I love true crime, especially when it’s a really unusual case. Some of the more interesting titles I’ve read:
Lobster Boy by Fred Rosen- The writing and feel is generally pulp non-fiction, but you have to be absorbed in a case that involves a family that’s made their living from sideshows since the Civil War and a murder that involves a blockhead, the giant “manchild” son of a 30 inch midget, and a trial where an 800 lb. sideshow fat man and a bearded lady were called as character witnesses. This has double duty since it’s also a profile of a fascinating subculture.
Devil’s Knot by Mara Leveritt- the most thorough book yet about the West Memphis Three, who even if they’re guilty it’s the grossest miscarriage of justice in recent history.
Salamander by Linda Sillitoe, a story of obscure Mormon theology, forgery, and murder in the 1980s.
What are some books you would recommend as ‘True Crime Must Reads’? (I’ve read most of Bugliosi’s books.)
The Last Victim: A True-Life Journey into the Mind of the Serial Killer by Jason Moss: a college student starts writing to serial killers posing as a friend/victim. He gets to meet John Wayne Gacy. Shot in the Heart by Mikal Gilmore: Gary Gilmour by his brother. Perfect Victim by Christine McGuire: Living in a box for 7 years. Anyone You Want Me to Be by John E Douglas: the story of the first serial killer to have haunted chat rooms and used the Internet as a means for stalking and then luring his victims to their deaths. Brothers in Arms by Sandra Harvey: story of the Milperra massacre - a bikie gang shoot out in a suburban pub car park in Australia. Monster : The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member by Kody Scott: title says it all. Congratulations, You Have Just Met the ICF by Cass Pennant: England’s most violent football crew. Encyclopedia of Forensic Science by Brian Lane Finders Keepers by Mark Bowden: druggies find $1.2mill in unmarked bills. Thrilling and funny at once. My Dark Places by James Ellroy: noted novelist sets out to solve his mother’s murder. Better than his novels. Snowblind by Robert Sabbag: the exploits of drug smuggler Zachary Swan - terrific stuff. The Poet and the Murderer by Simon Worrall: Emily Dickinson, the Mormon church, murder and the world’s best forger. Tough Jews by Rich Cohen: his family owned the diner where Murder Incorporated hung out. Cohen likes the guys. The World’s Dumbest Criminals by Alan Ray: enough said.
Any Joseph Wambaugh true crime particularly Lines and Shadows, The Onion Field and Fire Lover, all provide terrific insights. He must be one of the world’s great interviewers.
I forgot Breaking Blue by Timothy Egan: while researching for a criminology masters thesis a sherrif uncovers evidence implicating police in a 1935 murder. Very evocative of the north west.
**Catch Me If You Can ** Yes, the movie was based on a real life guy. It was recommended to me 15 years ago and has always been a favorite.
Great thread idea. Now I can buy more books that I will get around to reading one day.
Maybe not as offbeat as some of the ones above (like the sideshow one), but Black Mass is an excellent account of James “Whitey” Bulger’s reign in South Boston with the help of the appalling corruption of FBI agent John Connolly and other members of the FBI in Boston. Excellent book.
fire Lover By Joseph Wambaugh About the Glendale FD arson investigator that set fires. Creeped the hell out of me cause I knew this guys family, and lived in the same neighborhood.
One that I’ve heard is really good but haven’t read yet is Devil in the White City by Erik Larson; it’s mostly about the 1893 World’s Fair but it concerns the case of Dr. H. H. Holmes , the prolific 19th century con-man and serial killer who is believed to have killed well over 100 women and even especially designed his mansion for imprisoning them and disposing of their bodies. I love the Jay Robert Nash as well.
FORGOTTEN NEWS by Jack Finney (he of “Time and Again” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”), about the “Crime of the Century” that took place in New York City of the 1800s. Illustrated with artwork from contemporary sources. The story of the murder of Harvey Burdette in his home only takes up half the book, but it’s well worth reading because Finney loves to recreate what NYC was like back then. Now out of print.
THE ONLY LIVING WITNESS: The True Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy by Michaud, Aynesworth and Hazelwood. The best of the books about this bastard. The authors was able to draw Ted out by having him “speculate” – based on his great intelligence and knowledge of the criminal justice system – on how the killer did his work.
For a look at the other side of Bundy, check out THE PHANTOM PRINCE: My Life With Ted Bundy by Elizabeth Kendall - Written by Bundy’s girlfriend. Out of print.
If you’re interested in Jack the Ripper, note that ** ULTIMATE JACK THE RIPPER COMPANION: An Illustrated Encyclopedia** is available in hard and softcover from www.edwardrhamilton.com.
($12.95/$3.95) plus $3.95 postage. Just got this in paperback, and it reprints verbatum many of the contemporary documents about the murders.
Second the note about the James Ellroy book, except to add that I heard the audiobook of this one, done by Ellroy, and it’s one spooky mama-jama thing to listen to during a long car trip down an unlit country road at night.
I’ll second the recommendation for “The Perfect Victim.” It’s not just about ‘living in a box for seven years’ though that’s a truthful description of the ordeal the victim went through. It’s about a psychopath who brainwashed his wife so well via torture that she helped him kidnap a young hitchhiker and keep her captive for seven years. He brainwashed her so thoroughly that he was actually able to take her to visit with her family and leave her with them for a time before returning the pick her up.
IIRC she also worked part time outside the home before returning to her box.
The interesting issue in this case was, if she was so free to come and go, how can she claim to have been kidnapped the whole time? He kept her for so long that the statute of limitations ran out on the original kidnapping, so they had to prove that she was in essence “kidnapped” for the whole seven years, which involved establishing the validity of brainwashing techniques in court.
The author is the D.A. who prosecuted the case, so it’s very one-sided and lacking in psychological depth in certain respects, but there’s a lot of detail that you probably wouldn’t get otherwise. A fascinating read.
Ok, so it isn’t highbrow truecrime like some of the above ( :P) but “Zodiac” is a good telling of an absolutely mind-boggling case. AFAIC there was enough evidence to convict three different people had it gone to trial. I still find it impossible to believe that the recent DNA evidence exonerated Arthur Leigh Allen. If he really didn’t do it then that has to be the most astounding amount of compelling circumstantial evidence in the history of crime.
*Someone Cry for the Children is a facinating look at the murder of three girlscouts at camp in Oklahoma in the late seventies.
It really gets into Native Amercian mysticism and it appears to affect the case, or at least many people believe that it did. It’s probably out of print though.
