Author Profile - Ken Blanch

Ken Blanch was a veteran of many national papers, including The Courier Mail, as a crime reporter and as an editor. He was a captain in the Australian Army and did a tour of duty as public relations officer to the First and Sixth Battalions, The Royal Australian Regiment, (1RAR and 6RAR) in Vietnam in 1966. Awards include the Australian Journalists' Association gold honour badge, Most Significant Contribution to Queensland Journalism, and the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to journalism. 

His first book for Jack Sim's Publications, THE RAMPAGE OF KILLER KAST: Terror on the Terrace was first released in March 2006 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the terrible crime committed on Brisbane's street of doctors. He covered the story at the time and his first hand knowledge of this infamous case and those involved. 

WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS?: Brisbane's Greatest Murder-Mystery was Ken's second crime casebook in the Murder Trails series, focusing on the River City's most enduring homicide. More than half a century on, Ken, who was at the crime scene that September morning in 1952, re-examines the circumstances of one of Australia's most baffling crimes.

He shed new light on an old crime which has frustrated generations of detectives. In 2012 this title was re-released as WHO KILLED BETTY SHANKS: Is The Wilston Monster Still Alive?  to coincide with the 60th anniversary. It remains the definitive work about the case and a valued reference book for police and students and true crime readers. A must own title. 

THE TAXI DRIVER KILLER: The Southport Murder is the third crime casebook in the Murder Trails series to be written by Ken Blanch, focusing on one of the greatest murder investigations in Australian history. The violent death of a young cab driver sparked a man-hunt across two states and led to the arrest of one of the nation's most notorious escapologists. But the subsequent trial remains as controversial today as it was in 1953. 

Ken was a regular contributor with JACK SIM on CLASSIC CRIME aired on Brisbane radio station 4BC each week. Although he has now passed away, Ken's books remain popular and he still very part of the Murder Trails Series. Consider purchasing the Ken Blanch collection.

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