When I was younger, I remember my parents always watching true crime documentaries, and a lot of times joining them. At the time, I was interested in the genre, but as I grew older, I became more fascinated, and today, true crime has me in a chokehold. It’s become one of my favorite genres to not only watch and listen to, but also read. It seemed strange to me why society devours victims’ heartbreaking stories or the heinous crimes of psychopathic killers. They aren’t fictional characters — we’re consuming real stories of murder, trauma, and tragedy as entertainment. So why do we like them so much?
The true crime genre has been around for centuries, but has experienced significant growth in the past five years, making it a leading force in nonfiction publishing. Thanks to social media platforms like blogs, podcasts, and TikTok, many true crime stories have captivated millions nationwide. My curiosity about its popularity drove me to find the “why.” Check out a few reasons why we enjoy true crime, along with some book recs!
Trigger Warning: This article discusses books that contain topics of murder, suicide, and sexual abuse that may be sensitive for some readers. Please focus on self-care as you read.
To Understand the “Why”
For many readers, one of the main pulls to true crime is the need to understand the “why.” We need to know both what happened and why it happened. That need is a simple human characteristic, but when it comes to true crime, it becomes more than curiosity. We try to make sense of the immoral and unthinkable, and we want to untangle it. Here are a few books that explore the question of “why,” each explaining the complexities behind real-life crimes.
The Devil at His Elbow by Valerie Bauerlein
The Murdaugh case really got me into true crime, and I’ve never forgotten it. It was a tangled web of power, ego, greed, and fear. The case refers to a series of crimes committed by Alex Murdaugh, a lawyer who came from a prominent family and had a lot of power over a town in South Carolina. He was found guilty of the murders of his wife and son.
Through meticulous research, The Devil at His Elbow by Valerie Bauerlein guides readers through Alex’s life and back to the night of the murders. It also recounts the trial that had America hooked in exceptional detail. Bauerlein brings sharp insight and honesty to the Murdaugh case, revealing untold truths behind the shocking crimes.
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke
I recently finished reading The House of My Mother by Shari Franke, and admired her strength and courage in such a difficult situation. Shari Franke was part of the 8 Passengers YouTube channel, which was run by her mother, Ruby Franke. In 2023, Ruby was charged with aggravated child abuse. Shari published her memoir telling her side of the story in her own words, after being forced into the spotlight her entire life. She talks about the emotional abuse she endured from her mother, and what her life looked like in the midst of the chaos and manipulation.
By sharing her story, starting from a young age, Shari Franke helps readers understand her mother and how it became so dangerous. They were a picture-perfect family, but we learned about the behind-the-scenes that we didn’t see. If you were interested in that case when it was going on in 2023, I highly recommend checking out this memoir.
Raising Awareness for Victims
True crime plays a powerful role in raising awareness for victims. They are a voice for those who may have gone through a similar situation but are too afraid to speak up. It is a way to show that whatever you endured doesn’t define you, and that your pain doesn’t have to be the end of your story. True crime, when told from the perspective of a survivor, is a powerful reminder of resilience because it reclaims their narrative, speaks their truth, and advocates for change. Take a look at a few powerful true crime accounts that take a survivor-centered approach, offering resilience and advocacy.
My Story by Elizabeth Smart
Today, Elizabeth Smart is a child safety activist, author, and a powerful speaker for victims of kidnapping and sexual violence. She’s written many books that speak about trauma, healing, safety, and resilience. At fourteen years old, she was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah, and held captive for nine months by a religious extremist and his wife. Her disappearance in 2002 sent shockwaves throughout the country, becoming one of the most high-profile child abduction cases in American history
Ten years after her abduction, Elizabeth Smart released My Story, revealing details of her experience and how she survived. Her story still resonates with people today; she became a symbol of hope. Her memoir is truly inspiring, full of faith, strength, and hope. It’s one of those true crime books you just have to read!
Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Virginia Giuffre is one of the most outspoken victims against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, helping send both abusers to prison. Ready to share her full story in her own words, she wrote a memoir, Nobody’s Girl, which will be published in October 2025. In April 2025, Giuffre took her own life, but left behind the memoir that she was adamant about being published.
Nobody’s Girl gives the full account of Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s experience from the molestation she endured as a child to the abuse of Epstein and Maxwell. She talks about her survivor story and how she moved forward, found the courage to speak up, and advocate for other victims. Her voice and legacy will live on forever, and I look forward to reading her story. I hope you do too!
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
Not too long ago, I was doing a project for a class over the true crime genre and stumbled across A Stolen Life, a memoir by Jaycee Dugard. In 1991, Jaycee was abducted at eleven years old. For eighteen. Long. Years. Becoming subject to abuse, she was forbidden to use her own name and forced to become a mother. She survives an impossible situation and takes back her name and life.
A Stolen Life tells Dugard’s story in her own words. She’s a voice for other victims, reminding them that being a victim of abuse doesn’t have to define them. It’s a beautiful memoir about survival, strong-mindedness, and hope.
They Engage Our Inner Detective
True crime engages our inner detective because it taps into our natural curiosity and need for answers. When certain aspects of an investigation are left unanswered, we activate our critical thinking skills and follow clues to try and discover the truth. We become mentally involved. Check out a few books that invite you to put on your detective hat, piece together clues, and chase down the truth.
The Idaho Four by James Patterson and Vicky Ward
When the Idaho Four murders happened, I was in college, and I was absolutely horrified. As a student — and I’m sure for many other students as well—it hit especially hard. It was deeply unsettling that something so monstrous could happen to four normal, innocent college kids. Social media consumed this case, and all everyone wanted to know was why. We know all of the facts, but not the one answer we’re all dying to know.
The Idaho Four by James Patterson and Vicky Ward invites you to be the jury. It talks about the day of the cold-blooded killings in Moscow, Idaho. After more than 300 interviews, Patterson and Ward present you with the evidence that will give you answers you’ve been so desperately wanting.
The Menendez Murders by Robert Rand
I’m sure we all know about the Menendez brothers, who in 1989 shot and killed their parents on a quiet Sunday evening. There has been constant controversy and speculation, since it happened to the present day, over why they committed such a violent act. Money? Or self-defense out of fear of ongoing abuse? We all have our own opinions and form our own conclusions on why it happened. We know they were guilty, but the question remains “why.”
Robert Rand, a dedicated journalist, came out with The Menendez Murders in 2024, shares new breakthrough findings about Eric and Lyle Menendez, including interviews with both of them about what their life has been like after the arrest. This book allows us to put our detective hats on and figure out the truth.
The Fascination with the Wrongfully Accused
I feel that stories about people who were wrongfully accused of a crime they didn’t commit are just naturally fascinating. It’s something uniquely haunting, because we’re forced to confront the darkness and uncomfortable truth that sometimes the justice system can fail. They’re also tragic and heartbreaking that an innocent person has to deal with so much hatred. Stories of the wrongfully accused are inspirational about hope, resistance, and redemption. Here are a few titles that explore impactful narratives that shine a light on wrongful convictions and the perseverance behind them.
Waiting to be Heard by Amanda Knox
If you haven’t heard yet, there is a new Hulu mini-series called The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox that’s still airing episodes once a week. I highly recommend it! As I’ve been watching it, I came across her book, Waiting to Be Heard. If you don’t know anything about Knox, at 20 years old, she was studying abroad in Italy when her roommate was brutally murdered in their apartment. She was wrongfully convicted of the murder and spent four years in an Italian prison.
During the time of her arrest, trial, and imprisonment, many narratives were formed about Amanda Knox. For years, she was misunderstood. Waiting to be Heard was published in 2013, in which she tells her side of the story. She talks about what it was like being accused of a crime she didn’t commit, and what got her through despite the hatred and disgust she experienced from nearly everyone.
Shaken by John Grisham
John Grisham is known to tell the shocking stories of the wrongfully accused. He is coming out with Shaken soon, which you can preorder now! It talks about the true, tragic case of Robert Roberson, a father from Texas who has spent years on death row for a crime he did not commit. Grisham talks about the events that led up to Robert’s death sentence, and exposes systematic failures more concerned with conviction rather than truth.
I obviously haven’t read it, but knowing Grisham’s track record with exposing injustice and giving voice to the wrongfully accused, Shaken is bound to be a powerful, eye-opening, and unimaginable read. If you’re drawn to true crime that challenges the system, definitely read this one as soon as possible! I know I will be.
It’s a Window Into History
One reason we can be drawn to true crime is that it becomes a lens through which we can examine the time, place, and culture in which the crime happened. There are so many societal differences in certain time periods. In a way, it becomes like historical storytelling. When crimes were committed, there were many aspects that differ from today that have to be considered, like the way the justice system operated and technology. The following stories not only unravel true crime stories but also offer insight into history, displaying how societal factors shaped each case.
Murderland by Caroline Fraser
When you think of an American serial killer, I’m sure a lot of us think of Ted Bundy, murderer and rapist of dozens of young women and girls in the ‘70s. But he was just one perpetrator in the midst of many who did the same thing in the region. Caroline Fraser was fascinated by the fact that there were so many and all in a gruesome manner. She discovers a pattern in environmental destruction through the study of Ted Bundy and others, such as the Green River Killer, the I-5 Killer, the Night Stalker, and Charles Manson.
This book investigates the surge of killers during the 1970s–80s, making it a perfect read if you’re interested in ones that are a window into history. Murderland isn’t just a true crime book about serial killers; it’s an attempt to explain them using environmental and social issues.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
In Cold Blood was one I’ll always remember. I read about the horrific crimes Truman Capote covers and was absolutely shocked. Capote tells the story of a family of four in Kansas in 1959 that was brutally murdered with a shotgun. No apparent motive. No trace of evidence.
The first nonfiction book written by Truman Capote takes us to that time period and gives insight into the nature of American violence. This is a classic historical true crime book I believe everyone needs to read at least once.
There you have it! Some of the many reasons we love the true crime genre, and a few book recs for you! It’s about seeking answers in chaos, understanding human behavior, and finding inspiration and strength from those who survived an unimaginable situation. True crime speaks about truth, justice, and meaning.
If you want to see more recs from the Bookstr team, check out the Recommendations page!
You can find these books in the Fascinating Nonfiction Reads You Can’t Miss shelf on our Bookshop page!
