It is 9 years since the first edition of this book was published. Since then there has been an explosion of interest in stalking, both in popular culture and as a subject for academic research. In the first edition, a foreword by Anthony Clare (sadly no longer with us) highlighted the book as representing ‘the definitive account of one of the pathological phenomena of our fractured times, of gripping fascination to lay and professional readers alike’. I am happy to report that the second edition builds on this reputation and presents a fusion of exceptional research, clinical experience and sociological exploration that makes it unique in its field.

Stalking is no longer a new categorisation of human behaviour, as described in the first edition, but a well-recognised problem behaviour, ranging from the immature suiter making annoying and crude attempts to start a relationship to the predatory and dangerous sex offender (thankfully rare) who stalks victims without their knowledge before an assault. In between lies a range of behaviours difficult to define and categorise. And herein lies one of the main problems in stalking research – how can one effectively research such a diverse behaviour reflecting such a complex range of motivations? The development of a now widely adopted classification of stalking remains one of the great achievements of the authors, in addition to proposing definitions that promote research internationally.

This second edition is longer than the first, with a more readable layout. It updates and expands previously explored topics, with discussions on stalking as a social construction and social reality, stalking among juveniles, female stalkers, stalking of health professionals (my interest), legal aspects of what is a criminal behaviour in many jurisdictions, and stalking of celebrities and public figures. Its skill, related to the close and long-standing working relationship of the authors, lies in its ability to explore complex topics with a consistency, freshness and clarity to satisfy the interested as well as the academic reader. Summary boxes and case vignettes throughout provide focus to illustrate and highlight clinical aspects of the challenges raised. Unlike in other texts, there is an emphasis on the management of stalkers (as well as victims), with separate chapters on risk management and therapeutic approaches to the stalker.

Stalkers and heir Victims remains the definitive account of this problem behaviour, written in a scholarly and highly readable style. It would be of interest to a wide range of clinicians and also to those professionals, unfortunately not uncommon, who have themselves been vicitms of stalking.