For the last month or so I have researching two murders that occurred in the vicinity of Pype Hayes Park, close to where I lived as a child in Erdington, Birmingham. Both victims were women, aged 20. Both were killed on or around 27 May, which marked the end of the Whitsun weekend after attending […]

I have missed a few editions of my weekly blog due to commuting between Cairns and Brisbane and a lack of interesting things to say. When stuck for inspiration, I sometimes look at historical events on the current date. On 12 March 1985, The Times published a short article saying that a handwriting expert believed […]

Today the sixth edition of the history and politics journal, garrison, contains a feature on 17 Jack the Ripper suspects. I contributed a piece on James Kelly and am looking forward to reading what the other writers have to say on their chosen suspect, not least because any new arguments will need to be incorporated […]

Coming Through in Waves, an anthology of crime fiction inspired by Pink Floyd is now available for preorder. It concludes with “Waiting for the Worms,” my 62nd published story. There are not many bands that could inspire a collection of short fiction and fewer that might inspire writers to contribute. Rolling Stone once described Pink […]

I’m pleased to announce that I will be participating in a Facebook live event on Saturday 6 February, to discuss my contribution to the anthology The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns with the editor Mitzi Szereto. “The Doctor, the Dentist and the Dairyman’s Daughter,” is a true account of the Carmarthen Mystery of […]

This week I came across a positive review of one of my books. I really appreciate it when people take the time to write comments about my work, even if I don’t agree with them. Everyone has different opinions and I respect their right to form and voice these in public forums.   Most readers […]

I have recently been researching the famous criminal Charles Peace. This has challenged my assumption that a legal system designed and developed by men was generally prejudiced against women. On 13 January 1879 Peace’s wife Hannah appeared at the Old Bailey charged with receiving stolen goods. There is little doubt that she acted as a […]

I’m pleased to announce the following new publications in 2021. Murder and Machinery: Tales of Technological Terror and Mechanical Madness, from Black Beacon Books contains my story, “Fargan’s Termination.” Coming Through in Waves, from Gutter Press, contains my story, “Waiting for the Worms.” The Best New True Crime Stories: Well-Mannered Crooks, Rogues and Criminals, contains […]

The end of the year is a good time to review progress and objectives. There are three ways of assessing your achievements as a writer; financial, output, and productivity. The first is self-explanatory but better done at the end of the financial year to link with a tax return. Output is the number of publications […]