My Favorite True Crime Books

Jan said A great story of how Osage women were exploited and murdered so that White men could get the oil revenues during Oklahoma first oil boom.

Jan said If you don't know who Emmett Till is, you are missing a huge part of the history of the Jim Crow south. It will also help you understand why the horror of Ahmaud Arbery's murder can still happen today.

Jan said This is an interesting companion book to the ones on Gary Gilmore as well as to Tana Westover's "Educated".

Jan said H.H. Holmes, America's earliest serial killer. Erik Larson with his journalist's nose for facts and his ability ability to tell a compelling story, interweaves the story of Chicago's World Fair with the activities of Holmes and his Murder Castle

Jan said There is a serial killer or killers dumping bodies along a quite strip if long island. Robert Kolker's book focuses not in the killer, but instead, tells the stories of the girls and their families. Compassionately told.

Jan said This is the story of the first school shooting to penetrate American consciousness. Dave Cullen explores the question of why two boys from the upper middle class suburbs if Columbine murderes their school mates and then took their own lives.

Jan said The story of Gary Gilmore (Utah) told from the perspective of his brother.

Jan said Something unspeakable happened in a working class neighbourhood West Memphis. Three young boys under the age of 10 were murdered one night. Police quickly narrowed their search for suspect on three "weird" teens. But the police had it it wrong and the killer walks free to this day.

Jan said Vincent Bugilosi was the lawyer who prosecuted Charles Manson. Based on his research, this book remains the definitive account of the life and crimes of Charles Manson.

Jan said Gary Gilmore, raised in the middle of Mormon country committed at least 3 murders. He was the first man to chose to be executed by firing squad. Norman Mailer takes the reader into the life of Gilmore and is able to humanize this "cold-blooded" killer

Jan said Ann Rule literally sat next to Tes Bundy in a crisis intervention phone bank. This book, although old, is a deep dive into the crimes of this now executed felon.