Jenny Ashford is a horror, true crime, and paranormal writer, graphic designer, and podcaster. Her most recent books are a three-volume true crime compilation collectively known as The Faceless Villain: A Collection of the Eeriest Unsolved Murders of the Twentieth Century. Volume One was published in 2017, Volume Two in 2018, and Volume Three in 2019. Her other books include four paranormal nonfiction books: The Unseen Hand: A New Exploration of Poltergeist Phenomena, The Mammoth Mountain Poltergeist (with Tom Ross), House of Fire and Whispers: Investigating the Seattle Demon House, and The Rochdale Poltergeist (both with Steve Mera); as well as three horror novels, Red Menace, Bellwether, and The Five Poisons; two short story collections, Hopeful Monsters and The Associated Villainies; and a graphic novel, The Tenebrist. A second edition of The Associated Villainies was published in 2019, featuring four new stories, an enhanced print layout, and an audio book version. A second edition of The Five Poisons was published in 2020. Her short stories have appeared in several anthologies, including The Nightmare Collective, History Is Dead, 2012AD, ChimeraWorld #3, and ChimeraWorld #4. Her horror blog, Goddess of Hellfire, contains writing news, short stories and articles, and her reviews and opinions on horror films and books. She also co-hosts a podcast with Tom Ross called 13 O'Clock, on which they discuss true crime, unexplained mysteries, paranormal weirdness, horror movies and books, food, and other fun, creepy topics. They recently collaborated on a 13 O'Clock cookbook. Jenny's graphic design work can be seen on everything from books and business cards to posters and packaging. She runs an online store called Gravecake selling products with her designs, and also has a board-and-card game concern called Giallo Games, which produces games based around the beloved Italian horror/crime genre, among many other themes.
Annie Yates, sometimes referred to as Mary Anne Yates or Mary Anne Marshall, was around twenty-three years old and lived a precarious life on the margins of society. She worked as a prostitute, renting a furnished back room on the first floor of 12 Burton Crescent, a building that housed similar women in what was … More Annie Yates
The Unsolved Murder of Lucy Sands: A Victorian Tragedy in Workington Lucinda “Lucy” Sands was born in February 1865 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to William John Sands, a pork cutter, and Mary Ann Stewart. The family lived modestly in Belfast, with Lucy’s younger brother, James Henry Sands, born in 1867. Tragedy struck early when both … More Lucy Sands
Chloé Ansel was born on April 4th, 2006, and was the eldest of three siblings in a family living in the Petit-Courgain neighborhood of Calais, France. Described by her father, David Ansel, as a “cheerful little girl” who was “very courageous” and excelled in school, Chloé was known for her politeness and love of life. … More Chloé Ansel
The Murder of Helen Jewett: A Sensational Crime That Shaped American Journalism Born Dorcas Doyen on October 18th, 1813, in Temple, Maine, Helen Jewett’s early life was marked by hardship and reinvention. Orphaned young after her mother’s death between 1820 and 1823, she was placed as a servant in the household of Chief Justice Nathan … More Helen Jewett
Agapit Dominique Leblanc was born in 1887 in Bouctouche, a predominantly Acadian community in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. Little is documented about his early years, but by 1920, he had joined the Canadian Fisheries and Marine Service as a fishery guardian. At the age of thirty-three, Leblanc took on the role of enforcing fishing … More Agapit Leblanc
College Farm, situated on Regent’s Park Road in Finchley, North London, was established as a model dairy operation by the Express Dairy Company in the late 19th century. It served as a picturesque and productive site, supplying milk to London’s growing population. The farm’s serene setting belied its role as the backdrop for one of … More Thomas Webb: The College Farm Mystery
Mary Jane Voller was born around 1893, making her just five years old at the time of her death. She lived with her parents in a modest home in Barking, a working-class suburb on the outskirts of London. The Voller family appeared typical of the Victorian era’s lower-middle class, with her father employed locally and … More Mary Jane Voller
Nanette Mae Ellis was born in 1943 and lived a modest, routine life in Boronia, a suburb in eastern Melbourne, Australia. Divorced and raising her two sons on her own, she worked as an advertising manager for The Free Press, a local newspaper in Belgrave. Colleagues described her as well-regarded, professional, and unassuming, with seemingly … More Nanette Ellis
Jenny Rose Ng was born in Hong Kong in 1943 and immigrated to Australia with her family at a young age. Described by those who knew her as bubbly, friendly, and affectionate, with a perpetual smile, Jenny embodied resilience and warmth. She married Kam Hor Ng in Hong Kong in 1969, and the couple returned … More Jenny Rose Ng
Patricia Elsken was born in 1964 and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she developed a close-knit bond with her family, particularly her mother, Jimmie Elsken. Described by relatives as being like best friends rather than a typical mother-daughter pair, Patricia and Jimmie were inseparable, often spending time together and sharing a deep affection. At … More Patricia Elsken
Crime Immemorial 