday 9th October 1986, Michelle Hadaway's worst fears came true. After watching her daughter Karen playing in the neighbour's garden with her best friend Nicola, Michelle returned to cook dinner for her family. Unbeknownst to her, this would be the last time she would ever see Karen alive.In the following days and months, shocking details would come to light about the nature of Karen and Nicola's murders, and the case which had come to be known as 'the Babes in the Wood murders' would lead to one of the most infamous and cruellest miscarriages of justice in British history.For decades, Michelle fought tirelessly to bring justice to her daughter's murder, shining light on countless police failings and media manipulations in the process. Finally, in 2018 after 32 years of suffering, Russell Bishop, the man Michelle had long known to be guilty, was sentenced in court.This is the story of two stolen lives, of the long road to justice, but most of all the story of a mother's love and determination.

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Book SynopsisIn the second half of the nineteenth century, three women from very different social backgrounds were convicted of infanticide and sentenced to death at the Lincoln Assizes. Lucy Ann Buxton, from Metheringham Fen, was a petty criminal whose mother was an opium addict; Emma Wade, from Stamford, was the daughter of a respected policeman; whilst Selina Stanhope, from Langtoft, near Market Deeping, was admitted into the workhouse as a destitute pauper, after being rejected by her family. All three women were eventually reprieved from the hangman’s noose by order of the Home Secretary. Reprieved at Lincoln delves into the sombre stories of these women and the impact of their crimes on their respective communities. Drawing from a range of contemporary sources, the book also examines previously unpublished documents related to the three cases and sheds new light on judicial processes sometimes shrouded in secrecy and silence.

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Book SynopsisDespite the efforts of respectable parish and police constables, the magistrates and court officials in their fine new jail and the Industrial Revolution on the horizon, this dip into Argyll's history tells how crime in the county was just as bloody and violent as in former eras.

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Book SynopsisEstablished in the wake of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-8 by the Australian army officer Major-General Walter Cawthorne, then Deputy Chief of Staff in the Pakistan Army, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for years remained an under-developed and obscure agency. In 1979, the organisation's growing importance was felt during the Soviet war in Afghanistan , as it worked hand in glove with the CIA to support the mujahideen resistance, but its activities received little coverage in news media.Since that time, the ISI has projected its influence across the region - in 1988 its involvement in Indian Kashmir came under increasing scrutiny, and by 1995 its mentoring of what became the Afghan Taliban was well attested. But it was the organisation's alleged links with Al Qaeda and the discovery of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, at the heart of Pakistan's military zone, that really threw it under the spotlight. These controversies and many more have dogged the ISI, including its role in Pakistan's testing of a nuclear weapon in 1998 and its links with A.Q. Khan.Offering fresh insights into the ISI as a domestic and international actor based on intimate knowledge of its inner workings and key individuals, this startlingly original book uncovers the hitherto shady world of Pakistan's secret service.Trade Review'In Faith, Unity, Discipline, Hein Kiessling explores its shadowy history ... Notable episodes from the ISI's past have been covered recently elsewhere ... however, the ISI is seen out of focus or relegated to the sidelines. Mr. Kiessling, whose style, befitting his subject, is lean and restrained, fills this void nicely.' -- The Wall Street Journal'Former ISI chiefs who spend their time on the seminar circuit defending their agency's action have a new cause for worry thanks to a new book, Faith, Unity, Discipline, by German historian Hein G. Kiessling, which takes an incisive look into the organisation's functioning.' -- The Wire'Sheds new light and insight into the trajectory of Pakistani politics from Ayub Khan to Nawaz Sharif (in his third stint). As such, it is required and compelling read for all students of South Asia, beyond security.' -- The Indian Express'Provides a comprehensive account of how the tentacles of the ISI extend from the Pakistan military to virtually every aspect of national life in Pakistan. Kiessling also dwells on the various pursuits of the ISI, ranging from interfering in domestic politics, manipulating the media and mortally threatening individuals who come in its way, while even eliminating those found to be "inconvenient".' -- G. Parthasarathy, Outlook India'An excellent account of the ISI's development and history which is especially helpful on its early years. This book will be an important addition to both Pakistan studies and to intelligence studies.' -- Bruce Riedel, Brookings Institution Intelligence Project, and author of Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America, and the Future of the Global Jihad'By definition, studying intelligence agencies is particularly challenging. This book meets that challenge by relying on open and confidential sources. It is, to date, the most comprehensive analysis of the ISI. Tracing its history since its inception, it shows how foreigners helped Pakistan to build the ISI, how the agency faced fiascos during the wars against India, and how it became a major actor in domestic politics under Bhutto. It will never cease to be one, but it played a more dramatic role during the anti-Soviet Jihad, while collaborating with the CIA. The relative autonomy of the ISI vis-à-vis the Pakistani army and its relations with Islamists are some of the key questions addressed by the author of this remarkable book.' -- Christophe Jaffrelot, author of The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and Resistance

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Book SynopsisThe beautiful scenery and character of Somerset can be readily appreciated by all those who live in, visit or travel through this historic county. There is, however, another Somerset, which lurks just below the surface of this friendly landscape. Like many other counties, Somerset's history has its darker episodes, telling of fierce battles, bloody uprisings, torture, crimes and punishments, and mysterious happenings, which are often overlooked or glossed over by general histories. This book uncovers the details of the dark side' of Somerset, and to introduce the reader to some of the murky and bizarre episodes and characters from Somerset's eventful past.

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Book SynopsisFilled with terrifying tales of gruesome murders, grand theft and kidnappings, this compendium of the worst side of humanity is guaranteed to chill the bloodDid you hear about London's Victorian, all-female gang? What about the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist? Do you know the story of the killer nun? Prepare yourself for the urge to sleep with the light on and to double-check you've locked the door, because this collection of True Crime Stories is not for the faint-hearted. Spanning criminal activity from across the world, this book will take you on a journey to the darkest reaches of human nature. Ranging from white-collar criminals and con artists to kidnappers and killers, there's plenty to shred your nerves. Whether you're a true crime junkie or just morbidly curious, let these stories of charismatic criminals and their sinister deeds ensnare your interest and send a shiver down your spine.

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Book SynopsisNOW A NETFLIX FILM STARRING EDDIE REDMAYNE AND JESSICA CHASTAIN'A stunning book... should and does bring to mind In Cold Blood' New York TimesAfter his arrest in 2003, registered nurse Charlie Cullen was quickly dubbed 'The Angel of Death' by the media. But Cullen was no mercy killer, nor was he a simple monster. He was a favourite son, husband, beloved father, best friend and celebrated caregiver. Implicated in the deaths of as many as 300 patients, he was also perhaps the most prolific serial killer in American history. Cullen's murderous career in the world's most trusted profession spanned sixteen years and nine hospitals.Chronicling Cullen's deadly career and the breathless efforts to stop him, The Good Nurse paints an incredibly vivid portrait of madness and offers an urgent, terrifying tale of murder, friendship and betrayal.Trade ReviewCharles Cullen is thought to be responsible for the deaths of as many as 400 patients during his career as a nurse... His crimes are outlined in The Good Nurse, an absorbing tale that's simultaneously terrifying and barely credible.... A standout true-crime book, one that doubles as both a thrilling horror story and a cautionary tale * Boston Globe *The most terrifying book published this year. It is also one of the most thoughtful... The Good Nurse is gripping, sad, suspenseful, rhythmic and beautifully documented (the endnotes to this book are impressive). * Kirkus Reviews *Graeber doesn't pull punches... A deeply unsettling addition to the true crime genre. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisPraise for Luke and Ryan Hart's memoir:'A powerful, searing account from incredible brothers and an important contribution to our understanding of domestic abuse' Victoria Derbyshire'... a courageous account of domestic abuse and the devasting impact it has on families' Jeremy Corbyn MP'Relevant and inspiring' Chris Green, White Ribbon UKOn 19 July 2016, Claire and Charlotte Hart were murdered, in broad daylight, by the family's father. He shot his wife and daughter with a sawn-off shotgun before committing suicide.REMEMBERED FOREVER is the shocking story of what led to this terrible crime. Luke and Ryan Hart, the family's two surviving sons, lived under the terror of coercive control. Their father believed that his family members were simply possessions, never referring to them by their names ... just as Woman, Boy, Girl. Written by the boys, but laced with the voices of Claire and Charlotte, this gripping and moving account brings deeper understanding to the shocking crime of domestic abuse and homicide.Luke and Ryan Hart have become spokespeople for the victims who are so often silenced but must never be forgotten.Trade ReviewIn the words of the great Angela Davis, "I'm no longer accepting the things I cannot change, I'm changing the things I cannot accept", and it is with this boldness that Luke and Ryan have used their own experience of domestic abuse to help others. - Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of Labour PartyA powerful, searing account from incredible brothers and an important contribution to our understanding of domestic abuse. - BBCA determination to create light from darkness. - Suzanne Jacob OBE, Chief Executive SafeLivesI have been working at Refuge for 35 years, yet I am humbled by the sheer courage and sense of righteousness Luke and Ryan have shown since their mother and sister were brutally killed at the hands of their father. - Sandra Horley CBE, Chief Executive RefugeWhat Luke and Ryan have achieved by writing their memoir is to give their mother and sister a voice. Luke and Ryan Hart become the lighthouse in this book, courageously sending out their warning signal about the danger of coercive control and why it must always be taken seriously. - Katie Ghose, Chief Executive Women's AidI knew that their story was one which millions should hear. It is the most relevant and inspiring account that I have heard in the 15 years I have been active in challenging men's abuse and violence towards women and girls. - Chris Green OBE, Founder White Ribbon UK

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Book SynopsisSarah Sak's son, Anthony Walgate, was murdered by gay serial killer Stephen Port after they met on dating app Grindr. Stephen Port was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey in November 2016. The case received extensive press coverage not only because of the horrific nature of the crimes but also because the police refused to investigate Anthony's death despite three more bodies being found in near identical circumstances. It was not until Scotland Yard's crime squad took over that Stephen Port was arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Sarah Sak's courage and perseverance helped to achieve justice for her much-loved son and now she campaigns for better policing, to recognise and link crimes, support families, counter homophobia and raise greater public awareness of the dangers of dating sites/apps, to prevent further deaths. She wants to tell the story of the murder of son and the other men who died in an attempt to understand how this could have happened and the role that social media played in their death.

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Book SynopsisTHE FASCINATING SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERAssaults. Riots. Cell fires. Medical emergencies. Understaffed wings. Suicides. Hooch. Weapons. It's all in a week's work at HMP Parkhurst.After 28 years working as a prison officer, with 22 years at HMP Parkhurst, once one of Britain's most high security prisons, David Berridge has had to deal with it all: serial killers and gangsters, terrorists and sex offenders, psychopaths and addicts. Inside Parkhurst is his raw, uncompromising look at what really goes on behind the massive walls and menacing gates. Thrown in at the deep end, David quickly had to work out how to deal with the most cunning and volatile of prisoners, and learn how to avoid their many scams. He has been assaulted and abused; he has tackled cell fires and attempted suicides, riots and dirty protests; he has helped to foil escaped plans, talked inmates down from rooftop protests, witnessed prisoners setting fire to themselves, and prevented prisoners from attempting to murder other prisoners. And now he takes us inside this secret world for the first time.With this searingly honest account he guides us around the wings, the segregation unit, the hospital and the exercise yard, and gives vivid portraits of the drug taking, the hooch making, the constant and irrepressible violence, and the extraordinary lengths our prison officers go to everyday. Divided into three parts - the first from David's early years on the wings, the second the middle of his career, and the third his disillusioned later years - David will take readers into the heart of life inside and shine a light on the escalating violence and the impact the government cuts are having on the wings.Both horrifying and hilarious, David's diaries are guaranteed to shock and entertain in equal measure.

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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 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 SynopsisTowards the end of 1831, the authorities unearthed a series of crimes at Number 3, Nova Scotia Gardens in East London that appeared to echo the notorious Burke and Hare killings in Edinburgh three years earlier. After a long investigation, three bodysnatchers were put on trial for supplying the anatomy schools of London with suspiciously fresh bodies for dissection.They later became known as The London Burkers, and their story was dubbed 'The Italian Boy' case. The furore which led directly to the passing of controversial legislation which marked the beginning of the end of body snatching in Britain.In The Italian Boy, Sarah Wise not only investigates the case of the London Burkers but also, by making use of an incredibly rich archival store, the lives of ordinary lower-class Londoners. Here is a window on the lives of the poor - a window that is opaque in places, shattered in others but which provides an unprecedented view of low-life London in the 1830s.Trade ReviewColourful without being sensationalist, the result is compelling -- Andrew Holgate * Sunday Times *Brilliant -- Christopher Hirst * Independent *Excellent...an impressively strong sense of 19th-century poverty seems to ooze from its pages and the details are fascinating -- Toby Clements * Daily Telegraph *Engrossing...Wise exposes an entire "resurrection community" in London's underworld and shows how "The Italian Boy case" captured the public imagination -- Ian Pindar * Guardian *A work of great skill and sympathy -- Peter Ackroyd * The Times *

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Book SynopsisKenneth Noye is a criminal mastermind and millionaire. The man at the top of organised crime in Britain fled the country after the murder of young motorist Stephen Cameron on the M25. His extradition from Spain caused banner headlines across the country. This book contains sensational material that could never be published until now: information on Noye's criminal dealings, the sinister truth of his life of crime. Bestselling investigative journalist Wensley Clarkson has penetrated the inner sanctum of Noye's closest family and criminal associates to paint a chilling portrait of a brilliant master criminal. Fully updated for the paperback, Clarkson details exactly how Noye continues to control his extensive criminal empire from behind bars.

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Book SynopsisOver the last two decades, Brian Cockerill has ruled his world with an iron fist. Using nothing but his hands as weapons, he has patrolled the streets, clubs and raves of Britain in order to keep order and to 'tax' those whose ill-gotten gains he sees fit to take a share of. Drug dealers and shady club promoters everywhere know that, if The Taxman is in town, it's time to pay up or get out. All know of the appalling violence this man can exert on his enemies, and of the incredible presence of body and mind that he possesses. Yet despite his appalling record of aggression, Brian is a man who lives by rules and respect - balanced yet unpredictable, he has never used weapons, and those who have used arms against him have barely lived to regret it. The facts of his life are as amazing and awe-inspiring as they are true.

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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 SynopsisThe wartime double agent with a transmitter in his cell to contact suffragettes; the doctor hanged as he smiled to the farewells of lovers on the scaffold; the con who defied a gangland godfather and escaped the bromide in the prison tea; aristocrats and arsonists...The screws who guard Britain's prisons have seen them all. Stir! is the story of six of the country's most notorious jails - Durham, Wandsworth, Pentonville, Wormwood Scrubs, Dartmoor and Holloway - and of the men and women who entered their gates, sometimes stood on their scaffolds and occasionally vanished before their time. The book looks at early punishments, life on hell ships transporting convicts to far-off continents, the growth of prison populations, inmates sentenced to waste away on treadmills, the underworld giant who was birched, children starved and beaten for stealing, and even women forced to eat. Also investigated are the lives and thoughts of scores of inmates, from Oscar Wilde to Oswald Mosley; from Dr Crippen to Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged; from underworld legend Frankie Fraser to a Rolling Stone; and even the man who shot Martin Luther King, Jr.Just like Ronnie Barker's Porridge series, there are laughs too, as we uncover the man who measured bathwater, the prisoners punished for not wearing a collar and tie, the jail bookie who paid out in bread, and the unlucky brewers. The mix is all there in Stir!

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Book SynopsisThe truth about one of Britain's most infamous race murders has never been revealed. At around midnight on May 17 1959, a white gang ambushed 32-year-old Antiguan carpenter Kelso Cochrane on a Notting Hill slum street. After a brief scuffle one of them plunged a knife into his heart. The impact was as profound as the aftershock of Stephen Lawrence's murder more than forty years later. The previous summer Notting Hill had been convulsed by race riots. The fascists Sir Oswald Mosley and Colin Jordan were agitating in the area. So the news of an innocent back man stabbed in west London reverberated from Whitehall to the Caribbean. And when the police failed to catch the killer, many black people believed it would have been different if the victim had been white. Murder in Notting Hill is a tale of crumbling tenements transformed into a millionaires' playground, of the district's fading white working class, and of a veil finally being lifted on the past. Part whodunnit, part social history, it reveals startling new evidence about the murder.Trade ReviewIn the story of race and justice in this country, the murder of Kelso Cochrane is like an unhealed wound. Today's readers will see many similarities with what happened in relation to Stephen Lawrence -- the missed opportunities in the investigation, the denial of the race motive, the obvious official discomfort and confusion -- but this is a tragedy in its own right, and all the more dreadful in a time when racism was often overt and tolerated. Mark Olden has written a first-rate, highly readable account of the known facts, but he has also gone farther, tracking down surviving witnesses and, with due care and caution after all these years, shedding new light on the case. For anyone interested in justice in modern Britain this is an important book. (Brian Cathcart, Author: The Case of Stephen Lawrence; Jill Dando: her Life and Death; Were You Still Up For Portillo?)

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Book SynopsisOn 22 February 2006, £53 million was stolen from a cash warehouse belonging to the Securitas company in Tonbridge, Kent. In terms of value, the robbery puts previous British capers, such as the Great Train Robbery, in the shade. This was a crime notable for its audacity, carried out by an unlikely crew of players that included a used car salesman, two Albanian casual workers and a roofer. Five men were convicted at the Old Bailey in January 2008, which attracted nationwide media coverage. A sixth man, Paul Allen, was sentenced in October 2009 for his part. Having become close to the Tonbridge gang and the police during three years of research, Sounes relates a classic crime caper in irresistible, almost forensic detail. After the robbery comes the exciting, sometimes comical story of the getaway. Money is found and arrests are made but key characters slip out of the country, and millions of pounds are still missing. Heist, the definitive account of these compelling events, is wildly entertaining, and a must for all fans of well-written true crime. Trade Review'Cleverly constructed, full of good ideas and rarely less than entertaining . . . [Sounes] is a fount of good stories and interesting insights' -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisFrom the moment they first cut a swathe of crime across 1930s America, Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker have been glamorised in print, on screen and in legend. The reality of their brief and catastrophic lives is very different -- and far more fascinating. Combining exhaustive research with surprising, newly discovered material, author Jeff Guinn tells the real story of two youngsters from a filthy Dallas slum who fell in love and then willingly traded their lives for a brief interlude of excitement and, more important, fame. Thanks in great part to surviving relatives of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, who provided Guinn with access to never-before-published family documents and photographs, this book reveals the truth behind the myth, told with cinematic sweep and unprecedented insight by a master storyteller.

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Book SynopsisBy the age of six, Nicolai Lilin had been given his first 'pike knife' by an uncle, and by the age of twelve, he had been convicted of attempted murder . . . Nicolai Lilin gained his 'education' as a member of the Siberian Urkas - a small and tight-knit community of 'honest criminals' in a forgotten corner of Eastern Europe . . . Siberian Education is his tale of an extreme childhood - exotic, violent and completely unique.Trade ReviewLilin's astonishing account of his life takes you into some very strange worlds; frightening, violent and yet with spirited moments of redemption which both offer hope and keep you reading . . .a breath-taking memoir. -- Misha Glenny * * Mail on Sunday * *Terrifying, fascinating, horrific and violent - Lilin's memoir is an eye-opening and gripping account of a childhood spent in the brutal Siberian underworld. -- Simon Sebag-Montifiore, author of Young StalinForce yourself to forget about categories of good and evil, you have to just be there and read . . . produces a thrill of pleasure that is hard to forget. -- Roberto Saviano, author of GomorrahLilin's tale pulls no punches...a highly recommended account. * * Sunday Business Post * *Nicolai Lilin's Siberian Education (Norton) paints a phantasmagorical picture of Transnistria, a former Soviet region where a subculture of "honest criminals" has long flourished. Lilin writes of this ritualized, xenophobic, gun-and-cross-toting milieu, "Our philosophy of life has a close relation to death; children are taught that taking someone else's life or dying are perfectly acceptable things, if there is a good reason. -- Lisa Shea * * Elle * *With its exhaustive descriptions of ritual and tradition, Siberian Education at times resembles a work of cultural anthropology . . . Lilin has constructed Siberian Education as a Russian nesting doll, with stories unfolding inside of other stories, which yield yet more stories. -- Joshua Yaffa * * Wall Street Journal * *

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Book SynopsisCocaine is the world's most notorious narcotic. It underpins a vast, multi-billion pound underworld with a dark and deadly side. But who really are the shadowy people behind this chilling network? The coca farmers, the jungle sweat-shop workers, the smugglers, the suppliers, and, ultimately, the dealers who provide for the world's hundreds of millions of users. Cocaine Confidential goes inside the lives of all these characters to reveal their stories for the first time. Along the way you'll meet hitmen, pimps, desperate former international footballers, coke barons, mules, hardened traffickers and corrupt cops as the truth is unravelled in a roller coaster ride through this secret world.Trade ReviewBestselling investigative journalist Wensley Clarkson has seemingly penetrated the inner sanctum of Noye's closest so called criminal associates, to paint a chilling portrait of a brilliant master criminal - News of the World

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Book SynopsisThey know who they are and what they're capable of - cross them at your peril.No real hard bastard needs to brag or bully; most are modest, thoughtful and quiet. They have nothing to prove, as opposed to wannabe tough guys, who may pump themselves full of steroids or devote themselves to the study of a martial art, but can they handle themselves during an aggressive confrontation? It is the real hard bastard's absolute willingness to fight literally anyone, his ability to be uncompromisingly violent, his complete lack of fear, and unwillingness to admit defeat that makes him stand out in a crowd. A real hard bastard exudes an unmistakable air of confidence and authority.The full list of Hard Men is: Geoff Thompson (Former British nightclub bouncer and world-famous martial artist. Now a BAFTA-award-winning writer); Thomas Silverstein (America's most dangerous prisoner); Arthur White (Once one of London's most notorious debt collectors. Now reformed and a Christian); Tom Taylor (A former US Presidential bodyguard); Don Murfet (Minder to the rock band Led Zeppelin); Charlie Bronson (Britain's most violent prisoner - also an artist and writer); Gary Alexander (Full-contact fighting champion of North America); Roy Shaw (British bare-knuckle fighting champion; Ali vs Tyson; Hard Bastards: what exactly are they?; Noel 'Razor' Smith (Former British gangster serving multiple life sentences); Street Kings & Bare-Knuckle Fighters (the toughest of them all); Mike Tyson (Boxer); The Krays (Britain's most infamous gangsters); Dave 'Boy' Green (British boxer); Luciano Leggio (Sicilian gangster); Bob Honiball (Martial arts expert currently training Eastern European special forces); Peter Rollack aka 'Pistol Pete' (New York City gang member); Gregory Peter John Smith (Australian bandit); John Brawn (Ireland's hardest man, martial artist and bouncer); William Coss (Just a regular US citizen put in an extreme situation); Mickey Francis (Manchester's most notorious football thug and gangster, now a professional wrestler); Jake LaMotta (Boxer); Vladimir Bogomolov (Soviet bodyguard); Big Joe Egan (Probably the hardest white man on the planet); Dennis Martin (Doorman, bodyguard and Liverpool's hardest man).

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Book SynopsisPaul Worsley QC, for 10 years a judge at the Old Bailey, revisits one of the most remarkable murder cases to be found in the annals of the Criminal Courts of England. This is a vintage whodunit, first in the Judge's Tales series and set at a crossroads in time when for the first time the Media were co-opted to run a killer to ground. The tale is told verbatim by witnesses as the author gets inside the mind of the outspoken but irresolute judge in the case, Mr Justice Grantham. The result is as compelling today as it is definitive of the era in which the murder was committed.Trade Review'An enthralling account of human frailty and forensic analysis.' Nicholas Hilliard, Recorder of London 'An absolute must for any lover of crime stories...keeps the reader guessing throughout.' William Clegg, author of Under the Wig 'This is the first in a new series, loved the writing style… Very happy to recommend this on to others.' Fiona Sharp, Waterstones Durham 'A fascinating book that draws you into the murky underworld of Edwardian London and the high drama of a capital trial, meticulously researched and true to the evidence, as well as being a rattling good yarn.' Tom Tyson, thecrimeclub.com 'If you’re after something rather gritty to sink your teeth into this winter, look no further, as The Postcard Murder is the one for you! …You end up taking on the role of a 13th juror without possibly even realising it. Trust me when I say this; you will form your own opinions about the crime, and there is a high chance that you will do what I did and end up shouting blue murder… I am so excited to read more from Paul Worsley.' The Writing Garnet

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Book SynopsisHorse racing may be famously known as the 'sport of kings' but, in the pursuit of prize money and getting one over the bookies, it also has attained a notoriety for some underhand, corrupt and downright illegal practices. Horse racing in Wales is not exempt from these dodgy dealings and on many occasions has led the way in it's ingenuity to devise jaw-dropping cons and cunning deceptions. In The Scams, Scandals and Gambles of Horseracing in Wales, Brian Lee, the veteran and highly regarded Welsh racing correspondent has, for the first time, compiled a comprehensive collection of true stories that reveals Welsh racing's most notorious crooks, loveable rouges and most infamous scams, including: The Oyster Maid affair, when a great gambling coup engineered at Tenby in 1927 nearly put paid to horse racing in Wales and was said by the Queen Mother's jockey, Dick Francis, to have been "the most bitterly resented betting coup National Hunt racing has ever known". The astounding story of Am I Blue's when, in 2010, a four-year-old filly, owned and trained by Aberkenfig's Delyth Thomas, romped home at Hereford after being backed from 25-1 to 5-1, despite having woeful form.As one reporter put it: 'There was outrage in some quarters and amusement in others. ' The elaborate switching of horses and the cutting of the telegraph wires at Bath races in 1953 which saw well-know Cardiff bookie Gomer Charles jailed for 2 years for fraud after his syndicate place GBP100k worth of bets on a 'ringer' racehorse that won at 20-1. The Scandals and Gambles of Horseracing in Wales includes stories both from racing 'under rules' but also from point-to-point, known as racing 'between-the-flags', as well as flapping (unlicensed racing). The stories in this enthralling book, in which the reader will meet many of the rogues of the turf, are informative as well as fascinating and will appeal to not only horse racing fans but also readers of true crime.Trade Review'Brian's fascinating book lays bare some of the biggest scandals, and the strangest of happenings, of Welsh horse racing. It's packed with punchy, informative and often hilarious stories and anyone remotely interested in horse racing will love it.' Robert King, from his Foreword; 'Horse racing's popularity has been sustained through its astonishing ability to stumble from scams to corruptions and from bent jockeys to crooked bookies. Brian Lee, through his enormous passion and dedication to detail, is a walking encyclopaedia of horse racing and this special book on the fascinating drama and mystery of racing's 'dark arts' is one to truly enjoy.'Brian Radford, ex-Racing Editor of the Western Mail & Assistant Editor of The Sporting Life, from his PrefaceTable of ContentsForeword by Robert King Preface by Brian Radford The Ringers The Gambling Coups The Scandals The Flappers

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Book SynopsisThe hidden history of London gangs from their earliest days up to 1960.

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Book SynopsisAs one of the UK's leading commentators, David Wilson shows how some serial killers stay in the headlines whilst others rapidly become invisible - or "unseen". Yet Mary Ann Cotton is not just the first but perhaps the UK's most prolific female serial killer, with more victims than Myra Hindley, Rosemary West, Beverly Allit or male predators such as Jack the Ripper and Dennis Nielsen. But her own north east of England and criminologists apart, she remains largely forgotten, despite poisoning up to 21 victims in Britain's 'arsenic century'. Exploding myths that every serial killers is a 'monster', the author draws attention to Cotton's charms, allure, capability, skill and ambition - drawing parallels or contrasting the methods and lifestyles of other serial killers from Victorian to modern times. He also shows how events cannot be separated from their social context - here the industrial revolution, growing mobility, women's emancipation. And concerning the reticence of 'human nature', Like Dr Harold Shipman, Cotton was allowed to go on killing despite reasons to suspect her.The book contains other resonances to aid understanding of how serial murderers can continue to kill despite such things as coincidence, gossip, whispers or motives that become more obvious with the benefit of hindsight. It is also a detective story in which the persistence of a single individual saw Cotton tried and executed, events analysed first-hand and in detail from the records.Trade Review'A fascinating book... The historical research is illuminating'- feminists@law; 'The great strength of Wilson's book is in providing an extensive examination of Mary Ann Cotton and the murders she committed, framed within the context of Britain's industrial revolution ... an interesting and useful book'- Howard Journal of Criminal Justice; 'This book is an enthralling read. I started off firmly believing that Mary Ann Cotton was innocent - that, indeed, there had been no murders. David Wilson's meticulous research, his eye for detail, his forensic ability to reconstruct the material that survives, and assess the probabilities where gaps remain in the record, opened my eyes. He does not write generic "true crime", but history of the highest order': Judith Flanders, best-selling author, journalist and historian.

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Book SynopsisThe gripping story of the secret operation to plant informants in the world s biggest narcotics syndicates - told by the man who led it.

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Book SynopsisThe book contains information not until now in the public domain and tells of the author's tenacity as a lower-ranking officer in the face of dwindling resources and sometimes disparagement by more senior investigators. A straightforward account of the solving of heinous and complex crimes, it also delves into media fascination with serious offences and shows how the press may latch on to one murder whilst ignoring another, even more horrific, one. The author was an investigator on the Bisset case from the day of the murder through to seeing that case linked first to south-London's Green Chain Walk rapes and the discovery that Napper also killed Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common - a case in which the wrong man was targeted and charged by other officers. The book also looks at the mind of Robert Napper, his bizarre behaviour, family history and `doodlings' and the fact that sheer `chance' allowed him to remain free for so long. By the detective who arrested Napper. Looks at the emergence of criminal profiling. Enters the mind of a psychotic killer. Shows how media `obsession' can hinder justice. Contains unpublished material.

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Book SynopsisJeff Bauman woke up on 16th April 2013, in the Boston Medical Center, groggy from a series of lifesaving surgeries and missing his legs. Just 30 hours prior, Jeff was surrounded by revelry at the finish line of the Boston Marathon cheering on his girlfriend, Erin, when the first bomb went off at his feet. When Jeff awoke, rather than take stock of his completely altered life, he ripped out his breathing tube and tried to speak. He couldn't. So he wrote seven words, 'Saw the guy. Looked right at me,' setting off one of the biggest manhunts in the country's history and beginning his own brave road to recovery. His remarkable story is a testament to what it means to be Boston Strong.Trade ReviewBauman's moving story illustrates what he believes: 'We are better than cowards with bombs...We are stronger." * People Magazine *A moving demonstration of how strength of mind and character helped one man stand tall despite the loss of his legs * Kirkus *Stronger is not merely a triumph-over-adversity story, but a love story... the book exudes a sense of transparency and honesty. * Boston Globe *Bauman gives a riveting, detailed account of the explosion and its immediate aftermath... as well as a heartfelt, honest, and occasionally hilarious description of his challenging recovery. * Penthouse *[An] inspiring and poignant memoir about learning to live with grace and new purpose after the attack. * Boston Herald *

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