30 best true crime books

True crime podcasts are absolutely everywhere nowadays, but before we had these gripping podcasts, we had true crime books to satisfy our morbid curiosity. While fiction can offer hours of entertainment in the form of crime thrillers and murder mysteries, there’s just something about non-fiction true crime books that keeps us hooked. After all, reality can often be even more shocking and unpredictable than our favourite fiction stories. True crime stories give us the opportunity to explore the darker side of human nature from the comfort and security of our homes, whilst also containing an element of mystery and problem-solving to challenge our minds.

The great thing about true crime books is that they offer much more space for a thoughtful examination of the crime itself, the complicated inner world of the perpetrator, the intricacies and injustices of the legal system, and the devastating impact on victims and the wider community. Podcasts and TV shows often focus on the gory details, whereas books can really explore the depth and complexity of the story in a way that many feel is more sensitive to the real people involved. 

However, not all true crime books are as successful at this, and with the explosion of true crime’s popularity in the past several years, there are now so many books to choose from – so what should you pick? If you’re looking for the best true crime books but don’t know where to start, here are our top 30 picks in no particular order:

1. Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi

Covering a case that has gripped the world’s imagination for decades, Vincent Bugliosi’s Helter Skelter: The True Story of The Manson Murders examines the shocking murder of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and several others in 1969 by The Manson Family. Vincent Bugliosi was Deputy District Attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office at the time, and successfully prosecuted Charles Manson and other defendants. This allowed him to add an incredible level of detail and insight into the case in this book. Published in 1974, Helter Skelter remains the best-selling true crime book in history.

2. Fatal Vision by Joe McGinniss

Fatal Vision by Joe McGinniss is another extremely popular true crime book that has remained a favourite since 1983. Fatal Vision covers the 1970 murders of Captain Jeffrey R. MacDonald’s pregnant wife and two young daughters, which MacDonald was later convicted for. MacDonald had actually hired McGinniss to write a book about his innocence, but after becoming convinced of MacDonald’s guilt throughout his investigation, McGinniss supported the court’s decision in Fatal Vision. MacDonald then sued the author and the book became embroiled in controversy, but this has only heightened interest in this shocking story.

3. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Considered the archetypal true crime novel, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote effortlessly weaves real events together with the storytelling and stylistic techniques of fiction to examine the 1959 murders of four members of the Clutter family by Richard Hickock and Perry Smith. Capote was praised by reviewers for his eloquent prose and sensitive, well-researched approach to both the case itself and the psychology of the perpetrators. Published in 1966, In Cold Blood is often regarded as the progenitor of non-fiction novels and the true crime genre, and it remains the second best-selling true crime book in history after Helter Skelter.

4. Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep

During his research into the murders of the Clutter family, Capote was accompanied by his lifelong friend Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee helped Capote with the research for his pioneering novel, and years later began to investigate the 1970s case of Reverend Willie Maxwell, a preacher accused of murdering five family members for insurance money, in the hopes of writing her own In Cold Blood. 

Sadly, Lee’s novel never materialised, but in Furious Hours, Casey Cep brings Lee’s unfinished story to life whilst also examining the life and work of one of America’s most-loved writers. As a mixture of true crime and literary biography, Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee is a must-read for both fiction and non-fiction fans.

5. Blind Ambition: The White House Years by John W. Dean

True crime stories don’t always revolve around murder. If you’re looking for high-stakes political intrigue and corruption, John W. Dean’s Watergate scandal memoir is hard to beat. Dean worked as White House counsel to President Nixon, and during the investigation into Watergate, he became the government’s key witness. In Blind Ambition, Dean offers unparalleled insight into the scandal that rocked the American political establishment, and also reflects on what drove him to participate in this notorious affair. 

6. Scoundrel by Sarah Weinman

In Scoundrel: How a Convicted Murderer Persuaded the Women Who Loved Him, the Conservative Establishment, and the Courts to Set Him Free, Sarah Weinman examines the case of Edgar Smith, a master manipulator and misogynist who managed to convince conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. of his innocence, despite being convicted of the murder of a 15-year-old girl. Weinman expertly exposes the faults of the justice system and how victims suffer as a result.

7. We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper

Another true crime book that masterfully examines injustice, privilege and oppression is We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence by Becky Cooper. Forty years after the unsolved murder of a Harvard student, Cooper investigates the crime as a Harvard student herself, slowly becoming obsessed with the complicated details she uncovers. Rather than focusing only on individual suspects, Cooper reveals the deep-rooted discrimination at the heart of revered institutions, and how this oppressive culture results in violence.

8. The Secret Barrister

Published by an anonymous author in 2018, The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It's Broken offers a rare glimpse into the state of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. Through a series of first-hand accounts of various cases, the author reveals the ways in which the legal system is failing to protect victims and fairly prosecute defendants, showing us why we should all be more concerned with what’s happening. After all, anyone could end up in a courtroom one day, either as a member of the jury, a witness, a victim, or even a defendant.

9. Last Call by Elon Green

Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York is a harrowing non-fiction examination of a series of brutal crimes targeting gay men in 1980s New York. Green reports on these previously overlooked crimes to give a voice to those who were forgotten by a system that should have protected them.

10. The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer

 Mailer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning true crime novel The Executioner’s Song depicts the 1977 execution of murderer Gary Gilmore, who was the first person to be executed in the US in almost a decade following the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. Gilmore’s execution and this powerful account of the events became central to the ongoing debate over capital punishment in America.

An honourable mention in this list is Shot in the Heart by Mikal Gilmore – perfect for fans of The Executioner’s Song. Written by the brother of Gary Gilmore, this thought-provoking memoir discusses the long-lasting impacts of multi-generational abuse and ponders what drives someone to become a killer.

11. Justice: Crimes, Trials, and Punishments by Dominick Dunne

In this collection of insightful essays, Dunne dissects some of the most famous crimes and trials of the modern era. Dunne covers subjects including the Menendez brothers, OJ Simpson, Claus von Bülow, Michael Skakel, and even the man who killed Dunne’s own daughter in the 1980s.

12. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Now a major film directed by Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI is also a must-read true crime novel by David Grann. This non-fiction book covers the infamous Osage murders, in which at least 60 Native Americans of the oil-rich Osage Nation in Oklahoma were killed between 1918 and 1931. Grann's exploration of this shocking case reveals the deep-rooted corruption in all levels of law enforcement and the violent, dehumanising influence of greed.

13. The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy B. Tyson

In The Blood of Emmett Till, Tyson offers a detailed account of the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955 – one of the most deplorable and notorious acts of violence of the era. Tyson adds context to Till’s short life and examines how this event became a catalyst for the next phase of the American Civil Rights movement. 

14. Snowblind by Robert Sabbag

Snowblind: A Brief Career In The Cocaine Trade is a 1976 literary non-fiction novel that chronicles the life of Zachary Swan, who trafficked cocaine from Columbia into the US in the 1960s and early 1970s. In Snowblind, Sabbag shows how Swan created a variety of elaborate scams to evade customs officials and protect his accomplices.

15. My Dark Places by James Ellroy

Part investigative journalism and part memoir, My Dark Places: An L.A. Crime Memoir explores the unsolved murder of the author’s mother, which Ellroy tried to solve in 1994 by hiring a retired homicide detective to help his investigations. This deeply personal true crime book reflects on how the murder shaped Ellroy’s life and influenced him to become a crime fiction writer.

16. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by journalist John Carreyrou is a fascinating in-depth investigation of the Theranos case. Bad Blood details Carreyrou’s initial investigations into Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes up to his eventual exposé of the company and its enigmatic CEO, who tricked wealthy investors into financially backing blood-testing medical equipment that never worked in the first place.

17. The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

If you’re interested in historical true crime, The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper is exactly the kind of book you’re looking for. In this refreshing reframing of the Jack the Ripper narrative, Rubenhold centres the female victims of this notorious serial killer. In doing so, the author undercuts the misogynistic narrative surrounding these murders, and finally gives a voice to those who’ve been overlooked in most other books, films and TVs shows about this case.

18. Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty is a 2021 true crime book about the dark history of the Sackler family and their role in the opioid crisis in America. Patrick Radden Keefe chronicles the lives of multiple members of the famous (and infamous) Sackler family, who owned Purdue Pharma. This book explores how rampant greed led to the manufacture and marketing of addictive painkillers like Oxycontin, which was the catalyst for a drug addiction epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives.

19. The Innocent Killer by Michael Griesbach

The Innocent Killer covers the true crime story of Steven Avery, who was released after spending 18 years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, only to be charged in a murder case two years later. This fascinating case also inspired the hit Netflix series Making a Murderer, and has sparked intense debates over how an innocent man could have been turned into a cold-blooded killer by the justice system – or whether he could have been wrongly convicted again.

20. The Fact of a Body by Alex Marzano-Lesnevich

This disturbing and deeply personal memoir recounts the author’s experience as a law student involved in the death row hearing for convicted child murderer and paedophile Ricky Langley. Marzano-Lesnevich discovers chilling similarities with Langley’s complicated childhood upon deeper examination of the case, and is forced to confront memories of their own childhood abuse. This memoir explores how our own personal experiences influence how we view crimes and perpetrators. 

21. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith investigates the evolution of the Mormon Church alongside the 1984 double murder committed by brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who claimed that God had commanded them to kill. In doing so, Krakauer raises thought-provoking questions about faith-based violence, particularly among fundamentalist Mormon groups.

22. I Survived by Victoria Cilliers

Victoria Cilliers recounts her harrowing experience of surviving a murder attempt by her husband in I Survived: A True Story. As an experienced skydiver, Cilliers undertook what she thought was a normal parachute jump in 2015, which was a gift from her husband, British army sergeant Emile Cilliers. However, her parachutes failed to open and she plummeted 4,000 feet, sustaining life-threatening injuries. In her powerful memoir, Cilliers describes the shock of discovering that the man she married was suspected of tampering with her parachute, and explains how she slowly came to terms with this new reality and endeavoured to rebuild her life.

23. Columbine by David Cullen

Journalist and non-fiction writer Dave Cullen examines the events and aftermath of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in this widely praised true crime book. Columbine weaves two main storylines together – the planning of the massacre by perpetrators Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, and the struggles of the survivors in the aftermath –  to offer an extremely thorough and well-researched account of this horrific crime, helping to dismiss common myths about the attack.

24. Too Big to Jail by Chris Blackhurst

In this shocking exposé, journalist Chris Blackhurst details how HSBC facilitated mass money laundering schemes for drug cartels between 2003 and 2010 in a bid to become the biggest bank in the world. Too Big to Jail: Inside HSBC, the Mexican Drug Cartels and the Greatest Banking Scandal of the Century examines how HSBC became entwined with these criminals, and asks why no one went to prison for their part in this scandal.

25. Babes in the Wood by Graham Bartlett and Peter James

Babes in the Wood details the tragic murder of two nine-year-old girls in Brighton in 1986, and how a shock trial result saw perpetrator Russell Bishop walk free. Graham Bartlett, a former senior detective, tells the inside story of how Russell Bishop was finally convicted for these murders in 2018, and exposes the failings that led to him not being convicted for so long. 

26. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale

This brilliant historical true crime book focuses on one of the original Victorian whodunit cases – the 1860 Constance Kent case – which inspired national hysteria at the time and led to the birth of modern detective fiction. Inspector Jonathan Whicher, one of the original eight members of London's newly formed Detective Branch, was hired to investigate the case. Although his investigation collapsed, Whicher became the inspiration for many literary detectives, and Summerscale reexamines the details of this case from a modern perspective.

27. The Murders at White House Farm by Carol Ann Lee

The Murders at White House Farm examines the crime that shook the UK in 1985 – Jeremy Bamber’s murder of his adoptive parents, sister, and his sister’s two sons. Bamber had placed the murder weapon on his sister’s body to make the crime look like a murder–suicide, but his web of lies unravelled when evidence appeared to disprove his version of events. 

28. The Skripal Files by Mark Urban

Mark Urban explores one of the most shocking incidents in Britain in recent memory in The Skripal Files, a thoroughly researched examination of the Salisbury Novichok poisonings. The botched assassination attempt against Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military officer and double agent, and his daughter Yulia caused tense international relations between Britain and Russia, leading to the expulsion of Russian diplomats.

29. The Man Who Played with Fire by Jan Stocklassa

The 1986 assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme has never been solved, leading to countless investigations and popular theories in the years since. One investigator was Stieg Larsson, author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, who spent years compiling evidence on the case before his death in 2004. Now, journalist Jan Stocklassa has gained access to Larsson’s archive and continued his investigation in this true crime book, presenting several intriguing theories about who killed Olof Palme. The Man Who Played with Fire has also been adapted into a true crime TV mini-series.

30. Savage Appetites by Rachel Monroe

Have you ever wondered why you’re so drawn to true crime stories? Rachel Monroe examines this phenomenon throughout Savage Appetites: Four True Stories of Women, Crime, and Obsession, and pays particular attention to why the genre is so popular among women. Monroe links this investigation to four true stories of women with true crime obsessions in order to trace the history and development of true crime as a genre.

Curling up with a true crime book allows you to explore the darker side of humanity from the comfort of your own home. Without this sense of security, we may not feel safe and confident enough to explore difficult questions about what makes a murderer or how people fall victim to charismatic criminals. 

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