Obsessed with True Crime discussion

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Archive > Can you recommend any good murderer/serial killer books :)

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message 1: by Kirsty (new)

Kirsty Stevens | 4 comments Hiya everyone i waa wondering if any of you could recommend any good books regarding murderers or serial killers any help would be much appreciated thankyou :) i always welcome new friends aswell x


message 2: by Roxanne (new)

Roxanne (roxanne64) | 7 comments The executioners song.anything by Kathryn Casey, Gregg Olsen and the late Jack Olsen.I'm reading a really good one.In Broad daylight about a man who bullied and terrorized his whole town,it's older but was a free download on Amazon and so worth reading again after all of these years.


message 3: by Kirsty (new)

Kirsty Stevens | 4 comments thanks so much roxanne :)


message 4: by Lady ♥ Belleza, Gif Princesa (new)

Lady ♥ Belleza (bella_foxx) | 3704 comments Mod
If you like historical true crime two I recommend: The Killer of Little Shepherds A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science by Douglas Starr and The Postcard Killer The True Story of J. Frank Hickey by Vance McLaughlin


message 5: by Roxanne (new)

Roxanne (roxanne64) | 7 comments Thanks Bella, I like historical stuff but can never find true crime good ones.


message 6: by Heather (new)

Heather | 2 comments I really enjoyed Harold Schechter's books.


message 7: by Chris (last edited Oct 28, 2012 12:19PM) (new)

Chris (bibliophile85) | 30 comments In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Bluebeard: The Life and Crimes of Gilles de Rais by Leonard Wolf

Deranged by Harold Schchter

The Riverman by Robert D. Keppell

Bringing Adam Home by Les Stantiford

A Father's Story by Lionel Dahmer

The Last Victim by Jeffery Moss

Some of my favorites...


message 8: by Lauretta (new)

Lauretta | 6 comments I just finished "Legally Dead". Very good book.


message 9: by William (new)

William Marshall | 2 comments Hello everyone my name is Ace I'm new to the group like to suggest The I've Man Confessions of a Mafia contract killer
By Philip Carlo it's a real page turner


message 10: by William (new)

William Marshall | 2 comments Sorry The Ice Man Killer good old smartphone


message 11: by Kristin (new)

Kristin Snow (nerdgirl1241989) | 2 comments I'm new to the group, but if you're still looking for serial killer books, I've enjoyed both Ted Bundy: Conversations With a Killer (an interview style book) and The Only Living Witness (the novelized version of the actual interviews) by Stephen G. Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth. If you can look past the grammatical errors, and the chapter that ends mid-sentence, Charles Manson Now is a good book too.


message 12: by Judi (new)

Judi (dizzybluebaby) | 11 comments Highly recommend The Night Stalker. From Publishers Weekly: "Richard Ramirez, a Mexican American from El Paso, committed perhaps 14 murders in the Los Angeles area during 1984 and 1985 and wounded several people. While robbery was one of his motives, his main objective, according to Carlo (Stolen Flowers), was to achieve power over the women in the houses he entered, to rape, torture and humiliate them. He saw himself as committing his crimes in the service of Satan and expressed contempt for conventional morality. Stubborn and with a vicious temper, he insisted on being represented by two young lawyers who had never been involved in a capital case. Found guilty in 1989, Ramirez was given 19 death sentences plus six years for each of 33 other charges. Carlo speculates on the psyche of this chilling killer and introduces an intriguing supporting cast, from the prosecutor, who saw the case as good versus evil, to the alternate juror who "fell in love with" the defendant. An exceptionally well-told true-crime ." - tale." (Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.)


message 13: by Dennis (new)

Dennis Deranged by Schecter, There's nobody any sicker than Albert Fish!!


message 14: by Linda (new)

Linda | 1 comments Hi. I can recommend two great true crime books - The Dark Son by Denise Lang and Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Jentz. Amazing stuff. I have a true crime memoir out myself and did tons of reading before I wrote my book, so I have a whole list here. Offhand, the other that stands out is A Rip in Heaven by Jeanine Cummins and Judgement Ridge (don't have the author handy, but it is about the murders of two New Hampshire professors).


message 15: by Chris (new)

Chris (bibliophile85) | 30 comments Denny wrote: " There's nobody any sicker than Albert Fish!!"

Amen to that! That creep still gives me chills to this day....


message 16: by Kimberly (new)

Kimberly | 1 comments Ann Rule is an excellent true crime author. All of her books are interesting, can't-put-it-down reads. She has several books that feature one novella, and short stories, one of those would b a good place to start. Totally also recommend Small Sacrifices, and If You Really Loved Me, both by Ann Rule.


message 17: by Kristin (new)

Kristin Snow (nerdgirl1241989) | 2 comments Kimberly wrote: "Ann Rule is an excellent true crime author. All of her books are interesting, can't-put-it-down reads. She has several books that feature one novella, and short stories, one of those would b a good..."

I can't get through any of her books. I first read The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story and got a few others she wrote and never made it to chapter three. Maybe I'll give her another try (:


message 18: by Lady ♥ Belleza, Gif Princesa (new)

Lady ♥ Belleza (bella_foxx) | 3704 comments Mod
I just finished Bind, Torture, Kill: The Inside Story of the Serial Killer Next Door by Roy Wenzl. Very good, I gave it 4 stars.


message 19: by Beth (new)

Beth (beth150) currently reading Secrets in the Cellar by John Glatt , its quite good i didnt realise he had committed more crimes than the one he's famous for


♥ Marlene♥  | 65 comments Kristin wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Ann Rule is an excellent true crime author. All of her books are interesting, can't-put-it-down reads. She has several books that feature one novella, and short stories, one of tho..."

Well her old books are good but many later ones are so biased, it spoils the read for me. Heart Full of lies comes to mind. She does not write a lot stand alone.(One every 3 or 4 years) Too busy with her true crime files books of which I am not a fan. I did like her last stand alone. No her last (In the Still of The Night) is also very biased so I've heard. The One before that was good. 2007 Too Late to Say Goodbye.


message 21: by Chris (new)

Chris (bibliophile85) | 30 comments Sherrie wrote: "Please feel free to check out my website which includes my current book-to-film projects. http://sherrielueder.com

Sherrie"


Damned infernal spammers! You get rid of one and ten more crawl out of the woodwork to take their place ;)


message 22: by Sherrie (new)

Sherrie Lueder (authorsherrielueder) Christopher wrote: "Sherrie wrote: "Please feel free to check out my website which includes my current book-to-film projects. http://sherrielueder.com

Sherrie"

Damned infernal spammers! You get rid of one and ten mo..."


Sorry Christopher. Didn't realize it was spamming, only answering the original question posted. I'm a true crime author. I deleted my post.


message 23: by Chris (new)

Chris (bibliophile85) | 30 comments Sherrie wrote: "Christopher wrote: "Sherrie wrote: "Please feel free to check out my website which includes my current book-to-film projects. http://sherrielueder.com

Sherrie"

Damned infernal spammers! You get r..."


I apologize if I was a bit harsh Sherrie. Its just that myself, as well as a lot of people become very annoyed with those who promote their books by trolling and mentioning it on every single topic created on a forum ad nauseum. Mentioning it once is enough, there is no need to post about it on every single topic. Also, there are forums for authors here to promote their books.

Again, I realize I may have been a little harsh, and for that I am sorry.


message 24: by Lady ♥ Belleza, Gif Princesa (last edited Feb 06, 2013 06:38PM) (new)

Lady ♥ Belleza (bella_foxx) | 3704 comments Mod
Misty wrote: "Just received Starvation Heights. Has anyone else read it?"

I have, here's my review, its my blog I wasn't on Goodreads when I wrote it and haven't gotten to it to add it. Starvation Heights

Edited to add: I just posted the review on here.


message 25: by Rachel (new)

Rachel Harry | 10 comments I have done extensive reading on Jack the Ripper and the book I like best and think is the true answer is: Prisoner 1167 The madman who was Jack the Ripper by James Tully.


message 26: by Roxanne (new)

Roxanne (roxanne64) | 7 comments Linda wrote: "Hi. I can recommend two great true crime books - The Dark Son by Denise Lang and Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Jentz. Amazing stuff. I have a true crime memoir out myself and did tons of rea..."

Rachel wrote: "I have done extensive reading on Jack the Ripper and the book I like best and think is the true answer is: Prisoner 1167 The madman who was Jack the Ripper by James Tully."

Linda wrote: "Hi. I can recommend two great true crime books - The Dark Son by Denise Lang and Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Jentz. Amazing stuff. I have a true crime memoir out myself and did tons of rea..."

Hi! I can't believe someone other than me has A Strange piece of Paradise as a must read..It is one of my very favorite books of all time! I will look into The Dark Son!


message 27: by Cindy (new)

Cindy So Brilliantly Clever: Parker, Hulme and the Murder that Shocked the World It is absolutely fantastic!!!! He pulls no punches and doesn't sugar coat a thing. I have always been fascinated by the case. There are also quite a few things that I didn't know in this book. Really, really worth a read.


message 28: by peg (new)

peg (mcicutti) | 50 comments Cindy wrote: "So Brilliantly Clever: Parker, Hulme and the Murder that Shocked the World It is absolutely fantastic!!!! He pulls no punches and doesn't sugar coat a thing. I have always been fascinated by the ca..."

Have you seen the movie, Heavenly Creatures? It is based on the Parker/Hulme case. It's very artistically done and haunting.


message 29: by Jenny527 (new)

Jenny527 Fred & Rose: The full story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors

By Howard Sounes

"25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester... This was the bland semi-detached home of Fred and Rose West, and the guardian of their incredible secret: the remains of nine young women--many of them dismembered, decapitated, and showing evidence of sexual torture--were buried under its cellar, bathroom floor, and garden. the remains of Fred's eight-year-old stepdaughter were under the extension of a nearby house; his first wife and nanny were buried in windswept fields some miles away. There are undoubtedly many other victims whose fates may never be known. Yet Fred and Rose West, who committed at least nine of these murders together, continued to preserve the façade of a normal married life. Friends and neighbours considered them a loving if somewhat eccentric couple, and their crimes went undetected for over twenty years." -- back cover.


message 30: by peg (new)

peg (mcicutti) | 50 comments The Killer of Little Shepherds is a horrifying true story.

The Killer of Little Shepherds A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science by Douglas Starr


message 31: by Rachel (last edited Mar 26, 2013 01:33PM) (new)

Rachel Harry | 10 comments Heather wrote: "I really enjoyed Harold Schechter's books."

Schecter's books are well written and supenseful,I would recomend them all.
The Killer of Little Shepherds is great too.
Something different you might want to try is My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf (fake name?. It is a graphic novel, but is a fascinating story of how he grew up before he turned into a serial killer.


message 32: by peg (new)

peg (mcicutti) | 50 comments The Stranger Beside Me was Ann Rule's first crime novel. It is about the Boston strangler. Ann actually actually knew him personally and worked with him before he went on his killing spree.


message 33: by Lady ♥ Belleza, Gif Princesa (new)

Lady ♥ Belleza (bella_foxx) | 3704 comments Mod
peg wrote: "The Stranger Beside Me was Ann Rule's first crime novel. It is about the Boston strangler. Ann actually actually knew him personally and worked with him before he went on his killing spree."

Actually it was about Ted Bundy.


message 34: by Sabrina (new)

Sabrina The Last Victim by Jeffrey Moss is a good one on his correspondence primarily Gacy, but he wrote to a few others. It is a fascinating read.

Also enjoyed The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule. She worked alongside Ted Bundy at a suicide hotline during college and tells the story of his crimes from a perspective that is pretty unique.

While I am on the subject of serial killers, may I just add that Manson should never come up in a list of notorious serial killers. He personally killed one ranch hand - possibly (never proven). The girls & Tex are responsible for the murders, period. They took too much pleasure in the act as seen by the evidence, to believe it was something they were simply influenced or even forced to do. Off soapbox.

That all being said, read Manson, In His Own Words - I forget the interviewer/author's name


message 35: by Lady ♥ Belleza, Gif Princesa (new)

Lady ♥ Belleza (bella_foxx) | 3704 comments Mod
No matter who should be held responsible for the Tate/LaBianca murders, those killings do not fall in the category of serial murder.


message 36: by Saysayg (new)

Saysayg | 16 comments My recommendation for True Crime is Columbine by David Cullen (2009). A compelling and riveting study of the criminal mind and how society (media) latches on to early and inaccurate accounts in order to frame an event for easy consumption. I read it in one sitting.


message 37: by Saysayg (new)

Saysayg | 16 comments Oh, yes...let me also recommend for True Crime, Homicide...A Year on the Killing Steets by David Simon. Loved it!


message 38: by peg (new)

peg (mcicutti) | 50 comments ♥Bella★✰ wrote: "peg wrote: "The Stranger Beside Me was Ann Rule's first crime novel. It is about the Boston strangler. Ann actually actually knew him personally and worked with him before he went on his killing sp..."

You're right, Bella. Thanks for the correction.


message 39: by Wendy (new)

Wendy K | 2 comments William wrote: "Sorry The Ice Man Killer good old smartphone"

Agreed. Fantastic book!


message 40: by Stephanie (new)

Stephanie (stephersk) | 7 comments Definitely a great book!!


message 41: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer | 2 comments Monster by Steve Jackson


message 42: by Benjamin (last edited Dec 17, 2014 10:27PM) (new)

Benjamin (ben21) The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America

Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris

Ive finished the first, and its a great book, not only do you read about a truly intelligent serial killer that gets caught at the end for something that had nothing to do with his truly evil deeds, but you learn a a lot about American history as well.

Im about 1/3 through the second book, and while its got mediocre ratings, I disagree with them. Its very interesting, and some of the nonsense the killer pulled off is hilarious (nothing to do with his killings).


message 43: by Benjamin (new)

Benjamin (ben21) Sherri wrote: "The book that got me into reading true crime and also got me taking criminal justice as a major in college was "The Nightstalker" by Philip Carlo. It is about the serial killer, Richard Ramirez. I ..."

Geez that makes me feel soo old...


message 44: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer | 2 comments Devil in the White City is an amazing book!
I want to read Night Stalker, but it's out of print, and I haven't found it at a library yet.


message 45: by Benjamin (last edited Dec 17, 2014 11:03PM) (new)

Benjamin (ben21) Jennifer, Night stalker by which author? err nm richard remirez. Saw it on news as it happend,


message 46: by Benjamin (new)

Benjamin (ben21) ♥Beleza★✰ wrote: "No matter who should be held responsible for the Tate/LaBianca murders, those killings do not fall in the category of serial murder."

Yeah that was a mass murder.


message 47: by Benjamin (last edited Dec 17, 2014 11:06PM) (new)

Benjamin (ben21) Sabrina wrote: "The Last Victim by Jeffrey Moss is a good one on his correspondence primarily Gacy, but he wrote to a few others. It is a fascinating read.

Also enjoyed The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule. She..."


Sabrina wrote: "The Last Victim by Jeffrey Moss is a good one on his correspondence primarily Gacy, but he wrote to a few others. It is a fascinating read.

Also enjoyed The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule. She..."


As Far as Manson and the killings go, that has got to be the dumbest comment Ive read in years.


message 48: by A.r. (new)

A.r. | 61 comments Saysayg wrote: "My recommendation for True Crime is Columbine by David Cullen (2009). A compelling and riveting study of the criminal mind and how society (media) latches on to early and inaccurate accounts in or..."

I agree a great book, but oh, it was hard to read the heart-wrenching stories of the kids an teachers. I read a lot of true crime, but this one got me choked up!


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