In the late 1980s, Calcutta pulsed with life ? crowded streets, endless noise, and a darkness that crept through the cracks of a city divided by wealth and despair. Amid its chaos, a phantom killer emerged. Homeless men and women were found bludgeoned to death with heavy stones, their skulls crushed in the shadows of the Maidan. The press called him The Stoneman. The city called him a curse. The police never caught him.

In The Stoneman Murders: True Crime Serial Killers, Johann Bachmann peels back the layers of one of India's most haunting unsolved cases. Through meticulous research and haunting storytelling, Bachmann explores not only the brutality of the murders but the soul of a city that turned away from its most vulnerable. From the relentless pursuit of Detective Prasun Mukherjee to the courage of survivors like Ramu and the silent trauma of witnesses like Anil Das, every page exposes the intersection of crime, poverty, and indifference.

This is more than a true crime story ? it's a portrait of urban decay, human resilience, and a mystery that still echoes through Calcutta's streets. Blending investigative detail with literary intensity, The Stoneman Murders challenges readers to confront the uncomfortable truth: that sometimes the most terrifying monsters are born not of evil alone, but of neglect.

For readers of In Cold Blood, Mindhunter, and The Delhi Crimes, this book offers a chilling look at the thin line between civilization and chaos ? and the shadows that linger long after the stones have fallen.

Johann Bachmann is a distinguished German author and criminologist known for his in-depth and meticulously researched books on serial killers. His work combines detailed case analysis with psychological insight, offering readers a sobering look into some of history's most notorious criminal cases. Bachmann's books are widely respected for their factual rigor and ability to contextualize crimes within their cultural and historical frameworks, earning him a dedicated readership across Europe and beyond.

Bachmann's writing is precise and measured, avoiding sensationalism while maintaining narrative momentum. He weaves together psychological analysis, investigative timelines, and cultural context, making his books accessible to both general readers and criminology scholars. His commitment to primary research?such as court transcripts and firsthand accounts?ensures accuracy, while his focus on victims humanizes each case.