The True Crime Ghostwriter
Victims. Whistleblowers. Police Officers. Perpetrators. Undercover Agents. Corruption.
Hi and welcome to the site. If you are looking for a True Crime specialist, I hope that you have come to the right place!
After over 25 years of presenting breakfast radio in the north of England, I have now ghostwritten over 25 books. I have found so many of those skills transferable such as the art of storytelling, knowing what to leave out as well as include, and impactful conversation.
Both radio and books, of course, have words at their heart.
In 2010, I found myself on the air when the biggest police manhunt for 40 years began in the northeast of the country. I ended up writing the story of one of the victims. Tango 190 for the late PC David Rathband.
David’s book opened so many doors for me. Notwithstanding its very sad end, he has a great story. The process of writing that book put down principles that stay with me today from both the way I tackle True Crime to the personal relationships and duty of care I have towards those at the centre of the story.
Without doubt, True Crime is hugely ‘popular’. It has held massive interest for me since childhood when my father used to be an investigator. It is the genre where I have the most experience and the greatest passion.
I will come at it from any angle – whether you are investigating it, whistleblowing on it, or either a perpetrator on the road to redemption or a victim sadly caught in the middle of it all. If you take a look at some of the books I have ghostwritten, I think I have most of it covered.
I do understand that if you choose to work with me, this is something you’ve never done before and nor do you probably know how it works. I recognise that it is a massive leap of faith to entrust to a stranger, memories which at times may have been your darkest hour. I am also well aware that telling your story will set you free and mean that you go on the record from now until the end of time.
I get all that.
Your story is safe with me.
Tony Horne
Hello@SecretsOfAGhostwriter.com
07769 644883
True Crime Books
Tango190
On 1 July 2010, Raoul Moat was released from Durham Prison. Within forty-eight hours he had shot his ex-partner Samantha Stobbart and brutally murdered her new boyfriend, Chris Brown. In the early hours of 4 July Police Constable David Rathband was gunned down while sitting in his patrol car in East Denton, just outside Newcastle upon Tyne. PC Rathband was blinded for life and one of the biggest manhunts in police history began, culminating in Moat s death six days later in the small Northumberland town of Rothbury. For the first time, this is PC David Rathband s story in his own words...
The Rathband Tapes - Podcast
For over a decade, conversations between the late David Rathband and his ghostwriter Tony Horne recorded during the writing of the best-selling Tango 190, have remained locked in a vault.
Bodyguard (My Life On The Front Line)
Craig Summers had one of the most dangerous jobs in television. His task? Keeping adventurous celebrities alive. Summers was the BBC's security advisor through some of its most turbulent years. His job took him to war zones, scenes of natural disaster and big international sporting events - as well as on undercover operations involving child trafficking, football hooliganism and narcotics.
The Man And The Mask
On 7 July 2005, Paul Dadge boarded an underground train heading towards the offices of AOL in Hammersmith, London. Like many that day, he did not complete his journey. Forced to abandon his route, he continued on foot towards Edgware Road where the horror of 7/7 began to unfold in front of him.
Save One Child
In the late 1970s, Detective Ian James had quickly risen through the ranks of the London Metropolitan Police. After ten years, he relocated North to Cleveland where he continued in the role of a detective running informants on the Regional Crime Squad and National Crime Squad to infiltrate the underworld. Drugs and gun were on his watch. Then, a chance meeting with an old friend changed his life forever.
If Only
On Boxing Day 1964 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey left home to go to the fair. Her older brother, Terry did not go with her because he was ill with flu. Not accompanying her on that fateful day would haunt Terry for the rest of his life. Lesley was abducted by Moors murderers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.
This is their heart-breaking story, told by Terry.
This fascinating and tragic story also includes family photographs and letters from Ian Brady and Myra Hindley
Truth Of Lies - Podcast
In January 2027, Corporal Michael Phillips was killed in Sierra Leone. His wife Julie was home alone when she received that dreaded knock at the door, breaking the news to her. Their daughter Hollie was just eight weeks old.
As time went on, it became clear Julie did know the whole story. She has waited over two decades to go on the record. In conversation with her friend and ghostwriter Tony Horne, this is Truth of Lies.