What do you think?
Rate this book
Decoy
Winner of 'Best Book' and 'Impact for Change' True Crime Awards 2025
The shocking true story of one of Britain’s most secretive, groundbreaking and successful police covert operations
Bristol, 1979.
An attacker roams the streets…
Young women are warned not to go out alone…
Enter the Decoys.
For several years, a prolific predator haunted Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police had tried all their usual tactics to catch the ‘Clifton Rapist’, and public pressure was mounting.
In 1979, a daring new plan was introduced, unlike anything previously attempted by a UK police force. A small group of young female officers – some aged just 18 – put their lives on the line, walking the quiet residential roads late at night, acting as bait.
Drawing on in-depth research and first-hand interviews with the women at the heart of the operation, Decoy is a dramatic retelling of one of the most groundbreaking agent provocateur stings in British history.
The shocking true story of one of Britain’s most secretive, groundbreaking and successful police covert operations
Bristol, 1979.
An attacker roams the streets…
Young women are warned not to go out alone…
Enter the Decoys.
For several years, a prolific predator haunted Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police had tried all their usual tactics to catch the ‘Clifton Rapist’, and public pressure was mounting.
In 1979, a daring new plan was introduced, unlike anything previously attempted by a UK police force. A small group of young female officers – some aged just 18 – put their lives on the line, walking the quiet residential roads late at night, acting as bait.
Drawing on in-depth research and first-hand interviews with the women at the heart of the operation, Decoy is a dramatic retelling of one of the most groundbreaking agent provocateur stings in British history.
Audible Audio
Published April 25, 2024
35 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Robert Murphy
158 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 17, 2025
Decoy: The gripping true crime story of one of Britain’s most shocking and secretive historical undercover police operations
Winner of 'Best Book' and 'Impact for Change' True Crime Awards 2025
One of the most powerful and gripping and shocking books I have read, detail in this book were were incredible, do I have enormous respect for the police women working in Bristol in the late 70's.
The team, the staff, the hours involved, well and the mistakes.
This story keeps going , even when you think it's all over !
The shocking true story of one of Britain’s most secretive, groundbreaking and successful police covert operations
Bristol, 1979.
An attacker roams the streets…
Young women are warned not to go out alone…
Enter the Decoys.
For several years, a prolific predator haunted Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police had tried all their usual tactics to catch the ‘Clifton Rapist’, and public pressure was mounting.
In 1979, a daring new plan was introduced, unlike anything previously attempted by a UK police force. A small group of young female officers – some aged just 18 – put their lives on the line, walking the quiet residential roads late at night, acting as bait.
Drawing on in-depth research and first-hand interviews with the women at the heart of the operation, Decoy is a dramatic retelling of one of the most groundbreaking agent provocateur stings in British history.
5 stars
Winner of 'Best Book' and 'Impact for Change' True Crime Awards 2025
One of the most powerful and gripping and shocking books I have read, detail in this book were were incredible, do I have enormous respect for the police women working in Bristol in the late 70's.
The team, the staff, the hours involved, well and the mistakes.
This story keeps going , even when you think it's all over !
The shocking true story of one of Britain’s most secretive, groundbreaking and successful police covert operations
Bristol, 1979.
An attacker roams the streets…
Young women are warned not to go out alone…
Enter the Decoys.
For several years, a prolific predator haunted Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police had tried all their usual tactics to catch the ‘Clifton Rapist’, and public pressure was mounting.
In 1979, a daring new plan was introduced, unlike anything previously attempted by a UK police force. A small group of young female officers – some aged just 18 – put their lives on the line, walking the quiet residential roads late at night, acting as bait.
Drawing on in-depth research and first-hand interviews with the women at the heart of the operation, Decoy is a dramatic retelling of one of the most groundbreaking agent provocateur stings in British history.
5 stars
July 11, 2024
Brilliant, really well researched and felt true. I could imagine the writer interviewing each person and getting their perspective and telling their stories. I bet there were so many more stories that didn't fit between the pages. I think this was a fair representation of the culture and didn't labour the point about the attitudes to women at the time, but gives you a real appreciation for the women who stood up and pushed back.
Brilliant, recommended.
Brilliant, recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2023
This was a frightening old journey to take with these extremely brave lads 'n' lasses of the police service back in the late 1970s/early 80s !!! And they were all so young as well yet still volunteered to pretty much put their own lives at risk to catch this specimen !
All credit to them all as I'm not sure I'd be too chuffed about volunteering for it back then when radio communications, etc.....were no great shakes, plus GPS and stuff like that was the thing of sci-fi stories !! Yet, also at the heart of this time is the fact of women being afraid to walk alone at night.....and no amount of technology has altered that even now in the 21st Century-because too many men haven't evolved enough to stop being predatory tossers !! And I was shocked silly to read that, back then, you got 2 years for assaulting a woman, but 10 years for a bloke !! Appalling stuff ! However, on the other hand, prosecution rates back then meant there was a 34% chance of seeing them had up, whereas now, Robert informs us, that percentage is only 1.9%, which is absolutely atrocious !
Robert was right there involved at the heart of some of the story which makes it more interesting as he will have met and spoken to so many involved as well as having encountered the pre-mentioned specimen himself.....
It makes me wonder why the Yorkshire police didn't have a similar idea around the same time to try and catch Sutcliffe in the act, or, maybe they did and just never let us know too much about it...I mean, I know one particular honey-trap as such went too far regarding the Rachel Nickell murder, so I guess it's a case of knowing how far to take things. The Bristol bunch got it spot on and saved a LOT of women a LOT of heartbreak.
One clue that mystified me was a yellow Capri hanging about in a few of the instances and I remember Capris but not that many yellow ones so I was shocked they didn't run down all local owners of those. It was never really referred to as a line they proactively pursued, which I didn't understand.
One chapter had me sobbing at the end, when Kenneth Kempsell, a police diver was searching some water.....
I wish Robert had added photos of the police personnel involved...however, he kindly sent me an ARC so perhaps in the finished product he has. I loved how he kept the protagonist's name out of it till a long way into the book, leaving us wondering....cleverly done.
I'm aware there's more to come regarding this specimen so hopefully Robert will add a postscript here or a follow-up book to relate ensuing developments.
This was certainly well worth the read and a very interesting story indeed and it is always more intriguing when the author has actually met and spoken to the people involved, as he has. And I thank him for my advanced read.
All credit to them all as I'm not sure I'd be too chuffed about volunteering for it back then when radio communications, etc.....were no great shakes, plus GPS and stuff like that was the thing of sci-fi stories !! Yet, also at the heart of this time is the fact of women being afraid to walk alone at night.....and no amount of technology has altered that even now in the 21st Century-because too many men haven't evolved enough to stop being predatory tossers !! And I was shocked silly to read that, back then, you got 2 years for assaulting a woman, but 10 years for a bloke !! Appalling stuff ! However, on the other hand, prosecution rates back then meant there was a 34% chance of seeing them had up, whereas now, Robert informs us, that percentage is only 1.9%, which is absolutely atrocious !
Robert was right there involved at the heart of some of the story which makes it more interesting as he will have met and spoken to so many involved as well as having encountered the pre-mentioned specimen himself.....
It makes me wonder why the Yorkshire police didn't have a similar idea around the same time to try and catch Sutcliffe in the act, or, maybe they did and just never let us know too much about it...I mean, I know one particular honey-trap as such went too far regarding the Rachel Nickell murder, so I guess it's a case of knowing how far to take things. The Bristol bunch got it spot on and saved a LOT of women a LOT of heartbreak.
One clue that mystified me was a yellow Capri hanging about in a few of the instances and I remember Capris but not that many yellow ones so I was shocked they didn't run down all local owners of those. It was never really referred to as a line they proactively pursued, which I didn't understand.
One chapter had me sobbing at the end, when Kenneth Kempsell, a police diver was searching some water.....
I wish Robert had added photos of the police personnel involved...however, he kindly sent me an ARC so perhaps in the finished product he has. I loved how he kept the protagonist's name out of it till a long way into the book, leaving us wondering....cleverly done.
I'm aware there's more to come regarding this specimen so hopefully Robert will add a postscript here or a follow-up book to relate ensuing developments.
This was certainly well worth the read and a very interesting story indeed and it is always more intriguing when the author has actually met and spoken to the people involved, as he has. And I thank him for my advanced read.
February 4, 2025
I'm probably biased as I'm from Bristol and one of our family friends is an officer referred to in the book, but this book is amazing. So carefully structured around the attacks of the Clifton Rapist it intertwines the accounts of this man's crimes.
August 7, 2024
Well recommend, you think it would be oldy worldy in a sense but it's brilliantly written to avoid being like that. Never come across the story before so it was fresh and new for me. Quick read.
February 22, 2025
What a great book if your into true crime I highly suggest you read this book
March 9, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Flows well and doesn't get too complicated. It brings the storylines together very well. Would recommend
July 14, 2025
Was recommended at a recent work conference and it was so interesting. Forgot how much I like true crime
December 20, 2025
This has to be a five star read. Very well written, very interesting, all the more because it was based on true events.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews