By Hannah Maguire

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On Sale: Sep 3, 2024
Page Count: 256 pages
Publisher: Running Press
ISBN-13: 9780762489008

Based off their award-winning podcast RedHanded, co-hosts Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala explore dozens of true crime cases and talk with criminologists, forensic experts, psychologists, and more to find out what makes a serial killer, what sets a criminal apart from the rest of us, and the age-old question: is a killer born or made?

After meeting at a house party in London, where they discovered a mutual obsession for all things true crime, Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire drunkenly promised to one day start their own murder podcast. Six weeks later they ordered their first microphones and the rest is history. From the hosts of the hit podcast RedHanded, a Listeners’ Choice British Podcast Awards Winner three years in a row, and dubbed by Anna Paquin as her “all- time favorite true crime podcast,” Bala and Maguire have amassed a cult following of “spooky bitches.”

What is it about killers, cults, and cannibals that capture our imaginations even as they terrify and disturb us? Do we find these stories endlessly and equally compelling because they hold up a mirror to society’s failings and to the horrors that we humans are capable of? RedHanded rejects the outdated narrative of killers as monsters and that a victim “was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Instead, it dissects the stories of killers in a way that challenges perceptions and asks the hard questions about society, gender, poverty, culture, and even our politics.

With their trademark humor, in-depth research on real-life cases, and unflinching analysis of what makes a murderer, Bala and Maguire take you through what drives the most extreme of human behavior to find out once and for all what makes a killer tick.

“A cult hit balancing true crime, progressive politics, and a lot of charm.” ―Vox

“Laugh-out-loud yet wildly informative.” ―Refinery29

Genre:

“As a true crime fanatic, I can say without hesitation that Hannah and Suruthi are my all-time favorite podcasters of the genre.”
Anna Paquin, actor
“Best true crime podcast I’ve heard, ever.”
Dan Harmon (creator of RICK & MORTY, COMMUNITY)
“A cult hit balancing true crime, progressive politics, and a lot of charm.”
Vox
“Bala and Maguire have a lovely rapport, excellent reporting skills, and can tell a story with just the right amount of feminist eyebrow-raising.”
The Guardian
“Laugh-out-loud yet wildly funny.”
Refinery29
“Indeed, if the RedHanded podcast stands out in the ever-widening sea of sensationalized and sloppy true crime content out there, it is because its creators inject the right amount of sincere curiosity into the form. . . the British broadcasters have explored some of the most infamous cases in the world with a mix of black humor, frequent outrage, and an ever-present desire for deeper understanding.”
Salon
“Hannah and Suruthi will inspire you to plunder the crevasse that is Reddit and remind you that even locking your doors might not be enough to save you.”
Vulture
“I could listen to these Spooky Bitches talk all night. And I usually do. Maybe that’s why my dreams are so f*cked up.”
Cody Heller (creator of DUMMY, DEADBEAT, WILIFRED)
“A major draw for listeners is the rapport between the two presenters and the palpable enjoyment Suruthi and Hannah take in each other’s company. It is often very funny despite its dark subject matter.”
Crime + Investigation
“I don’t know why it’s not on every true crime podcast list—it’s so good.”
BuzzFeed
“It is by some distance the best podcast I’ve heard this year.”
The Financial Times
“I listen to a lot of podcasts, and to this day, RedHanded is the only podcast I have had to pause and take a break from . . . it is that horrible, which makes it that good.”
Tracy Clayton (ANOTHER ROUND, STRONG BLACK LEGENDS)
“Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire cleverly recount the most interesting events in true crime with supporting research and dry British humor.”
Canadian Living
“This is a must read for true crime fans.”
Erica Robyn Reads
“Informative, thoroughly researched, and entertaining. . . . I highly recommend this book to those interested in true crime and murder documentaries.”
The Nerd Cantina
“RedHanded by Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire draws from their original podcast and provides you with a deep dive into true crime and the extremes of human behavior. This is the perfect book immediately for fans of the podcast. . . . The Spooky Bitches who are dedicated fans will want to snatch this book up for more.”
The Nerdy Girl Express
“RedHanded is a fun and fast read, perfect for trying to balance back-to-school activities and looking for a brief escape.”
FangirlNation
“This debut outing from RedHanded podcast hosts Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire will appeal to true crime enthusiasts. The hit British duo won fans over with their obsessive interest in all things ghastly and ghoulish. . . . Here, in this chatty tome, they take the conversation a step further, asking what creates the violent mindset behind the crimes they cover, and what role gender, poverty, politics, and culture play.”
The Globe and Mail

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Suruthi Bala

About the Author

Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala are co-hosts of the smash hit true crime podcast RedHanded, which offers a weekly dose of murder, wit, and WTFs delivered with facts, anecdotal tangents, serious scrutiny, and real British flavor. RedHanded prides itself on looking past sensational headlines and getting to the truth of every murder, cult, and serial killer.

Learn more about this author