31 Best True Crime Books for Adrenaline Seekers

Are you looking for the best true crime books of all time? Take a look at our guide to see the best novels to add to your reading list.

Many people can’t get enough of suspense and thriller stories, so you might be interested in the best true crime books for the ultimate adrenaline rush. These books follow true stories, or at least based on true stories, and provide readers with an inside look at how a crime unfolds and how it looks to different people.

1. The Executioner’s Song, by Norman Mailer

The Executioner’s Song is an aptly-named introduction to the genre. In this case, the crime is a double homicide that is relatively open and shut. Even though the case is interesting, this book focuses on the wish of the murderer, Gary Gilmore. He desires to be executed as quickly as possible, but his life is chronicled by Norman Mailer, who focuses not only on the crime but also on the early life of Gary Gilmore. This book has a certain amount of irony surrounding his death, particularly given that the case occurred when the death penalty was reinstated in the United States. 

“Finally he said, “I like everything that wild Irish maniac, J. P. Donleavy, ever wrote.” It wasn’t so much a discussion as a sharing of taste. He also liked The Agony and the Ecstasy and Lust for Life by Irving Stone.”

Norman Mailer, The Executioner’s Song

2. Zodiac, by Robert Graysmith

The Zodiac Killer is one of the most infamous killers in the country’s history. The Zodiac, by Robert Graysmith, focuses on a series of gruesome murders that gripped Northern California during the 1960s and 1970s.

The author was a cartoonist working for the San Francisco Chronicle during this time. Then, the Zodiac began to send letters to the paper, leading to a mystery that would span more than 50 years. This book looks at the impact on the local community, the various theories that resulted from the mystery, and how the investigation unfolded. This is the perfect book for people who enjoy exploring cold cases. 

“Just because you can’t prove it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”

Robert Graysmith, Zodiac

3. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote

Truman Capote is one of the top true crime authors of all time. In many ways, In Cold Blood launched the genre many people know and love today. This is a story that focuses on a quadruple homicide that takes place in Kansas, absolutely rattling the town to its core. Even though the case is relatively straightforward and quickly closed, the psychology behind it is worth exploring. Based on interviews with killers, research on the victims, and an exploration of how the case unfolded, this book is an excellent way for people to learn more about a unique genre. 

“Once a thing is set to happen, all you can do is hope it won’t. Or will-depending. As long as you live, there’s always something waiting, and even if it’s bad, and you know it’s bad, what can you do? You can’t stop living.”

Truman Capote, In Cold Blood

4. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt, is often listed as one of the best true crime books of all time. This book is known for its vivid imagery, holistic style, and ability to address the historical backdrop against which the crime is committed. The murder focuses on a male escort who is killed by a local merchant and goes through four trials. But, on the other hand, it is the residents, and their reaction to the crime, that ultimately make this story so interesting. What was it like to work as a male escort in the Deep South during the 1980s? 

“By morning she was dead. She had not died of starvation or committed suicide by any conventional means. She had simply willed herself to die, and being a strong-willed woman, she had succeeded. She had missed dying on her birthday by two days.”

John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

5. The Stranger Beside Me, by Ann Rule

There are a lot of famous serial killers throughout the history of the United States, and one of the top examples is Ted Bundy. Ann Rule, one of Bundy’s closest friends, wrote this book, The Stranger Beside Me. She seeks to provide a slightly different look at Ted Bundy from the one convicted of murder. She even says she would have trusted Ted Bundy to care for her children before they lost touch in 1974. Even though she did not want to admit that Ted Bundy could have been involved in the crime spree, this book shows what it is like to know someone convicted of such heinous crimes.

“The only clue I had was that my dog (who liked everyone) didn’t like Ted at all. Whenever he bent over my desk at the Crisis Clinic, she growled and the hackles on her neck stood up. The lesson is clear: Pay attention to your dog!”

Ann Rule, The Stranger Beside Me

6. Helter Skelter, by Vincent Bugliosi

For better or for worse, society tends to sensationalize heinous crimes. One of the best examples is the Manson family murders, which occurred during the 20th century. This book was written by Vincent Bugliosi, who was responsible for prosecuting Manson in 1970. He seeks to set the record straight regarding how the events unfolded, focusing on the original investigation, the subsequent arrest, and the conviction that followed. At the same time, the book called Helter Skelter describes the chaos that unfolded. 

“You can convince anybody of anything if you just push it at them all of the time. They may not believe it 100 percent, but they will still draw opinions from it, especially if they have no other information to draw their opinions from.”

Vincent Bugliosi, Helter Skelter

7. Mindhunter, by John E. Douglas

There are a lot of people who have fallen in love with the series of the same name on Netflix. This is a book that served as the inspiration for that series. A former FBI agent wrote Mindhunter, and he provides an inside look at how the FBI goes through the process of developing criminal profiles. This book discusses some of the most infamous killers of all time and describes how the police can use these profiles to apprehend felons. The title is appropriate and perfect for people who love true crime. 

“So what I truly believe is that along with more money and police and prisons, what we most need more of is love. This is not being simplistic; it’s at the very heart of the issue.”

John Edward Douglas, Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit

8. The Orchid Thief, by Susan Orlean

Some people love reading books about true crime but would instead go without the details of gruesome murders. The Orchid Thief, by Susan Orlean, takes place in South Florida. The author does a tremendous amount of research, pairs it with beautiful narration, and focuses on how orchid poachers are caught. Orchids are beautiful flowers, and they can be challenging to raise. Therefore, it can be disheartening when someone starts killing all the orchids. However, even though this book might not have murders, it is just as compelling as any other.

“I think the real reason is that life has no meaning. I mean, no obvious meaning. You wake up, you go to work, you do stuff. I think everybody’s always looking for something a little unusual that can preoccupy them and help pass the time.”

Susan Orlean, The Orchid Thief

9. The Journalist and the Murderer, by Janet Malcolm

This is a story that takes place in North Carolina. The Journalist and The Murderer focuses on the case that unfolded after a pregnant woman, and her two children were stabbed to death. Given that the husband survived, he quickly became the prime suspect. You might also be interested in our list of essays about the death penalty.

He decided to partner with an author who had published an account of his life to pardon himself. That book is not the one included here. Instead, it focuses on how a journalist pretended to believe the husband was innocent before hatching a strategy to prove that the husband was guilty. What are the moral implications of such a decision on both the husband and the journalist? 

“The concept of the psychopath is, in fact, an admission of failure to solve the mystery of evil—it is merely a restatement of the mystery—and only offers an escape valve for the frustration felt by psychiatrists, social workers, and police officers, who daily encounter its force.”

Janet Malcolm, The Journalist and the Murderer

10. Shot in the Heart, by Mikal Gilmore

Shot in the Heart tells the story of Mikal Gilmore, who grew up with a murderer in the home. There are lots of people who are interested in the upbringing that contributes to someone becoming a murderer.

Even though there is probably an element of both nature and nurture, Mikal discusses how he escaped the same fate as his brother. He describes the abuse and alcoholism he and his brother endured at home. While the book is certainly not easy, it is an excellent way for people to get a more nuanced look at how the most vicious criminals are made. 

“Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older, they judge them; sometimes they forgive them.”

Mikal Gilmore, Shot in the Heart

11. Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer

Many amateur criminologists have learned much from Jon Krakauer, and Under the Banner of Heaven might be his most famous story. This book focuses on a Mormon family that murders their sister-in-law and her child because they believe God told them to do so. This story will shake you to your core. Still, it also dives into the religion of Mormonism, some controversial elements it preaches, and its impact on society. For example, when people who are not mentally stable believe God is talking to them, the results can be disastrous. 

“As a means of motivating people to be cruel or inhumane-as a means of inciting evil, to borrow the vocabulary of the devout-there may be no more potent force than religion.”

Jon Krakauer, Under the Banner of Heaven

12. My Dark Places, by James Ellroy

My Dark Places follows the author as he tries to figure out who killed his mother. Even though the case went cold decades ago, the author never stops trying to figure out who killed his mother. He even hired a detective from the County of Los Angeles to help him solve the case. While the book focuses on how the case unfolds, there are details of his childhood as he goes through his memory bank. Even as he tries to figure out who killed his mother, he reflects on how much his mother genuinely meant to him. 

“They moved me and scared me. I replayed the tapes and nailed the source of my fear. The women sounded smug. They were entrenched and content in their victimhood.”

James Ellroy, My Dark Places

13. The Innocent Man, by John Grisham

John Grisham is arguably one of the most famous fiction writers. However, this book, The Innocent Man, contributes to the non-fiction genre. The focus is on an individual who has been wrongly convicted. He was convicted of drugging a young cocktail waitress, raping her, and then murdering her. Even though the person who was wrongly convicted is no angel, this book focuses on how evidence was mishandled and how the desperation of the police to apprehend someone ultimately caused them to frame him. He was ultimately sentenced to death in 1988, but is the outcome necessarily set in stone?

“As Mike Roberts watched Tommy enter the building, he could not imagine that the boy was taking his last steps in the free world. The rest of his life would be behind prison walls.”

John Grisham, The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town

14. Columbine, by Dave Cullen, 2010

The Columbine school massacre in the 20th century was one of the most devastating events in the history of the United States. This book, called Columbine, focuses on what happened in the city before, during, and after the events.

This narrative switches between the victims’ experiences and the meticulous planning that the killers completed. There are also horrific descriptions of what happened at the scene of the shooting, creating a genuinely devastating account of a tragedy that was preventable. This is a powerful story that everyone should read, if for no reason other than trying to prevent another one from happening. 

“When I fell out the window, I knew somebody would catch me. That’s what I need to tell you: that I knew the loving world was there all the time. -Patrick Ireland of the Columbine massacre”

Dave Cullen, Columbine

15. The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson, 2004

The Devil in the White City focuses on one of the earliest serial killers to be documented in the history of the United States. In 1893, the World Exhibition was in Chicago. At the time, the city was called the White City. The city is in the process of welcoming people from all over the world, and Daniel Burnham is proud of what the city has brought to life until a local pharmacist plans to murder a bunch of people at a local hotel. The authorities must uncover this plot and stop him before killing everyone at the fair.

“Beneath the stars the lake lay dark and sombre,” Stead wrote, “but on its shores gleamed and glowed in golden radiance the ivory city, beautiful as a poet’s dream, silent as a city of the dead.”

Erik Larson, The Devil in the White City

16. The Poisoner’s Handbook, by Deborah Blum, 2011

The Poisoner’s Handbook, by Deborah Blum, is a great true crime read for people who want to stay away from stabbings and shootings. This is a book that provides an inside look at forensic toxicology. The book takes place during the early 20th century, focusing on what happens in New York City. At the time, Charles Norris decided to team up with a local toxicologist to figure out how people committed unusual crimes during the prohibition era. The story focuses on carbon monoxide, poisonings, and alcohol. This story also focuses on the scientific basis for how the murders unfold. 

“That is the bane of speakeasy life. You ring up your friend the next morning to find out whether he is still alive.”

Deborah Blum, The Poisoner’s Handbook

17. Devil in the Grove, by Gilbert King, 2013

Devil in the Grove focuses on a controversial court case in 1949. At the time, four young African-American men were accused of sexual assault. Unfortunately, one of them was killed, and the other three individuals were violently beaten by local law enforcement. Then, Thurgood Marshall, the famed attorney from Brown vs. Board of Education, takes the case to defend that. This is a case that turned into a massive civil rights moment, launched his career, and created one of the best true crime stories that people have ever heard of. 

“There is very little truth in the old refrain that one cannot legislate equality. Laws not only provide concrete benefits, they can even change the hearts of men—some men, anyhow—for good or evil.”

Gilbert King, Devil in the Grove

18. People Who Eat Darkness, by Richard Lloyd Parry, 2010

People Who Heart Darkness took place in 2000. The story focuses on a 21-year-old who moves from England to Tokyo. There, she starts working as a hostess at a local restaurant. Then, all of a sudden, she disappears. The British press became focused on the story, and the Japanese police were busy figuring out what happened. Now, the story is an international phenomenon, as everyone is curious about what happened to her. The story focuses on the sexual culture of Japan, which captivated the young hostess, and how a young white woman can paralyze the media. 

“Even those we know best are strangers, whom we understand, if we ever do, intermittently.”

Richard Lloyd Parry, People Who Eat Darkness

19. The Brothers, by Masha Gessen

The Boston Marathon bombing took place in 2013. They killed five people and left countless others with lifelong wounds. The brothers were quickly identified and apprehended, and The Brothers focus on the origins of the bombers, the psychology behind a politically-motivated terrorist attack, and how the brothers believed that they were acting righteously.

The Boston Marathon bombing is still very recent in many people’s minds, and this book provides an inside look at just how it happened, why the perpetrators decided to do it, and what could be done to prevent another one from happening down the road. 

“Neighborhood brothers were inviolate. A male outsider who tried to date a neighborhood girl would be knifed. The single unifying culture of the city with that at the prison.”

Masha Gessen, The Brothers

20. Five Days at the Memorial, by Sheri Fink

What would you do in this situation? This story focuses on what happened immediately after Hurricane Katrina, one of the costliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. Five Days at the Memorial shines a light on a local medical center that is operating under a tremendous amount of stress. 

Suddenly, medical professionals and administrators decided to de-prioritize critically ill patients who had signed a DNR, meaning they should not be resuscitated if they died. Steps might have even been taken to hasten their deaths. Medical professionals had to make a difficult choice, and what would you do in this situation? This is an educational story that everyone can learn from. 

“We do not wish to capitalize the sufferings of human beings, but to relieve them.”

Sheri Fink, Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital

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21. Who Killed These Girls, by Beverly Lowry

Who Killed These Girls focuses on a cold case in 1991. Four teenage girls were sexually assaulted, shot, and burned after they were attacked at a local yogurt shop in Austin, Texas. They were working there at the time, and the police showcased a shockingly incompetent display. They arrested several teenage boys, forced them to confess, and waited as DNA evidence proved they did not do it. This case remains unsolved, but the book seeks to remind everyone that these girls should not be forgotten. 

“In 1969, the Supreme Court ruled that while investigators shouldn’t threaten possible consequences—grand jury investigation, prison time, execution—or make promises of leniency, they can use tactics of “reasonable deception” and duplicity to solve crimes.”

Beverly Lowry, Who Killed These Girls?: Cold Case: The Yogurt Shop Murders

22. The Blood of Emmett Till, by Timothy B. Tyson

Many people believe that lynching has been relegated to history books, but the horrific murder of Emmett Till is still fresh in many people’s minds. The Blood of Emmett Till is a book that focuses on the case that catalyzed the entire American Civil Rights Movement. Even though Emmett Till has become a symbol for so many people, it is easy to forget that he was a boy whose life was cruelly taken from him. This book focuses on the personal and political aftermath of his lynching.

“Because if we in America have reached the point in our desperate culture where we must murder children, no matter for what reason or what color, we don’t deserve to survive and probably won’t.”

Timothy B. Tyson, The Blood of Emmett Till

23. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

The number 1 New York Times bestseller I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer was beloved by critics and readers alike and was named the best book of the year by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Bustle, Entertainment Weekly, and the Washington Post. The book follows the story of true crime journalist Michelle McNamara, who works tirelessly to find the Golden State Killer. McNamara’s sudden death meant that she never got to see her work pay off: due to her efforts to piece together the evidence that law enforcement missed, the Golden State Killer was finally caught.

“I’m envious, for example, of people obsessed with the Civil War, which brims with details but is contained. In my case, the monsters recede but never vanish. They are long dead and being born as I write.”

Michelle McNamara, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

24. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI takes readers back to the 1920s when the two wealthiest people in the world were a part of the Osage Indian tribe in Oklahoma. Following their discovery of oil under their land, they began to live a lavish lifestyle filled with mansions, butlers, and private schools for their children. Soon, members of the Osage tribe began to die under mysterious circumstances. More than 24 Osage tribe members were murdered before the FBI stepped in, and with an undercover team, they began to unravel the mystery of the Osage murders.

“History is a merciless judge. It lays bare our tragic blunders and foolish missteps and exposes our most intimate secrets, wielding the power of hindsight like an arrogant detective who seems to know the end of the mystery from the outset.”

David Grann, Killers of the Flower Moon: Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI

25. Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale

Suspicions of Mr. Whicher focuses on a crime that occurred in England in 1860— a three-year-old child was found dead at the bottom of an outdoor pit. Citizens of England became obsessed with solving crime. The best inspector in the United Kingdom—Jonathan Whicher—was sent to investigate. Whicher was unable to solve the case due to circumstantial evidence. Still, his character is seen in much literature today, including Wilkie Collins’ Sergeant Cuff and Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade.

“‘The detective story,’ observed Raymond Chandler in 1949, ‘is a tragedy with a happy ending.’ A storybook detective starts by confronting us with a murder and ends by absolving us of it. He clears us of guilt. He relieves us of uncertainty. He removes us from the presence of death.”

Kate Summerscale, The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

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

Named one of Time magazine’s best books of 2019, Furious Hours combines a biography of Harper Lee with a true-crime novel. The book tells the story of how Harper Lee traveled to New York City with an interest in writing her version of In Cold Blood (as she helped Truman Capote write the renowned novel). Lee sat in the audience while Reverend Willie Maxwell was tried for murdering his family for insurance money, and he was found innocent—yet was shot dead at the funeral of his final victim.

“Like a lot of small town bookworms, she was too well-read to be a true country bumpkin, but too country to be anything but mesmerized by Manhattan. She had enough books to read, and movies to see, and museums to visit to last her several lifetimes. The city overwhelmed and delighted her.”

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

27. Say Nothing: The True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

Hailed as the Best Nonfiction Book of the Year by Time Magazine and nominated for the National Book Award, Say Nothing expertly details the murder of Jean McConville, a 38-year-old Belfast resident, and mother of ten, in 1972. The book reaches far into the history of Northern Ireland, exposing both sides of the conflict and allowing readers to see how the nation’s violent war has led to decades of anguish.

The novel touches on themes of vengeance and terrorism and leaves readers wondering whether there is hope for peace in Ireland. Looking for famous crime/thriller authors. Check out our round-up of the best spy thriller books!

“Who should be held accountable for a shared history of violence? It was a question that was dogging Northern Ireland as a whole.”

Patrick Radden Keefe, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland

28. Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes by Stephen G. Michaud

This fascinating novel is based on 150 hours of tape-recorded interviews with Ted Bundy shortly before his execution was carried out. In the novel, Michaud reveals many details of Bundy’s crimes, including how he disguised his murders and got away with killing women across seven states and four years. In Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, readers also learn about Bundy’s views of other serial killers and how Bundy managed to break out of jail not once but twice.

“Bundy wasn’t just a savage killer; he was a degenerate, too.”

Stephen G. Michaud, Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer

29. Scoundrel: How a Convicted Murderer Persuaded the Women Who Loved Him, the Conservative Establishment, and the Courts to Set Him Free by Sarah Weinman

Weinman details the story of Edgar Smith, a murderer who was convicted in the 1960s, in Scoundrel: How a Convicted Murderer Persuaded the Women Who Loved Him, the Conservative Establishment, and the Courts to Set Him Free. While awaiting his death sentence, Smith received sudden support from William F. Buckley, the founder of National Review. Buckley believed Smith couldn’t commit such a crime, and fought for his release from prison. Shockingly, Buckley’s efforts proved worthwhile, and Smith was released from prison… only to attempt to kill again.

Weinman explores how the establishments of the time worked to allow Smith to avoid punishment despite clear evidence of his crime. Looking for more? Check out our round-up of the best books by Barbara Cartland!

“The tragedy of early, violent death is that it strips away the person and leaves only the act, the making of the dead girl, rather than the celebration of the lived life. The killer has the power. The one who dies loses it all.”

Sarah Weinman, Scoundrel: How a Convicted Murderer Persuaded the Women Who Loved Him, the Conservative Establishment, and the Courts to Set Him Free

30. We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence by Becky Cooper

In We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence, author Becky Cooper discusses the death of Jane Britton, a Harvard graduate student who was brutally murdered. This bestseller was a finalist for the ALCS Gold Dagger Prize and the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize.

Cooper transports readers back to 1969 when Britton was found beaten to death in her own home. Cooper began to unravel the mystery four decades later and discovered that gender equality at Harvard was likely the cause of the horrific attack (not the rumored story that Britton was having an affair with a faculty member). If you liked this post, check out our round-up of best detective novels series. You can also search for crime/thrillers authors using our search bar at the top right of the post.

“Assigning guilt to the victim helped distance us from what happened to her; it wouldn’t happen to us, as long as we stayed in check. But in so doing, we had unconsciously been perpetuating a story whose moral derived from the very patriarchal system we thought we were surmounting by telling the story in the first place.”

Becky Cooper, We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence

31. The Court of Last Resort by Erle Stanley Gardner

Known as one of the best Erle Stanley Gardner books, The Court of Last Resort was inspired by author and attorney Erle Stanley Gardner’s experience helping a public defender in California with a rape trial that resulted in a death row sentence. The book works to investigate wrongful convictions and pushes attorneys to fight to help the wrongly imprisoned overturn their sentences.

Gardner delves into countless social issues, including police bias, poor representation, and corruption. Looking for more? Check out our roundup of authors like Stephen King!

“Man in general doesn’t appreciate what he has until he is deprived of it. Then he starts to miss it. He takes good health for granted until sickness comes along. He takes three meals a day for granted until some unusual circumstances make him go hungry. Liberty is only a term until he is deprived of it, and then he begins to realize what it means to have freedom of motion and freedom of choice.”

Erle Stanley Gardner, The Court of Last Resort