Ruth D'Alessandro
@ruthdaleswriter.bsky.social
Writer. Likes the grim and Gothic. Author of the Calling WPC/Detective/Sergeant Crockford 1950s true crime trilogy. Published by Headline Non-Fiction, repped by Kate Hordern
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1802793704/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1802793704/
Pinned
Hello! So I've crossed the floor/to the other side/away from Musk to the blue butterfly. I'm Ruth, author of the Calling WPC Crockford trilogy about my amazing 1950s policewoman mum. I love writing (and reading), the 1950s, WW2, animals, bonkers museums, films & documentaries. Drop me a hi!
So Calling Sergeant Crockford didn’t make the long list for the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction 2025, but I was up against the likes of John Grisham and Lynda La Plante!
Good luck to all the long listers though! thecwa.co.uk/awards-and-c...
Good luck to all the long listers though! thecwa.co.uk/awards-and-c...
ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction - The Crime Writers’ Association
thecwa.co.uk
May 7, 2025 at 6:47 PM
So Calling Sergeant Crockford didn’t make the long list for the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction 2025, but I was up against the likes of John Grisham and Lynda La Plante!
Good luck to all the long listers though! thecwa.co.uk/awards-and-c...
Good luck to all the long listers though! thecwa.co.uk/awards-and-c...
Reposted by Ruth D'Alessandro
Amazing afternoon at the Forthwrite panel. Loved being on the panel discussing resilience and perseverance with Dorothy Koomson Uni Sinha and Debi Alper
Also got to meet my writing hero Kit De Waal - whose keynote speech made me cry a bit
Also got to meet my writing hero Kit De Waal - whose keynote speech made me cry a bit
March 30, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Amazing afternoon at the Forthwrite panel. Loved being on the panel discussing resilience and perseverance with Dorothy Koomson Uni Sinha and Debi Alper
Also got to meet my writing hero Kit De Waal - whose keynote speech made me cry a bit
Also got to meet my writing hero Kit De Waal - whose keynote speech made me cry a bit
I love a spooky story, and local author G R Pidgeon is talking about his ghost story at Oxted Library on Thursday.
Who’s coming with me to support this local library/author event?
www.facebook.com/share/15ABKn...
Who’s coming with me to support this local library/author event?
www.facebook.com/share/15ABKn...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
March 24, 2025 at 7:10 AM
I love a spooky story, and local author G R Pidgeon is talking about his ghost story at Oxted Library on Thursday.
Who’s coming with me to support this local library/author event?
www.facebook.com/share/15ABKn...
Who’s coming with me to support this local library/author event?
www.facebook.com/share/15ABKn...
I miss the old days when the word Musk meant a smelly Asiatic deer, not Elon
#britishmuseum #silkroads #muskdeer
#britishmuseum #silkroads #muskdeer
February 4, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I miss the old days when the word Musk meant a smelly Asiatic deer, not Elon
#britishmuseum #silkroads #muskdeer
#britishmuseum #silkroads #muskdeer
Today’s #desertislanddiscs with the extraordinary Nemone Lethbridge was utterly riveting - what a life, what a career beginning when women barristers were frowned upon, and wonderful music choices. I couldn’t speak for several minutes afterwards. And Lauren Laverne - a masterclass in empathy.
Desert Island Discs - Nemone Lethbridge, lawyer and writer - BBC Sounds
Nemone Lethbridge, barrister, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 2, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Today’s #desertislanddiscs with the extraordinary Nemone Lethbridge was utterly riveting - what a life, what a career beginning when women barristers were frowned upon, and wonderful music choices. I couldn’t speak for several minutes afterwards. And Lauren Laverne - a masterclass in empathy.
I talk to birds. And sometimes they talk back to me.
February 2, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I talk to birds. And sometimes they talk back to me.
Watched ‘The Holdovers’ after a long sociable day in London. I may have dozed off in the first half hour, but by the end was a blubbering wreck of emotion. A wonderful, slow burn, thought provoking film.
January 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Watched ‘The Holdovers’ after a long sociable day in London. I may have dozed off in the first half hour, but by the end was a blubbering wreck of emotion. A wonderful, slow burn, thought provoking film.
I really loved Nosferatu, a pitch perfect Gothic horror. Difficult though not to think of Baron Afanas from What We Do In The Shadows, and Igor from Young Frankenstein - I’ve probably seen more spoofs than original films.
a man with a crown on his head is talking to another man
ALT: a man with a crown on his head is talking to another man
media.tenor.com
January 3, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I really loved Nosferatu, a pitch perfect Gothic horror. Difficult though not to think of Baron Afanas from What We Do In The Shadows, and Igor from Young Frankenstein - I’ve probably seen more spoofs than original films.
Meh. It sucks when a hen dies. RIP Shangela, our Cuckoo Maran - matriarch, dinosaur and absolute unit. 😢
December 28, 2024 at 7:43 PM
Meh. It sucks when a hen dies. RIP Shangela, our Cuckoo Maran - matriarch, dinosaur and absolute unit. 😢
Reposted by Ruth D'Alessandro
Visit little museums. They are full of unanticipated delights, like silver spoons with handles that look like a swan’s head and neck. This was buried during the mid to late fifth century in a hoard by the gate of Durovernum Cantiacorum, or Canterbury. My 📷, Canterbury #Roman Museum. #MuseumMonday
December 16, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Visit little museums. They are full of unanticipated delights, like silver spoons with handles that look like a swan’s head and neck. This was buried during the mid to late fifth century in a hoard by the gate of Durovernum Cantiacorum, or Canterbury. My 📷, Canterbury #Roman Museum. #MuseumMonday
My daughter’s first ever attempt at Yorkshire puddings. I’d say she smashed it!
December 15, 2024 at 7:43 PM
My daughter’s first ever attempt at Yorkshire puddings. I’d say she smashed it!
Christmas tree’s up! Every single one of these decorations has a special meaning. Decorating the tree is an hour of precious memories of people, places and things.
December 14, 2024 at 12:37 PM
Christmas tree’s up! Every single one of these decorations has a special meaning. Decorating the tree is an hour of precious memories of people, places and things.
Day 13 of Detective Crockford’s advent calendar: the Old Maidenhead police station. Another lovely old red brick Arts & Crafts building from 1903. Unfortunately demolished in the 80s to build a car park, and that’s now about to be demolished. Tempus fugit.
December 13, 2024 at 10:04 PM
Day 13 of Detective Crockford’s advent calendar: the Old Maidenhead police station. Another lovely old red brick Arts & Crafts building from 1903. Unfortunately demolished in the 80s to build a car park, and that’s now about to be demolished. Tempus fugit.
What's behind Day 12 of Sergeant Crockford's advent calendar? 1950s getaway drivers didn't stand a chance if this Berkshire Constabulary high-speed Austin pursuit car gave chase. The traffic officer's my dad; they would stand even less chance.
#copsandrobbers #crime #truecrime #vintagecars #Austin
#copsandrobbers #crime #truecrime #vintagecars #Austin
December 12, 2024 at 11:40 AM
What's behind Day 12 of Sergeant Crockford's advent calendar? 1950s getaway drivers didn't stand a chance if this Berkshire Constabulary high-speed Austin pursuit car gave chase. The traffic officer's my dad; they would stand even less chance.
#copsandrobbers #crime #truecrime #vintagecars #Austin
#copsandrobbers #crime #truecrime #vintagecars #Austin
Day 11 of Sergeant Crockford's advent calendar. I might not exist without Frankie Howerd: my mum met him while investigating a wages theft at Bray Studios in the mid 50s, and my dad went to school with his brother in Eltham - giving them something to talk about. Thanks Frankie!
December 11, 2024 at 12:03 PM
Day 11 of Sergeant Crockford's advent calendar. I might not exist without Frankie Howerd: my mum met him while investigating a wages theft at Bray Studios in the mid 50s, and my dad went to school with his brother in Eltham - giving them something to talk about. Thanks Frankie!
Who’s behind Door 10 of WPC Crockford’s advent calendar? It’s the marvellous Barbara Denis de Vitre, the UK’s first woman Assistant Inspector of Constabulary (1948). There’s a chapter devoted to her in Calling Sergeant Crockford - Mum went to her memorial service in 1960.
December 10, 2024 at 12:30 PM
Who’s behind Door 10 of WPC Crockford’s advent calendar? It’s the marvellous Barbara Denis de Vitre, the UK’s first woman Assistant Inspector of Constabulary (1948). There’s a chapter devoted to her in Calling Sergeant Crockford - Mum went to her memorial service in 1960.
Who’s behind Door 9 of WPC Crockford’s advent calendar? 21-year-old WPC Gwen Crockford herself! Taken at Mill Meece police training school in December 1951. #booksky #womenpolice #womenwriters #truecrime #nonfiction #1950s
December 9, 2024 at 12:22 PM
Who’s behind Door 9 of WPC Crockford’s advent calendar? 21-year-old WPC Gwen Crockford herself! Taken at Mill Meece police training school in December 1951. #booksky #womenpolice #womenwriters #truecrime #nonfiction #1950s
Why is there a zebra behind Door 8 of WPC Crockford’s advent calendar? In 1953, she received a report of a ‘strange horse’ in a Cranbourne lady’s garden. She ended up having to chase a zebra that had escaped from Billy Smart’s circus. #booksky #truecrime #1950s
December 8, 2024 at 1:47 PM
Why is there a zebra behind Door 8 of WPC Crockford’s advent calendar? In 1953, she received a report of a ‘strange horse’ in a Cranbourne lady’s garden. She ended up having to chase a zebra that had escaped from Billy Smart’s circus. #booksky #truecrime #1950s
What’s behind Door 7 of WPC Crockford’s advent calendar? It’s Mum’s Berkshire Constabulary cap badge. The constabulary, formed in 1856, was amalgamated with others to become the Thames Valley Police in 1968. Nice stag! #policehistory #truecrime #womenpolice #womenwriters #Berkshire
December 7, 2024 at 8:27 AM
What’s behind Door 7 of WPC Crockford’s advent calendar? It’s Mum’s Berkshire Constabulary cap badge. The constabulary, formed in 1856, was amalgamated with others to become the Thames Valley Police in 1968. Nice stag! #policehistory #truecrime #womenpolice #womenwriters #Berkshire
Absolutely this ⬇️ Reviews help us authors to be seen (and we love hearing what you thought of our books)
If you buy a book from an indie publisher, please do remember to drop a review onto Amazon and/or Goodreads, even if you bought it elsewhere. It really helps to encourage others who do still use those platforms to buy books. 📚💙
December 7, 2024 at 7:42 AM
Absolutely this ⬇️ Reviews help us authors to be seen (and we love hearing what you thought of our books)
What's behind Door 6 of WPC Crockford's advent calendar? It's the old Wokingham Police Station! A lovely Arts & Crafts building from 1903, it was where my mum started her pioneering career as a rookie WPC in 1952. It's still there, now residential. #booksky #truecrime #Berkshire #policewomen
December 6, 2024 at 11:34 AM
What's behind Door 6 of WPC Crockford's advent calendar? It's the old Wokingham Police Station! A lovely Arts & Crafts building from 1903, it was where my mum started her pioneering career as a rookie WPC in 1952. It's still there, now residential. #booksky #truecrime #Berkshire #policewomen
Reposted by Ruth D'Alessandro
Retired, used to work at Broadmoor Hospital. Spent lots of time around those who committed the most heinous, despicable, inhuman crimes. Thing is they look just like any other random person you'd see in the street/pub. I'm always looking over my shoulder now, can't trust anyone.
December 5, 2024 at 11:25 AM
Retired, used to work at Broadmoor Hospital. Spent lots of time around those who committed the most heinous, despicable, inhuman crimes. Thing is they look just like any other random person you'd see in the street/pub. I'm always looking over my shoulder now, can't trust anyone.
Reposted by Ruth D'Alessandro
THREE DAYS TO GO....
'What does it take to shake someone out of their rut? A puppy and a dare from your housemate should do it! More than a romcom, more than a coming of age (slightly late) story. Laugh out loud funny, I loved this book!'
5 stars *****
mybook.to/vgw7
'What does it take to shake someone out of their rut? A puppy and a dare from your housemate should do it! More than a romcom, more than a coming of age (slightly late) story. Laugh out loud funny, I loved this book!'
5 stars *****
mybook.to/vgw7
December 3, 2024 at 8:08 AM
THREE DAYS TO GO....
'What does it take to shake someone out of their rut? A puppy and a dare from your housemate should do it! More than a romcom, more than a coming of age (slightly late) story. Laugh out loud funny, I loved this book!'
5 stars *****
mybook.to/vgw7
'What does it take to shake someone out of their rut? A puppy and a dare from your housemate should do it! More than a romcom, more than a coming of age (slightly late) story. Laugh out loud funny, I loved this book!'
5 stars *****
mybook.to/vgw7
Who's behind Door 5 of Detective Crockford's advent calendar? Isabella Ruxton, the first murder victim to be identified by superimposing her photo over an X-ray of her skull. A cutting-edge forensic technique for 1935. Still a puzzle in 2024👇 #truecrime #forensics #CID #womenpolice #booksky
December 5, 2024 at 10:33 AM
Who's behind Door 5 of Detective Crockford's advent calendar? Isabella Ruxton, the first murder victim to be identified by superimposing her photo over an X-ray of her skull. A cutting-edge forensic technique for 1935. Still a puzzle in 2024👇 #truecrime #forensics #CID #womenpolice #booksky