The main publisher of the bestselling true crime writer Christopher Berry-Dee has dropped the author after a Guardian investigation into allegations of violence and sexual abuse against him, which he denies. Waterstones has also removed his books from sale.
“We are shocked and appalled by the very serious allegations relating to Christopher Berry-Dee, and our thoughts are with those affected,” said the publisher Bonnier Books in a statement to the Guardian.
“Bonnier Books UK will no longer publish Christopher Berry-Dee, we will not work with him on any future projects, and we are terminating all existing agreements”, it continued. “There are practical steps entailed in unwinding longstanding contracts, including those involving third parties, but we are working through them as quickly as we can. We will also be removing our existing stocks from the market.”
An investigation published on Saturday detailed multiple allegations of abuse by Berry-Dee, including domestic violence and sexual assault of a 13-year-old student attending his art school. Berry-Dee refused to be interviewed for the piece, citing health issues, but denied the allegations: “I have not once committed any of the crimes you accuse me of.”
Berry-Dee, 78, is the UK’s top-selling author of true crime. His books, including Talking With Serial Killers, draw on interviews with murderers and have sold nearly 1m copies.
Berry-Dee has admitted lying to his subjects in order to gain access, telling them he intends “to write a book about the miscarriage of justice they are suffering”, he wrote in his 2023 book Talking With Psychopaths and Savages.
Waterstones told the Guardian that Bonnier contacted the bookseller to say that it would no longer publish Berry-Dee’s books. “Following this advice, we have removed the titles from sale in our shops and online,” said a representative.
Orion, an imprint of Hachette, published Inside the Darkest Minds by Berry-Dee last month, but did not respond when asked whether they will continue to publish it.
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