My parents’ generation saw some of the most heinous criminals. Ted Bundy. Richard Ramirez. Ed Kemper. Closer to home, there was Fred and Rose West. Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. The Yorkshire Ripper.
With their names and faces splashed across the press, it was hard not to take an interest in the cases. But back then there was a line you didn’t cross when it came to true crime. You could take interest in the name of safety and justice, and you could share your disgust, but if you expressed a passionate interest in true crime, you were strange.
Look, I get it. Gaining access and further insight into true crime cases was much harder back then. Anyone who actively made an effort to dive deeper came across as too invested and macabre.
Fast forward a few decades and things have changed. We’ve seen the rise of the internet and digitalization, leading to a surge in true crime podcasts, television shows and Netflix series. These, among other things, have normalized passion for true crime. I love settling down with my favourite true crime podcast, book or documentary. I even have a “True Crime Queen” sticker on my laptop.
So, if you’re like me and want to merge your interest in true crime and reading, here are 5 books I personally recommend (because the real world is much more horrifying than fiction)!
Trigger warnings: these books include graphic descriptions of violence, murder, rape, kidnapping, shootings, and many more terrible crimes.
1. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark – Michelle McNamara
This game-changing book presents a deep dive into The Golden State Killer (Joseph DeAngelo). Arguably one of the most infamous American serial killers, DeAngelo committed 13 murders, 50 rapes, and 120 burglaries across California between 1974 and 1986. After a decades-long investigation, he was arrested in 2018 and plead guilty to multiple charges of murder and kidnapping in 2020.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is without a doubt the most detailed look at the case, with the author's award winning journalistic skills shining throughout. Tragically, McNamara died suddenly in her sleep before it was completed, so it was finished by crime writer Paul Haynes, investigative journalist Bill Jensen and McNamara’s husband, comedian Patton Oswalt.
The book title is a reference to what the Golden State Killer said to one of his victims: “You’ll be silent forever, and I’ll be gone in the dark.” Chilling.
2. Helter Skelter – Vincent Bugliosi
The best-selling true crime book in history, Helter Skelter tells the story of Charles Manson and his ‘family’. Manson, the leader of a Californian based cult in the 1960’s, ostracised a series of nine murders in the summer of ‘69 – the most well-known victim being Hollywood actress Sharon Tate. Though Manson was too much of a coward to commit the murders himself, in 1971 he was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The book provides first-hand accounts of the cases of Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and other members of the cult. Bugliosi was a prosecutor in the Manson trial, and therefore gives unique insights into how Manson was able to manipulate his followers to commit monstrous crimes.
3. Redhanded: An Exploration of Criminals, Cannibals, Cults, and What Makes a Killer Tick - Suruthi Bala & Hannah Maguire
True crime lovers may recognise the authors as the hosts of Redhanded, the UK’s number one true crime podcast. Their book uses specific case studies to cover several interesting topics, including genetics, misogyny, cults and sexual deviance.
These topics (and more – there are 8 long chapters in total) are tackled with sensitivity from a viewpoint you don’t often see – that not all killers are monsters. They dive deep into the psyche of murderers, exploring the societal, behavioural, and cultural drivers of human behaviour to find out what makes them tick. With a mix of scholarly references and the trademark Redhanded humour, the book makes for an educational and enjoyable read.
4. Columbine - Dave Cullen
There has been at least one mass shooting every day in the USA this year. These tragedies have become a common occurrence but will never become less devastating. The 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado was, at the time, the deadliest mass school shooting in American history. The gunmen, Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, killed 13 people and injured over 20 more before turning their guns on themselves.
This non-fiction book follows two main storylines: the killer's development leading up to the attack, and the survivors' struggles with the aftermath. The book is haunting and shocking, but respectfully describes the attacks with sensitivity to all involved – the students, the teachers, and their families.
5. The Stranger Beside Me – Ann Rule
Ann Rule is well known as the queen of true crime, writing dozens of bestselling books. Her most well-known, though, is her debut. Harrowingly personal, The Stranger Beside Me describes Rule’s personal relationship with the charmingly deceiving Ted Bundy. Rule met Bundy in 1971 when they worked together at a crisis centre, taking telephone calls from those at risk of suicide or facing other difficulties. Crazy, right? Bundy went on to kidnap, rape, and murder over 30 women and girls. After multiple prison breaks, he ended up on death row where he was executed in 1989. The book was originally published in 1980 but has been republished with revisions four times. In the final 2008 version, Rule includes more stories from women who believe they were could-be victims of Ted Bundy.
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