Books
10 must-read books for true crime fans
There’s something morbidly fascinating about true crime. Try as you might, there’s no denying that true crime has infiltrated popular culture – from Serial-esque podcasts to Netflix documentaries you can accidentally lose yourself in until the early hours.
Our fascination with true crime is so ingrained that it’s even seeped its way into fiction. Shows like Only Murders in the Building play on our fascination with podcasts, and how even the most amateur sleuths among us enjoy solving crimes. And in recent crime fiction, true crime podcasts and documentaries have been key features in the plot.
The following, therefore, are the best fiction books that tap into our true crime obsession. Some are inspired by real-life cases, while others are set against the backdrop of an amateur investigation. All, however, are as compelling and addictive as a late-night documentary.
Books inspired by true crime
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Lucy has no memory of the night her best friend was murdered, yet everyone in her hometown believes she is guilty. Five years later, a true crime podcast makes Lucy a household name, as an investigative journalist interviews friends (and foes) to piece together what happened that night. Told in alternating chapters between Lucy’s point of view and the podcast transcripts, this unique story unfolds as a perfectly plotted murder mystery. We guarantee you won’t see the ending coming.
True Crime Story by Joseph Knox
True Crime Story by Joseph Knox
In this meta book, author Joseph Knox claims he has been approached by a writer who is investigating the disappearance of a 19-year-old girl, Zoe Nolan. Seven years ago, Zoe went to a university house party and was never seen again. Piecing together interviews with Zoe’s friends and family and the police, and their differing accounts of what happened that night, the narrator attempts to solve the mystery.
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Alix is a podcaster who befriends lonely local mum Josie and invites her onto her podcast. Josie claims she wants to tell her life story and how she plans to turn over a new leaf. But gradually, Alix starts to questions Josie’s intentions and realises this new friendship could be dangerous. Lisa Jewell’s latest novel is a masterclass in complex characters and creeping suspense. It’s framed by a fictional Netflix true-crime documentary which adds a sense of urgency and awful premonition to an already fast-paced plot.
Clickbait by L C North
Clickbait by L C North
For years, the Lancaster family were celebrity royalty, with their own reality TV show to boot. But when an old video from one of their legendary parties goes viral, they find themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Because there, on camera, is missing teenager Bradley Wilcox. True crime investigator and YouTuber Tom Isaac is on the case. Told through video transcripts and diary entries, Clickbait is perfect for avid watchers of true crime documentaries.
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
Inspired by the real-life case of the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ serial killer, Jennie Godfrey’s debut novel packs a punch. Twelve-year-old Miv is growing up in Yorkshire in the 1980s, against the backdrop of the Ripper murders, and she’s terrified that her family will have to move Down South. As a result, she and her best friend set out to find the killer by making a list of the suspicious events in their area – with devastating consequences. The List of Suspicious Things has been on the Sunday Times bestseller list since its release in February – and for good reason.
Snow Fall by Jørn Lier Horst
Snow Fall by Jørn Lier Horst
Snow Fall takes us into the complex web of conspiracy theories and internet forums – think the online sleuths in the Netflix documentary Don’t F*** With Cats. Astri Arctander is an active member of a true crime-obsessed online chatroom and promises to share damning evidence linked to the murder of a young woman. Then, suddenly… she disappears. Detective William Wisting is on the case.
The Girls by Emma Cline
The Girls by Emma Cline
In this fictionalised account of life inside the Manson Family cult, it’s the summer of 1969 and Evie Boyd is a lonely 14-year-old who’s desperate to be noticed. That is, until one day at the park, where she meets a group of older, carefree girls and becomes increasingly obsessed with Suzanne, the charming leader of the pack. When Evie follows the girls to the decaying ranch where they live, she falls into a violent, dangerous world – from which there is no return.
Conviction by Denise Mina
Conviction by Denise Mina
Anna’s world falls apart when her husband announces that he’s leaving her for her best friend and taking their two children with him. Looking for a distraction, Anna listens to a true crime podcast. But when she recognises the name of the victim, and believes she has intel on what happened, Anna becomes convinced that she’s the only person who can solve this crime. With nothing left to lose, she throws herself into the case. But what will happen when her past and present worlds collide?
All the Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce
All the Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce
Inspired by the true story of the Bender Family, a family of serial killers who lived in Kansas in the 1870s, All the Blood We Share is a gripping historical thriller. It follows Kate Bender, who is trying to leave her passion for killing men in the past, as she moves to a small town and hopes to turn over a new leaf. But as she becomes a respected member of the community, can she deny her murderous urges? This is a richly imagined story from the author of Triflers Need Not Apply – a reimagining of another notorious killer, Belle Gunness.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Of course, no list of true crime-inspired fiction would be complete without Truman Capote’s classic, In Cold Blood. Drawing on his journalistic experience, including extensive coverage of the real-life murder case, Capote reconstructs the seemingly senseless 1959 killing of a Kansas farmer and his family. At the centre of the story are the two young killers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, who are both completely amoral and terrifyingly human. This is a fascinating read that has become a modern classic.
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