This week I am pleased to announce the release of my third non-fiction book, Jack the Ripper Suspects: The Definitive Guide and Encyclopedia.

When I began writing it ten years ago I knew that it would be difficult to say something new about Jack the Ripper, given the plethora of books out there. Most attempt to identify the killer and some are very convincing, until you read the next one. There was a gap in the market for a factual book that summarised the evidence against every suspect. Instead of promoting a specific candidate I wanted the reader to judge for themselves.

This approach was heavily influenced by the late historian, Philip Sugden, who tackled the primary sources relating to Jack the Ripper in 1994. His Complete History, is exactly that. A no-nonsense appraisal of the primary source material. My topic was more varied, branching away from the details of the crimes and the police investigation to examine accusations against 333 interesting, and often disturbing people, from all walks of life. They include royals, surgeons, lunatics, convicted killers, international conmen, women, tramps and habitual drunkards. One, or none of them, might have been the most famous murderer in history.

I am much indebted to my publisher, RJ Parker, and editor Peter Vronksy both of whom are successful true-crime authors.