Due to be published in the Spring of 2026 by Hobnob Press, Murder in the Archives: The stories that crime files tell is a transformative work which follows the life-stories of the most elite and rare of records created by police forces – the murder file. These complex case papers reveal unexplored narratives around the relationship between the detective and his paperwork; the upheaval of force mergers; the destruction and survival of records; as well as the influences of organisational and personal memory. Through the often bizarre stories of how the files were preserved Murder in the archives addresses wider and current concerns around the preservation of, and access to police records, organisational accountability, and the impact that recent legislation and technology may have on the future quality and quantity of records available for research.
Murder in the Archives is a rare study of the materiality of an archival document – it looks beyond the file simply as a vessel for information and reinterprets it as an object with an important story to tell. The book also sits at the little explored coalface of history, questioning how and why history is laid down and interpreted and research has made extensive use of and highlights the holdings and work of local record offices and archives.
Murder in the Archives is aimed at a diverse audience, both academic and non-academic: Those who study the preservation of criminal justice and, in particular, policing records; those interested in records transparency and accountability of public-facing organisations i.e. campaigners for the introduction of the Hillsborough Law; readers interested in forensic science or law. It will also appeal to local historians and archivists; those interested in the archival process; users of archives who visit in particular Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Lancashire, Cumbria and Sussex records office; serving and retired members of regional police forces; records managers; crime historians and writers and readers of both true and fictional crime.
Dr Angie Sutton-Vane 