We think it’s fair to say that it’s never been a better time to be a true crime fan. Whether based on British, American or other country's cases, the genre is flourishing and has exploded into all forms of media from TV to podcasts. But lest we forget, the humble book is where it all kicked off, and in many instances, it’s where these other forms of media find their inspiration.
The only issue is finding the right book, which becomes increasingly difficult the more saturated the market becomes. So, to lead you through the gruesome serial killers and even the charming criminals, we’ve created a guide and ranking to help you narrow down which terrifying tales you should choose to keep you up at night. After all, the real world is much more unthinkable than fiction.
Before jumping straight in, it might be worth taking a minute and considering what types of stories and topics you’d like to read about as well as a couple of other divisive or practical factors. Luckily, we're going to cover all these in this guide.
True crime is a blanket name for a genre that spans a vast number of illegal activities. Therefore, it’s important to identify what type of crime book you’re looking for. Perhaps you’re most interested in the details of the crimes, which can range from cold-blooded serial killers to first-rate shoplifters and everything in between.
Alternatively, you may enjoy learning about the characters involved in the crime and their backstories. If this is the case, biographies on crime figures will provide a great insight. Another more recent angle to consider is one which looks at the offences through the eyes of the investigating detectives or forensic psychologists.
Of course, many of these different points of view will overlap in some titles – a story on a group of missing women could take in the thoughts and beliefs of the police, say, and not just the author. That said, we think it can make for a much more satisfying read when you consider where the focus comes from.
Many of us would call ourselves true crime addicts, or even aficionados, but during our time reading books, listening to podcasts and watching TV shows, we’ve found that one thing splits the community like no other – the style of ending.
You see, some people want that cliff hanger that keeps the brain ticking over and the mystery alive, while others are looking for a satisfactory ending with all the loose ends tied up so that they can sleep peacefully at night. Neither is right or wrong, it’s all a case of preference.
So, as we’re in the duty of providing every reader with the ending they desire, we’ll mention whether it is conclusive or not in our spec table below each product. There’ll be no spoilers, so you don’t have to worry about that, just a nod to what you can expect.
Finally, sometimes we have to consider practical points to when it comes to reading. This primarily refers to your preferred format when reading. Depending on where and how often you read, different formats can be better for your needs.
For example, you wouldn't want to take a big ol' true crime hardback on the packed underground on your commute – these stories are seriously addictive, so a paperback would be better for cramming in every minute of reading you can. That said, a hardback would be perfect for a collector of true crime novels, displayed proudly or given as a gift.
Nowadays, there are, of course, digital eBooks and audiobooks to consider too. Both of these will require a device or subscription for you to access them, but they could save you money in the long run and they're great for on the go. Plus, is there anything more immersive than a creepy crime tale being read to you at night?
Now that you’ve given thought to the different types of true crime books available and the format in which you would like to consume them, let’s get to our top 10. We’ve got options that span generations and stories from the truly deprived to the classic wrong place, wrong time crimes, so there should be something for every fan.
£6.55
Type of Book | Serial killer |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | No |
Available Formats | Paperback, hardback, audiobook |
Set In | USA |
Date Published | 1986 |
Length | 384 pages |
£1.20
Type of Book | Drug smuggling, biography |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | Yes |
Available Formats | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audiobook |
Set In | USA, UK |
Date Published | 1996 |
Length | 456 pages |
£9.30
Type of Book | Various |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | No |
Available Formats | Paperback, eBook |
Set In | Various |
Date Published | 2020 |
Length | 280 pages |
£11.26
Type of Book | Biography |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | Yes |
Available Formats | Paperback, hardback |
Set In | Los Angeles |
Date Published | 2013 |
Length | 399 pages |
£8.19
Type of Book | Forensic psychology |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | Yes |
Available Formats | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audio CD |
Set In | USA |
Date Published | 1995 |
Length | 448 pages |
£1.17
Type of Book | Murder |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | No |
Available Formats | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audiobook, audio CD |
Set In | Baltimore, Maryland |
Date Published | 2016 |
Length | 416 pages |
£10.77
Type of Book | Robbery, biography |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | Yes |
Available Formats | Paperback, eBook, audiobook, MP3 CD |
Set In | London |
Date Published | 1996 |
Length | 398 pages |
£9.41
Type of Book | Serial killer |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | No |
Available Formats | Paperback, kindle, audiobook |
Set In | Long Island, New York |
Date Published | 2013 |
Length | 432 pages |
£7.15
Type of Book | Murder |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | Yes |
Available Formats | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audiobook |
Set In | Kansas |
Date Published | 1965 |
Length | 320 pages |
£1.82
Type of Book | Various, forensic psychology |
---|---|
Conclusive Ending | Yes |
Available Formats | Paperback, hardback, eBook |
Set In | UK |
Date Published | 1997 |
Length | 672 pages |
Image | 1 ![]() Paul Britton | 2 ![]() Truman Capote | 3 ![]() Robert Kolker | 4 ![]() Lorraine Gamman | 5 ![]() Rabia Chaudry | 6 ![]() John Douglas and Mark Olshaker | 7 ![]() Jeff Guinn | 8 ![]() Chenya Roth | 9 ![]() Howard Marks | 10 ![]() Robert Graysmith |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | The Jigsaw Man | In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences | Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery | Gone Shopping: The Story of Shirley Pitts - Queen of Thieves | Adnan's Story: The Case That Inspired the Podcast Phenomenon Serial | Mindhunter: Inside the FBI Elite Serial Crime Unit | Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson | Cold Cases: A True Crime Collection | Mr Nice | Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of America's Most Bizarre Mass Murderer |
Features | First-Hand Insight Into Some of the UK's Most Devastating Crimes | One of the First, and Still One of the Best | A Humanizing Account for Armchair Detectives Who Love the Mystery | The Story of a Charming British Woman Who Happened to Be Very Good at Pinching Things | An Enthralling Story Filled With Foggy Contradictions and Perplexing Characters | Learn About the History of Criminal Profiling With One of Its Pioneers | An Authoritative Account of a Truly Troubled Soul | A Non Fiction Collection of Some of the World's Most Notorious Unsolved Crimes | Follow the Story of One of Britain's Biggest Drug Lords | One of the World's Most Chilling Cold Cases |
Price | £1.82 | £7.15 | £9.41 | £10.77 | £1.17 | £8.19 | £11.26 | £9.30 | £1.20 | £6.55 |
Type of Book | Various, forensic psychology | Murder | Serial killer | Robbery, biography | Murder | Forensic psychology | Biography | Various | Drug smuggling, biography | Serial killer |
Conclusive Ending | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Available Formats | Paperback, hardback, eBook | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audiobook | Paperback, kindle, audiobook | Paperback, eBook, audiobook, MP3 CD | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audiobook, audio CD | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audio CD | Paperback, hardback | Paperback, eBook | Paperback, hardback, eBook, audiobook | Paperback, hardback, audiobook |
Set In | UK | Kansas | Long Island, New York | London | Baltimore, Maryland | USA | Los Angeles | Various | USA, UK | USA |
Date Published | 1997 | 1965 | 2013 | 1996 | 2016 | 1995 | 2013 | 2020 | 1996 | 1986 |
Length | 672 pages | 320 pages | 432 pages | 398 pages | 416 pages | 448 pages | 399 pages | 280 pages | 456 pages | 384 pages |
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Looking for more reads to keep you rapt on a lazy Sunday or a long journey? We have loads more comprehensive book articles with recommendations for every taste, but there's one thing the three below have in common – they're packed with gripping and addictive stories you won't be able to put down.
There you go, a collection of some of the best true crime books that are available to be bought online today. We're sure that at least one of these will provide you with the heart-pounding scares and gory insight that you're looking for. It's a tough topic to get right, but we believe each of these does the genre justice. Enjoy!
Author: Lewis Clark
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