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Books based on true crime and real-life murder mysteries

Books based on true crime and real-life murder mysteries

31 July 2018

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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.

Below, we list the best fiction and non-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.

Fiction books inspired by true crime cases

The Girls by Emma Cline

Cline's acclaimed debut fizzes with the heady energy of California in the 60s as it tells the story of a girl who unwittingly finds herself a bit-part player in a cult's killing spree, drawing clear parallels with the crimes of the notorious Charles Manson and his 'family'. Seduced by the charms of 'the girls', Evie joins the hedonistic group in search of an escape from her troubled family but soon finds events taking a darker turn. Suddenly the flowers, dancing and psychedelia seem miles away, and the murderous fallout follows her for the rest of her life.

The Long Drop by Denise Mina

Award-winning author Denise Mina takes us to Glasgow to retell the story of the Beast of Birkenshaw murders through the eyes of William Watt, the man wrongly accused of murdering his own family in 1956. As Watt begins a hunt to find the real killer, it seems that Peter Manuel is the only man with any answers. And so he agrees to meet him. Based on the ] true story, Mina's grisly tale paints a dark and dangerous picture of a time when justice certainly couldn't be taken for granted.

HHhH by Laurent Binet

HHhH delves into the plot to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, the famed head of the SS and the Gestapo and the mastermind of the Final Solution (as such, it's little surprise that someone had it in for him). Binet's imagined narrative weaves real-life characters and politics from World War Two with danger, suspense and humanity, which makes reading the book before seeing the 2017 film adaptation, The Man with the Iron Heart, a must.

The Witchfinders' Sister by Beth Underdown

Essex, England in the 1640s was a terrifying place in which to be a woman. Especially if your brother happened to be the celebrated Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins. Alice Hopkins soon finds out that her brother's power and influence have deadly consequences for the innocent women of the community, and as the people around him grow ever more frightened, it falls to her to end the madness. A Matthew Hopkins really did live, and witch-hunt, in that decade, and Underdown adds just enough historical detail to bring the past eerily to life.

The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

It was one of the most gruesome murder mysteries to sweep modern America, and Ellroy retells the story in gripping fashion. The year is 1947 in Los Angeles, where a beautiful young woman and aspiring actress is found drained of blood and cleanly bisected in half. The newspapers nickname her 'The Black Dahlia', in reference to neo-noir film The Blue Dahlia that was popular at the time. Two policemen become embroiled in the search for answers and a culprit, but along the way discover twisted details of the girl's life they didn't expect.

High Dive by Jonathan Lee

Lee's novel based on the 1984 Brighton hotel bombing tells a complex and multilayered story of the Provisional IRA's attempted murder of then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. This is more a tale of plots and machinations than gore, and it's all the more intriguing for that. Although Thatcher survived, five others were murdered that day, and Lee uses fiction to explore the emotions and motivations of people who commit such violent acts.

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

In 1900's rural Australia, a group of schoolgirls embark on a picnic to a nearby cliff named Hanging Rock. Once there the schoolgirls lapse into a trance, climbing up the rock and disappearing from sight, provoking mass panic and fruitless search parties to recover them. Written as fact but widely accepted as fiction (the author never confirmed in interviews), there are still claims that utterly eerie murder mystery was inspired by real events. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, biographer Janelle McCulloch revealed the discovery of the disappearance of two schoolgirls in the area in the late 1800s, which would have been shortly after author Joan Lindsay had first visited Hanging Rock.

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

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

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 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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Non-fiction books based on true crime cases

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

This classic is widely regarded as the first true crime novel. Truman Capote (with the help of research assistant Harper Lee, you may have heard of her?) investigates the brutal murder of a local Kansas businessman, his wife and their children, by two ex-farmhands. The jury took just 45 minutes to arrive at the guilty verdict, which at the time carried a mandatory death sentence. Meanwhile, Capote took six years to finish the book, interviewing and researching on the ground in Kansas. It was published in 1966 before becoming one of the bestselling crime 'novels' of all time, and it's fair to say the other books on this list wouldn't exist without it.

Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry

Los Angeles in 1969 and seven people are found brutally murdered. In the months that followed, the American people watched in horror as the killers were caught and convicted. Prosecuting attorney Vincent Bugliosi held a unique position within the trial enabling him to view the case from an insider’s perspective, and he tells-all in this unique account. As shocking as it is disturbing, true crime fans will be hooked.

Killing for Company by Brian Masters

Serial killer Dennis Nilsen murdered at least fifteen people before he was arrested in 1983, going on to give a full confession to the police. This frank and detailed study of his killings was written with Nilsen’s full co-operation, giving a unique insight into the disturbing psychology of a mass murderer. Harrowing and heartbreaking, this is a fascinating and informative look at one of the UK’s most notorious killers and a must-read for those gripped by ITV’s gripping drama.

My Dark Places by James Ellroy

The deeply personal story of James Ellroy, one of America’s most notable crime writers, who teams up with a homicide detective to investigate the murder of his own mother, Jean Ellroy. At the time of the murder, in 1958, the killer remained at large and so Ellroy goes back to L.A. thirty-six years later to search for answers of who did it and why. A brave and revealing memoir of loss, violence and redemption.

The Reykjavik Confessions by Simon Cox

‘Over decades and decades in Iceland people have gone missing without anyone finding anything out. They just sort of disappear…’ In 1974, 18-year-old Gudmundur disappeared from a fishing town near Reykjavik, 11 months later another man, Geirfinnur, went missing from south-west Iceland. Both are presumed dead, but their bodies have never been found. This fascinating book, based on a documentary made by BBC journalist Simon Cox, explores why six people admitted to roles in the two murders without being able to remember anything about the crimes. A true story about false memories and murder on a small island.

Mindhunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker

Retired FBI Special Agent and expert in criminal profiling and behavioural science, John Douglas, lets us inside the FBI elite serial crime unit and into the minds of some of the most dangerous and brutal serial killers in the world, including Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy and the Atlanta child murders. Fans of the 2017 Netflix series Mindhunter will be fascinated by this fierce page turner.

Lifers by Geoffrey Wansell

Having observed lifers over more than twenty years, often up close and very personal, Geoffrey Wansell’s Lifers takes a chilling and fascinating look inside the minds of some of the world’s most notorious criminals and serial killers.

This ground-breaking book brings together interviews and original first-hand accounts from the most feared and dangerous criminals on the planet, offering a glimpse inside the minds of murderers as well as a chance to understand what it really means when ‘life means life’.

The Dublin Railway Murder by Thomas Morris

Dublin, November 1856: George Little, the chief cashier of the Broadstone railway terminus, is found dead, lying in a pool of blood beneath his desk. Augustus Guy, Ireland’s most experienced detective, teams up with Dublin’s leading lawyer to investigate the murder. But the mystery defies all explanation, and two celebrated sleuths sent by Scotland Yard soon return to London, baffled.

Readers of The Five and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher won’t want to miss this meticulously researched true crime tale about an astonishing real-life murder in Victorian Dublin. Intriguing from start to finish, The Dublin Railway Murder shows the truth can be even more baffling than fiction

The Innocent Man by John Grisham

The principle of innocent until proven guilty is explored in John Grisham’s first work of non-fiction. His gripping account of a miscarriage of justice details the conviction of Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson, who were charged with the capital murder of cocktail waitress Debra Sue Carter, despite no physical evidence. This is a cautionary story of small-town justice gone awry written with Grisham’s usual flair for narrative, character and detail.

The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer

Convicted for the murder of two men in 1979, Gary Gilmore was sentenced to death in the U.S. with a likelihood he would receive life imprisonment instead. But Gilmore was determined to die and his fight for execution made him a world-wide criminal celebrity. Based almost entirely on interviews with family and friends of both Gilmore and his victims, the book details every inch of Gilmore’s life, trial and ultimate death. The first book in the true crime genre to win the Pulitzer Prize – and a worthy winner.

The Lost Boy by Duncan Staff

Between July 1963 and October 1965, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley brutally murdered five children in a horrifying case that became known as the Moors Murders. Three of the children were buried in shallow graves on Saddleworth Moor, Yorkshire, another victim was found in their spare room, but the body of the fifth child, Keith Bennett, has never been found. In this new addition of his bestselling book, Duncan Staff presents a compelling theory about the final resting place of the last victim.

Furious Hours by Casey Cep

Furious Hours tells the stunning true story of an Alabama serial killer, and the trial that obsessed the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, in the years after the publication of her classic novel.

Casey Cep delves into the shocking murders, the courtroom drama and the racial politics of the Deep South, while offering a deeply moving portrait of one of the country’s most beloved writers and her struggle with fame, success, and the mystery of artistic creativity.

Vulgar Favours by Maureen Orth

On the morning of 15 July 1997 Gianni Versace was shot and killed on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion. His killer, Andrew Cunanan, had already killed four other victims and what followed was the largest failed manhunt in U.S. history. Compiled from interviews with over 400 people and thousands of police reports, Orth tells the story of Andrew Cunanan’s obsession with Versace in chilling detail. A must-read for fans of BBC Two series American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.

The Red Parts by Maggie Nelson

The murder of Maggie Nelson’s Aunt, Jane Mixer, and the trial of her killer, is a deeply personal memoir of a family’s grief that poses important questions about our relationship to violence and our cultural fixation on dead women. Much more than a record of a murder, investigation and trial, this is an intelligent and complex work of profound integrity and would appeal to both true crime fans or Nelson lovers.

Signature Killers by Robert Keppel and William J Birnes

Signature killers leave tell-tale signs, gruesome ‘calling cards’ at the scenes of their crimes that become a synonymous hallmark of their horrific deeds. Sparked by a growing concern over the rise of signature murders, Robert Keppels explores the patterns, compulsions and motives of some of the most infamous signature killers, giving the ultimate insight into the mind of a serial killer. Graphic, fascinating, horrifying and unforgettable – this is a dark and compelling read.

A Very English Scandal by John Preston

Politics and crime collide in this retelling of the 1970s Thorpe affair, where former MP, Jeremy Thorpe, stood trial accused of hiring a hitman to murder his alleged ex-lover, Norman Scott. Thorpe was the first British politician to stand trial for murder and this eye-opening account spans the trial that shook the heart of the establishment. Timely and relevant, this book – the basis for BBC One’s recent drama starring Hugh Grant and Ben Wishaw – is brilliantly researched and littered with shocks and surprises, making it a startling page turner.

T he Innocent Killer by Michael Griesbach

Steven Avery is the Wisconsin man who spent eighteen years in prison convicted of the violent assault of Penny Beernsten. Two years after he was exonerated, he was arrested for the brutal murder of Teresa Halbach. One of America’s most notorious wrongful convictions, Avery’s case was made famous by the Netflix series Making A Murderer and veteran prosecutor Michael Griesbach examines both trials in this in-depth account. An instant true crime classic.

McMafia by Misha Glenny

Organised crime is part of all of our worlds, from illegal downloads to drugs, phishing scams to people trafficking. In this compelling read, McMafia takes us on a journey around the globe to explore these highly complex crime syndicates and their far-reaching impact. Inspiring a major BBC series, these extraordinary real stories are told with insight from police, victims, politicians and members of the global underworld. A vivid portrayal of the criminal underworld that’s closer to most of us than we think.

The Godmother by Barbie Latza Nadeau

Pupetta Maresca was eighteen years old and six months pregnant when she killed Big Tony outside a busy Neapolitan café. Why? The mob boss had put out a hit on her husband months earlier, and she wanted to send a message.

In this unputdownable exposé, investigative journalist Barbie Latza Nadeau tells the stories of women who have risen to prominence in the Italian mob, beginning with the first documented female boss – the infamous Pupetta Maresca.

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