The Skull: Informers, Hit Men and Australia's Toughest Cop

An irresistible true-crime story from the author of the bestselling Big Shots.

There has never been a more feared or respected policeman in Australia than Brian “Skull” Murphy. His fearsome reputation and connections with organised crime have made him an infamous figure in Melbourne police history.

In The Skull, Adam Shand tells the story of the last of the super-cops. Through interviews and dramatic re-creations, we follow Murphy into the grey areas of law enforcement and the criminal underworld of the ’70s and ’80s. We see Murphy’s unique way of dealing with corrupt officials, petty thugs and such renowned villains as Christopher Dale Flannery, the Kane brothers and Ray Chuck. And we watch him use a combination of old-school persuasion and self-styled ‘slychology’ to recruit his network of informers and stay on top.

Fast-paced and gritty, The Skull is the life and times of a legendary crime-fighter.