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Murder in the Suburbs

More True Crimes You'll Never Forget.
Brief Description
Shocking True Crimes can happen in Your Street. From acclaimed true crime author and podcaster Emily Webb comes a gripping collection of chilling cases from Australia and beyond. This volume delves into both well-known and obscure crimes, revealing the dark underbelly lurking beneath seemingly peaceful neighbourhoods.... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Shocking True Crimes can happen in Your Street.

From acclaimed true crime author and podcaster Emily Webb comes a gripping collection of chilling cases from Australia and beyond. This volume delves into both well-known and obscure crimes, revealing the dark underbelly lurking beneath seemingly peaceful neighbourhoods.

In 1977, the murder of an Australian nurse living in Texas shocked the community and remains unsolved to this day. In 1950, the disappearance of a Melbourne woman led to the largest search of its time, only for her husband to later confess to disposing of her body under dubious circumstances.

The book also examines decades of baby abductions from hospitals, suburban homes, and public streets, highlighting the vulnerability of the most innocent among us. The still-unsolved murder of elderly "gentleman grocer" Frank Newbery in Newcastle serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk in the most familiar places.

In the 1950s, a cricket match in suburban Adelaide turned into a scene of terror when a gunman opened fire, fatally shooting one player and injuring another. In 1973, during a bustling football game at Adelaide Oval, 11-year-old Joanne Ratcliffe and 4-year-old Kirste Gordon vanished without a trace, their disappearances haunting the community to this day.

Murder in the Suburbs is a compelling reminder that even the most tranquil street can harbour dark secrets. These true accounts will leave you questioning the safety of the world just outside your door.

Praise for Emily Webb

Suburban True Crime is a cracking read. It's full of suspense and mystery β€” but not of the Hollywood variety β€” instead Emily Webb writes about our streets and suburbs. – The AU Review

Webb certainly whets the appetite for more reading around these cases … A solid addition to any true crime lover’s bookshelf. – GLAM

Her telling of a range of tales reads as factual, careful and very considered … That doesn't mean that she shies away from explaining what happened to many of these victims, it, fortunately, lacks the sensationalism that can sometimes be found in these sorts of accounts. – AustralianCrimeFiction.org

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781923300637

Publisher: Big Sky Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 July 2025

Country: Australia

Imprint: Big Sky Publishing

DIMENSIONS

Width: 3886.0mm

Height: 5842.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Emily Webb’s lifelong interest in true crime began when she was 10 years old and found a book at her grandparents’ house in New Zealand called Infamous Murders. Emily took an interest in writing about suburban cold cases when she was a local news reporter, which led to writing several books, including Suburban True Crime. She was co-host of Australian True Crime podcast for seven years and recently teamed up with fellow writer Vikki Petraitis to produce The Unthinkable podcast for Casefile Presents. When she is not writing and podcasting, Emily works as a communications advisor and is also a licensed private investigator.

Also by Emily Webb

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  • Suburban True Crime
    Chilling cases of murder and crime that have happened in the quiet streets of Australia’s suburbs. Emily Webb, co-host of the popular Australian True Crime podcast, details chilling cases of murder and crime that have happened in the quiet streets of Australia’s suburbs. Featuring contemporary cases as well as some shocking historical murders you’ve probably never heard of, Suburban True...
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