Rose West: Her very name is synonymous with evil. Described as a chattel by her father, a cow by her husband, and a monster by the Press, yet the only person to interview her saw her as an ordinary grandmother: she could be the old woman living next door.

This is the story of how a pretty young girl became one of Britain's worst female serial killers, with expert analysis on why she embarked on a legacy of slaughter when she was a mere teen, torturing and butchering her own daughter.

It sheds new light on her mental state and how, even before she was born, she was receiving an onslaught of irrevocable damage to her development in a unique set of circumstances that created the mind of a serial killer.

It is also, more importantly, the stories of the other women involved; her abused mother, the women lured to their deaths, the nanny who escaped, and the family of the most notorious woman still alive in Britain today.

Understanding Rose West also uncovers evidence of police involvement in the murders, and looks at more possible victims and their whereabouts, and whether Rose was more involved in the murders than previously thought. It also examines how children are still dying at the hands of abusers today – have lessons been learned?

Featuring the latest views of some of the people involved in the Wests’ case, Understanding Rose West is the most comprehensive analysis of the psyche of this notorious killer.