We think it’s fair to say that it’s never been a better time to be a true crime fan. Whether based on British, American or other country's cases, the genre is flourishing and has exploded into all forms of media from TV to podcasts. But lest we forget, the humble book is where it all kicked off, and in many instances, it’s where these other forms of media find their inspiration.
The only issue is finding the right book, which becomes increasingly difficult the more saturated the market becomes. So, to lead you through the gruesome serial killers and even the charming criminals, we’ve created a guide and ranking to help you narrow down which terrifying tales you should choose to keep you up at night. After all, the real world is much more unthinkable than fiction.
Quick List - Top True Crime Books
Truman Capote
One of the First, and Still One of the Best
Robert Kolker
A Humanizing Account for Armchair Detectives Who Love the Mystery
Lorraine Gamman
The Story of a Charming British Woman Who Happened to Be Very Good at Pinching Things
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Table of Contents
Before jumping straight in, it might be worth taking a minute and considering what types of stories and topics you’d like to read about as well as a couple of other divisive or practical factors. Luckily, we're going to cover all these in this guide.
True crime is a blanket name for a genre that spans a vast number of illegal activities. Therefore, it’s important to identify what type of crime book you’re looking for. Perhaps you’re most interested in the details of the crimes, which can range from cold-blooded serial killers to first-rate shoplifters and everything in between.
Alternatively, you may enjoy learning about the characters involved in the crime and their backstories. If this is the case, biographies on crime figures will provide a great insight. Another more recent angle to consider is one which looks at the offences through the eyes of the investigating detectives or forensic psychologists.
Of course, many of these different points of view will overlap in some titles – a story on a group of missing women could take in the thoughts and beliefs of the police, say, and not just the author. That said, we think it can make for a much more satisfying read when you consider where the focus comes from.
Many of us would call ourselves true crime addicts, or even aficionados, but during our time reading books, listening to podcasts and watching TV shows, we’ve found that one thing splits the community like no other – the style of ending.
You see, some people want that cliff hanger that keeps the brain ticking over and the mystery alive, while others are looking for a satisfactory ending with all the loose ends tied up so that they can sleep peacefully at night. Neither is right or wrong, it’s all a case of preference.
So, as we’re in the duty of providing every reader with the ending they desire, we’ll mention whether it is conclusive or not in our spec table below each product. There’ll be no spoilers, so you don’t have to worry about that, just a nod to what you can expect.
Finally, sometimes we have to consider practical points to when it comes to reading. This primarily refers to your preferred format when reading. Depending on where and how often you read, different formats can be better for your needs.
For example, you wouldn't want to take a big ol' true crime hardback on the packed underground on your commute – these stories are seriously addictive, so a paperback would be better for cramming in every minute of reading you can. That said, a hardback would be perfect for a collector of true crime novels, displayed proudly or given as a gift.
Nowadays, there are, of course, digital eBooks and audiobooks to consider too. Both of these will require a device or subscription for you to access them, but they could save you money in the long run and they're great for on the go. Plus, is there anything more immersive than a creepy crime tale being read to you at night?
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Paul Britton The Jigsaw Man | ![]() | First-Hand Insight Into Some of the UK's Most Devastating Crimes | |
2 | Truman Capote In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences | ![]() | One of the First, and Still One of the Best | |
3 | Robert Kolker Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery | ![]() | A Humanizing Account for Armchair Detectives Who Love the Mystery | |
4 | Lorraine Gamman Gone Shopping: The Story of Shirley Pitts - Queen of Thieves | ![]() | The Story of a Charming British Woman Who Happened to Be Very Good at Pinching Things | |
5 | Rabia Chaudry Adnan's Story: The Case That Inspired the Podcast Phenomenon Serial | ![]() | An Enthralling Story Filled With Foggy Contradictions and Perplexing Characters | |
6 | John Douglas and Mark Olshaker Mindhunter: Inside the FBI Elite Serial Crime Unit | ![]() | Learn About the History of Criminal Profiling With One of Its Pioneers | |
7 | Jeff Guinn Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson | ![]() | An Authoritative Account of a Truly Troubled Soul | |
8 | Chenya Roth Cold Cases: A True Crime Collection | ![]() | A Non Fiction Collection of Some of the World's Most Notorious Unsolved Crimes | |
9 | Howard Marks Mr Nice | ![]() | Follow the Story of One of Britain's Biggest Drug Lords | |
10 | Robert Graysmith Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Bizarre Mass Murderer | ![]() | One of the World's Most Chilling Cold Cases |
Paul Britton is a criminal psychologist who has been at the centre of some of the UK's most prolific cases, from the murder of 2-year-old Jamie Bulger to the Heinz extortionist and many, many more. If Sherlock Holmes were real, we're pretty sure Paul here would give a run for his money, and that's because of his ability to get into the minds of those who commit these crimes.
While others are looking for fingerprints or bloodstains at a crime scene, the author shows you why looking for what he aptly calls the 'mind trace' is equally as important. It's an engrossing book that reads like a fiction thriller, but instead, it's told with first-hand knowledge, insight and humanity.
Powerfully evocative, this book from Truman Capote not only slung his name into the spotlight, but it could be considered the birth of the true crime genre. In it, he down the barrier between crime reporting and meaningful literature.
Here, Capote meticulously reconstructs the 1959 murder of a Kansas City farm family and explores both the subsequent investigation and the circumstances around this crime. In the middle of it all are the two killers Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock, who are vividly depicted as being both completely abhorrent yet still frighteningly human.
Long Island is located on the southeast part of the US state New York. It has some of the most affluent neighbourhoods where house prices skyrocket, and the police are some of the best paid in the country. So with that in mind, it's terrifying to learn that there has been a serial killer on the loose there for 16-20 years.
Award-winning author Robert Kolker delivers a brilliant humanizing account of five of those that have been found. The story delves into the world of sex work, the dark side of the internet, and class and privilege.
Shirley Pitts died in March 1992. She was buried in a £5,000 dress, one that she obtained with a five-finger discount. Luckily, before she passed on, she told her story to the author Lorraine Gamman. The result is a biography of a brave woman, who was the eldest of six children and born in 1934.
Shirley and her family weren't from the luckiest of lines, so her 'career' began when she was only young, pinching coal and bread for the family. From there, she resolved to be the best she could be, which is why she became a first-class thief. Readers proclaim this an addictive read, especially those familiar with its London backdrop in 50s and 60s Britain.
This is a story about Adnan Syed. On the 28th of February, 2000, he was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his then-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. However, since the moment of his first arrest, Syed has protested his innocence.
This account is not only layered with foggy contradictions and perplexing characters but also shines a light on a broken justice system. It is interlaced with reflections from Adnan and his family, his community and his legal team. Furthermore, it's this story that capitulated the podcast Serial to legendary status, so it's a great pick for fans.
John Douglas is a very famous name when it comes to the world of criminal psychology. He joined the FBI in 1970, where he became a hostage negotiator, but it wasn't until he was transferred to the Behavioural Science Unit in 1977 that his career really began to take a curious path.
As part of the BSU unit, he began creating criminal profiles, which is where detectives use the information and nature of a crime to make inferences about the personality and other characteristics of the offender. At the time it was groundbreaking stuff, and to help him create these profiles he interviewed some of America's most well-known violent criminals. A very interesting read.
There are few criminals as notorious as Charles Manson. This is especially interesting when you consider that he wasn't physically involved in the murders that made him and his family so famous But, as the book explores, just because he didn't pull the trigger, it doesn't make him any less of a killer.
There is a countless number of books on Manson, but it has to be said, this is by far the most authoritative account ever written. It contains never-seen photos, impressive interviews with relatives and a commitment from the author to accurately set the context against a backdrop of a turbulent 1960s LA.
This offering from Chenya Roth is for those that aren't looking to get sucked into the details. Instead, this is for those who want their spooks from a variety of different sources. In this captivating collection, the reader will get an overview of some fascinating true crime stories, like the disappearance of JonBenét Ramsey or the grim murder of the Black Dahlia.
However, the book doesn't strictly focus on the gruesome, as there are stories of heists and robberies such as the enthralling D.B Cooper plane takeover. The one thing they all have in common though is that we're still none the wiser as to what happened in any of them. As it's a little on the short side, it may be better for dipping in and out of.
In this biography of Howard Marks, you'll follow the young Oxford university student from the 1960s when he was just a small-time hash dealer to his arrest in 1980. At this point, he had 25 legal companies throughout the world which he used to launder his money, as well as 89 different phone lines and 43 aliases.
One of which these Mr Nice, which he adopted from a convicted murderer of that name. This was a huge hit when it was released, and is still a cult classic now, which is largely down to the humour and swagger in which Marks tells his story. There are some claims that he may be exaggerating in parts, but how does the old saying go? 'Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story'.
The Zodiac Killer is one of the most infamous cases in the whole world. The person has taken six known lives, but once himself claimed that number is as high as 37. You might be wondering how he told people this without ever getting caught. Well, that's one of his quirks, he would taunt the local police and press with letters and notes.
In this book, author Robert Graysmith reveals in the inside story on the hunt led by detectives and investigative journalists alike as well as, his suspicions on the possible true identity of the perpetrator.
Looking for more reads to keep you rapt on a lazy Sunday or a long journey? We have loads more comprehensive book articles with recommendations for every taste, but there's one thing the three below have in common – they're packed with gripping and addictive stories you won't be able to put down.
There you go, a collection of some of the best true crime books that are available to be bought online today. We're sure that at least one of these will provide you with the heart-pounding scares and gory insight that you're looking for. It's a tough topic to get right, but we believe each of these does the genre justice. Enjoy!
Author: Lewis Clark
No. 1: Paul Britton|The Jigsaw Man
No. 2: Truman Capote|In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences
No. 3: Robert Kolker|Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery
No. 4: Lorraine Gamman |Gone Shopping: The Story of Shirley Pitts - Queen of Thieves
No. 5: Rabia Chaudry|Adnan's Story: The Case That Inspired the Podcast Phenomenon Serial
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