The Pembrokeshire Murders

by Steve Wilkins, Jonathan Hill

The dramatic and compelling account of how a serial killer was finally unmasked after evading justice for more than twenty years.

1980s. In the beautiful, unspoiled landscape of Pembrokeshire, a serial killer is at large: two double murders; an assault; the rape and assault of two teenagers - all potentially the work of one man.

This is the fascinating true story of a brutal murderer and the detectives who worked the cold case for six years in order to bring him to justice. Combining cutting edge forensic techniques with old fashioned detective work, a team of detectives worked to build a case against their prime suspect. But it was a race against time: would he strike again?

No one could predict that the killer's appearance on a gameshow would provide bizarre but crucial evidence.

The operation is now recognised as one of the greatest cold case reviews ever undertaken in the UK.

The killer is now serving a "life means life" sentence.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Mystery, History, British Literature, Thriller

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2013

Reviews

[Llinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Investigations

As a retired Dyfed Powys Police officer myself, I was intrigued to find out how they nailed this evil piece of garbage who had terrorised the Pembrokeshire area for years affecting numerous victims for life.
Having read the book and knowing and having worked with the majority of the officers involved, I take my hat off to their perseverance and meticulous investigative skills of all concerned. It again proves why the force is held in such high regard.
It was an eye opener of a read, and found myself unable to put the book down and would have no hesitation in recommending it to other readers.
Congratulations to all involved in putting a very dangerous man behind bars.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

A while back I watched the series about these murders on brit box. It was very well done. I did not like the way this book was written at all.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilhante.
Série

[Thebooktrail · Rating 5 out of 5]

link: Visit the locations in the book of this true crime case


This is one of the most interesting true life stories about an investigation I have read in a long while. The book focuses on the hard work of the police and the sheer volume of work and effort it takes to open up a cold case and to even get close to nailing a suspect.

You see and freel the frustration amongst the force and the victims families - all focus is on them rather than the killer which is a nice change as you get the real story that matters and not a show trial. I've seen the TV show since reading this book and thought that Luke Evans was the perfect choice to show the nuances of the real investigative officer. Thank goodness they got Welsh actors for the rest of the team too!

I think this book will make a lot of people realise the sheer blood, sweat and tears it must take to solve a case. It was a real eye-opener for me and very interesting to see how DNA and other advances allowed the case to progress. However, ultimately, it was human effort which win the day

The cases at the centre of the book are still as shocking and as senseless as they have ever been. I feel so much for their relatives and family. This is a really moving story and  a fascinating one. I hope the families have found some sort of peace from such tragedy.

[Katie Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No one could predict that the killer’s appearance on a game show would provide bizarre but crucial evidence.”

Much like when I read Killing for Company, following the ITV drama “Des”, I knew I had to do similar with this. I absolutely loved the TV drama of the Pembrokeshire Murders staring Luke Evans . And when I found out it was actually a book first - I knew I had to read it. And then when I saw it was 99p on Kindle - I didn’t think twice to buying it. It is a fantastic little read (only about 200 pages long) if you like true crime.

[Akcherrybomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watching the ITV series then finding out there was a book produced also I was eager to read as the TV series really interested me.

I hadn't heard of the Pembrokeshire Murders before so this was all fresh to me.

Really interesting read. Didn't engage me all the time as the way it is told is real life and not for dramatic effect but enjoyed finding out more indepth details into the case.

[David Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the horrifically fascinating account of the painstaking gathering of evidence and successful prosecution of Wales' most wanted serial killer and rapist John Cooper, who, fortunately for us all, will never see the outside of a gaol again. Not for the faint of heart. The graphic forensic detail supplied by DCS Steve Wilkins ensures that there can be no doubt of the evil perpetrated by this loathsome man who had a penchant for breaking into isolated cottages and terrorising lone females before making off with small amounts of money and jewellery that he would sell to feed his gambling habit. His reign of terror was thrust into the public gaze in late 1985 when he shot and killed brother and sister, Richard and Helen Thomas at Scoveston Manor which he then set ablaze in order to try and cover his tracks. I have vivid recollection of this night because I was the accident and emergency officer at the hospital where Mr Thomas's partially incinerated body was brought for examination. I certified him dead (not difficult) and the detective present pointed out a sinister hole in the only uncharred part of the body down in the pallid lower abdomen. He asked me if I thought it was a bullet hole and we agreed that an X-ray would be useful. That was the end of my involvement and I went back to bed. If I'd known that this was the beginning of the career of a serial killer I don't think that I would have been able to get back to sleep. Four years later Cooper struck again robbing, assaulting and murdering a middle aged couple, the Dixons, on the Pembrokeshire Coast path. Typically with the arrogance of a psychopathic killer, the same day he calmly sold Mr Dixon's wedding ring and used his cash card. Further robberies and a disgusting rape later Cooper was jailed, but only for the series of robberies. He was a prime suspect for the rape and the four murders but evidence was circumstantial as forensic science was not quite as advanced then. Fortunately the serious case review team decided that it was worth putting in several years' effort in order to secure Cooper’s conviction before he could strike again - he was due for release from prison and indeed did spend some time free and back in Pembrokeshire (and seemingly preparing to strike again) before the case against him was considered foolproof. If the definition of genius is "an infinite capacity for taking pains" then the Dyfed Powys police force "Ottawa" team are worthy of that epithet. The seemingly overwhelming evidence of Cooper’s guilt was sifted and reviewed so thoroughly that the defence team were left totally exposed. Cooper was revealed as an evil monster whose family lived in terror of his violence even when he was behind bars. His sickening habit of keeping souvenirs from his victims, keys and clothing in particular thankfully led to his undoing.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's nothing wrong with this book. It's just so emphatically a police memoir, written in the first person as Wilkins, complete with a deep and genuine inability to understand why bad criminals even get a defense. Wilkins's knowledge of the investigation gives the story its nearly monomaniacal focus, but also results in frequent descents into insider jargon and inscrutable references to evidence by exhibit numbers. We get almost no insight into Wilkins as a person outside of work until the final pages, when he abruptly says he's been divorced and remarried. Unlike the limited series based on this book (pictured on the cover of my edition, to my mild annoyance), which goes to great lengths to humanize Wilkins by depicting him attending his son's soccer games and whatnot, you could just about finish this book thinking his only stresses and joys in life revolved around John Cooper. Still, I've read far, far worse true crime works than this, and anyone with an interest in Cooper's case in particular would probably enjoy this very much.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't plough through this book - it took me months among other books I was reading. It didn't grab me from the start, but it is a true tale and not dramatised so it is hard going and heavy in places where the author and man in charge goes into maybe a little too much detail for the layman.

I live in the area but haven't for all of my life, and while I was aware of the crimes I didn't know too much about them (most things happened before my time here). It was scary to think how close by some of the movements were. Pembrokeshire is such a sleepy place, friendly, safe etc it's shocking to read in places.

There is an error towards the end - he refers to Johns son coming into court in April 2001, it should be April 2011. With such meticulous detail and clever planning to catch Cooper, I wouldn't expect such elementary errors in the book.

Overall a clever account, worth reading if you’re in or know Pembrokeshire well, or if you like reading about serial killers I suppose!!

[Chloe Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I initially found this really interesting but it became very difficult to read towards the last quarter of the book and took me a while to read. I honestly think this book could have been so much shorter as there was just a lot of rambling and going over and over the same thing.

[Paula Ralph]

would recommend this to anyone. Especially if you live in the area as I do. Amazing writing on how they put every spec of evidence together to finally charge him with these brutal murders.

[Susannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting account of the investigation of the Pembrokeshire murders, two double murders that happened in Wales in the 1980s and 1990s. These were cold cases and the detective work finally brought the murderer to justice. This book is mainly focussed on the investigation and forensic investigation, interviews, how the cases were linked etc and less on the murderer and his possible motivation. Some parts were interesting like the police interview and trial, but some parts were repetitive and a bit dull. Generally interesting and engaging in parts.

[Wanda]

13 MAR 2022 - just completed this series on Britbox. Evil! Evil! Evil!

[Harriet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off very interestingly, however it became pretty repetitive. I was unsure about the ethics of producing a book like this, although it’s a valid point that if a book is made, it’s better off being written by someone who both knows the families involved and was part of the investigation. I disagreed with the conclusion that Mr Cooper did what he did because he was born evil. Regardless, this was clearly an amazing piece of work by DPP in the way they were able to bring about justice. It was also a really good insight into a complex police investigation.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to go to a talk from Gerard Elias QC and the detectives in charge of this case, which was absolutely fascinating. I had to read the book after such an introduction and it was a real page turner. John Copper was an evil, one man crime wave and the amount of effort and cost to the tax-payer that it took to convict him is astounding. That crimes as terrible as his could happen in the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside is equally appalling. This is a great true account of police work, forensic science, the law and the media working together for the greater good.

[Ryan Buckley · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

Before I begin my (unfortunately) negative review of this book, i just want to convey my admiration for the excellent police work that detective Wilkins and his colleagues carried out in this case. It would have been a travesty of justice to allow these horrid crimes to go unpunished and it was through the determination and perseverance of the various involved police officials (and the brave victims who testified) that the correct man was identified, apprehended and convicted.

That said, I have to be honest and express my disappointment with the book. My main criticisms are as follows:
- The authors (Steve Wilkins, lead detective on the case, and journalist Jonathan Hill) decide to start the book with a flash forward to the day of conviction of John Cooper. This removed any sense of suspense from the rest of the book in regards to whether the police investigation would be successful and who the eventual correct suspect would be.
- There is way too much detail involved when outlining various items identified at each of the crime scenes. I don't doubt it is required to be this thorough when compiling a case for the rigours of court but it certainly does not make for gripping reading.
- There is also extensive discussion of police procedure and legal requirements when carrying out a case. Again, I am not saying these were not important elements to get right for the case itself. However, I felt with better editing these passages could have been summarised and made more digestible for the reader.
- On a similar note, due to the overly detailed manner in which the authors covered the case, there was a lot of repetition in the book. Numerous pieces of evidence - including both items, DNA and testimony - were explained and described a number of times. This again impacted my ability to get into a flow of reading.
- Finally, although the crimes were of a most serious nature and their impact on both the surviving victims and the loved ones of the deceased was heartbreaking, the investigation itself was not especially interesting. There were not any other plausible suspects given serious attention by the police. And once John was identified as the chief suspect, it was a case of patience and steady work over a number of years - with only one real twist involved. It just didn't have me riveted like some of the best true crime books I have read in the past.

Nothing but the highest respect for the effort and dedication involved by Wilkins and his staff in brining this monster to justice - however, in my opinion it just didn't make for an engaging read.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

n den 1980er und 1990er Jahren erschütterte eine Reihe von Verbrechen Wales. Es ging um Einbrüche, die sehr gewalttätig abliefen, aber auch um Vergewaltigung und Mord. Erst in der Mitte der 2000er wurde der Fall neu aufgerollt und es gelang den Ermittlern, den Täter zu stellen.

Die Geschichte beginnt am Ende, nämlich mit der Verurteilung John Coopers. Davor standen viele Jahre Ermittlungsarbeit, bei denen auch dem kleinsten Hinweis nachgegangen wurde. Zu der Zeit, als die Verbrechen begangen wurden, gab es viele der Techniken, die letztendlich dazu führten, dass John Copper überführt wurde, noch nicht. Erst als der Fall wieder aufgerollt wurde, konnte man alte Spuren neue untersuchen.

Auch wenn seit den Verbrechen viele Jahre vergangen sind, wurden durch die neuen Ermittlungen bei den Opfern viele Wunden wieder aufgerissen. Gerade für die beiden Frauen, die als Teenagerinnen von Cooper vergewaltigt wurden, muss es schrecklich gewesen sein, alles noch einmal zu erleben. Aber für sie und die Hinterbliebenen der Mordopfer konnte das Kapitel auch endlich abgeschlossen werden.

Auch wenn der Titel Buch erwarten lässt, dass auf billige Effekte baut, ist es das ganz und gar nicht. Sicher beschreibt Steve Wilkins die Verbrechen, das tut er aber sehr sachlich. Er beschreibt sehr sensibel, wie er und seine Kollegen die Opfer erlebt haben.

Der größte Teil des Buchs nimmt die Ermittlungsarbeit ein. Dabei wird deutlich, was für ein Mensch John Cooper war, der bei den Vernehmungen lieber seinen Sohn beschuldigte, als ein Verbrechen zuzugeben. Dass Steve Wilkins nicht versucht, ihn zu profilen, hat mir gut gefallen. Er ist ein Ermittler und schreibt nur über das, was er kann und kennt. Diese Sachlichkeit ist meiner Meinung nach genau das, was das Buch braucht, um glaubwürdig zu wirken.

[Agata · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There's no greater responsibility or duty place on a human being than to investigate the circumstances of the death of another human being. That responsibility has been placed on us and in discharging it to the very best of our ability, we will do so without fear or favour in pursuit of justice."

The book is an account of investigations of two double murders - the siblings Richard and Helen Thomas at Scoveston Park in 1985, the married couple Peter and Gwenda Dixon at the costal village of Little Haven in 1989 and an assault on five teenagers in Milton Haven in 1996; as well as countless number of burglaries and robberies that occured during that time in Pembrokeshire.

It's a comprehensive insight into investigative police work led by Steve Wilkins under operation Ottawa, picked up in a cold case review in 2005.

Wilkins (and Hill) goes into great detail describing the evidence recovered from Pembrokeshire Murders and their forensic significance and then police strategies and decisions made in connection with these. The description of exhibits, witnesses' accounts and offender's modus operandi are more than exhaustive - police work at its finest. There are also scripts from interviews with the suspect John William Cooper.

It is well written and I caught myself imagining being part of the team, waiting for more evidence to uncover and expecting a call from LGC to inform they found the 'golden nugget'.

It's not an easy read but whenever Wilkins mentiones a member of his team, it is in such a positive account that I found it quite comforting and could imagine the great friendships that formed during Ottawa's investigation. I especially liked how the author(s) numerously highlights the Ottawa's teamwork and also gives shoutouts to the individuals from partnering agencies they liased with.

Would definitely recommend.

[Ellie 🪐 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because my mum had told me about the tv show that was being shown on ITV, I love true crime, I love psychology, I love trying to understand how a criminals mind works, how the forensics work so this show was something that I would watch on the daily, after watching I decided to look up the Pembrokeshire Murders out of interest and see if I could read up on it more then I discovered the TV series was based on a book written by the lead detective, again I love these types of books, I bought it as soon as I could and reading it was almost like going down a rabbit hole, I felt on edge while reading because the detectives were on edge, I felt the anxiety and the need for this case to be solved even though I already knew the outcome because of the show, it is by far my favourite book out of fiction and nonfiction books this tops it by a million, it is so brilliantly written and just such an amazing story and you feel connected with everyone in the book, it made me want to go back to Wales, not because of the murders but because of the views there and how close the community is, I live in Wales for 3 years and hardly remember it but I visit family and it was so breath taking, this is a perfect read that makes you feel like you’re in the story with them, you’re in the interview room, it is just an amazing read and I’m so glad I read it

[Emma Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5

This book was generally enjoyable, and it was definitely interesting to read from the perspective of the senior investigating officer who worked so tirelessly on the case. It was written in a chronological manner, and there was a lot of detail given in regards to thought processes, evidence collected, and interviews.
I’ve taken 1.5 stars off for two main reasons. Firstly, there were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors within the book, including some missing or misplaced words. This took away some of the smoothness of the reading experience. The second reason is that I would have liked some more information regarding the lives of the victims. I understand that this was written from a police perspective and so the focus was mainly on the case, but I think it would have humanised the victims more if the reader was given some background to them as people rather than just murder victims.

The only other thing is that Johnathan Hill is listed as an author on the cover, but I didn’t see any contribution from him within the pages. In fact, he was only briefly mentioned on two or three occasions in relation to the police building a better relationship with the media. Perhaps im wrong and he did have more of an input, but it certainly wasn’t clear within the pages of the book

[Pamela Paterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given that its to be an ITV show I was fairly excited to read this book but I have to say its not what I expected. I’m a fan of documentaries and I like a good historical non fiction book but you can tell that this guy is not a writer of books I bet he could write the hell out of a police report (which is exactly what this is) and I think he should stick to that. As a book 3 stars.......as a police report 5 stars.

Also another little thing that bugged me and I’m not a gigantic feminist but surely there was a female police detective that could have been part of the inner circle of this investigation. The photo at the end of the book was a typical ‘old boys club’.

The story and investigation work is excellent the sheer by the book, dogged determination of the group of police officers was inspiring and as a person you are glad that they went into the investigation with the mind set that they would make the case against John Cooper air tight as well as showing overwhelming evidence that he was the person guilty. They did not make John Cooper fit the crime they showed in no uncertain terms that the evidence only pointed to him.

I’m glad I read it but I think in this case the TV show will be better than the dry read of this text book.

[Tony Styles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing for evil to prosper is that good men do nothing…

This book is totally unputdownable. The depth of detail is incredible. For many many years John Cooper ruled his community, albeit rural, by fear, and after a while his reputation seems to have preceded him. It appears that most people knew either him, or of him through his reputation. It’s likely because of these factors he was able to somehow hide in plain sight safe in the knowledge that his infamy would protect him. As a retired police officer I am proud to have served at a time when every police force had a Steve Wilkins within their ranks, that had the robustness and priceless experience of dealing with the more extreme unsavoury, evil elements of society. Without his style of detective work the future of serious criminal investigations looks bleak. I used to ‘follow my nose’ so to speak, leaving no stone unturned, refusing to file a crime investigation when there was still a line of enquiry to pursue. Every police officer both retired and still serving should read this book. Thoroughly enjoyable, fast paced, inspirational and rewarding. You’ll not be disappointed. 5 stars *****

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Okay, I admit, I’m one of those people who only pick up books when the adaptations are coming over. With that said, I love procedural shows and books, especially those about serial killers, so I was very hopeful.

I was really engaged in the book until chapter 14, where almost every single burglaries committed by Cooper is listed. While I’m sure this is extremely important to the investigation, I question the decision to list all of them, especially when they share a lot of similarities. Surely it would make a much more engaging read to list only the key ones.

Once I managed to get past that, the rest of the book really flew by. The author did a great job with telling the real life story of detective work, which can be really tedious and frustrating, and keeping it interesting. The author is also very positive and full of praises of his colleagues and anyone who worked on the case. It almost restored my faith in the police force.

Overall, a good non-fiction book that I would recommend to people interested in crime/mystery.

[Ryan Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Crime seems to be captivating Tv audiences these days, and like never before. A good barometer of UK TV Drama, ITV has given us about a year worth of true crime dramas in as many months. This blog has been utterly inspired by DES, White House Farm, and now The Pembrokeshire Murders. These books, based on true life UK murders, have galvanised UK audiences but I wonder how many have read all the books as I have?

My latest dip into true crime TV meant devouring The Pembrokeshire Murders (original book published 2013) in about a week, and as good as the TV drama was, I think the book is better! It took Steve Wilkins and his team 6 years to nail serial killer John Cooper and bizarrely classic 1980s TV show 'Bullseye' helped identify him, but that is the tip of the iceberg, in this fascinating and compelling true crime story. Steve Wilkins lead the team to a successful conviction and dives deep into the case, which gives the book a personal edge and a compassionate narrative. The police procedural has you on the edge of your seat, and the intricate DNA and evidence details shared, really give this book and individual edge. By the end of the book, you are cheering on the time as John Cooper is sent down on a 'life means life' sentence.

Very highly recommended. As Bullseye presenter Jim Bowen would say 'super, smashing, great'

[Voluntarystress · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader of crime fiction, and having seen the TV programme based on the book I thought that I would, for once, read a real-life account of a murder investigation. This was one of the biggest. lasting six years and costing one and a half million in forensics alone. Fascinating but a bit dry compared with fictional tales. Several times I was tempted to give up but glad I didn't. I watched the TV version because for nearly twenty years we took our caravan down to Pembrokeshire and walked miles along the coast path. We knew all the places mentioned in the book but had no idea of what was going on at the time. Scary. Errors appeared from time to time in the text and there was constant use of organisations and groups referred to by initials, which did get a bit waring. But otherwise a fairly well written straight forward factual account of a huge meticulous murder enquiry, ultimately successful.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed and compassionate account by former senior investigating officer Steve Wilkins of the case he and his team built against John Cooper, who committed a series of violent burglaries, sexual attacks and murders in Pembrokeshire. It is a fascinating insight into how police painstakingly gathered forensic leads and put a case together over years to finally bring a vile offender to justice.

At times the events are harrowing. What lingers is the appalling toll one psychopath can take on the lives of others, from victims, their families, the offender's family, the community and even the police themselves.

The level of detail and comprehensiveness in this account should make it a standard text for criminologists. However, it is engagingly written in collaboration with journalist Jonathan Hill and general readers will find it compelling.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of true crime because I often find it disrespectful to the victims and overly admiring of the perpetrators.

However, I watched the TV dramatisation of this case a few years ago and found it unusually thoughtful and sensitive, which clearly stems from Steve Wilkins' approach to his retelling of the story.

Although he was the officer in charge of the case, Wilkins takes almost no credit himself, saving all of his praise for his junior colleagues, the victims and their families and the whole community who helped to finally bring a very dangerous and violent man to justice.

The book gives a very vivid depiction of the time, money, manpower and resources required to put together a solid case even when so much seemed to point to the suspect in question.

It would make excellent reading for all the internet sleuths who seem to think it's as easy as it looks on TV.

[Allie Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, a totally fascinating insight into how someone becomes a senior detective, as well as into the progress of an intensive, long-term investigation. Some parts of the story are totally captivating (even knowing quite a bit about the case from the TV show). The only downside is the couple of chapters that seem to just be lists of evidence items, or total repeats of what was said elsewhere in the book. I have to wonder what happened when this book was edited - there is so much repetition it seems like each chapter was edited by someone different! With the audio book, this is a bit frustrating as it's very hard to skip ahead. That aside, the rest of the book was fascinating, and I didn't want to get to the end!

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I've seen the mini series and the documentary on Amazon Prime. Now I've read the book written by the detective in charge, so I think I know this case pretty well. The book is full of information about the cases, lots of names, acronyms, places, got me looking at a map to see the areas mentioned. The outcome is that the killer was a thug, he robbed and killed for very little profit. I hope his time in prison for the rest of his life is long and uncomfortable.

There are some errors in sentence structure in this book, words out of place that surprised me. I'm wonder why the editor didn't catch them.

[Avril Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick summary: don’t expect this to read like crime thriller fiction. It’s a true account, written by someone who was not a writer until he wrote this book. It is nevertheless an engaging read. It could have benefited from a professional editor to eliminate repetition and generally tighten it up, hence not quite five stars. But it’s still worth reading for a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges of not only investigating and solving a series of crimes but, crucially, being able to prove it beyond reasonable doubt and persuade a jury to convict a very dangerous, determined and devious criminal.