Five Crime Novels That Are Essential Reading

Most of these can be read by anyone interested in true crime.

As a writer in True Crime, I love to admire the work of others. It is hard to say I enjoyed these books as enjoyed seems the wrong word. However, these are the books that I have gained the most from.

Most of them, except for the last, are for all to read, whether you write crime or are just a fan of true crime. The last book is a strange, controversial choice, but I can not deny that it has provided valuable insight that I have used in many articles. 

American Predator - Maureen Callahan

Synopsis

Most people have never heard of Israel Keyes, one of the most ambitious and terrifying serial killers in modern history. The FBI considered his behaviour unprecedented. Described by a prosecutor as "a force of pure evil," Keyes was a predator who struck all over the United States. 

He buried "kill kits"--cash, weapons, and body-disposal tools--in remote locations across the country. Keyes would fly to a city for fourteen years, rent a car, and drive thousands of miles to use his kits. He would break into a stranger's house, abduct his victims in broad daylight, and kill and dispose of them in mere hours. 

When journalist Maureen Callahan first heard about Israel Keyes in 2012, she was captivated by how a killer of this magnitude could go undetected by law enforcement for over a decade. This is the story she uncovered as she looked into the case in great depth. 

American Predator is the ambitious culmination of years of interviews with key figures in law enforcement, Keyes's life, and research uncovered from classified FBI files. Callahan takes us on a journey into the chilling, nightmarish mind of a relentless killer and to the limitations of traditional law enforcement.

Why you should read it

This is such a unique true crime book, telling the story of Israel Keyes in a way that is almost like a novel. You start reading the book with a misbelief in your mind. I constantly reminded myself that this happened. 

The depth that Callahan goes into not only tells the story of the victims but also the law enforcement that chased him down. Over the years, I have read many true crime books, but none have been as entertaining as this. It is a brilliant read from start to finish that most people could pick up and read. 

Helter Skelter - Vincent Bugliosi

Synopsis

Prosecuting attorney in the Manson trial, Vincent Bugliosi, held a unique insider's position in one of the most baffling and horrifying cases of the twentieth century: the cold-blooded Tate-LaBianca murders carried out by Charles Manson and four of his followers. What motivated Manson in his seemingly mindless selection of victims, and what was his hold over the young women who obeyed his orders? Here is the gripping story of this famous and haunting crime. 

Why you should read it

I picked this book up after the release of Leslie Van Houten; as an English person, I needed to understand the outrage at her being released. I understand it now. 

Although the case is horrific, the book is a fantastic read. Not only do you learn about the murders, but the law process used to bring these killers to justice. Bugliosi shares his secrets and makes you feel as if you are sitting in the court with him. 

If you think you know about this case, I want to bet you don't know it all. That is why I would suggest anyone interested in true crime or psychology picks this book up. 

The Five - Hallie Rubenhold

Synopsis

Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary-Jane are famous for the same thing, though they have never met each other. They came from Fleet Street, Knightsbridge, Wolverhampton, Sweden and Wales. They wrote ballads, ran coffee houses, lived on country estates, breathed ink dust from printing presses and escaped people traffickers.  

What they had in common was the year of their murders: 1888.  

Their murderer was never identified, but the name created for him by the press has become far more famous than any of these five women. In this devastating narrative of five lives, historian Hallie Rubenhold finally gives these women back their stories.

Why you should read it

The author is correct; we have glamorised Jack the Ripper to the extent that we forget about the victims. This book puts this straight with the background of all five victims. 

Each victim has researched their lives diligently, and their stories are told from childhood to the fateful day they met Jack the Ripper. Some of the details and the women's backgrounds will shock you; they are not the downs and outs that the media portrayed them to be. 

The book is well-researched and a good read. I did feel that, in some places, the author tried to guess the background when the facts were not there. Overall, this was a thrilling read demonstrating the women behind the headlines. It is my favourite book on Jack the Ripper. 

A Rose for her Grave - Ann Rule

Synopsis

This first instalment in the New York Times bestselling Crime Files series is a chilling collection of shocking crimes and the ensuing struggles to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Rule brings her clear-eyed, compassionate writing and investigative skills to this unputdownable anthology. Distinguished by the former Seattle police officer's razor-sharp eye for detail and her penetrating analysis of the criminal mind, the featured case in this collection is the twisted story of Randy Roth—a man who married and murdered for profit. 

Why you should read this

Ann Rule is the queen of crime writing and a person that I have read thoroughly. She hasn't only taught me about crimes and how to write these cases so that readers stay with you. 

This book is my favourite amongst those she has written, maybe because it was the first I read. Ann Rule has a unique mix of crime investigation and storytelling that makes this book an engaging read. 

Most people have heard of Ann Rule and her association with Ted Bundy, but with this book, she turns her writing skills to less well-known cases. 

Gates of Janus - Ian Brady

Synopsis

To understand a human character, one must first explore the depraved reaches of human consciousness.

Why you should read this

Several times, I thought about not including this book. It is a controversial choice, as Moors Murderer Ian Brady wrote it. This book is undoubtedly not for the faint-hearted, and I would only suggest reading it if, like me, you write about true crime. 

This book is a twisted look at a psychopath. Brady will have you believe this is a psychological study of murderers using his intellect. Although a small aspect of this is true, it gives you a unique look into Brady's mind. It is a disturbing look into a madman's brain, and it fascinated me from the point of view of a true crime writer.

This book will teach you more about the psychology of a killer than any other book you could read. 

True Crime Fans

True crime is a popular genre that seems to go from strength to strength. You only have to pick a television channel and see the many programs dedicated to killers.

It is unclear why looking into the worst in humanity has provided such a popular pastime. I believe it is our eagerness to understand why individuals commit these crimes and to look in the mirror and ask ourselves the question, could we become a killer if the circumstances were right? 

Here are four books I suggest you start with if you want to get into the genre, the last maybe not. If you were looking for a fifth, I would be remiss not to suggest my own, The A-Z of British Serial Killers. For such a small island, we have a serial killer for each letter of the alphabet, and some of them are as scary as those mentioned in the books above.