True crime is a huge cultural industry: media organisations use crime stories to push sales and clicks. Yet behind this phenomenon lies the real-life victims and a disconnect between the representation of violent crime and its reality.

This book is a go-to guide for students and researchers in understanding the development of this phenomenon and its social and cultural impacts. Through case studies including Lucy Letby, the Yorkshire Ripper and Fred and Rosemary West, the book considers true crime’s ethical implications and its wider influence on crime and punishment.

'An engaging study of the fascination with true crime and the media representation thereof. It offers a detailed examination of some of the most (in)famous examples of crime and criminals.' Ian Marsh, University of Chester

Ian Cummins is Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford.

Martin King is an independent scholar and author.

Louise Wattis is Assistant Professor at Northumbria University.