True Crime Books for the Somewhat Obsessed
Podcasts such as Serial and My Favorite Murder have spurred a resurgence of curiosity in true crime stories. Though at times hard to describe, the obsession with these real-life epics is undeniable. From podcasts to mini-series, the tales of the too-crazy-to-be-true have streamed their way into our hearts with the likes of Making a Murderer and The Keepers. These shows are so binge-worthy that we’ve dedicated entire weekends to them. One our favorite true crime stories (though perhaps it’s a bit dramatized from the original book), Orange Is The New Black, is finally returning with fifth season June 9th. However, some of the best true crime stories still thrive best within the pages of our fav books. Working with the ever so clever team at ThinkOlio, we’ve curated a list of nonfiction reads to satisfy your true-crime craving.
Capote pioneered a new level of literary investigation as he reconstructed the November 15, 1959 murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. Beyond that, though, he created a brilliant piece of literature in creative nonfiction. Much like the first season of Serial, his reports led a wide spread knowledge of a previously unknown case. His efforts even led to the capture and conviction of the killers. Capote’s writing is equal parts captivating and chilling as he expertly details one of the first contemporary true crime sagas.
2. Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry
Seven victims of seemingly unconnected murders surfaced across America’s headlines in 1969. Investigation uncovered the now iconic suspect, Charles Manson, and his family of inexplicably devout followers to a mystified public. Author Vincent Bugliosi, who served as prosecutor against Manson, vividly recounts his journey through the trail and the detective work that led to conviction. Bugliosi’s prowess as a lawyer does not go unnoticed as he presents the entire case in far greater detail than a documentary could capture.
3. The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer
This Pulitzer Prize winning novel has been fascinating readers since it first hit the shelves. It recounts the story of Gary Gilmore who, in 1977, was the first man to be sentenced to the death penalty since it had been reinstated in the U.S. What is more intriguing, Gilmore insisted that he receive the death penalty, and being of sound and intellectual mind, spurred a nation argument of around his sentencing. Author Norman Mailer was granted full access to Gilmore throughout it all, and accrued thousands of pages of transcript from his interviews. The final product, an over 1,000 page tome, not only tells of Gilmore’s killer acts, but of the national debate on the death penalty that continues through today.
4. Jane: A Murder by Maggie Nelson
In this beautiful collection of poetry, prose, diary entries, news reports, and personal reflections, Maggie Nelson memorializes her Aunt Jane, who was murdered a few years before she was born in 1969. A first year law student, Jane was brutally raped and murdered while attending the University of Michigan. Her untimely death was the third in a series of seven such attacks, and the case was still officially unsolved. Reaching through time to an aunt she will never meet, Nelson expertly shares with us a work that is part memoir, part elegy and part detective story. Using poetry as a unconventional foundation, readers are delicately reminded of Jane’s humanity, and the author can finally see Jane as more than just a victim of a serial killer.
5. The Red Parts: Autobiography of a Trial by Maggie Nelson
In 2004, Maggie Nelson was awaiting the release of her book Jane: A Murder (see previous recommendation). In a shocking twist that can be officially filed under “too unbelievable to be made it up”, Jane’s murder case was reopened and went to trial at the exact same time. New DNA evidence pointed to a new suspect, and The Red Parts became what the subtitle suggests. This historic trial covering the “Michigan Murders” tells of the unlikely coming together of all those affected by the case, and reflects on our unusual fixation on the murder of young, white women.
6. Adnan’s Story by Rabia Chaudry
The unforgettable case of Adnan Syed on season one of Serial made it the most listen to podcast of all time. Author Rabia Chaudry, sister of Adnan’s best friend in high school, picks up where the podcast stops and pulls from over 100 documents pertaining to Adnan’s case, continuing the strong belief that Adnan was wrongly convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2000. For those unfamiliar with this case, Adnan Syed was charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend. However, with an attorney who was disbarred a few months after the case, revoked testimonies, and seemingly inconclusive evidence, a new generation is working on appeals for Adnan. This book continues his story, the story of his family and highlights ways in which our justice system is broken.
7. Orange Is The New Black by Piper Kerman
Contrary to late 1960's true crime stories focused on an unusually high number of murders and their victims, Orange Is The New Black, along with many of its contemporaries, tells a story from the prisoner’s/accused perspective. Here we follow author Piper Kerman as she serves an 15 month sentence for (literally) delivering a suitcase of drug money 10 years prior. In contrast to the Netflix drama based on this memoir, Kerman has a relatively calm residence in federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, though nothing close to what we know as normal. Heartbreaking, funny and unique, Kerman’s novel gave many their first rare look at life in a women’s prison.
8. Out of Orange: A Memoir by Cleary Wolters
Cleary Wolters was taken completely off guard by the new series, Orange Is the New Black, but for reasons completely different than the rest of us. Seeing her signature horn-rimmed glasses on the character Alex, she realized quickly that private past was not so private anymore. Speaking out on her own terms, Wolters memoir recounts the criminal activities that landed both she and Piper to prison, as well as how she leads a life with a record. Through a series of bold choices and epic regrets, Wolters speaks her truth in this emotional and honest book.
In the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward in Manhattan, violent and unpredictable criminals are kept and forgotten by most. Enter Dr. Elizabeth Ford. In this new book, she insightfully recounts her time served as a psychiatrist to the prisoners, reminding readers that, above all, these men are still human. The suffering of mental illnesses does not end with incarceration. With empathy, grace, and some humor, Dr. Ford writes of her evolution as a professional in a prison setting while also balancing her personal life with a less than normal day job.
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