Examining the inspirations for the "Cracker" television series, this book shows how those who made the programme drew on real-life situations and crimes to give the show its realism and drama. Through interviews with the cast, the crew, the researchers and the specialist advisers, the story is told of how "Cracker" was made, how the often-spectacular stunts were staged, and how the cast coped with the strain of playing intense scenes. The book is illustrated throughout with photographs both from the series and from contemporary newspaper reports.