Contained within the pages of this book are the stories behind some of the most notorious murders in Lancashire's history. The cases covered here record the county's most fascinating but least known crimes, as well as famous murders that gripped not just Lancashire but the whole nation. From Liverpool's Florence Maybrick (was she really guilty of poisoning her hypochondriac husband with arsenic and was he indeed Jack the Ripper?) to late Victorian Bury's disturbing 'Body in the Wardrobe' case; from the infamous Drs Ruxton and Clements who saw off five wives between them, to Blackpool's Louisa Merrifield, whole loose tongue was undoubtedly her downfall, this is a collection of the county's most dramatic and interesting criminal cases. Alan Hayhurst has been uncovering evidence about the county's historic murders for more than forty years. In writing this book he has visited all the murder sites, consulted original documents and contemporary reports, and spoken to those who have personal memories of the cases concerned. Lancashire Murders is a unique re-examination of the darker side of the county's past.

Alan Hayhurst is Honorary Secretary of the Police History Society. A retired bank manager, he has been researching the history of crime in Lancashire for 25 years. He is a 'speaker on matters criminal', and has lectured on Dr Crippen at New Scotland Yard. He has written articles on crime and criminals and assisted in the production of Hideous Crimes: The Secrets of the Black Museum for Channel 5.