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A fingerprint, DNA screening, strange indentations, and scratches. These are the things that can crack a case that seems impossible to solve.

 

Vikki Petraitis has interviewed police from Australian forensics, fingerprints, homicide and criminal investigation units, resulting in stories such as the woman who drugged and robbed lonely, vulnerable men, the forensic evidence that found the killer of three family members, the hit-run driver who killed a child, and other engrossing true crime stories.

This anthology of true crime stories written by Paul Taylor will satisfy the appetite of all true crime enthusiasts. The thirty-one chapters comprise notorious and fascinating cases, and shed light on chilling criminal personalities many of whom are known around the world. Readers will recognise local names such as Martin Bryant, Ivan Milat and Mark 'Chopper' Read, and immerse themselves in international events that involved Oscar Pistorius, the infamous duo Bonnie and Clyde and last but not least O.J. Simpson. By the time readers reach the end of this book, they will have no doubt uncovered which criminals were mad, bad or dangerous to know.

From the bizarre to the brutal to the unbelievable, truth is often stranger than fiction, as these fascinating stories testify.

 

Vikki Petraitis has spent hundreds of hours interviewing police - sometimes even accompanying them on active duty - to complete this collection of stories from the frontline of policing. Police officers from many fields have shared some of their best stories: the ones that were out of the ordinary, the ones they'll never forget. The result is this riveting collection of real-life Australian dramas. They include:

- a 'black widow' who reported her husband missing after an argument

- the perilous body retrieval of a drowned diver from a sunken submarine

- the capture and conviction of a man who drugged his unsuspecting victims by spiking their drinks

- the disappearance of Sarah MacDiarmid.

 

In each case the police concerned have achieved results through dedication and teamwork, and sometimes at great personal risk. We thank them for their service and understand that sometimes, the toll was too high.

 

Vikki Petraitis is a Melbourne author who has been writing true crime since the early 1990s. Her bestselling book about Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer, The Frankston Murders, is a classic in the true crime genre.  

Silver Linings is a story of resilience from an Australian woman who knows more than most about what it takes to bounce back from hardship. Alex Fevola grew up with a love of horses and make-up, and a determination to work hard; dabbling in modelling as a teen led to a promising start to a career in photography. A new chapter of her life was just beginning when tragedy struck, and she lost her partner and the father of her newborn daughter, Mia. Then, with barely a moment to grieve, and a young baby dependent on her, Alex almost succumbed to a life-threatening health emergency. Life was to deal Alex Fevola many more lows and highs, not least of which she experienced through her turbulent relationship with AFL football great Brendan Fevola. Now a successful businesswoman and founder of her own make-up brand, mum to four beautiful daughters and reunited with Brendan, Alex Fevola is ready to share her emotional journey. This is a story of triumph over adversity and pain, and making it through to the other side, stronger than before.