 There have been three peaks of output, in 1956 and 1957, mainly before the trial, in the mid 1980s after Adams' death and before and after 2000, following the discovery of Harold Shipman's activities.The great majority represent Adams as a serial murderer, but few are based on their author investigating the evidence rather than recycling previous accounts.Of those more detailed accounts published before 2003, only one represents Adams as an undoubted serial killer.