There’s something fascinating about the darker side of humanity. You want to look away, but you just can’t get enough of the dirty deeds of the world of crime. True crime books give all of the inner secrets of a variety of creepy, bizarre, and horrifying criminal actions.
The best true crime books allow readers to bear witness to the workings of criminal masterminds by telling stories of shockingly twisted crimes, real life murder mysteries, or tales of monumental historic crimes.
Discover what could move a wife to kill her husband, untangle the webs of huge organized crime syndicates, and understand the history of highway robberies by reading engrossing true crime books. Read about the biggest cases pulled straight from the headlines or discover a case so strange and terrifying that you haven’t even heard of it, with this list of the best nonfiction true crime books.
Yes, true crime books are nonfiction. To be considered a “true” crime book, a book should discuss events that have actually happened. Authors might make some speculation or inference about the events but this will usually be noted.
Truman Capote's In Cold Blood is often considered both the first true crime book and the best example of the genre. Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark is a more modern example of the best true crime has to offer.
