Macabre crimes have long fascinated us, and our murky past ensures that we have no shortage of tales to chill and entertain in equal measure. From Jack the Ripper to John George Haigh, from Dr Crippen to Dr Shipman, history is riddled with examples of the darkest examples of human nature.

In this new book, ex-journalist and grand doyen of Ripperology Richard Whittington-Egan sheds some light, in his own inimitable way, on a collection of the most interesting cases to hit the headlines. He assesses the murderous brushwork of the painter William Hepper, examines the poisonous machinations of the widow of Windy Nook Mary Wilson, investigates events at the surgery of Dr Shipman and reports on the bizarre 'Ice Cream Gang' wars of Glasgow among many other dark and gripping cases.