Richard Hoskins

R R Hoskins (born 1964) is a best-selling author and notable criminologist, with expertise in African ritual crime.^[1]

Early life

R R Hoskins was born in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, in February 1964, and educated at Uppingham School, at Bedford School, and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, before a Special Short Service Commission in 3rd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment. At the age of twenty-one he travelled to Africa intending a gap year, but stayed from 1986 until 1992.^[2]

Upon returning to Britain, Hoskins enrolled at Oxford University to read Theology and took a double First, before completing a PhD at King's College London. Hoskins went on to be a Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University,^[3] and a Senior Research Fellow at King's College London. He has taught Religious Studies at Shebbear College in Devon. He has also held a deputy headship.

Expert Witness

Whilst working at Bath Spa University, Richard Hoskins was called upon by the Metropolitan Police Service to work as an expert witness in the Torso in the Thames case.^[2] He has since been called as an expert witness in over a hundred criminal cases, including numerous high-profile murders, such as those of Victoria Climbié,^[4] Jodi Jones and the Eric Bikubi and Magalie Bamu case.^[5][6][7][8] Hoskins has been called upon to provide commentary on these cases and the related field by numerous press organisations.^{[9][10][11][12][13]} He is an expert on African religions.^{[14][15][16][17][18][19][20]} He is the only registered multi-cultural expert on the UK national police SOCA database.^{[2][21][22][23]}

Richard Hoskins has made television and radio appearances concerning numerous cases, most notably a documentary for the BBC entitled "Witch Child",^[3][24][25] a documentary concerned with the Torso in the Thames case^[26] and a BBC Radio 4 programme.^[27][28] He is a Patron of the Build Africa charity.^[29]

Personal life

Richard Hoskins has been married twice. He currently lives in London where he writes crime fiction. He is a keen runner and completed the 2014 London Marathon in 2 hours 45 minutes, placing him 7th for all over 50.^[30] In 2014 Hoskins began a transition to female, and is now known as Rachel Hoskins.^[31]

Publications

Richard Hoskins' first book, The Boy in the River, was published by Pan Macmillan and became a Sunday Times bestseller,^[1] receiving critical praise in several press publications.^[32][33][34] His first crime thriller is due to be published in 2015.

The Boy in the River was named Gold Winner in the Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards 2013.^[35] The panel of judges 'highly commended' his 'gripping story'.^[36]

References

External links

• Dr Richard Hoskins Writer and Criminologist
• Richard's Youtube Channel
• LAW – Writers