Brian Innes

For as long as historical annals have been kept, they have recorded the frauds and fakes that have been imposed upon innocent dupes. Perhaps the earliest Christian story of all is that which tells of the deception that Jacob practised on his unsuspecting father Abraham, pretending to be his brother Esau; and today the theft of identity is reported to be the most rapidly spreading crime. And throughout the ages works of art and literature, coinage, and documents of all kinds have been forged for profit, personal status – and even out of pure mischief. Fakes, Scams and Forgeries details many of the most notorious acts of forgery, fraud and fakery that have taken place over the centuries, describing how they were perpetrated, their acceptance by those who considered themselves experts, and how – often after many years – they were eventually detected. As well as providing entertaining and in-depth profiles of famous forgers and legendary frauds, the text deals with the many modern scientific techniques that have been developed for the examination of suspect materials.

Criminal investigators have learned how to interpret vital testimony that is written in the language of fingerprints and flakes of skin, gradients of teeth and bone, splashes of blood, flecks of paint and traces of chemicals, a splinter of glass, or a uniquely striated bullet. Bodies of Evidence is packed with intriguing case histories involving an astonishing variety of forensic evidence, and includes various cases from around the world, including O. J. Simpson, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, ‘The Mad Bomber’ George Metesky, Tommie Lee Andrews, ‘The Night Stalker’ Richard Ramirez, Jack Unterweger, Lee Harvey Oswald, ‘The Boston Strangler’ Albert DeSalvo, Jeffrey MacDonald, the Lockerbie bombing, ‘The Unabomber’ Theodore Kaczynski, and many more. Bodies of Evidence also chronicles and evaluates the role of those who had made the most significant contributions in the varied fields of toxicology, serology, fingerprinting, facial reconstruction, forensic ballistics, psychological profiling and DNA fingerprinting. The text is illustrated throughout with 200 photographs, some of which have rarely been seen before.

Many people believe they have seen ghosts, many others are doubtful, but despite the rationalism of the present day, there has been no decrease in the number of sightings: old ghosts have survived for centuries and have been joined by modern ones, haunted houses retain their eerie reputations, apparitions are studied by parapsychologists, poltergeists still wreak havoc in homes. Ghost Sightings is a wide-ranging guide to ghostly phenomena from all parts of the globe up to 2015. It covers cases throughout history: many of them famous, others less well known. It examines malign spirits and gentle ghosts, apparitions, wraiths, haunted houses and spooky urban myths. Each entry gives details of the date, location and course of events, as well as providing a historical context and analytical assessment of the phenomenon. The book’s extensive appendices provide fascinating additional information, including the differing roles of ghosts in the world’s religions, an exploration of out-of-body and near-death experiences, and modern theories offered to explain ghosts by figures such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Ghost Sightings is a thorough study of a subject that has intrigued, amazed and terrified mankind throughout history.

However repugnant, torture has been practised, either publicly approved or clandestinely, for thousands of years. From the rack to electrodes, from witch- hunts to the Inquisition to a post-colonial world, torture is something we have always lived with. The History of Torture tells the complete story, from the ancient world to the present day, from physical cruelty to mental torment. The rack may be thought of as something medieval, but was first written about in ancient Greece, thumbscrews were introduced to western Europe from Russia in the 17th century, and with the 20th century came the use of electricity and hallucinogenic drugs to elicit confessions. Ranging from the ancient world to World War II, from the war in Algeria (1954- 62) to the torture of the IRA in Northern Ireland, from the torture of Native Americans to India, China, Japan and Cambodia's Killing Fields, the book also details the torture that has taken place since 9/11, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Guantanamo Bay. Meticulously researched, The History of Torture is illustrated with more than 100 etchings, paintings and photographs. It offers a remarkable overview of the uses and abuses of power, both within and outside the legal system.

The Terrifying Story of the Most Monstrous Serial Killers through History. Serial Killers are the most notorious and disturbing of all criminals, representing the very darkest side of humanity. Yet they endlessy fascinate and continue to capture the public's attention with their strange charisma and deadly deeds. From Jack the Ripper to Ted Bundy and the Moors Murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, these killers transfix us with their ability to commit utterly savage acts of cruelty and depravity. Only with modern police detection methods and psychological profiling, have these figures that have existed throughout human history finally been identified in the deadliest category: serial killers. These methods, the killers' characters and their crimes are described here in fascinating and terrifyingly gripping detail. The whole history of serial killers is brought to life in 50 chapters, including:Herman Webster Mudget, Devil in the White CityJohn Christie, 10 Rillington Place murdersZodiac KillerIan Brady and Myra Hindley, The Moors MurderersTed BundyFred and Rosemary WestJeffrey DahmerAileen WuornosHarold Shipman, Dr Death

This book takes students on a journey from the traditional practices of the Far East to modern Western medicine. Looking at the sometimes mysterious treatments and their applications, Mysterious Healing seeks explanations for the amazing healing powers that people claim to have seen and experienced.