True crime is an interesting genre to read because it’s not fictional, but often fictional.
We are presented with a mystery that often seems strange to the point of being strange, and then we are walked through the steps that are taken to solve that mystery. It can feel like solving a puzzle, delving into the depths of human nature, and watching a weird—and bloody—series all at the same time.
So it will be one of the best selling and most popular books in the market.
There is also an interesting phenomenon where people are attracted to “evil” while being perfectly decent members of society—they want to “walk safely on the dark side” of the stories they read.
Whether you’re a novice crafter, an aspiring legal professional, or someone who just loves a compelling story, you’re in luck.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of what I consider to be the 10 best true crime books.
Let’s be honest: there will be so many great books, that it’s impossible to list them all.
But I hope you’ll find that the books I’ve chosen as “best” below offer compelling reads, compelling cases, and a really good time learning about real-life crimes by real people.
Finally, for all book lovers like me, I have something exciting to share. Little Stack is a new project I’ve been working on. The website offers a comprehensive resource for tracking author books and series, so you can easily follow your favorite authors and discover hidden indie gems. We’re creating a hub where you can track what your favorite authors are up to and be notified when they release new works. Whether you love bestsellers or indie finds, Little Stack will be your go-to resource for keeping your library organized. Check it out—you just might find your next favorite!
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
This story was written by the famous American novelist Truman Capote (of Breakfast at Tiffany’s fame) and researched with the help of Harper Lee (of To Kill A Mockingbird fame), so you know it’s going to be a really fun read.
In Cold Blood tells the story of the Clutter family, a Kansas family who were murdered in their home. In the pages of this novel, you will not only find the story of those who lead the investigation into the shooting, but also the story of those who committed this murder.
To add even more depth, real-life interviews with people who knew the killers and victims are sprinkled throughout. It has enough color and creativity to read like a wonderful novel, but every important detail is grounded in fact and well researched. It is considered one of the greatest—and most compelling—true crime novels ever written.
Published: 1966
The Flower Moon Killers: The Osage Killers and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
In the 1920s, members of the Osage Nation Native American tribe were among the wealthiest in Osage County, thanks in large part to the oil deposits found on their land. Until the killing started. One by one, members of the Osage Nation were killed, exterminated in order to reach their land and the untold wealth provided by the oil below.
In the pages of Flower Moon Assassinsyou will learn that the newly created FBI, led by J. Edgar Hoover, how he worked with Texas Ranger Tom White to find out who the murderer really is, and the bloody sequence of events that led to the death of so many members of the Osage Nation. It is a practical test of the lengths to which greed can drive people.
Published: 2017
The Lost Girls by Robert Kolker
Between 2007 and 2010, a brutal killer victimized young women on Long Island, New York. The Lost Girlswritten by Robert Kolker, a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of both the victim and the serial killer.
A poignant, intelligent read on both the depravity people are capable of and the harsh reality many young women in the sex industry face.
So beloved is the story, in fact, that it was turned into a movie (2020, available on Netflix). The most interesting thing of all is that the Long Island serial killer is still on the loose and unknown to this day.
Published: 2013
The Grim Sleeper: Missing Women of the South Central by Christine Pelisek
For decades in the late 1900s and early 2000s, the only known killer known as the “Grim Sleeper” terrorized South Central LA. His victims: all women of color, all chosen from the poor neighborhoods of Los Angeles. What made it all the more difficult to grasp was that he had years of “cooling off” periods between killings, where he would lose consciousness—until he struck again and another victim’s life was brutally ended.
The Grim Sleeper it is more than just an exciting true crime novel; it’s a painful reality check that many in poverty-stricken and high-crime areas often face, especially that the media and law enforcement tend to ignore and ignore the victims of those areas.
It’s an eye-opening and truly heartbreaking look at the deep societal problems that have allowed a serial killer to go on a killing spree for almost 20 years.
Published: 2017
Angry Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep
Harper Lee, of To Kill a Mockingbird Famehe was more than just a novelist—he was fascinated and dedicated to solving unsolved crimes. Often to the point of obsession, as we find in the pages of Hours of Anger.
The book tells the story of Pastor Willie Maxwell, a small town preacher who was on trial for murdering five members of his family. Although he escaped the crime, he was killed at his family’s funeral. Interestingly, his killer was defended by the same lawyer who helped Reverend Maxwell escape from court—and it was this killer’s case that caught Harper Lee’s attention.
Hours of Anger taps into Harper Lee’s obsession with getting all the details right—which he intends to write about in his next book, titled Teacher– and he ends up telling the story that he didn’t know before his death.
Published: 2020
Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth
Ron Stallworth has earned the distinction of being the first black detective to ever join the Colorado Springs Police Department, but when the opportunity to join the infamous Ku Klux Klan presents itself—in the form of a classified ad—he has to take it.
At first, he only communicates with the Klan through correspondence, but when the time comes to reveal himself, he has no choice but to enlist the help of his partner and fellow detective, Chuck.
Black Klansmen follows Stallworth in his investigation of the growing Klan in the late 1970s, an intense and daring investigation that led to the exposure of white men to the US military and the formation of a “friendship” with Grand Wizard David Duke.
It’s a crime thriller with all the realistic details, and a fascinating look at the underlying cracks in American society that allow organizations like the KKK to not only exist, but thrive.
Published: 2014
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
I will walk in the dark is considered one of the greatest modern masterpieces of true crime fiction, a testament to all the works invested by the writer. His passing at the time of its writing makes it a very compelling story, a lasting legacy beyond his life.
In the book, you’ll learn about the Golden State Killer, a notorious serial killer in Northern California in the 1970s and 1980s. It’s a compelling story that HBO made a documentary that was heavily influenced by the investigative work that went into trying to identify a cold-blooded killer.
Published: 2019
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
In Chicago in the early 1890s, a serial killer struck repeatedly, killing attendees of the 1893 Columbian Exposition. His methods: setting up a fake hotel near the stadium, and luring unsuspecting victims to sleep, making them hold their own and leading to their gruesome murders.
The story may be true, but it is presented in a really impressive novel format that makes for an engaging read from start to finish. It’s not just the story of HH Holmes, who is considered America’s first modern serial killer, but it also goes into everything that went into creating the world-famous show, the work of both Daniel Burnham and Frederick Law Olmsted. Get ready for an incredibly gripping and suspenseful read!
Published: 2003
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Not all “best” true crime books have to be about murder, a fact John Carreyrou proved.
Bad Blood chronicles the rise and fall of Theranos founder—and female friend—Elizabeth Holmes, a woman who promised a complete biotechnology miracle (being able to extract health data from a single drop of blood) and defrauded investors out of millions of dollars because no such technology existed.
Follow Carreyrou on his journalistic journey from the beginning, receiving a tip about Theranos fraud, and join him as he builds his case by carefully adding new facts and details until the day he finally has enough to break it down. Not a single murder occurs, but it’s compelling to read about the lack of violence.
Published: 2018
Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia by Joseph D. Pistone
Few criminal enterprises are as interesting and compelling as the New York Mafia, a gang run by five influential Italian families in New York City. So a book about the adventures of an undercover FBI agent who infiltrates the Mafia is going to be a really fun read.
Written by an FBI agent himself, the book details his efforts to deal with truck hijacking gangs, and then delve into the Mafia itself.
Posing as Donald “Donnie” Brasco, a jewel thief from Miami, he infiltrates the Colombo crime family, then the Bonanno crime family.
The story reads like an adventure and provides incredible insight into the workings of the most powerful criminal organization in the United States, leading to the successful conviction of over 100 mafia members.
Published: 1997