true crime novels vol. 1
a list of true crime i devoured through the years
If you didn’t know this about me, I am a HUGE fan of true crime. Whether it’s a novel, podcast, tv series, or documentary, I will most likely enjoy it. I love to be spooked by things that have happened. I don’t mean to sound macabre, but I love the investigation aspect of it. I like watching all the details come together for the police to solve it. Because of this, I have devoured quite a bit of true crime novels. I thought I would share my top true crime novels with you.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, school shooting
The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story - Ann Rule: This was my first book by Ann Rule. It’s also the first one she ever published. She wrote this book based on Ted Bundy’s crimes as someone who worked with him at a crisis hotline. She was friends with him, but she writes as someone who didn’t know him, which I liked. Because of this book, I’ve been making my way through her backlist and have read a few by her since.
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders - Vincent Bugliosi: A riveting story of true crime written by the prosecutor of the case, this is a famous story that most are aware of due to the many adaptations of it. Vincent Bugliosi’s book is written with extreme detail due to him being an attorney for the trial. It’s also a very disgusting story of what this cult did, so be warned that it is quite graphic in detail.
Devil’s Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three - Mara Leveritt: This book infuriated me because of how unfair this case was. It made me extremely angry how unjust the justice system was simply because of how three teenagers were different than the rest of the town. If you don’t know this case, please go look it up. It’s a heartbreaking story of three boys who go missing and how the justice system failed them and the teenagers who were accused of the crime simply because they dressed in black and listened to heavy metal in a time where satanic panic was at an all-time high.
Columbine - Dave Cullen: Be warned that this book is about a school shooting. This book follows the Columbine school shooting, considered one of the first and deadliest school shootings in American history. This is a heartbreaking story and made me cry while reading it. It will anger and upset you. Dave Cullen writes about the shooters (I refuse to name them and give them power) and why they did it, as well as what happened on that terrible day.
If I Can’t Have You: Susan Powell, Her Mysterious Disappearance, and the Murder of Her Children - Gregg Olsen: A sad case about a wife and mother who disappears and it’s never been solved. I don’t want to spoil it in case you pick it up, but the ending to this case is tragic.
The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology Tried to Destroy Paulette Cooper - Tony Ortega: Another book that angered me because of what this woman went through as a journalist. No one should ever go through what she did simply because they’re writing a book about Scientology. It saddened me what they did to Paulette, but because of it, Scientology was raided by the IRS.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer - Michelle McNamara: I wasn’t overly familiar with the Golden State Killer when I picked this up, but flew through it because of Michelle’s doggedness to find the killer. Although she passed away before she saw him brought to justice, I like to think her work helped the detectives.
Who Killed These Girls?: Cold Case: The Yogurt Shop Murders - Beverly Lowry: This is another case I wasn’t familiar with when I read this, but it was recommended to me at my local library. 4 girls get murdered while at a yogurt shop, 2 of them worked at the shop and the other 2 were a sister of 1 and her friend. I won’t go into detail, but the case has never been solved. Just know it’s horrific what happened to these girls.
The A-Z Encyclopedia of Serial Killers - Harold Schechter: If you can think of a serial killer, chances are they’re in this book. I read this and ended up donating it to my work for the police foundations and paralegal programs.
American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century - Maureen Callahan: I heard about this book from a podcast (forgive me, but I can’t remember which one now) and it intrigued me. I will warn you, this guy is one of the worst killers I’ve heard of and that’s saying a lot.
True crime will always be something that fascinates me and I genuinely hope you enjoyed this list. If there’s something you want me to list novel wise, let me know!
Hope to see you here again,
Kirsten
Have you seen the documentaries about the West Memphis three? So good.