True crime Books

Book SynopsisDiscover the disturbing inner workings of the serial killer brain in this gripping compendium of true crime stories, each placing the mind of an infamous murderer under the microscope. From mission-oriented minds to hedonistic killers, this book recounts each bloodcurdling case before taking a deeper dive into the individual's twisted psychology.

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Book Synopsis'Powerful and Important' Guardian'Powerful' Financial Times'More twists and turns than a Hollywood spy thriller' Spectator'A story we all need to hear' New Statesman'Gripping... Araujo's accretion of detail has a powerful effect' New York Times*Shortlisted for the Moore Prize for Human Rights Writing*Deep in the heart of the Amazon, an entire region has lived under the control of one notorious land baron: Josélio de Barros. Josélio cut a grisly path to success: having arrived in the jungle with a shady past, he quickly made a name for himself as an invincible thug who grabbed massive tracts of public land, burned down the jungle and executed or enslaved anyone trying to stop him.Enter Dezinho, the leader of a small but robust farm workers' union fighting against land grabs, ecological destruction, and blatant human rights abuses. When Dezinho was killed in a shocking assassination, the local community held its breath. Would Josélio, whom everyone knew had ordered the hit, finally be brought to account? Or would authorities look the other way, as they had hundreds of times before?Dezinho's widow, Dona Joelma, was not about to let that happen. After his murder, she stepped into the spotlight, orchestrating a huge push to bring national media attention to the injustices in the Amazon.Set against the backdrop of Bolsonaro's devastating cuts to environmental protections, Brazil's rapidly changing place in the geopolitical spectrum, and the Amazon's crucial role in climate change, Masters of the Lost Land is both a gripping epic into one of the last wild places on Earth and an urgent illustration of how people are fighting for - and winning - justice for their futures and the environment.Trade ReviewGripping... Araujo's accretion of detail has a powerful effect * New York Times *Heriberto Araújo tells a story you likely haven't heard before... this book is uniquely informative about one of the most important social conflicts of our time * Prospect *A compelling and forensically researched piece of investigative reporting... [with] more twists and turns than a Hollywood spy thriller. * Spectator *Such narrative diligence feels like a necessary corrective to a reality mired in crime and cover-up... this book tells a story we all need to hear. * New Statesman *A meticulously researched, vivid and complex picture of the violence and corruption at the heart of the Amazon * Geographical *[A] deeply researched report from the front lines of the battle for the Amazon. * Publishers Weekly *An arresting examination of the history of extreme deforestation and violence in the Brazilian Amazon... Excellent * Kirkus Reviews *A gripping true crime mystery that transports readers into the heart of the Amazon to witness the human toll of its destruction and the incredible will of its people to fight for the future of this unique place - and the planet. Masterfully reported and engagingly written, this is a must-read. * Greg Grandin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The End of the Myth *This is journalism at its absolute best, made even more impressive when one considers the obstacles, obfuscation and threats so often encountered there when trying to ferret out the truth... an essential book. * Joe Jackson, author of The Thief at the End of the World: Rubber, Power, and the Seeds of Empire *With a journalist's insight and a scholar's scrutiny, Heriberto Araujo tells the timeless story of dominance, displacement, murder and social injustice that drive large-scale environmental destruction * Roman Dial, author of The Adventurer’s Son *A tour de force... Araújo's masterful reporting from the frontlines in the war for the world's most important tropical biome should be required reading for policy makers, and for anyone who cares about the fight for social and environmental justice for Amazonia's forest peoples. * Jeremy M. Campbell, author of Conjuring Property: Speculation and Environmental Futures in the Brazilian Amazon *Heriberto Araújo, drawing on his years of research, has written an essential journalistic account of the murder, mayhem and mind-boggling corruption surrounding the assault on the Amazon. * Dr. Gary Sick, Columbia University, Board Member of Human Rights Watch *Heriberto Araujo does a significant service to Amazonia by providing a look into the social hell that accompanies the destruction of the Amazon rainforest... No one can read this account without coming to the conclusion that we must prevent such events from continuing. * Philip M. Fearnside, National Institute for Research in the Amazon *Highly readable * The Economist on China's Silent Army *Fascinating and vivid * Spectator on China's Silent Army *Truly impressive * Financial Times on China's Silent Army *Table of Contents1: The Escape 2: The Criminal Syndicate 3: Terror on the Nut Road 4: The Chainsaw Murder 5: The Boomtown 6: Early Challenges 7: Crickets and Cattle 8: No Longer Meek 9: Hunting Souza 10: Nowhere to Hide 11: Nothing Shining in Eldorado 12: Death and Salvation 13: An Unusual Case 14: The Evidence Man 15: A Cause Larger Than Death 16: The Law of the Gun 17: Land or We Burn the Jungle 18: Amazonian Justice 19: Sink or Swim 20: The Widow Must Fall 21: "Load the Trucks" 22: She Is Out 23: The Trial 24: A Certain Sense of Justice 25: Epilogue

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Book SynopsisWinner of the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction. A letter arrives. You’ve got an appointment with a trainee clinical psychologist on April 29, 2008. You don’t attend. Another letter arrives. It says they don’t normally reschedule appointments, but they know this is hard for you, so they’re offering you another appointment. It’s on May 13, 2008. You don’t attend. Two years later you shoot three people and shoot yourself. You will be called a monster. You will be called evil. The prime minister, David Cameron, will stand up in Parliament and say you were a callous murderer, end of story. You have nine days and your whole life to prove you are more than a callous murderer. Go. Raoul Moat became notorious one hot July week when, after killing his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, shooting her in the stomach, and blinding a policeman, he disappeared into the woods of Northumberland, evading discovery for seven days. Eventually, cornered by the police, Moat shot himself. Here, Andrew Hankinson re-tells Moat's story using Moat’s words, and those of the state services which engaged with him, bringing the reader disarmingly close, at all times, to the mind of Moat.Trade Review‘Immersing the reader in Moat’s self-justifications, You Could Do Something Amazing With Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat] is both an experiment in empathy and an exploration of the limits of empathy — holding the reader hostage in the echo chamber of an angry and confused man’s head.’ -- Louis Theroux‘Brilliantly written … Smart literary non fiction.’ -- Jon Ronson, author of The Psychopath Test‘The media love the idea that a killer’s mind is somehow “impenetrable”, because it gives them carte blanche to fill it up with their sensationalised bullshit … This book does the commendable job of demystifying evil yet again, and showing us the rainy-Tuesday-afternoon-dullness and grinding frustration that can lead some unbalanced people to topple into the abyss.’ -- Will Self‘What sets this book apart is the fact that Hankinson’s narrative, written in the second person, is formed entirely of Moat’s own words. The result is a desperately sad book about masculinity, deprivation, and loss.’ -- Rachel Cooke * The Observer *‘Andrew Hankinson’s You Could Do Something Amazing With Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat] is an account of Moat’s last days that, written in the second person and drawing on diary entries and previously unheard tapes, reads like a novel.’ -- Tom Gatti * New Statesman *‘Writer and reader squat inside a mind that moves from irrational anger and self-pity to despondency … Hankinson deftly assembles [Moat’s] inner workings, lending credibility to his portrait while, beyond the myopic commentary, we know, although we don’t see it, that the outside world is closing in.’ -- Benjamin Myers * New Statesman *‘Brilliant, gripping, and important. Fans of Gordon Burn have found a new favourite writer.’ -- Will Storr, author of The Heretics: adventures with the enemies of science‘We all know how the story ends, but this balled fist of a book reads like a thriller.’ -- Dan Rhodes, author of When the Professor Got Stuck in the Snow‘A powerful portrayal of the banality of violence … a trigger finger of a book: taut, tense, and on edge.’ -- Helen Davies * Sunday Times *‘Claustrophobic, tense, and truly original, this gripping account of Raoul Moat’s last days is impossible to put down. Andrew Hankinson has done a superb job in marshalling the source material and presenting it in such a way that the reader sees an unravelling world through Moat’s eyes. The result is utterly unexpected, leaving one torn between feelings of disgust, fear and pity. This is a book that stays with you for a long time.’ -- Dan Davies, author of In Plain Sight‘A claustrophobic true-crime account in the tradition of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood … [Hankinson’s] purpose is to show Moat as a product of our culture and society … Moat is presented as an intriguing case study in disintegration, making bad choices then devoting all his intelligence to justifying them in his own head.’ -- Gavin Knight * The Guardian *‘Hankinson’s approach, a descendant of the literary non-fiction favoured by fellow Northerners Gordon Burn, Blake Morrison, and David Peace, allows us to inspect Moat’s bitter logic up close.’ -- Philip Maughan * Financial Times *‘An extraordinary study of violence, in all its bathos and banality.’ -- Sarah Ditum * The Spectator *‘Masculinity, media, and life on the margins of modern Britain are all put under the microscope via the true and sorry story of outlaw Raoul Moat … His very public disintegration is captured perfectly by Andrew Hankinson.’ -- Benjamin Myers, author of Beastings and Pig Iron‘[Hankinson’s] bold non-fiction debut puts you in the gunman’s shoes by weaving an urgent second-person narrative from his on-record thoughts … Intelligently done.’ -- Anthony Cummins * Metro *‘Taut, uncomfortably thrilling … An unvarnished reconstruction of Moat’s murderous rampage, which allows the facts — and the perpetrator — to speak for themselves … Moat was a tormented man with little mastery over his violent urges. His testimony lays bare a retarded moral sense: right until the end he was largely unrepentant of his actions, elated even, and indifferent or oblivious to the pain he had caused. He was a destroyer, not a hero.’ -- Rob Doyle * Irish Times *‘In less skilful hands, telling the story through Moat’s eyes could have burnished the outlaw “legend” of Moat. Hankinson does not do that, even though he shows us flashes of humanity … His book does its bit in demystifying evil.’ * The Times *‘A remarkable book … [which] gives the reader the chilling, dreadful impression of being inside Moat’s head. Nothing less than compelling.’ * Irish Independent *‘[A] gripper, a powerful literary experiment written in the voice of the killer.’ -- Jessie Burton * The Guardian *‘Chilling … A very unsettling read.’ * The Herald *‘Impressive … A powerful, intimate account of a ruined mind.’ -- Sam Jordison * 3:AM Magazine *‘Powerfully and claustrophobically effective … [Hankinson] generates just enough sympathy and pathos to make sense of the situation, but no more.’ -- Theo Tait * LRB *‘I strongly recommend this book. Brilliantly written.’ -- John Niven, author of Kill Your Friends‘The second-person voice is a notoriously tricky one to maintain and Hankinson uses it to great effect … Another strength is the overwhelming sense that Moat is not in control of his own narrative.’ * The Saturday Paper *‘Hankinson has pulled off a singular journalistic feat, filtering the sequence of events following Moat’s release from prison through his own eyes. What Moat knows, we know. This is fact, with gelignite at its core.’ BOOK OF THE WEEK * Weekend Press *‘[Hankinson] takes us inside the killer’s head without giving the reader the privilege of distance from which to judge him.’ * The Guardian *‘Being in Moat’s angry, paranoid head is an uncomfortable and gut-churning place to be, yet Andrew Hankinson never lets Moat off the hook, challenging his victim mentality and denials of wrong-doing with bald statements of fact. This is a powerful and disquieting book.’ * Crime Review *‘One of the most original true crime books to emerge from Britain in the last decade … A tradition in British crime writing is to begin with the shootout and then whizz back to the perp’s childhood to pore over clues that might explain his behavior. Instead, Hankinson keeps us in the eye of the storm — creating what Hollywood calls a ‘contained drama’ that confines the reader inside the protagonist’s unhinged mind. The result is devastating: we see how Moat justifies his actions and ignores those who try to help, with no pesky analysis to interrupt the events … While the author does deftly fact-check Moat’s unreliable narration with clever parentheses, his immersive second-person approach was a brave storytelling decision that has won the book awards in England … [a] grim, high-definition, virtual-reality portrait.’ -- Jeff Maysh * Los Angeles Review of Books *‘True crime from a radically different perspective.’ * Kirkus *‘Brilliant.’ -- John Naughton * GQ *‘A remarkable journey through the last days of a confused and aggressive mind.’ -- Robin Ince‘Readers see and experience only what Moat saw, which helps to paint a terrifying picture of a man who was suffering from acute mental health problems … The style of writing naturally makes you empathise with the villain in a way that other books would not, but Hankinson manages to tell the story with impressive objectivity.’ * Foul Play Magazine *‘Haunting and deeply unsettling.’ -- Tobias Carroll * Mystery Tribune *

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Book SynopsisBehind the Scenes: Bodies for Sale is the second of a four bookfact-based suspense novel series which exposes thecriminal exploitation of the people behind the façade ofmany of the tourist paradises in Southeast Asia.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the biggest and most audacious robbery in history, the Millenium Dome diamond heist.

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Book SynopsisThe No.1 BestsellerThe definitive account of the rise of the Kinahan gang and the deadly feud that shocked a nation and brought the gang to the edge of destruction.__________February 2016. A daring gun attack in the Regency Hotel brings Dubliner Christy Kinahan and his international criminal cartel to a horrified public''s attention. Kinahan''s son Daniel, the target of the attack, escapes. A trusted henchman dies at the scene. And the deadly rivalry between the Kinahans and the family and associates of the veteran Dublin gangster Gerry Hutch becomes all-out war. It results in a never-before-seen level of international cooperation - including Irish, UK and US police forces - to topple the Kinahan gang.The Cartel offers a unique behind-the-scenes account of how the Kinahan organised crime organisation got so big, and why a local feud sowed the seeds for the gang''s destruction. __________''It''s incisive, it''s intriguing, it''s fascinating'' Ryan Tubridy''Fascinating!'' Keith Ward, FM104Trade ReviewThe No 1 bestselling story of the rise of Ireland's first international crime cartel - the Kinahan gang - and the bloody feud that may be its undoing. * From the Publisher's Description *Incisive, intriguing, fascinating -- Ryan Tubridy * RTÉ *Fascinating! -- Keith Ward * FM104 *

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Book SynopsisHe was a pillar of the community, serving on local committees, donating prizes to the rugby club, organising charity collections. His patients thought the world of him: he was attentive, kind, never too busy to chat. Yet Dr Harold Frederick Shipman was also the most prolific serial killer the world has ever known, with between 200 and 300 victims. Quietly, for many years, the small, bespectacled GP was making unexpected house calls - and walking out leaving a dead body behind.The murderous career of Dr Shipman only came to an end when police in Hyde, Greater Manchester, were called to investigate a forged will. Overnight, they found themselves embroiled in the biggest murder case in British history.Substantially revised and updated since Shipman''s suicide in prison, this is a compelling account of these monstrous crimes and of the man who committed them. The authors have had unparalleled access to friends, colleagues and patients. Their in-depth and authoritative investigaTrade ReviewRead this amazing review of systematic murder - and you'll never look at a doctor in quite the same way again * BIRMINGHAM Post *It takes a book like this to bring home how truly evil he [Dr Shipman] was * Northern ECHO *

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

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Book SynopsisThe classic account of one of the world's most feared serial killers.

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of the killer nurse.Lucy Letby seemed like a totally ordinary young woman: fun-loving and popular. She had a happy childhood with devoted parents, and after university she landed her dream job as a nurse looking after sick babies. She even became a poster girl for the hospital where she worked.And yet today, Lucy Letby is officially the most prolific child killer of the modern era. Following one of the longest murder trials in British legal history, she''s been convicted of murdering seven babies, and attempting to murder a further seven. She is only the fourth British woman ever to receive a whole life prison sentence. Still only in her early thirties, Letby will die in prison. But although her journey from obscurity to infamy has made headlines across the world, very little is known about her. Meanwhile, her convictions have attracted unprecedented controversy with a growing number of critics arguing that she may in fact be innocent.

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Book SynopsisGabriel García Márquez''s News of a Kidnapping is a powerful retelling of actual events from a turbulent period of Colombian history. ''She looked over her shoulder before getting into the car to be sure no one was following her''Pablo Escobar: billionaire drugs baron, ruthless manipulator brutal killer and jefe of the infamous Madellín cartel. A man whose importance in the international drug trade and renown for his charitable work among the poor brought him influence and power in his home country of Colombia, and the unwanted attention of the American courts.Terrified of the new Colombian President''s determination to extradite him to America, Escobar found the best bargaining tools he could find: hostages.In the winter of 1990, ten relatives of Colombian politicians, mostly women, were abducted and held hostage as Escobar attempted to strong-arm the government into blocking his extradition. Two died, the rest survived, and from their Trade ReviewMarquez uses his novelist's instinct for emotional drama to give the reader a wonderfully immediate sense of his subjects' ordeal: their spiraling hopes and fears, their fantasies of escape, their desperation and despair. * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisA gripping account of the little-known plot that could have put end end to JFK's historic presidency - before it even began. From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Nazi Conspiracy comes a true, little-known story about the first assassination attempt on John F.

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Book Synopsis*** Richard Lloyd Parry is the Winner of the 2018 Rathbones Folio Prize ***In the summer of 2000, Jane Steare received the phone call every mother dreads. Her daughter Lucie Blackman - tall, blonde, and twenty-one years old - had stepped into the vastness of a Tokyo summer and disappeared forever. That winter, her dismembered remains were found buried in a desolate seaside cave.Her disappearance was mystifying. Had Lucie been abducted by a religious cult? Who was the mysterious man she had gone to meet? What did her work, as a ''hostess'' in the notorious Roppongi district of Tokyo, really involve? And could Lucie''s fate be linked to the disappearance of another girl some ten years earlier?Over the course of a decade, Richard Lloyd Parry has travelled to four continents to interview those caught up in the story and been given unprecedented access to Lucie''s bitterly divided family to reveal the astonishing truth about Lucie and her fate.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary, compulsive and brilliant book...very, very moving -- David PeaceDifficult to put down... impossible to forget -- Minette WaltersA skilful, definitive history of one of the most notorious crimes of the past decade * Sunday Times *This is In Cold Blood for our times... Everyone who has ever loved someone and held that life dear should read this stunning book, and shiver -- Chris CleaveOpen-minded and sympathetic, despite being driven half mad by the case, Parry, former Asia correspondent for the Independent and The Times, is the best kind of narrator of a tale that isn't just a murder case but a book that sheds light on Japan, on families, on the media, and on the insidious effects of misogyny -- Blake Morrison * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis You are born into it or marry in. Loyalty is absolute, bloodshed revered and you kill or go to your grave before betraying The Family. This code of omerta is how the 'Ndrangheta became the world's most powerful mafia. The Good Mothers is the story of the women who broke the silence. Trade Review‘Perry has ably pieced together a number of remarkable stories. His focus … [in his] fast-moving book … is on the women who, sickened by years of abuse and bullying, decided that they would take no more’ Caroline Moorehead, Times Literary Supplement ‘The highly compelling story of the women who dared to break omertà, the Mafia code of silence. In fully developing his subjects, Perry shows remarkable empathy for their plights. An impossible-to-put-down page-turner’ Kirkus ‘The painful and dangerous process of these women’s rebellion against the family makes a gripping and heart-breaking narrative’ Clare Longrigg, Observer ‘Both harrowing and heartening … and told with Alex Perry's usual verve’ Tom Burgis, Financial Times ‘A brilliant read’ Devika Bhat, The Times ‘This is something special’ Nicholas Schmidle, New Yorker ‘One female prosecutor in Italy believed that she could recruit mistreated, abused, and discarded Mafia women could help bring down the organization. She was right. This story is bananas’ Lauren Katzenberg, New York Times

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAn extraordinary behind-the-scenes look at the hidden world of Irish prisoners . . . it's a fascinating book -- Brendan O'ConnorSuch a good read - it's amazing some of the stories -- Muireann O'Connell * Ireland AM *Cracking -- Matt Cooper * Today FM *Illuminating . . . Every chapter contains a wealth of piquant facts and stories * Irish Times *Thought-provoking . . . this unsettling but important book does a fine job of holding [prisons] up to the light -- Andrew Lynch * Business Post *Gripping and thought-provoking . . . takes us behind the prison walls and shows us the many sides of a complex world * RTÉ Guide *

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Book SynopsisFriday, 12th February, 1993. Two outwardly unremarkable ten-year-old boys began the day by playing truant and ended it running an errand for the local video shop. In between they abducted and killed a two-year-old boy, James Bulger. In search of an explanation, award-winning journalist David James Smith looks behind the misinformation, misunderstanding and sensational reporting to an exact account of the events of that day. A sensitive and definitive account, The Sleep of Reason achieves a unique understanding of the James Bulger case, and comes as close as may ever be possible to explaining how two ten-year-olds could kill.

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Book SynopsisA seemingly perfect couple destroyed by a husband's descent into evil.

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Book SynopsisHome is where the heart is. But home is also the most common site for murder. The grimly fascinating new book from the UK''s leading criminologist David Wilson uncovers the dangers that exist where we least expect them - perfect for fans of The Dark Side of the Mind and The Mind of a Murderer. The home is the place where murder most commonly occurs. In England and Wales, each year on average 75 per cent of female murder victims and 39 per cent of murdered men are killed at home.This gripping new title from the author of My Life with Murderers and A Plot to Kill explores the tragic prevalence of domestic murder and how, for so many victims, their own home is the place they are most in danger.David Wilson is the UK''s leading criminologist and his knowledge of murder is unparalleled. By walking through each part of the house, he explains how each room''s purpose has changed over time, the weapons they contain, and ultimately,

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Book SynopsisA photographic journey around the East End of London exploring the myriad of places connected to Jack the Ripper

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Book SynopsisWe must be careful with Occam's Razor, lest we cut ourselves on our own blades.In How to Solve True Crime:Occam's Razor and the Limitations of Simplicity in Investigations,we delve into the intriguing realm of criminal investigations where the seemingly straightforward principle of Occam's Razor is both a guiding light and a potential pitfall. Venture on an intellectual journey that explores the delicate balance between simplicity and complexity in unravelling mysteries, as the razor-sharp tool of Occam's Razor is wielded with both precision and, at times, with unintended consequences. This compelling non-fiction work meticulously dissects a collection of lesser-known true crime cases, skilfully examining instances where Occam's Razor was either masterfully applied or regrettably misused. Through riveting narratives and insightful analysis, discover how pursuing the simplest explanation can lead investigators astray, leaving crucial details and alternative scenarios overlooked. From high-profile investigations to obscure and overlooked cases, How to Solve True Crime uncovers the hidden nuances of Occam's Razor, shedding light on its power to illuminate truth and its potential to obscure it. Prepare to be captivated by the untold stories behind the scenes of criminal justice, as this book challenges preconceptions and questions the simplicity that often shrouds the complexities of true crime.

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Book SynopsisIn the Summer of 1972, 14-year-old Judith Roberts took off for a bike ride within the vicinity of her Staffordshire home. Her body was discovered after a three-day manhunt, concealed from view in a thick privet having been brutally attacked. The community of Tamworth was rocked by the news of her death and an outcry for justice ensued. Within weeks of her murder, an impressionable and troubled soldier, based in the nearby barracks, 17-year-old Andrew Evans, walked into a police station and confessed to the killing. Relentlessly interviewed for hours on end without representation or an appropriate adult present, Andrew was swiftly charged with Judith's murder. Despite attempting to recount his statement and a legal defence at trial that defied the prosecution's arguments that Andrew Evans was guilty, a judge sentenced him to life behind bars. He was eventually acquitted in 1997 in what was, at the time, Britain's longest miscarriage of justice. While Andrew Evans fought for his free

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR 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 moved to Falmouth in Cornwall before getting married. 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

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Book SynopsisTHE NO 1 BESTSELLER***A true story of murder and vengeance, a shattered community and a miscarriage of justice that echoes down the decadesOctober 1971. Nineteen-year-old Una Lynskey vanishes near her home in Co. Meath. In the weeks that follow, and on flimsy grounds, gardaí identify three young local men as suspects. Within days of her body being found, one of the three is beaten to death by members of Una’s family.The entire sequence of events is a tragedy in a quiet rural community - the wrong men jailed, no one ever facing justice - and becomes one of the most notorious failures in Irish policing and judicial history.In Who Killed Una Lynskey?, award-winning journalist Mick Clifford has built a compelling portrait of the case from interviews with the surviving main players, as well as exclusive access to the files of a private investigator who uncovered information the gardaí missed - or ignored.A timely, humane and compulsive read, this is a ground-breaking account of the botched investigation and its devastating consequences for not just four devastated families, but also the reputation of the gardaí.---''A brilliant book'' Nicola Tallant, Crime World Podcast''A grim, unsettling and sometimes desperately sad book - but also an undeniably important one’ Irish Independent‘Meticulously researched and clearly written chronicle of the nightmares endured by several families’ The Irish Times''Compelling'' Irish Independent''A fantastic book'' Pat Kenny, NewsTalk''Written with great gusto'' Brendan O''Connor, RTÉ Radio One‘Terrific and at the same time terrifying … superb’ Eamon Dunphy, The Stand Podcast‘Fascinating’ Radio Kerry

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

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Book Synopsis*As seen on ITV''s The Pembrokeshire Murders*''Fascinating. A book that will be essential reading for every aspiring crime writer'' Guardian''Offers a chilling glimpse into her life''s work. Fascinating stuff.'' Sunday Times ''Compelling'' Daily Mirrror__________By the time I arrived at the wood yard in Huddersfield on a bitterly cold night in February 1978, the body of the 18-year-old victim had already been taken to the mortuary.__________Never before has criminal justice rested so heavily on scientific evidence. With ever-more sophisticated and powerful techniques at their disposal, forensic scientists have an unprecedented ability to help solve even the most complex cases. Angela Gallop has been a forensic scientist for over 40 years. After joining the Forensic Science Service, the first crime scene she attended was for a case involving the YorTrade ReviewThis is a fascinating scientific memoir of a life dedicated to uncovering the truth behind some of the most shocking crimes. And a book that will be essential reading for every aspiring crime writer. * Guardian *Offers a chilling glimpse into her life's work. The reader, too, becomes more gripped by the forensic details than the horrors of each case. Fascinating stuff. * Sunday Times *Gallop's book is compelling * Daily Mirror *Fascinating * The Sun *This book is rarely other than compelling and despite her modesty she comes across as admirable as well as likeable. She has a rare combination of qualities - a vivid imagination, a capacity for doggedly carrying out difficult and often mundane work and entrepreneurial nous. But what is even more rare is that she has deployed them in genuinely useful work for the public good * Sunday Express *One of the profession's leading lights * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisThe false teeth of a female serial killer from 1908, the cut-and-paste confession of the Black Dahlia killer, the newly cracked cipher of the Zodiac killer, the shotgun used in the Clutter family murders, which were made famous by Truman Capote's true crime classic In Cold Blood-these are more than simple artefacts that once belonged to notorious murderers. They are objets of fascination to the legion of true crime obsessives around the world. And not merely for fleeting dark thrills, but because they represent a way to better understand those who we typically label monsters in lieu of learning how they actually became one.In Murderabilia, veteran true crime writer Harold Schechter presents 100 murder-related artefacts spanning two centuries (1808-2014), with accompanying stories of various lengths. A visual and literary journey, it presents a history unlike any previously told in the true crime genre, one that speaks to the dark fascination of true crime fans while also presenting a larger historical timeline of how and why we continue to be captivated by the most sensational crimes and killers among us.Trade Review"Schechter’s prose has the punch of a campfire ghost story and the objects run a satisfying gamut from intriguing curios to the stuff of nightmares. It adds up to a strange and fascinating tour of the macabre."—Publishers Weekly"Short chapters and copious illustrations make Murderabilia a great choice to leave on the night table to dip into before bed."—BookPage"It is the rare reference book that is compulsively readable, but Murderabilia is one... These two-to-four-pages-long articles provide fertile ground for true-crime fans or students researching specific cases or types of crimes."—Booklist"A fascinating tour of criminological history."—Katherine Ramsland Ph.D., Psychology Today"A perfect choice for a book group that likes a body count; or a serial killer aficionado’s coffee table; or for the friends you never see because they’re addicted to Life After Lockup. Murderabilia could and should launch hundreds of true crime novels."—The Washington Post"Not just a history of true crime but a cultural history... Love this book."—Last Podcast on the Left"I am extremely interested in [Murderabilia]. Think about it, a history of crime in 100 objects. What objects? And why?"—Nancy Grace, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace"It is a measure of [Schechter's] research and gift for storytelling that the reader not only learns new details about familiar murders but about murders that are just as gruesome but lost to time.... The book not only saves you the trip but gives you 99 other reasons to be an armchair detective."—Air MailTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Murder of “Omie Wise” (1808) 2. Burke and Hare, The British “Anatomy Murders” (1828) 3. The Helen Jewett Murder (1836) 4. The Murder of Mary Rogers (1841) 5. The Colt–Adams Affair (1841) 6. The Parkman–Webster Case (1849) 7. The Deering Family Massacre (1866) 8. “The Boston Boy Fiend” (1871–1874) 9. The Bloody Benders (1873) 10. The Smuttynose Horror (1873) 11. The Kidnapping of Little Charley Ross (1874) 12. “The Colorado Cannibal” (1874) 13. “The Pocasset Tragedy” (1879) 14. The Servant Girl Annihilator (1885) 15. “Jolly Jane” Toppan, Angel of Death (Late 1880s–1901) 16. Dr. H. H. Holmes, “The Arch-Fiend” (1891–1894) 17. The Fall River Murders (1892) 18. “The Demon of the Belfry” (1895) 19. “The Stockyard Bluebeard” (1898–1905) 20. The “Sausage Vat Murder” (1897) 21. The Molineux Poison-Murder Case (1899) 22. The Murder of Stanford White (1906) 23. The “American Tragedy” Murder (1906) 24. “The Female Bluebeard” (1908) 25. The London Cellar Murder (1910) 26. “The Spirit of Meanness Personified” (1906–1930) 27. “The Brides in the Bath Murders” (1912–1914) 28. “The Vampire of Düsseldorf” (1913–1930) 29. Frederick Mors (1914–1915) 30. “The Bluebeard of Paris” (1915–1919) 31. “The Ragged Stranger” (1920) 32. The Mysterious Murder of William Desmond Taylor (1922) 33. The Chicago “Thrill Killers” Case (1924) 34. The Hall–Mills Murder Trial (1926) 35. William Edward Hickman, “The Fox” (1927) 36. The “Double Indemnity Murder” (1927) 37. The Bath School Disaster (1927) 38. “The Werewolf of Wisteria” (1928) 39. “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” (1929) 40. Bonnie and Clyde (1930–1934) 41. The Bluebeard of Quiet Dell (1931) 42. “The Trunk Murders” (1931) 43. The Massie Affair (1931–1932) 44. The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping (1932) 45. “The Blonde Borgia” (1933–1937) 46. The Crown Point Escape (1934) 47. “The Cleveland Torso Killer” (1935–1938) 48. “The Mad Sculptor” (1937) 49. The “Babes of Inglewood” Murders (1937) 50. “The Soap-Maker of Correggio” (1939–1940) 51. The “Mad Bomber” (1940–1956) 52. “Le Docteur Satan” (1944) 53. “The Acid Bath Murderer” (1944–1949) 54. “The Lipstick Killer” (1945) 55. Nannie Doss,“The Giggling Granny” (1945–1955) 56. The Black Dahlia Murder (1947) 57. The Camden Massacre (1949) 58. “The Ripper of Rillington Place” (1949–1953) 59. The Sam Sheppard Murder Case (1955) 60. “The Butcher of Plainfield” (1957) 61. “The Glamour Girl Slayer” (1957–1958) 62. The Starkweather–Fugate Spree Killings (1958) 63. The Killing of Johhny Stompanato (1958) 64. “The Capeman” Murders (1959) 65. The Clutter Family Massacre (1959) 66. The Boston Strangler (1962–1964) 67. “The Moors Murderers” (1963–1965) 68. The Slaying of Kitty Genovese (1964) 69. “The Pied Piper of Tucson” (1964–1965) 70. “The Torture Mom” (1965) 71. The Richard Speck Murders (1966) 72. The Texas Tower Massacre (1966) 73. Mary Bell, “The Devil’s Spawn” (1968) 74. The Zodiac Killings (1968–1969) 75. The Charles Manson Murders (1969) 76. The MacDonald Family Massacre (1970) 77. The Family Annihilator (1971) 78. “The Killer Clown” (1972–1978) 79. Ted Bundy (1974–1978) 80. “Dr. Death” (1974–1998) 81. “Son of Sam” (1976–1977) 82. “The Unabomber” (1978–1995) 83. Gary Heidnik (1986–1987) 84. “The Milwaukee Cannibal” (1987–1991) 85. The “Winnetka Killer” (1988) 86. “The Otaku Killer” (1988) 87. “The Backpacker Murders” (1989–1992) 88. “The Gainesville Ripper” (1990) 89. “The Pig Farm Killer” (1991–2001) 90. “The Modern-Day Medea” (1994) 91. Andrew Cunanan and the Versace Murder (1997) 92. The Torture-Murder of James Byrd Jr. (1998) 93. The Martyrdom of Matthew Shephard (1998) 94. The Columbine Massacre (1999) 95. “The Man-Eater of Rotenburg” (2001) 96. The Murder of Laci Peterson(2002) 97. The Beltway Snipers (2002) 98. The “Grim Sleeper” Murders (1985–1988, 2002–2007) 99. The Boston Marathon Bombing (2013) 100. The Slender Man Stabbing (2014) Photo Credits Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisIn 1906 the Metropolitan Police Commissioner was asked by the Home Office to make available skilled investigators for murder enquiries nationwide as few constabularies had sufficiently skilled - or indeed, any - detectives. Thus was born the Reserve Squad, or Murder Squad, as it later became known. Despite a reluctance by some forces to call upon The Met, the Murder Squad has proved its effectiveness on countless occasions with its remit extended to British territories overseas. A particularly sensitive case was the murder of a local superintendent on St Kitts and Nevis. A former Scotland Yard detective, the Author uses his contacts and experiences to get the inside track on a gruesome collection of infamous cases. Child murderers, a Peer's butler, a King's housekeeper, gangsters, jealous spouses and the notorious mass murderer Dr Bodkin Adams compete for space in this spine-chilling and gripping book which is testament to the Murder Squad's skills and ingenuity - and the evil of the perpetrators. Brimming with gruesome killings, this highly readable book proves that there is no substitute for old fashioned footwork and instinct.

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Book SynopsisThe Skripal Files tells the full story behind the Salisbury Poisonings, one of the most shocking incidents to occur in Britain in recent memory. Broadcaster and historian Mark Urban interviewed Sergei Skripal in the months before the poisoning and explains why Skripal was targeted for assassination.'A scrupulous piece of reporting, necessary, timely and very sobering' – John Le CarréChosen as one of the best political books of 2018 by the Sunday Times.4 March 2018, Salisbury, England.Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were enjoying a rare and peaceful Sunday spent together, completely unaware that they had been poisoned with the deadly nerve agent Novichok. Hours later both were found slumped on a park bench close to death.Following their attempted murders on British soil, Russia was publicly accused by the West of carrying out the attack, marking a new low for international relations between the two since the end of the Cold War.The Skripal Files is the definitive account of the Salisbury Poisonings and how Skripal’s story fits into the wider context of the new spy war between Russia and the West. The book explores Sergei's past as a spy in the Russian military intelligence, explains how he was turned to work as an agent by MI6, and his imprisonment in Siberia. His eventual release as part of a spy-swap brought him to Salisbury where, on that fateful day, he and his daughter found themselves fighting for their lives.Trade ReviewFascinating account of the poisoning case . . . Other books will follow on the Skripals, but they will struggle to match the texture of Urban’s research, its knowledgeable hinterland * The Times *A scrupulous piece of reporting, necessary, timely and very sobering -- John Le CarréEngrossing . . . Urban tells the story of Skripal’s undercover career well, much of it previously unknown and gleaned from around 10 hours of conversations with him at his Salisbury home -- Luke Harding, GuardianBased on his extensive interviews with Skripal, provide an original and often fascinating read on the games that spies played in the wake of the Cold War * Sunday Times *A detailed account of Skripal’s life leading up to these terrible events * Daily Telegraph *Table of ContentsIntroduction - Introduction: Introduction Section - Prologue: An Unlawful Use of Force Section - Part One: Agent Chapter - 1: The Pitch Chapter - 2: Sergei's Journey Chapter - 3: Into the Darkness Chapter - 4: Master Race No Longer Chapter - 5: Breakthrough in Madrid Chapter - 6: Inside the Glass House Chapter - 7: The View From Vauxhall Chapter - 8: Back Into the Light Section - Part Two: Prisoner Chapter - 9: Inside Lefortovo Chapter - 10: Litvinenko Chapter - 11: IK 5 Chapter - 12: Hitmen Chapter - 13: The Fateful Letter Chapter - 14: Operation Ghost Stories Chapter - 15: Deliverance Chapter - 16: Christie Miller Road Section - Part Three: Target Chapter - 17: Sunday 4 March Chapter - 18: The Fight For Survival Chapter - 19: 'Highly Likely' Russia Chapter - 20: The Investigation Falters Chapter - 21: The Information War Chapter - 22: The Long Road to Recovery

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Book Synopsis‘Packed with insights and details that will both amaze and appal you’ – Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland and Butler to the WorldFrom journalist Chris Blackhurst, Too Big to Jail unveils how HSBC facilitated mass money laundering schemes for brutal drug kingpins and rogue nations – and thereby helped to grow one of the deadliest drugs empires the world has ever seen.While HSBC likes to sell itself as ‘the world’s local bank’ – the friendly face of corporate and personal finance – it was one decade ago hit with a record US fine of $1.9 billion. In pursuit of their goal of becoming the biggest bank in the world, between 2003 and 2010, HSBC allowed El Chapo and the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most notorious and murderous criminal organizations in the world, to turn its ill-gotten money into clean dollars.How did a bank, which boasts ‘we’re committed to helping protect the world’s financial system on which millions of people depend, by only doing business with customers who meet our high standards of transparency’ come to facilitate Mexico’s richest drug baron? And how did a bank that as recently as 2002 had been named ‘one of the best-run organizations in the world’ become so entwined with one of the most barbaric groups of gangsters on the planet?Too Big to Jail is an extraordinary story, brilliantly told by writer, commentator and former editor of The Independent, Chris Blackhurst, that starts in Hong Kong and ranges across London, Washington, the Cayman Islands and Mexico, where HSBC saw the opportunity to become the largest bank in the world, and El Chapo seized the chance to fuel his murderous empire by laundering his drug proceeds through the bank. It brings together an extraordinary cast of politicians, bankers, drug dealers, FBI officers and whistle-blowers, and asks what price does greed have? Whose job is it to police global finance? And why did not a single person go to prison for facilitating the murderous expansion of a global drug empire?Trade ReviewThe sheer hubris, greed and arrogance of bankers is laid bare in shocking, and at times hilarious, detail. Blackhurst takes them on and pricks their bubble of self-congratulatory entitlement -- Andrew Neil, broadcaster and former editor of The Sunday TimesPacked with insights and details that will both amaze and appal you. This is the inside story of how the City of London really operates and if it doesn't make you angry, you need to check your pulse -- Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland and Butler to the WorldFull of extraordinary revelations. Epic story-telling about a shocking scandal. Read this! -- Iain Martin, author of Making It HappenBlackhurst’s tale would make an exciting novel. But alarmingly, this is a true story, carefully researched and told with gusto -- Baroness Patience Wheatcroft, former editor of The Sunday TelegraphBlackhurst’s attention to detail is excellent, as is his lucid analysis * The Australian *Highly entertaining . . . told with pace, gusto, and a strong sense of moral outrage * The Critic Magazine *

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

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Book Synopsis'Endlessly fascinating...meticulously written and thoroughly absorbing book' Financial TimesOut now: *Revised and Updated* The gripping new book by the UK's most eminent forensic scientists, Angela Gallop__________CRIME [Noun]: An action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by lawForensic science is one of the most important aspects of any criminal investigation.The impartial and objective evidence it provides can help convict the guilty. It enables courts to have the confidence in their decisions and to ensure that justice is done.Professor Angela Gallop has been at the forefront of forensics for more than 45 years. During her remarkable career, she has established and run forensic science laboratories and has worked on thousands of cases in the UK and across the world. In How to Solve a Crime, she describes some of her own and her colleagues most intriguing cases and the wide range of skills and techniques used to solve them.Whether it's looking at blood patterns and footwear marks at crime scenes to work out what happened, extracting data from suspects mobile phones to discover where they were at critical times, or analysing fragments of textiles fibers, glass or paint to determine where they might have come from, Gallop shows that every contact really does leave a trace and every trace can help to solve a crime.With unparalleled access and insight across a wide range of specialisms, How to Solve a Crime is a fascinating definitive and authoritative account of real-life forensic science._________Praise for Angela Gallop 'An hour with Dr Angela Gallop is like a tutorial from a real-life Sherlock Holmes.' Daily Mail'Thank God we have scientists like here.' The TimesPraise for WHEN THE DOGS DON'T BARK'Fascinating' Guardian'Offers a chilling glimpse into her life's work. . . fascinating stuff' Sunday Times'Compelling' Daily Mirror'A casebook that reads like The Encyclopaedia of Murder' Daily Express'One of the professions leading lights' Woman & Home

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Book SynopsisAn astonishing read -- full of corruption, greed, strong drink and stronger language -- that reveals the rotten heart of the global economy - Oliver Bullough, author of MoneylandCrackles along ... they deserve credit for exposing the dark underbelly of the jewellery industry and giving us another glimpse into the real cost of the global obsession with gold - Spectator__________All that glitters is not gold.Gold is the new cocaine - and it's just as lucrative, dangerous, and destructive.__________Dirty Gold is a searing expose on the booming gold mining industry and destruction on the land and people of Latin America. It looks closely at a small US firm in Miami that helped transform the city into the nation's No.1 importer of gold into the United States.The book follows the meteoric rise and fall of a group of drug traders known as 'the three amigos' who laundered narco money through gold illegally brought into the US and raked in millions before they were caught. Whilst they were making their millions, the humanitarian situation in Colombia, Peru, and many other countries deteriorated dramatically.

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Book Synopsis'Utterly compelling from the first page' - Kerry Hudson'Gripping . . . this is one not to miss' - Irish TimesFor two years, Donna McLean lived a life of bliss with her boyfriend, Carlo. But her great love story wasn't just built on lies - it was one. Because Carlo wasn't a bike-obsessed Italian locksmith at all; he was a British police officer, part of a unit that had worked undercover for years to infiltrate activist groups across the country. More than twenty of those officers deliberately targeted women and duped them into relationships, posing as socialists, environmental campaigners and union reps, before vanishing without a trace.Small Town Girl is Donna's shattering story of a life turned upside down overnight, and her reclamation of a truth that was shamelessly buried by those who should be protecting the most vulnerable in society.'Mind-blowing, gut-wrenching, shocking and beautifully written' - Chris Atkins

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Book Synopsis'Exceptional . . . This thoughtful and engrossing book is as much about law as it is about minds' THE TIMESWhat drives someone to commit murder? What makes some people lash out on those that they love? Can we predict whether a child will grow into a violent adult, and what can we do to prevent it?These are just some of the questions that forensic psychiatrist Dr Taj Nathan interrogates every day in his work with violent offenders. Stories about violent or deviant behaviour are the subject of sensational headlines or inflated dramatic portrayals, but infinitely more complex and intriguing are the real people behind labels like 'psychopath', 'sex offender' or 'serial killer'. Taking us from secure hospital wards to high-security prisons to courtrooms, Dangerous Minds offers compelling and deeply compassionate accounts of ten people whose lives have been shaped by violence. From the impact of traumatic events in childhood to the evolutionary and cultural influences on the emergence of the social mind, this book is an insider's account of the origins of violence that asks its readers to re-evaluate all that they think they know about the people society deems most dangerous.Trade Review'Exceptional' * The Times *'An eye-opening journey into dangerous minds [that] explores what drives people to commit reprehensible acts . . . Thoughtful and engrossing' * The Times *

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Book SynopsisNow airing as the three-part documentary series The Other Mrs Jordan on ITVX. From whirlwind romance to gaslighting campaign: this is truth far stranger than fiction. When Mary met Will Jordan online, she was a single mother who’d given up trying to find Mr Right. And yet here he suddenly was: articulate and attractive, with a fascinating background. Soon they were in love, and when he proposed after a month it seemed recklessly romantic. Caught up in a whirlwind, Mary accepted that Will’s work often took him away from home, out of contact. She was his rock, supporting him emotionally when a misunderstanding led to criminal charges, and even selling everything when blackmailers threatened to kidnap their children. Together, they took on the world. And then one day the phone rang, and a woman introduced herself as ‘the other Mrs Jordan’… In this raw account of deception on a grand scale, Mary Turner Thomson recounts what happened after she discovered every word he’d said, from the very first moment, was a lie. This is her painful, humiliating truth—but she tells it for one reason: she too was once a strong, independent woman who would have read all this and thought It could never happen to me… Revised edition: Previously published as The Bigamist: the true story of a husband’s ultimate betrayal, this edition of The Bigamist includes editorial revisions.Trade Review“A brilliant and incisive account of [Thomson’s] nightmare.” —Daily Express “I couldn’t put down this gripping read.” —Woman “The most shocking Internet-dating story you will ever come across.” —The Sun “Gives the misery memoir concept a horrible new twist.” —The Bookseller “If ever there was a story to prove the age-old adage that love is blind, this is surely it.” —Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisTrue-life reporting on vicious criminals and the haphazard system that punishes themIn 1969, the Supreme Court justices cast votes in secret that could have signaled the end of the death penalty. Later, the justices' resolve began to unravel. Why? What were the consequences for the rule of law and for the life at stake in the case? These are some of the fascinating questions answered in Murder at the Supreme Court. Veteran journalists Martin Clancy and Tim O'Brien not only pull back the curtain of secrecy that surrounds Supreme Court deliberations but also reveal the crucial links between landmark capital-punishment cases and the lethal crimes at their root. The authors take readers to crime scenes, holding cells, jury rooms, autopsy suites, and execution chambers to provide true-life reporting on vicious criminals and the haphazard judicial system that punishes them. The cases reported are truly "the cases that made the law." They have defined the parameters that judges must follow for a death sentence to stand up on appeal. Beyond the obvious questions regarding the dubious deterrent effect of capital punishment or whether retribution is sufficient justification for the death penalty (regardless of the heinous nature of the crimes committed), the cases and crimes examined in this book raise other confounding issues: Is lethal injection really more humane than other methods of execution? Should a mentally ill killer be forcibly medicated to make him "well enough" to be executed? How does the race of the perpetrator or the victim influence sentencing? Is heinous rape a capital crime? How young is too young to be executed?This in-depth yet highly accessible book provides compelling human stories that illuminate the thorny legal issues behind the most noteworthy capital cases.Trade Review""This book takes the smoke screen out of the capital-punishment debate and dishes out the realities: the challenges to judges and lawmakers posed by awful crimes, competing pressures on the scale of justice, and the role of victims in determining punishment. A great read and more. Martin Clancy and Tim O'Brien have written an important book.”-Barbara Walters, ABC News“This book is a lightning strike. It quickens the mind, illuminates the landscape, and guarantees you will see things differently-in this case, how the jagged edges of justice come to bear on decisions of life and death. Clancy and O'Brien are journalists at the top of their class, where facts matter and reporting can read like a novel.”-Bill Moyers, journalist, author, and managing editor, Moyers & Company“A fascinating treatment of some of the Supreme Court's seminal criminal-law cases, complete with the invariably intriguing facts, characters, and circumstances that made each case so unique and compelling. A great read for lawyers, students, and the general public alike. The makings of a great true-life television series.”-Ted Olson, former U.S. Solicitor General“A thoughtful and fascinating look behind the headlines of some of the most grisly-and important-murder cases at the Supreme Court.”-Jeffrey Toobin, writer for the New Yorker, legal analyst for CNN“The most knowledgeable and informative book about crime and capital punishment available today.”-Johnny Hughes, U.S. Marshal, District of Maryland (Hughes, a veteran law-enforcement officer, is a former major in the Maryland State Police)“A thought-provoking book written at the right time for our society to revisit the death penalty.”-Burl Cain, warden at Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola (Cain has pre

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Book SynopsisTHE RIVETING TRUE STORY OF HOW THE FBI BROUGHT DOWN THE FEARSOME MIGUEL TREVIÑO, LEADER OF LOS ZETAS, MEXICO'S MOST VIOLENT DRUG CARTEL.Drugs, money, cartels: this is what FBI rookie Scott Lawson expected when he was sent to the border town of Laredo, but instead he's deskbound writing intelligence reports about the drug war. Then, one day, Lawson is asked to check out an anonymous tip: a horse was sold at an Oklahoma auction house for a record-topping price, and the buyer was Miguel Treviño, one of the leaders of the Zetas, Mexico's most brutal drug cartel. The source suggested that Treviño was laundering money through American quarter horse racing. If this was true, it offered a rookie like Lawson the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the cartel. Lawson teams up with a more experienced agent, Alma Perez, and, taking on impossible odds, sets out to take down one of the world's most fearsome drug lords. In Bloodlines, Emmy and National Magazine Award-winning journalist Melissa del Bosque follows Lawson and Perez's harrowing attempt to dismantle a cartel leader's American racing dynasty built on extortion and blood money. Throwing back the curtain on the inner workings of cartel kingpins and law enforcement agencies, del Bosque turns more than three years of research and her decades of reporting on Mexico and the border into a gripping narrative about greed and corruption. Bloodlines offers us an unprecedented look at the inner workings of the Zetas and US federal agencies, and opens a new vista onto the changing nature of the drug war and its global expansion.

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Book Synopsis'Sensational. The most minutely researched and brilliantly told account ever' MAIL ON SUNDAY. Laura Thompson re-examines the truths behind one of post-war Britain's most notorious murders: the bludgeoning to death of nanny Sandra Rivett in a Belgravia basement on 7 November 1974. Lord Lucan, found guilty of the murder, was only granted a death certificate in 2016. His wife Veronica – last surviving participant in this dark episode – died in September 2017. In this revised edition, Laura Thompson sheds new light on the volatile mental state of Veronica Lucan, and on the theories surrounding the murder, to which she adds a new, extraordinary and shocking possibility.Trade ReviewSensational. The most minutely researched and brilliantly told account ever * Mail on Sunday *A compelling new examination of the crime... A superb anatomy of a murder' * Independent *Gripping. An exceptionally thorough investigation into the lives of Lord and Lady Lucan * Daily Mail *Tantalises with fresh evidence * Daily Telegraph *Thompson approaches the mystery with forensic skill, [reaching] a suitably enigmatic conclusion * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisOn 4 May 2000, an email that read ‘kindly check the attached LOVELETTER’ was sent from Philippines. Attached was a virus, the Love Bug, and within days it had paralysed banks, broadcasters and businesses across the globe. The age of Crime Dot Com had begun. Geoff White charts the astonishing development of hacking, from its birth among the ruins of the Eastern Bloc to its coming of age as the most pervasive threat to our connected world. He takes us inside the workings of real-life cybercrimes, revealing how the tactics of high-tech crooks are now being harnessed by nation states. From Ashley Madison to election rigging, Crime Dot Com is a thrilling account of hacking, past and present, and of what the future might hold.Trade Review‘Arguing that cybercrime has grown in power and in danger, journalist White offers a well-written, expertly researched examination of the topic. Relying on published reports and in-depth interviews, the author looks at three different facets: cybercrime gangs, 'hacktivist' movements, and ways in which nation states use cybercrimes. White is at his best when describing this seemingly legally sanctioned hacking, such as in Russia and North Korea. In vivid detail, he explores the 2015 raid on Bangladesh’s Central Bank; the movement Anonymous, which has made attacks on governments; and ways in which data is hacked for profit . . . This is a fascinating, often gripping read, and a solid update to Brian Krebs’s Spam Nation . . . For true crime and technology enthusiasts in search of an overview of cybercrime.’ — Library Journal ‘Journalist White uses the stories of different hacks, dating from the 1980s to the 2016 election, to connect illicit activity on the earliest Internet forums to today's cyberattacks by hacktivists and state-sanctioned hacking teams. He humanizes this history by highlighting the people behind the tech: the Filipino student who unleashed the Love Bug, one of the first global cyberattacks to rely on psychological manipulation; the former cybercriminal who worked with the FBI to bring down Silk Road, a dark Web black market for illegal drugs (a scheme that involved him faking his own death); and the audio producer who lost thousands of dollars in a scam that exploited personal information stolen from telecommunications company TalkTalk.’ — Scientific American ‘Beginning with a tour of hacks from the 1980s through to the 2016 election (and a thrilling account of the 2015 Bangladesh Central Bank heist), this is a fascinating primer on the dangers of the cyber underworld, which includes hacktivist movements, cyber gangs, and nation-state attacks.’ — Globe and Mail, Toronto ‘Brilliantly researched and written, Crime Dot Com is a vivid insight into the scale of the threat to us all from crime born of and facilitated by the digital age.’ — Jon Snow, Channel 4 News ‘Geoff White is one of the most authoritative reporters on cybercrime and Crime Dot Com is an informative, accessible and entertaining tour of the cyber underworld. If you want to understand everything from ransomware to nation state attacks on key infrastructure this is an excellent primer.’ — Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC News ‘Geoff White offers up a comprehensive and intelligible account of the elusive world of hacking and cybercrime over the last two decades. He ranges from the lone hacktivist to state-sponsored surveillance, from the Love Bug to the Lazarus Group, from Snowden’s revelations to the Huawei controversy. His book is, thankfully, jargon-free, keeping a tight focus on the humans involved rather than the technology. It is lively, insightful and, often, alarming.’ — Ewen MacAskill, former Chief Political Correspondent for the Guardian ‘Geoff White writes with insight and flair about a subject that concerns everyone – or should do. Criminals, hooligans, hostile state actors and terrorists attack our computers and networks every minute of every day. Our money, security and freedom are at risk. Yet the public is still pitifully unaware of the threats we face – and what we need to do to protect ourselves at an individual, business and government level. Crime Dot Com joins the dots, painting a well-informed, easy-to-understand and up-to-date picture of the mounting dangers caused by our complacency, greed and ignorance.’ — Edward Lucas, author of Deception: Spies, Lies and How Russia Dupes the West

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Book SynopsisStephen Smith is the boy who did not exist.Born out of wedlock in the early 1960s, Steve's parents hid him away from the world by locking him in the cellar...for thirteen years. Starved and beaten, the little boy's world was a darkened room that measured just eight feet by ten with a single makeshift bed, bare light bulb, and a solitary table. Steve would spend his days conjuring up an imaginary world full of monsters he would draw to try and block out the physical and mental torture inflicted on him by his brutal father. Apart from a few admissions to hospital as a result of his 'imprisonment', Steve remained in the coal cellar of the family home where he was deprived of daylight, his childhood, school, and human contact until he'd reached his teenage years. Eventually, he escaped only to fall prey to the instigators of two of the worst cases of institutional abuse in the UK at Aston Hall hospital and St. William's Catholic School. The Boy in the Cellar is a horrifying true story of torture and cruelty, that reveals a human's full capacity to fight for survival and search out happiness and hope.

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Book SynopsisLetters from Serial Killers is a unique study of the criminal mind based on the author's extensive correspondence with convicted serial murderers. Such a collection is extremely rare, and among the killers whose correspondence is examined are:Arthur John Shawcross, aka 'The Genesee River Killer'; Phillip Carl Jablonski, aka 'The Death Row Teddy'; Melanie Lyn McGuire, aka 'The Ice Queen'; Harvey 'The Hammer' Louis Carignan, aka 'The Want-ad Killer'; Ian Stewart Brady, aka 'The Moors Murderer'; Hal Karen and Ronald 'Butch' Joseph DeFeo Jr, aka 'The Amityville Horror'; Gary Ray Bowles, aka 'The I-95 Killer';John 'J.R.' Edward Robinson, aka 'The Slavemaster'Letters from Serial Killers is Christopher Berry-Dee at his steeliest best - exploring the downright creepy correspondence with murderers, serial killers and psychopaths behind bars, with exclusive scans of letters and eerily decorated envelopes. A must-have for fans of the series, based on a collection that will eventually be bequeathed to the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit at its headquarters at Quantico, Virginia.

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