Peter Haining, born in 1940 and passing in 2007, was a British journalist and author who resided in Suffolk. He began his career in journalism before moving into publishing, eventually becoming an editorial director. In the early 1970s, he transitioned to full-time writing. Haining was a prolific editor, particularly of horror and fantasy short story collections, and also authored non-fiction books on diverse subjects, including historical figures and phenomena. He utilized pen names such as "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" for some of his crime anthologies.

His non-fiction work explored subjects that sometimes courted controversy. Notably, his books on Sweeney Todd and Spring Heeled Jack presented historical claims that have been questioned by later researchers due to a lack of verifiable citations. Haining also wrote extensively on popular culture, including reference books for the BBC's Doctor Who series and studies on screen adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. His later projects focused on World War Two narratives, compiled from research and interviews. Haining received the British Fantasy Award's Karl Edward Wagner Award in 2001 and contributed to over 170 books.

After starting his career as a reporter, Peter Haining moved into the publishing industry, reaching the position of editorial director at New English Library by 1963. He became a full-time writer in the early 1970s. Haining was a highly active editor, compiling a significant number of anthologies. His editorial focus was predominantly on the genres of horror and fantasy, gathering short stories for collections. He also employed pseudonyms, "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton," for some of his work, particularly in the realm of crime story anthologies. His editorial contributions extended to over 170 books throughout his career.

As an author, Peter Haining penned non-fiction books across a broad spectrum of topics. These ranged from engineering projects like the Channel Tunnel to explorations of historical figures and urban legends. He authored books delving into the purported history of Sweeney Todd, proposing that the barber was a real individual active around the turn of the 19th century. Similarly, he wrote about the enigmatic figure of Spring Heeled Jack. However, these historical assertions have faced scrutiny, with other researchers finding difficulties in verifying Haining's cited sources and expressing reservations about the reliability of his accounts in these specific works.

Beyond historical mysteries, Peter Haining also engaged with popular culture through his writing. He authored several reference books dedicated to the long-running BBC television program Doctor Who, including a special publication for its 20th anniversary. His expertise extended to other beloved literary characters adapted for the screen; he wrote a comprehensive study on the depiction of Sherlock Holmes on television and contributed to tie-in books for characters such as Maigret, Poirot, Dr. Finlay, and James Bond. His later career saw him research and compile World War Two stories based on interviews and extensive research.