A few days ago, my husband and I were discussing our favorite things. When I was going through mine, he was startled, and I couldn’t understand why. We’ve been married for five years and together for 10. He’s my best friend and knows me better than anyone, so this came as a shock to me.
No. 1 on this list was ice cream, which my husband guessed. No. 2 was sleep. While he didn’t guess this, he wasn’t surprised since I’m usually the first to fall asleep on the couch during a movie or in the car during a road trip. It was No. 3 that surprised him…murder.
Now, before you jump to conclusions, allow me to explain. Of course I said “murder” for the shock factor. Murder is my overgeneralization for true crime — a genre in books, film and TV that always captivates me. True crime is more than just “murder.” These books are stories of greed, history, studies on gender and psychology, and so much more. Questions arise that provoke the reader to ask, “Why?” As readers, we’re examining the themes of nature vs. nurture, good vs. evil, the pursuit of justice and, in some cases, who is the victim.
While ice cream, sleep and “murder” take slots one through three on that list, No. 4 is easily books — and sharing my love of them with our community. So here are some of my favorite true crime books to pique your interest and inspire curiosity:
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, a classic in the genre first published in 1966, examines the victims, citizens and perpetrators of a quadruple murder in a sleepy Kansas town.
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou details the rise and fall of the biotech company Theranos and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who were at the center of one of the largest corporate fraud cases to come out of Silicon Valley.
Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey explores true crime from the perspective of the criminal justice system, telling 10 harrowing stories of those who were wrongly convicted.
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel, a timely read, tells the story of Stéphane Breitwieser, one of the world’s most prolific art thieves.
I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara, written from McNamara’s deep interest in true crime and her obsession with finding California’s most prolific predator, a person she dubbed the “Golden State Killer.”
Devil in the White City by Erik Larson tells the dueling storylines of the creation and events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer who was terrorizing the city at the same time.
The Secret History of the Rape Kit by Pagan Kennedy illustrates the history of this invention in forensic science and how one crisis hotline counselor advocated for female victims.
Mindhunter by John Douglas, written by one of the FBI’s first criminal profilers, demystifies the cases and behaviors of some of the most notorious criminals in recent memory.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller is the autobiography of a sexual assault victim whose case went viral. This book is of particular importance because it focuses on the victim, her story and how she is healing her trauma.
As you can see, true crime is more than just murder, though it is a large part of the genre. So, if you love “murder” as much as I do, check out one of these titles or ask us for some suggestions. We’re always here to help.
Photo by thom masat on Unsplash