Fact proves far stranger than fiction in this collection of real-life crimes, scandals, tragedies and murders which either influenced the works of the world's most popular mystery writer or affected the lives of many famous personalities involved in her long and brilliant career. Discover the truth behind many of her books, such as how the exploits of Jack the Ripper inspired the serial killings in The ABC Murders and how the plot twist in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was suggested by Lord Mountbatten. This book also reveals how many of her illustrious acquaintances found themselves immersed in episodes so bizarre that they could have been written by Christie herself, including how the father of Miss Marple actress Margaret Rutherford committed murder and Poirot actor Peter Ustinov witnessed the assassination of a world leader. Agatha Christie's True Crime Inspirations is a fascinating addition to Christie literature, focusing on little-known parts of this iconic writer's life and career. From her early roots in Torquay to her infamous eleven-day disappearance, no stone is left unturned as the events of her own life are revealed to be every bit as intriguing as her world-renowned novels.

Within these pages are accounts of Robert James Lees, the Ilfracombe spiritualist who claimed to have unmasked Jack the Ripper; Charles De Ville Wells, the Plymouth-based fraudster who famously broke the bank at Monte Carlo; Herbert Rowse Armstrong, the former Newton Abbot solicitor who remains the only member of his profession to be executed for murder; Lord Frederick Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire's son who was assassinated in Dublin; Oscar Wilde, whose downfall was initiated by an incriminating letter sent from Babbacombe; and Robert Hichens, the helmsman of the Titanic who later in life was jailed for attempted murder in Torquay.

From Dartmoor to Dartmouth, the River Dart flows through some of Devon's most beautiful scenery. The towns and villages which have grown up along its banks are steeped in history and proudly preserve their rich heritage. This book shows images from the past of places all the way along the river. From the Dartmeet through Holne, Hexworthy, Buckfastleigh, Staverton, Dartington, Totnes, Ashprington, Tuckenhay, Cornworthy, Stoke Gabriel, Dittisham, Galmpton, Dartmouth and Kingswear, archive photographs bring the history of the area to life. With over 200 images carefully selected from the Local Studies Archive at Torquay Library, these pictures cover a wide range of subjects, including: the revival of Buckfast Abbey, the development and preservation of the steam railway, the proud seafaring tradition of the area (from Elizabethan adventurers such as Gilbert, Raleigh and Davis to the Britannia Royal Naval College), local involvement in warfare (from the Norman Conquest to the Falklands Conflict), village life, and the vessels that have plied the Dart during the twentieth century. Of course, no book of this kind would be complete without mentioning some of the many colourful legends and folk stories that abound concerning this area and Mike Holgate has used many such tales in this expertly written captions. People who enjoy a long-standing association with the area will love the nostalgia of this book - which takes the reader both along the river and down memory lane! Those who are of a more recent association with the area will love the nostalgia of this book - which takes the reader both along the river and down memory lane! Those who are of a more recent association with the River Dart will delight in seeing its history displayed through high-quality images and comprehensive text.

John Lee is the most infamous Victorian criminal after Jack the Ripper. He achieved notoriety on three counts: he was found guilty of the murder of his elderly employer in Babbacombe in 1884; he was sent for execution but three times the trap failed to operate; released from gaol after 23 years in custody, John Lee married, then abandoned his family and disappeared. Mike Holgate and Ian Waugh piece together this extraordinary story, reviewing the Babbacombe murder, presenting new evidence on the identity of the murderer, proposing a new explanation for the failure of the trap at Lee's execution and investigating Lee's new life after his release. The Babbacombe murder grabbed every available headline in 1884, and Lee's narrow escape on the scaffold and his colourful life as a reformed man were the stuff of popular legend. The truth behind the legend is every bit as compelling, as this engrossing new book reveals.

Discover the darker side of Devon with this remarkable collection of true-life crimes from across the county. Legendary north Devon highwayman Tom Faggus (featured in the classic novel Lorna Doone), east Devon smuggler Jack Rattenbury (known as 'The Rob Roy of the West'), south Devon murderer John Lee ('The Man They Could Not Hang') and west Devon fraudster Charles De Ville Wells (immortalised for his gambling exploits in the music hall song 'The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo') are featured among the infamous rogues, rascals and reprobates in this veritable who's who of the county's most notorious villains. Drawing on a wide variety of historical sources and containing many cases which have never before been published, Devon Villains will fascinate everyone interested in true crime and the history of Devon.