Magazine publisher Hachette Filipacchi is expected to close its real-life title Crime Confidential after just four issues following disappointing sales.

The fourth issue of the magazine, dedicated to true stories of crime, will go on sale next week.

After that, Hachette said it would "suspend" publication while it made a decision on the future of the magazine.

"We have been conducting research and reviewing the magazine's frequency and will make a decision in due course," said a spokeswoman for the publisher.

Crime Confidential launched last October as a fortnightly title, but Hachette reduced its frequency to monthly.

It specialises in real-life crime stories, unsolved historical mysteries and advice on beating crime.

The market for true-life magazines has been booming in recent years and Hachette had hoped to identify a new niche with real-life stories of crime victims. But sales of the magazine are thought to have been disappointing.

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