There has never been a more feared or respected policeman in Australia than Brian "Skull" Murphy.

Adam Shand, author of the bestselling Big Shots, tells the story of the last of the super cops, collaring big-time crims and small-time thugs, rubbing shoulders with corrupt officials and flashy assassins, and using a combination of old-school persuasion and self-styled 'slychology' to recruit his network of informers.

In the '70s and '80s, The Skull enters the shady world depicted in Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, and we see many of its key villains - Christopher Dale Flannery, the Kane brothers and Ray Chuck - from Murphy's perspective as he plays them off against each other and fights to stay on top.

Fast-paced and gritty, The Skull is the life and times of a legendary crime-fighter.

Watch The Skull book trailer here.