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Unmasking the Journey from Duty to Darkness to Healing In Hidden Scars, former NSW Police Officer Justyn Backhouse shares an unflinching memoir of life on the front lines, revealing the harrowing experiences and unseen toll of a 25-year policing career. Diagnosed with PTSD in 2021, Justyn wrote this memoir during treatment—not only as a path to healing but as an honest exploration of the psychological scars that come with being a first responder. His journey unfolds with gripping intensity: from high-speed pursuits on highway patrol to daring rescues and body recoveries with POLAir, each experience brings him closer to the edge. It all unravels with a pivotal incident late in Justyn’s career—a traumatic moment that thrust him into a mental health crisis. Vivid flashbacks pull readers into defining scenes: the adrenaline and shock of his first encounters with crime, tragic motor vehicle accidents that challenge his views on mortality, and the violent clashes during the Cronulla riots. Each experience erodes the safety of youth, replacing it with the stark realities of policing. As PTSD silently takes root, Justyn confronts the relentless impact of trauma on his work, family, and sense of self. He exposes private battles—panic attacks, the emotional toll on his loved ones, and the struggle to cope with the stress infiltrating every part of his life. Amidst the bleakness, his journey toward recovery unfolds, revealing the support and resilience he draws on to rebuild his life and purpose. Through raw, compelling storytelling, Hidden Scars offers a window into the harsh realities of police work and a powerful message of healing and hope, shining a light on the courage it takes to reclaim oneself from the shadows of trauma.

Inside The Mind Of Ted Bundy Ted Bundy, a failed law student and lone drifter, raped and murdered at least thirty girls and young women in five different US states.Despite his apparent charm and intelligence and seemingly normal relationships with women, he conducted a brutal killing spree between 1974 and 1978. This was the decade during which 'criminal profiling' was initially developed and the term 'serial killer' was first used by law-enforcement agencies.True crime writers Tanya Farber and Jeremy Daniel examine how this charming man, who was able to function so well in society, could conduct these horrific crimes.They also uncover the cult of 'celebrity' that followed Bundy through the first televised trial in American history - and why his personality and profile has spawned so many films and TV dramas, including Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, in 2019, starring Zac Efron.

Andy Atkinson and Cheryl Henry met on a blind date arranged by friends and hit it off immediately. On their second date at Bayou Mama’s, they left together to visit a spot known as "Lovers' Lane." Within hours, Andy was found tied to a tree with his throat slashed, and Cheryl was discovered raped and murdered nearby. Their brutal deaths shocked Houston and remain unsolved to this day. "The Lovers' Lane Murders" explores the lives of Cheryl and Andy, revealing new details and hoping to bring fresh insight into this decades-old mystery. The families still seek resolution, and the killer remains at large.

Meadow'S LawThe remarkable story of a battle between science and the law, and a mother's fight for justiceIn 2003, Kathleen Folbigg was found guilty of smothering her four young children to death, one by one. Medical experts told her trial that they had never come across a family like hers, where three or more infants had died from natural causes. Extracts from diaries she had written were judged to be virtual admissions of guilt, and Folbigg was sentenced to 40 years in jail. But did she do it?This is a gripping and meticulously researched account of one of Australia's most infamous criminal cases, written by investigative journalist Quentin McDermott, whose groundbreaking work with ABC's Australian Story helped trigger a push by scientists to uncover the genetic cause of two of the children's deaths. It is also the story of how dedicated teams of lawyers, friends and supporters fought to achieve Kathleen Folbigg's eventual pardon, release and acquittal after 20 years behind bars.Meadow's Law is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, justice, science and the power of investigative journalism.

Missing … without a trace … into thin air. In Missing, Nicole Morris, best-selling author of Vanished and founder of the Australian Missing Persons Register, delves into the chilling world of long-term missing persons cases. With over 55,000 disappearances annually in Australia, each story is a heart-wrenching account of unanswered questions and shattered lives. From a West Australian man entangled in the dangers of online dating to an Adelaide father possibly linked to Australia's most notorious serial killings, Morris uncovers haunting tales of those who vanished without a trace. Three mothers leaving behind bewildered children, a young hitchhiker lost on a desolate Queensland highway, and two Sydney men who lost their way—all woven into the fabric of inexplicable disappearances. The narrative spans decades, from the 1980s to present-day mysteries, including the puzzling case of a gentle Greenpeace worker vanishing amidst inner-city Melbourne, the suspicious disappearance of a 21-year-old, and the grim discovery of scattered remains in Queensland, unravelling a harrowing tale of violence and tragedy. And then there is the perplexing case of a man who went missing over and over again. Missing sheds light on the untold stories of those who vanished, leaving behind a void of unanswered questions and enduring pain. Nicole Morris brings attention to the cold cases from families of missing persons, raising awareness, and hopefully uncovering new leads for desperate families searching for the truthAuthor located in Brisbane. Location of the stories: Steven Lockey – Elizabeth, Davoren Park, Broadmeadows, Kilburn Adelaide SA; Joanne Butterfield – Cairns, Mossman, Mowbray, Pin Gin Hill QLD; Rigby Fielding – Perth, Kwinana, Rockingham WA; Gail King – Brahma Lodge, Adelaide,. Minlaton, Yorke Peninsula SA; Anthony Jones – Townsville, Hughenden, Mt Isa QLD and Perth WA; Owen Redman – Brunswick, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria; Andrew Anderson – Nambucca Heads, Valla, Bowraville, Thora, Dorrigo, Bellingen, Macksville, Mid North Coast New South Wales; Jamie Howe – Glebe, Ashfield, Leichhardt, Broadway, Sydney, New South Wales; Sandrine Jourdan – Caboolture, QLD; Stephen Mitchell – Beverley Hills, Mortdale, Narwee, Hurstville, Olds Park, Kurnell, Jannali, Matraville, Miranda, Cronulla, Botany, Sydney, NSW; Shaun Barker – Pacific Pines, Broadbeach Gold Coast, Toolara State Forest, Cooloola Cove, Gympie, QLD; Paul – Nowra NSW praise for the author:"Thank you Nicole for all you do in helping these families and being their voice in getting the word out there. Excellent true crime book about what the families feel when a loved one goes missing. Written well so it’s an easy listen to heartbreaking stories that will stay with you." "I read this book within one day. I think it was a fantastic and informative exploration into these individuals stories" "Commendation to Nicole Morris for what she does for families of missing persons"

Shocking True Crimes can happen in Your Street. From acclaimed true crime author and podcaster Emily Webb comes a gripping collection of chilling cases from Australia and beyond. This volume delves into both well-known and obscure crimes, revealing the dark underbelly lurking beneath seemingly peaceful neighbourhoods. In 1977, the murder of an Australian nurse living in Texas shocked the community and remains unsolved to this day. In 1950, the disappearance of a Melbourne woman led to the largest search of its time, only for her husband to later confess to disposing of her body under dubious circumstances. The book also examines decades of baby abductions from hospitals, suburban homes, and public streets, highlighting the vulnerability of the most innocent among us. The still-unsolved murder of elderly "gentleman grocer" Frank Newbery in Newcastle serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk in the most familiar places. In the 1950s, a cricket match in suburban Adelaide turned into a scene of terror when a gunman opened fire, fatally shooting one player and injuring another. In 1973, during a bustling football game at Adelaide Oval, 11-year-old Joanne Ratcliffe and 4-year-old Kirste Gordon vanished without a trace, their disappearances haunting the community to this day Murder in the Suburbs is a compelling reminder that even the most tranquil street can harbor dark secrets. These true accounts will leave you questioning the safety of the world just outside your door. PRAISE FOR EMILY WEBBSuburban True Crime is a cracking read. It's full of suspense and mystery — but not of the Hollywood variety — instead Emily Webb writes about our streets and suburbs. – The AU Review Webb certainly whets the appetite for more reading around these cases … A solid addition to any true crime lover’s bookshelf. – GLAM Her telling of a range of tales reads as factual, careful and very considered … That doesn't mean that she shies away from explaining what happened to many of these victims, it, fortunately, lacks the sensationalism that can sometimes be found in these sorts of accounts. – AustralianCrimeFiction.org

From cold-blooded calculation to fiery vengeance—discover how history's most notorious killers finally faced their fate! Step into the chilling world of some of history's most infamous killers and discover how their reigns of terror came to a brutal, often fitting end. Payback chronicles the lives, crimes, and ultimate fates of notorious figures like Harold Shipman, the most prolific serial killer in British history, whose meticulous plans for suicide were as calculated as his murders. From Bluebeard, the remorseless widow-killer, racing toward his guillotine, to Bonnie and Clyde meeting their demise in a hail of bullets, this collection dives deep into the justice—or vengeance—that ended their crimes. Using historical accounts, trial transcripts, and psychological insights, Payback explores the depravity of these individuals, the lives they destroyed, and the punishments that await them. Readers will encounter chilling moments of calm calculation, like Percival William Budd's emotionless murder of a taxi driver for a car, and horrifying spectacles of retribution, from botched executions to violent prison deaths. This volume explores the psychology of killers, from early warning signs to the urges that drove them to kill. With gripping detail, Payback offers a haunting glimpse into the minds of killers and asks whether justice was truly served. You decide: Did these killers get what they deserved

The First Murderer I Ever MetFor more than thirty years, Mark Dapin has been hanging out with crooks, and both types of cop. In this gripping, often funny and always surprising book, he sorts the tall stories from the truth about true crime, showing us what some of Australia’s most famous felons are really like.Mark Dapin was still in school when he met his first murderer – a boy called Ian. In reporting the murder Ian eventually committed, newspapers used the cliché that it ‘shocked even those who knew him best’. But it didn’t shock Dapin, because he knew Ian in real life, not in clichés.Criminals are sensationalised in the press and mythologised in their own stories. In describing criminals, police and prison officers he’s spent time with, Dapin searches for the real characters and events. How many of Chopper Read’s stories were actually true? What's it like at home with former murder cop Gary Jubelin? Was the biggest art heist in Australian history carried out by one of Dapin’s neighbours, the mysterious Sky Blue? And what happens when you go to visit a prison with celebrated escapee John Killick? These encounters are better than a ring-side seat to the underworld: Dapin gets in the ring.The First Murderer I Ever Met is the truest true crime – it’s what actually happened.

The Idaho Murders Based on extensive research and first-hand interviews, this true crime novel offers unprecedented insight into the 2022 Idaho murders and the subsequent trial. On 13th November 2022 in the small quiet town of Moscow, Idaho, the unthinkable happened. Four innocent college students were murdered in their home. In the ensuing investigation, the local police and FBI did a lot right. But what did they get wrong? We've learned about the four heartbroken families - the Mogens, Goncalves, Kernodles, and Chapins. We have the backstory for Bryan Kohberger, brilliant graduate student, loner, apparent incel. Now, after over 300 exclusive interviews and in-depth reporting, James Patterson and prize-winning journalist Vicky Ward finally have some answers. _________________________________ PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON 'Nobody does it better.' JEFFERY DEAVER 'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' LEE CHILD 'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' IAN RANKIN 'Patterson is in a class by himself' GUARDIAN

The jaw-dropping story of Instagram influencer and wellness scammer Belle Gibson, whose cancer diagnosis and cure was all a lie. NOW A NETFLIX LIMITED SERIES STARRING KAITLYN DEVER Entrepreneur. Inspiration. Guru. Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson shot to fame after she convinced the world she had cured her terminal brain cancer with just a healthy diet. But there was one problem- she lied - she'd never had cancer. Gibson, a high school dropout and teenage mother, built a global business in less than eighteen months that vaulted her to fame and fortune. She had 200,000 Instagram followers from Melbourne to Los Angeles to London, international book deals, and a bestselling smartphone app, having fooled both Penguin Books and Apple. She was a digital-age celebrity, a one-woman cult, a hero of the "wellness" world, and an inspiration to many. Written by the two journalists who assiduously uncovered the details of Gibson's lies, The Woman Who Fooled the World unravels the mystery and motivation behind this deception. It follows the public reaction to the scandal, which included headlines in Time magazine and Gibson being named as a top-ten villain of the year by The Washington Post. The Woman Who Fooled the World also explores the lure of alternative cancer treatments, the cottage industry flourishing behind the wellness movement, and the rise of social media. It documents not only Gibson's folly but the devastating impact this con had on hers fans and on people suffering from cancer.   'The Woman Who Fooled the World isn't just a detonating expose, but a forensically researched, compulsively readable and frequently staggering behind-the-scenes account of an unravelling on an operative scale. It'll also restore your faith in journalism's ability to uncover the truth and expose it to light.'-Benjamin Law, author of Gaysia and The Family Law 'Meticulously researched and elegantly composed, The Woman Who Fooled The World is a journalistic detective story for the smart-phone age. Donelly and Toscano not only chart con artist Belle Gibson's rise to global acclaim and her crashing fall, they explore and explain modern society's willingness to believe in anyone, or anything, that offers hope of beating what is perhaps our greatest collective fear- cancer. For me, the book reaches its highest point when we hear from genuine cancer sufferers who believed in Gibson. Their honesty about their fears and uncertain futures counter balances the bullshit of Gibson and her profit-minded enablers. Donelly and Toscano give a master class in old-fashioned investigative journalism and a reminder of its potency and importance.'-Richard Baker, investigative journalist, The Age 'The Woman Who Fooled the World is a balanced and authoritative account of Gibson's career ... essential reading for anyone seeking an understanding of how so many people could have fallen for her pernicious lies.'-Simon Caterson, Irish Independent

Now with three new chapters, author Stuart Mullins and former South Australian police detective Bill Hayes expose Harry Phipps as the prime suspect in the abduction, disappearance, and likely murder of the Beaumont children, one of Australia’s most notorious cold cases since 1966. On Australia Day 1966, Jane, Arnna, and Grant Beaumont were abducted from Colley Reserve, Glenelg, South Australia and never seen again, leading to one of Australia's most extensive police investigations and manhunts. Five decades later, no trace of the children has ever been found. Over the years, several individuals have been put forward and investigated, resulting in false leads and dead ends, and with no real suspect until now: Harry Phipps. On the surface, he was a gentleman: generous, charismatic, and intelligent – a person of wealth and influence in the community. However, a dramatically different person resided behind the walls of his Glenelg mansion. In Unmasking the Killer of the Missing Beaumont Children, author Stuart Mullins and former South Australian police detective Bill Hayes expose Harry Phipps as the prime suspect in the abduction, disappearance, and likely murder of the Beaumont children. Over ten pieces of circumstantial evidence linking Phipps to the Beaumont abduction are explored in detail, supported by geographic and predator profiling chapters, which detail how these monsters operate. The authors explore a potential link to the 1973 Adelaide Oval abduction of Kirste Gordon and Joanne Ratcliffe and reveal conversations with Haydn Phipps, the eldest son of Harry and a possible eyewitness to events on that fateful day. Stuart and Bill answer the question: where to next? Along with other experts, they firmly believe the answer to this baffling mystery lies buried at Castalloy, a factory once owned by Harry Phipps. This edition features three new chapters of material covering the 2025 forensic dig at the Castalloy site and further chilling, deeply disturbing and unsettling allegations against Phipps and possible accomplices.

“There is surely nobody more qualified to tell the stories of the families of missing people than Nicole Morris, who has dedicated much of her life to the selfless and relentless pursuit of information and answers on their behalf. Nicole's knowledge of Australian missing persons cases is incredibly detailed, and she tells their stories with sensitivity and thoughtfulness.” – Kate Kyriacou, Crime and courts editor for The Courier Mail.They just Vanished… Disappeared. Gone. Lost. No answers. Still missing.Imagine the pain, confusion and emotional roller-coaster that families experience when a loved one goes missing. What would you do? How would your family cope? This is a heart-wrenching collection of true stories told through the eyes of family members who have experienced the trauma of a missing loved one. It follows their journeys from the desperate searches in the first days, through the Police investigations and, in many cases, the heartbreak as the years roll by without any news. From two young girls who might have been early victims of Ivan Milat… a woman who was last seen walking alongside a Victorian highway… a man who vanished among the homeless in Sydney… a teenage boy likely murdered and fed to crocodiles in Kakadu… two Tasmanian men who disappeared under strange circumstances… a heroin addict who just couldn’t face another day… the man who disappeared from a hospital in Adelaide after collapsing in the street... the circumstances are all different, but the impact on the families devastating. Nicole Morris is the founder of the Australian Missing Persons Register. She has written this book to develop awareness of the plight of the courageous families of missing persons and raise public awareness to help find those people who seem to have vanished into thin air.‘I know the stories in this book so well, I have been working on locating missing people for over 17 years, and I wanted the world to meet these courageous families and also to learn about the missing persons themselves, who they were, what happened to them, and to encourage the public to try to help find them. I wanted to base it around the theme of how their brothers and sisters took on the roles of searching for them, for decades, giving up their own lives and at great personal sacrifice to try to find answers.’ – Nicole Morris