2SandraArdnas
Not sure if it's within the genre limits, but Alias Grace and News of a Kidnapping are both based on true crimes
3lilithcat
Most "true crime" books tend to be overly sensationalistic.
But a few that aren't:
Thieves of Book Row : New York's Most Notorious Rare Book Ring and the Man Who Stopped It, by Travis McDade
In Cold Blood: a True Account of a Multiple Murder and its Consequences, by Truman Capote
A Gathering of Saints: A True Story of Money, Murder and Deceit, by Robert Lindsey
Cast of Ravens: the Strange Case of Sir Thomas Overbury, by Beatrice White
But a few that aren't:
Thieves of Book Row : New York's Most Notorious Rare Book Ring and the Man Who Stopped It, by Travis McDade
In Cold Blood: a True Account of a Multiple Murder and its Consequences, by Truman Capote
A Gathering of Saints: A True Story of Money, Murder and Deceit, by Robert Lindsey
Cast of Ravens: the Strange Case of Sir Thomas Overbury, by Beatrice White
5drneutron
The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Two that immediately came to mind.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Two that immediately came to mind.
6N1na
I'll offer two suggestions that aren't based around a murder: Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup and The Library Book.
7mstrust
I second In Cold Blood, it's pretty amazing, both the story and the writing.
Also, I'll Be Gone in the Dark.
Also, I'll Be Gone in the Dark.
8Crypto-Willobie
The Only Living Witness by Stephen G Michaud (Ted Bundy)
The Ultimate Evil by Maury Terry (Son of Sam)
Zodiac by Robert Graysmith
Killing for Company by Brian Masters (Dennis Nilsen, sort of a British Jeffrey Dahmer)
Somebody's Husband, Somebody's Son by Gordon Burn (The Yorkshire Ripper)
The Ultimate Evil by Maury Terry (Son of Sam)
Zodiac by Robert Graysmith
Killing for Company by Brian Masters (Dennis Nilsen, sort of a British Jeffrey Dahmer)
Somebody's Husband, Somebody's Son by Gordon Burn (The Yorkshire Ripper)
11lilithcat
Devil in the White City (at least the H.H. Holmes part of it) needs to be taken with a shaker of salt.
Larson relied a lot on what we would call tabloid journalism. In fairness, not much else is available, but it does mean that his sources aren't necessarily reliable and he indulges in a great deal of speculation.
But it's great if you want to learn about the World's Columbian Exposition!
Larson relied a lot on what we would call tabloid journalism. In fairness, not much else is available, but it does mean that his sources aren't necessarily reliable and he indulges in a great deal of speculation.
But it's great if you want to learn about the World's Columbian Exposition!
12bookcookie1920
We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper
13Tess_W
It depends on what you want---in novel form or non-fiction. If non-fiction, I would go with anything written by Ann Rule.
14Capybara_99
There is a recent anthology of thoughtful true crime pieces put together by Sarah Weinman called Unspeakable Acts: True Tales of Crime, Murder, Deceit, and Obsession. It might be a good introduction to some of the themes and issues in contemporary true crime writing.
16alco261
Three books of non-fiction true crime that come to mind are The Feather Thief, The Cuckoo's Egg and Helter Skelter
17Erica.Tuggle
I'll second I'll be gone in the dark . Also Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit and the classic Ann Rule The Stranger Beside Me
185foot2hobbit
I'll be gone in the dark and The Devil's knot by Mara Leveritt.
19ReluctantTechie
>I'd suggest Bloodsworth by Tim Junkin. It recounts the first person exonerated by DNA evidence.