Berry-Dee: UK's Top True Crime Author Faces Abuse Claims
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- The Guardian spent six months investigating Christopher Berry-Dee, whose total true crime sales of nearly 1 million make him the UK's bestselling author in the genre since records began, according to NielsenIQ BookData.
- Berry-Dee's ex-wife Tracey Dee alleges he beat her repeatedly during their marriage, pressed a cigar into her face, once knocked her unconscious, threatened her with a butcher's knife, and on another occasion pointed a loaded shotgun at her.
- Daughters Zoe and Sasha allege they grew up surrounded by murder memorabilia in the family home, including clothes belonging to a murdered 9-year-old girl and bloodied seatbelt sections cut from Michael Sams's vehicle after he used it to transport a body in 1991.
- Berry-Dee carries prior criminal convictions, including a 1982 forgery sentence of one year at Ford open prison and a separate 1988 conviction for obtaining credit and evading liability while an undischarged bankrupt.
- Berry-Dee denied all allegations in a lengthy email, citing a recent near-death stroke and medical advice against stress; multiple alleged victims told the Guardian they had reported him to police for child sexual abuse, though some remain too frightened to speak publicly.
- Bundy expert Margaret Vandiver and convicted serial killer Kenneth Bianchi (now Anthony D'Amato) dispute quotes Berry-Dee attributes to them, with Bianchi calling them 'complete fabrications by CBD' and describing Berry-Dee as 'one very twisted pathological liar.'
Why it matters: Berry-Dee's status as the UK's all-time bestselling true crime writer gives the allegations unusual reach: any newly raised doubts about his integrity potentially taint roughly 1 million books in circulation and the TV documentaries and conferences where he built his platform. Two of his daughters, now 35 and 38, still fear speaking publicly — a window into how an author monetizing violent crime against women and children, with police reports on file, continued publishing for three decades.
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