Humans have always been attracted to the dark and forbidden. Naturally, this includes the grisly details of a real-life horror story, because sometimes reality is just far more intriguing than any novel.
The true crime genre is currently experiencing a spike in popularity, with countless films, podcasts, series, and books being made in its name. Driven by the voracious demand of internet armchair detectives, this genre demands that the author examine real-world crimes and follow the actions and motivations of the suspects in those cases.
Best True Crime Books
True crime tackles many forms of crime, including theft and blackmail. But what’s proven most popular so far is murder, especially when a serial killer is involved. With more than 40% of true crime media focusing on serial killers, it makes one wonder why we consume such media. Is it for the thrill, or to empathize with the victims?
From the victims and their families to the perpetrators and investigators, we see how the lives of all those involved are forever changed by the violence and evil that lurks within some people.
To satiate your interest in the sinister, we’ve rounded up the 15 best true crime books for you to binge read. You’ve been warned: read these books if you dare.
1. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
From its eerie tone to the author’s thorough investigative research, this is the godfather of all things considered true crime, and cemented the genre into what it is known for today. Capote, in his chillingly clinical accounting, details the murder of the Clutter household by Richard Hickock and Perry Smith. He weaves their lives together in a seamless narrative that only emphasizes the grimness of the crime committed.
2. Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi
As the prosecutor of the Manson case, Bugliosi had a unique first-hand perspective of one of the most senseless murders of the century.
This book details the murder of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four other people by the Manson Family. This is a book that questions the psychology of cult experiences and what leads others to kill on the words of a leader.
3. Shot in the Heart by Mikal Gilmore
Gary Gilmore immortalized himself by campaigning for his own speedy death after murdering two men. Written by his younger brother, this book offers personal insights into how being raised in a wildly dysfunctional family prone to violence, crime, and guilt drives a man to ruin and murder.
Bonus read: The Executioner’s Song is the original book that examined Gary Gilmore’s life and crimes, but with a more journalistic and outsider perspective.
4. The Other Side by Lacy Johnson
This book is made more horrifying by the realization that the victim of the crime committed is the author herself. Johnson was kidnapped, imprisoned in a soundproof room, and repeatedly raped by an ex-boyfriend. This is a haunting, first-hand account of her experiences of sexual assault and imprisonment, and her hard-fought struggles to recover.
5. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
When the Golden State Killer vanished after committing 13 murders, more than 50 rapes, and 100 home robberies, McNamara refused to let the case die. This is a dogged account of all the Golden State Killer’s crimes, the ensuing investigations, and all other information that McNamara could dig up. After three decades of avoiding justice, the killer was finally apprehended thanks to the author’s efforts.
6. The Lazarus Files by Matthew McGough
McGough delivers a riveting narrative of a murderer going free because of power and wrong assumptions. In 1986, Sherri Rasmussen was found dead in her apartment. Initial investigations quickly concluded the crime was a burglary gone wrong and ignore repeated requests by Rasmussen’s parents to investigate a particular individual. Decades later, DNA technology has led detectives to the true culprit- another detective, and an ex-girlfriend of Rasmussen’s husband.
7. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
When oil was found beneath their lands, the Osage Indians became some of the richest people per capita in the world. But one by one, someone began to kill them off. Grann goes into exact details of the gruesome conspiracy by white men overcome by greed and driven to murder Native Americans. With most investigators killed off or threatened, the newly formed FBI rises to the occasion to solve the increasingly gruesome case.
8. Columbine by Dave Cullen
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold orchestrated what was the deadliest school shooting at the time, killing 12 students and one teacher before committing suicide themselves. “Columbine” became a byword for school shootings, inciting numerous copycat killings. Dave Cullen was one of the first reporters on scene, putting together a comprehensive accounting into what really happened on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School and why the culprits did it.
9. The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum
A study in forensic toxicology, Deborah Plum explores the Jazz age where poisoners were virtually undetectable murderers. Without enough scientific knowledge at the time, police were hard-pressed in their investigations and finding suspects, much less the real culprits. The book covers the years between 1915 and 1936, where two men set the trail blazing for forensics.
10. Road To Jonestown by Jeff Guinn
Jim Jones orchestrated the mass murder-suicide of almost a thousand of his followers through cyanide poisoning, including 304 children. Guinn examines Jones’s life, motives, and the events that led to that faithful day in Jonestown. With thousands of pages of FBI files and other research poured into painting a clearer picture, this is the definitive book on Jim Jones and his cult.
11. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale
Jonathan “Jack” Whicher was a detective in the Victorian era and the inspiration for some of the most notable figures in detective fiction. During his time, detective work was a new occupation, with only eight detectives in the entirety of England. This Victorian-style thriller documents the murder of young Saville Kent and Whicher’s suspicions that the culprit was in the family.
12. Provenance by Laney Salisbury and Aly Sujo
In the world of art, forgery is the most serious crime, and John Drewe was the best forger out there. Together with his accomplice John Myatt, they perpetrated what is called the biggest art fraud of the 20th century. They forged hundreds of artworks that still grace some of the most prominent museums today. The book details how Drewe legitimized all of Myatt’s forgeries through increasingly complex cons, until their eventual arrest.
13. Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth
“Black cop infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan” reads like a movie tagline, but it was exactly what Ron Stallworth did when he noticed a newspaper ad looking to start a new KKK chapter in his city. The book chronicles his thought processes, investigative work, and subterfuge that lasted a solid nine months. At one point in time, he even called the KKK’s grand wizard David Duke himself on the status of his membership.
14. Devil’s Knot by Mara Leveritt
In 1993, three boys went missing from their homes, only for their savaged bodies to reappear the next day. The nature of their deaths incited rumors about satanic rituals, and three teenagers were arrested due to little more than circumstantial evidence including Metallica shirts and books from the library. These three teenagers were later known as the West Memphis Three, with Leveritt comparing them to the Salem witch trials, both being cases of a “satanic craze” that affected the community and led to wrongful arrests.
The Impact of True Crime Stories
Most of these stories are of a highly personal nature, with many of the authors having been part of the stories they tell. Perhaps it’s a coping mechanism for them, or an attempt to immortalize the events they’ve seen and the truths they’ve witnessed.
But true crime is a loaded gun; its books can often make a lasting impact on those personally involved, even years after the actual crimes themselves. The main criticism is that the genre can be disrespectful and invasive, and has the potential to cause great harm.
Imparting a sense of respect to the victims should be key when writing and reading this genre. You’re not reading about fictional characters, but real people that walked the same world that you do. Writers must not change the details just to serve their creative narrative, and readers must always keep in mind that these are real events.
There’s no denying that true crime is here to stay. With a rapidly growing fan base, the media is constantly churning out entertainment that focuses on cold cases and monumental crimes.
What’s your favorite true crime book? Share them on the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 16 of the Best True Crime Documentaries to Watch Now
- 20 Best Book Series for Adults
- 16 Fictional Detectives We All Love
- 14 Best Mystery Authors to Read Now
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
