The upcoming Rayo Original Podcast, Beware Book, revisits the unsolved murders of eight women in Glasgow — crimes that spanned 14 years and still haunt the city today.
Launching on 23 March 2026, the podcast re-examines the killings of women involved in prostitution between 1991 and 2005 — a period marked by economic hardship, heroin addiction and rising violent crime in Glasgow.
With at least four of the murders still unsolved, the series raises a powerful and uncomfortable question:
How many victims remain without justice?
Rayo’s new investigative series dives deep into cases that many believed had faded into history — but for families, the pain never disappeared.
At the heart of the story is a leather-bound journal known among the women as the “Beware Book.” It was more than a notebook. It was a survival tool.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, women working Glasgow’s streets relied heavily on one another. Facing violence and vulnerability daily, they created a warning system.
They recorded:
That journal became known as the Beware Book — a stark symbol of both solidarity and fear.
The new podcast explores a critical mystery:
Where is the Beware Book now? And could it still hold vital evidence?
One of the most high-profile cases connected to this dark chapter was the murder of Emma Caldwell.
In 2005, Emma’s body was found in remote woodland near Biggar, South Lanarkshire. Her death devastated her family and shook Scotland.
But justice did not come quickly.
It took 19 years before Iain Packer was convicted for her murder in 2024. The trial exposed investigative failures and raised troubling questions about whether opportunities to arrest him earlier were missed.
The podcast does not accuse — it questions. And those questions are difficult.
The series is led by experienced journalists Collette McGonigle and Callum McQuade from Clyde One.
After reporting extensively on the Packer trial, the duo felt unresolved issues remained.
They returned to the files.
They spoke to families.
They revisited crime scenes.
And they tracked down former officers.
Their aim? Not sensationalism — but accountability.
One of the most powerful elements of Beware Book is its deeply personal testimony.
For the first time at length, relatives of several victims share:
The podcast reframes the narrative — reminding listeners these were not statistics. They were daughters, sisters, mothers and friends.
In a significant development, a former investigating officer appears in the series to discuss:
This insight could reopen conversations about evidence management and policing culture during the 1990s and early 2000s.
The podcast also includes:
While no new charges are announced, the series explores whether further details about Packer’s history could emerge.
It’s a delicate area — but one the journalists approach with careful documentation and verified testimony.
To understand the murders, the podcast places them in context.
Between 1991 and 2005, Glasgow faced:
Women working in prostitution were particularly vulnerable. Many struggled with addiction and poverty, operating in an environment where violence was common — and often underreported.
The series questions whether that context influenced how seriously the cases were initially treated.
One recurring theme throughout the podcast is institutional bias.
While police have defended historical investigations, the public conversation continues — especially after the Packer conviction highlighted past failings.
True crime content remains popular — but Beware Book stands apart for several reasons:
This isn’t just storytelling. It’s a renewed call for answers.
Beware Book launches on 23 March 2026.
Listeners can stream or download across all major platforms.
Interest in the series is already building due to:
In the era of on-demand audio, podcasts have become powerful tools for revisiting unresolved cases.
And in Glasgow, these wounds are far from healed.
The story of the Beware Book is ultimately about more than crime.
It is about:
As the series unfolds, listeners will decide for themselves whether the system failed — and whether it can still make things right.
One thing is certain: the conversation is not over.
