I am a historian specialising in Victorian and Edwardian detectives, the evolution of crime investigation  and forensic science, and the true crimes that shaped them. I have a PhD in the history of detective practice. 

My life in crime began with my own family. Whilst researching my family tree, I uncovered all sorts of shady ancestors, including petty thieves, poachers and even a brothel keeper in the dangerous Victorian slums of my home city of Manchester. During a break from my career as a modern foreign languages lecturer, I began to write about my family’s past, which led to the publication of my first non-fiction history book, The Real Sherlock Holmes: The Hidden History of Jerome Caminada.

My work on crime and detective history has featured in many national magazines and newspapers, including The Times, The Telegraph, the Sunday Express, All About History and Who Do You Think You Are? magazine. My most recent book is The Bermondsey Murder: Scotland Yard’s First Great Challenge and Dickens’ Inspiration. I am a member of the Historical Writers’ Association and the Crime Writers’ Association.

An experienced speaker, I have taken part in many events such as the Henley Literary Festival, the Manchester Histories Festival and at the Museum of London. I am a regular contributor to the annual  London Month of the Dead festival, and a frequent guest on podcasts. I have appeared on The One Show on BBC One, and Celebrity Antiques Road Trip and The Secret Genius of Modern Life on BBC Two. I am also a Crime Fiction Expert for policeadvisor.co.uk. I write a popular Substack newsletter: The Detective’s Notebook.

I am associate lecturer in crime history at Oxford Brookes University and have contributed to The Routledge Handbook of Jack the Ripper Studies, which is due for publication later this year.