nonfiction books about criminals
May 25, 2024 7:32 AM Subscribe
I'm really enjoying Homegrown, about Timothy McVeigh. Am seeking other recommendations.
I like Homegrown b/c it is well-written and very engaging. It gives relevant background details about him but not too many where it feels overwhelming. I would love other books in this vein--I started one about Koresh that I liked a lot but it was due back at the library. I'd be interested in reading about Dahmer too I think. So yeah, well-written, engaging books about criminals. Not Hitler and I've read the ones I've wanted to read about Trump. Thanks! Oh, and I want books to read ONLY, don't like audio books and not looking for podcasts atm.
I like Homegrown b/c it is well-written and very engaging. It gives relevant background details about him but not too many where it feels overwhelming. I would love other books in this vein--I started one about Koresh that I liked a lot but it was due back at the library. I'd be interested in reading about Dahmer too I think. So yeah, well-written, engaging books about criminals. Not Hitler and I've read the ones I've wanted to read about Trump. Thanks! Oh, and I want books to read ONLY, don't like audio books and not looking for podcasts atm.
My Friend Dahmer is a fascinating graphic novel by someone who went to high school with him.
posted by wheatlets at 7:44 AM on May 25 [4 favorites]
posted by wheatlets at 7:44 AM on May 25 [4 favorites]
I love Box Man, by Harry King. It's a little-known, utterly fascinating memoir of the author's life as a burglar. A gem.
posted by Dr. Wu at 7:59 AM on May 25
posted by Dr. Wu at 7:59 AM on May 25
If you are enjoying Jeff Toobin’s style then you should check out his other books, like American Heiress, which is about Patty Hearst - who was kidnapped by pretty kooky terrorists in the 1960s and wound up robbing a bank with them. I read that one and it was good. I haven’t read his others, but I think in general he writes about criminal justice matters - so probably lots there for you.
posted by Mid at 8:12 AM on May 25 [2 favorites]
posted by Mid at 8:12 AM on May 25 [2 favorites]
The Torture Doctor describes the life and career of Herman Mudgett, better known as the serial killer H.H. Holmes.
posted by SPrintF at 8:53 AM on May 25
posted by SPrintF at 8:53 AM on May 25
I would recommend The Disappearance of Lydia Harvey, which is about sex trafficking in the early 20th century.
posted by paduasoy at 9:04 AM on May 25
posted by paduasoy at 9:04 AM on May 25
In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote.
posted by mule98J at 9:32 AM on May 25 [7 favorites]
posted by mule98J at 9:32 AM on May 25 [7 favorites]
Well Devil in the White City is a classic for good reason.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:51 AM on May 25 [6 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:51 AM on May 25 [6 favorites]
Bad Blood about the Theranos debacle was riveting.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 11:26 AM on May 25 [5 favorites]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 11:26 AM on May 25 [5 favorites]
This isn’t a book recommendation, but it IS a printed reading matter recommendation. I love the magazine Texas Monthly, and their long form true crime pieces are a main reason why. If you subscribe you have access to their full archives online, and a year’s subscription is less than $20.
posted by epj at 12:01 PM on May 25 [3 favorites]
posted by epj at 12:01 PM on May 25 [3 favorites]
Mr Nice Howard Marks autobiography. Wikipedia describes the film as "a loose film adaptation". Marks is also a nuclear physicist. It's a wild ride, I've known a few folk in that orbit - not his orbit - and very hazardous.
Dr Greg Newbold [Researchgate page] is a former New Zealand drug dealer who studied criminology while inside and became NZ's leading academic criminlogist.
posted by unearthed at 2:42 PM on May 25
Dr Greg Newbold [Researchgate page] is a former New Zealand drug dealer who studied criminology while inside and became NZ's leading academic criminlogist.
posted by unearthed at 2:42 PM on May 25
Another graphic novel: The Hunting Accident: A True Story of Crime and Poetry by David Carlson.
posted by BibiRose at 2:45 PM on May 25
posted by BibiRose at 2:45 PM on May 25
Response by poster: Awesome suggestions--thanks! Loved Elizabeth Holmes book and devil in the white city as well. Got patty Hearst book and put dahmer graphic novel on hold.
posted by bookworm4125 at 6:18 PM on May 25
posted by bookworm4125 at 6:18 PM on May 25
When the Moon Turns to Blood by Leah Sottile, about a couple drawing each other into extremist Mormon end times beliefs, with tragic criminal consequences.
If you like this it’s worth seeking out Sotille’s one-off articles as well. she’s been writing about right wing extremism and its related crimes in the western U.S. for a long time.
posted by ActionPopulated at 9:51 PM on May 25
If you like this it’s worth seeking out Sotille’s one-off articles as well. she’s been writing about right wing extremism and its related crimes in the western U.S. for a long time.
posted by ActionPopulated at 9:51 PM on May 25
Crime of the Century: How the Brink's Robbers Stole Millions and the Hearts of Boston
I know I read a very good book about this heist, and it's probably this one, but I'm not 100% sure.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:31 AM on May 26
I know I read a very good book about this heist, and it's probably this one, but I'm not 100% sure.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:31 AM on May 26
Two excellent books come to mind:
“Helter Skelter” by Vincent Bugliosi about the Charles Manson murders. Bugliosi was the prosecutor and goes into detail about the murders, the investigation and the trial.
The other book is “The Executioner’s Song” by Norman Mailer. Mailer won a Pulitzer for this book about Gary Gilmour, who was executed for two murders in Utah in a very high profile case, not because of the murders, but because the death penalty had just been reinstated and everybody had an opinion about whether or not he should die.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 12:32 PM on May 26 [1 favorite]
“Helter Skelter” by Vincent Bugliosi about the Charles Manson murders. Bugliosi was the prosecutor and goes into detail about the murders, the investigation and the trial.
The other book is “The Executioner’s Song” by Norman Mailer. Mailer won a Pulitzer for this book about Gary Gilmour, who was executed for two murders in Utah in a very high profile case, not because of the murders, but because the death penalty had just been reinstated and everybody had an opinion about whether or not he should die.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 12:32 PM on May 26 [1 favorite]
Came in to recommend Blood and Money, and I see that fuse theorem did so already. So, heartily seconding.
posted by Dolley at 5:55 PM on May 26 [1 favorite]
posted by Dolley at 5:55 PM on May 26 [1 favorite]
I'll Be Gone in the Dark, an investigation into the then-unsolved Golden State Killer published posthumously by Michelle McNamara, was quite good. Bonus: the book and the effort to complete it by her husband Patton Oswalt got turned into an HBO documentary.
posted by Rhaomi at 11:45 PM on May 26 [2 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 11:45 PM on May 26 [2 favorites]
American Predator, about Israel Keyes
Alone with the Devil, about lots of murderers, by a guy who helped develop the criminal profiling system at the FBI
The Night Stalker: The Disturbing Life and Chilling Crimes of Richard Ramirez
posted by StacySeeWhy at 3:51 PM on May 28
Alone with the Devil, about lots of murderers, by a guy who helped develop the criminal profiling system at the FBI
The Night Stalker: The Disturbing Life and Chilling Crimes of Richard Ramirez
posted by StacySeeWhy at 3:51 PM on May 28
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posted by HearHere at 7:41 AM on May 25 [1 favorite]