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Anyone like books about serial killers. What some good ones?

Anyone like books about serial killers. What some good ones?

Moody #questionnaire

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271 Answers

Gabe

The devil in the white city

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MoodyQuestion author

Is it fiction or non fiction

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Gabe

Non fiction

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MoodyQuestion author

Who is it about

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Melinda

HH Holmes

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

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Ash

Soon to be made into a film by Scorsese and DiCaprio, cannot wait.

1
Janine

Worst book I ever read!

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Wandy

I luved all the info about the Chicago World’s Fair. Very interesting book.

1
Ash

Janine DeRocckis Aguero I’ll give you that it is a little slow, and maybe lacks the exaggerated gore details, but it’s also true history; it’s accurate. and what’s amazing is how neatly and quietly The story of Holmes got cleaned up. Now there’s just a post office where his “murder castle” used to stand. It’s bizarre and interesting and the truth in it is what makes it so exciting.

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Kacee

Level 26 by Anthony Zuiker

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Theresa

I’ll be gone in the dark by Michelle McNamara.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

0
Sandra

I just finished this one. It was amazing.

1
Elaine

Really recommend this one!

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Deandra

I’m reading the Cold Justice Series by Toni Anderson…. good serial killer stories in these

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks ill look that up

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Deandra

I found them in Audible the first series is 3 books and I am in the 2nd 3 book series

1
Lisa

Any of the Dreams and Reality series by Hadena James.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Lisa

She’s an indie author and amazing!

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Natalie

I’ve never heard of these, but the first 2 are free right now on Amazon for the Kindle!

1
Lisa

I’m a beta reader for her. The series is amazing! It’s on 13? I think?

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Natalie

@Lisa Something like that. But I’m going to start with the first 2 free ones. 🙂

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Kimberly

I just finished Mindhunter by John Douglas. It was good.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

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Nicholl

I can’t wait to read this

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Katee

Stranger Beside Me by Anne Rule is about Ted Bundy…she actually worked with him. Helter Skelter is about the Manson murders.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou, ill look them up

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Natalie

Actually, a lot of Ann Rule’s books are amazing.

4
Aurora

Also In Cold Blood by Truman Capote as long as we are on true stories.

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Di

agree with these recommendations. BTW, Helter Skelter is Vince Bugliosi, who was the prosecutor in the Manson case.

1
Di

Ann Rule’s @Green about the Green River Killer is also a terrific one.

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Di

(should clarify – there is SO MUCH going in in Green River that it meanders a little – but the underlying story is fascinating. Not Rule’s best – but her version is the best anyone has done with it)

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Ash

The Devil in the White City – two correlating true history stories in one.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

1
Kristine

Loved this one !

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Catarina

Sweetpea by C J Skuse.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

0
Laura

Ed McBain 87th Precinct

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

1
Sarah

Swedish authors write wicked serial killer books. Jo Nesbö, @Henning for starters

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MoodyQuestion author

Are they in english

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Nancy

Yes, translated.

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Marla

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo was top notch.

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Kirsty

If you are interested in true stories anything by John Douglass: the cases that haunt us, the anatomy of motive, mindhunter, are some of my favorite.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou, Ill look him up

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Shonda

Born Darkly series by Trisha Wolfe. It has elements of a forbidden romance too. I enjoyed both books in the series.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

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Shonda

@Moody You are welcome! ?

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Naomi

Have you read the Alexandra Sokoloff series, The Huntress series? Really good. Also a favorite is Chelsea Cain’s Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series. The first one is Heartsick. Amazing series.

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MoodyQuestion author

No, ive not heard of them before. Ill look them up

1
MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

1
Natalie

The Chelsea Cain series is really good and scary. Sometime gets kind of graphic, but they are really well written.

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Dale

The Beauty Killer. You are right. They are intense but very well written books. Highly recommend.

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Marla

Love them. I read Ann Rule most often. Mainly because I can identify with the area since I live in the Northwest.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

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Laura

I quit reading Ann Rule because her stories are true and give me nightmares. I can read Patterson, Sandford, etc and their stories don’t bother me. Some part of my brain is bothered by the true things that people do and know that the other is pure fiction.

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Marla

I totally understand

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Erin

I’m reading I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara right now. It’s about the Golden State Killer. Very detailed, very interesting, and I’m really enjoying it.

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MoodyQuestion author

I just got as copy of it

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Erin

It’s very good, but I will say I did have to stop it the other night because I got scared ??‍♀️?

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Donna

In cold blood, Truman Capote

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Janine

Helter Skelter. It’s about Charles Manson.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

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Mitzi

Lawrence Sanders is an early master of the genre!

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks, ill look him up

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Rula

Patricia Cornwell,

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Rosemary

The Devil in the White City. The book is set in Chicago in 1893, interweaving the true tales of Daniel H. Burnham, the architect behind the 1893 World’s Fair, and Dr. H. H. Holmes, pharmacist and serial killer who lured his victims to their deaths in his elaborately constructed “Murder Castle”.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks, sounds good

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MoodyQuestion author

Awesome I got a copy

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Mary

The Devil In The White City is a very good book-read it a few years back. You’ll enjoy it a lot.

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Wandy

Very interesting book. I think of it whenever I see a Ferris wheel now. Would luv to go to Chicago to see the buildings from the Fair which are still standing.

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MoodyQuestion author

That would be cool

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Ash

@Wandy same! I really look at them in a totally new and more appreciative way, especially since Ferris invested so much for not nearly as much credit.

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Sarah

The Girls by Emma Cline. A twist on the Manson story from a young girls perspective. Pretty heavy.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

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Thakshila

Fred and Rose by Howard Sounes. True story of serial killer couple by the journalist who first wrote about the case. It’s an AMAZING book with their backgrounds and everything. Truly horrific cause it’s true but excellently written book.

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MoodyQuestion author

Im assuming its Fred and Rose west

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Thakshila

@Moody yep

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MoodyQuestion author

Sounds good, thankyou

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David

If you like noir, my serial-killer thriller Deadly Fare has a 4.7 star ranking on Amazon and 4.4 on Goodreads. It’s the first of what will be three books featuring kick-ass heroine Hannah Summers. Book no. 2, Blood Sons, was released last week. If you read Deadly Fare, you can access 100 free images on my website that relate directly to how I envision the faces and places in the story. Makes for fun discussion with other readers. http://www.davidliscio.com/?

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MoodyQuestion author

Are they available as kindle downloads

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David

Yes. Free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers and on sale for $2.99 and $3.99. US https://amzn.to/2sBN5ZC
UK https://amzn.to/2JbBjfj

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MoodyQuestion author

Awesome, ill check them out. Thankyou

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Lucy

The Cabinet of Curiosities by Preston & Child

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

0
Dale

This is my favorite of the Agent Pendergast series.

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Margaret

i love prendergast. i buy his books in hard cover. it is fiction and not all his cases are serial killers, but his personality and his family are so entertaining. his methods used to solve crimes are unique.

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Veronica

Career of Evil JK Rowling

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MoodyQuestion author

JK rowling?

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Veronica
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MoodyQuestion author

Awesome, thankyou

1
Christi

There’s a series with the same detective. I’ve read all of them. I think the first one is Cuckoo’s Calling. But that one is more of a murder mystery than serial killer like Career of Evil.

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Melanie

These were good. I believe they are turning them into a tv series as well.

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Elise

Good Me, Bad Me, by Ali Land. *Very* creepy.

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Janice

Loved it!

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Elise

Creeped me out for days after I finished it. So well done.

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MoodyQuestion author

Sounds good, thanks

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Janice

The newest book about Golden State killer, I’ll be Gone in the Dark! Fantastic!

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks, i got a copy

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Janice

@Moody , they recently caught the guy too!

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MoodyQuestion author

How recently

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Janice

@Moody , like a month ago! It was amazing how they caught him!

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Natalie

It was so awesome. I finished the book, and they caught him the next day!

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Lizzy

StillHouse Lake by Rachel Caine is really good, as is the sequel

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

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Eileen

i love ruth rendells books, mostly contain murder

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks. I’ve heard of her but never read any of her books

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Amanda

Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Amanda

You’re welcome. This book kept me on my toes literally the entire time. One of the best books I’ve read

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Nancy

Fiction: Robert W. Walker’s Instinct series and Chelsea Cain’s Heart series are good.

1
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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

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Katie

Following

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Joan

Can you tell l you me the author?

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Joan

I mean can you tell me. Thank you

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Katie

I meant I was following for suggestions

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Joan

@Katie LOL – But there is a book that someone recommended called Following but I haven’t been able to find it.

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Penny

Intensity by Dean Koontz.

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Rachel

I devoured that book. The title suits it.

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Kristina

I am currently reading a YA series The Naturals by Jennifer Barnes. I am on book 4. I am enjoying them.

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MoodyQuestion author

Is it jennifer lynn barnes

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Kristina

Yes

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Mah

F

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Leslie

Devil in the White City.

4
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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Cassandra

Great book. I was wondering is he was asking about fiction or nonfiction

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Leslie

Oops. I see it was already suggested a couple times.

0
Marisa
5
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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

0
Katie

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

5
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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

0
Ally

I just read this book and I really liked it. The fictional character in this book was inspired by Ted Bundy.

1
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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Ashlyn

I just got an encyclopedia of serial killers

1
Reply
MoodyQuestion author

I already have a copy of that

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Gabbi

Chris carter

4
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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

0
Heather

You by Caroline Kepnes. Listened to the audiobook. There’s a sequel as well.

2
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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

0
Zain

I loved the TV show “Dexter”, I heard that it was based on a book titled “darkly dreaming Dexter”

2
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MoodyQuestion author

I know that show

1
Shannon

The books are really good

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Janice

That’s awesome! Hi, Shane!

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Jessica

Dark Rivers of the Heart, Koontz.

1
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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Josephine

Keri Brevis, Dead Letter Day and Dead Write.

1
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MoodyQuestion author

thanks

0
Sophie

Pretty Girls

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

0
Kimberly

Another good one is Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. Fantastic book about long forgotten serial murders of the Osage Nation.

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MoodyQuestion author

Awesome. Im getting it

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Vicki

The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Margaret

she worked with bundy when he was still in the northwest. her books are all non fiction. pretty good writer.

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Stephanie

Jo Nesbo Harry Hole series

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MoodyQuestion author

Thankyou

0
Tina

.

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Lynn

Classic is Silence of the Lambs.

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MoodyQuestion author

Classic

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Suzanne

There was a recent thread on this with a lot of good suggestions. Search ‘crime’ on this site.

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Kristina

Karin Slaughter books

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MoodyQuestion author

Thanks

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Heather

Cody McFadyen

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Honor

John Connelly- “Every dead thing” is the first of the series

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Deborah

Just read The Pope of Palm Beach by Tim Dorsey. It is fiction and funny, but there is definitely a serial killer!

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ZauFishan

The Stranger Beside Me, Anne Rule.

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Jeani

Ted Bundy by Ann Rule, The Strnger Beside Me

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Jeani

Stranger

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Lauren

The Bride Collector , Bonemans Daughter, and Adam by Ted Dekker.

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Linda

The Evelyn Talbot series by Brenda Novak beginning with Hanover House!

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Agnes

Devil in the White City. Non fiction.

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Suzanne

The stranger beside me. The green river killer.

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Jillian

@Kara

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Babette

Michelle McNamara’s book, I’ll be gone in the dark… This is a very interesting book written by a true crime sleuth… She died before the book was finished and it was published after her death… And within three months, the killer was caught. It’s fascinating what she knew about him before the killer’s identity was revealed.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I'll_Be_Gone_in_the_Dark

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I'll_Be_Gone_in_the_Dark

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Cheryl

Devil in the White City. Chicago. Columbian expo.

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April

ZODIAC by robert graysmith

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Jeff

I am not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells starts a trilogy that has a Dexterish quality.

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DeeAnn

On the Farm is good. I just finished it. It’s about a crazy serial killer in Canada who was a pig farmer.

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Sherry

That guy was/is truley INSANE!

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Tami

I saw a CSI about pigs one time that was the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen and heard. No pig horror stories for me!

1
Margaret

criminal minds had a horrific pig story. i got the creeps thinking of pigs for quite awhile!

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MoodyQuestion author

Who’s the author

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Tami

@Margaret Yes! That’s the one! Not CSI. I still can’t even hear the word pig lol.

0
DeeAnn

Stevie Cameron @Moody <3

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Penny

Check out this page
http://stopyourekillingme.com/

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Ted

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie is a good one

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Jane

The Sandman by Lars Kepler

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Jill

The Fourth Monkey

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Jess

Mind Hunter by John Douglas

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Robin

The Stranger Beside Me (about Ted Bundy) by Anne Rule and several of John Sandford’s Prey novels are about serials — Rules of Prey, Easy Prey, Fields of Prey, and Broken Prey to name a few.

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Anita

Serial killer books or movies is one genre I really dislike and don’t go near.

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Jacques

“Devil in The Darkness” or “The Brilliant Serial Killer” both true stories of Israel Keyes, probably the most meticulous serial killer

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Katie

Authors Djurich? Hope you’re well!

1
Jacques

Hope you’re doing great @Katie ❤ For the first one author is J. T. Hunter , not sure for the other , need to look it up …

1
Jacques

Mark Tolbert *

1
Jacques

First one is pretty scary, exciting , well written and portraying him in authentic way , i didn’t like the second one that much tbh

0
Katie

I found the second one on GR. I’ll look up the first by the author. Looks like they’re obscure.

0
Jacques

First one as i’ve expected has pretty good reviews ? you won’t regret if you decide to read it

1
Claudia

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

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Kara

And of course ‘Night Stalker’ but I loaned it to my friend :/

2
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Debra

Killer on the Road by James Ellroy. ??

1
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Diana

YOU by Caroline Kepnes (but has a lot of foul language)

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MoodyQuestion author

Who is it about

0
Diana

It’s fictional. Well written. The main character kills for his own personal reasons.

1
Jenny

You by Caroline Kepnes.

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Gabe

Did you read the sequel, Hidden Bodies?

0
Jenny

@Gabe yup, sure did!!

0
April
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Abigail

I love the tv series!

0
Grace

Mr Mercedes by Stephen King

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Grace

It’s a series and seriously disturbing.

0
Gabe

Great books and tv series

0
Grace

@Gabe Ooooh I didn’t know it was made into a TV series.

1
Gabe

Yes! The series is going into its second season soon. It’s really great!

0
Lauren

Loved that trilogy

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MoodyQuestion author

Mr mercedes is the first in the trilogy? What are the other 2 called

0
Gabe

@Moody Finders Keepers and the third is End of Watch

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MoodyQuestion author

@Gabe Thanks

0
MoodyQuestion author

The Bill Hodges trilogy

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Lauren

I’m reading I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. It’s really good.

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Lori

I’m reading it right now, also, Lauren! Incredible that they arrested a suspect as the deceased author’s husband was on a recent book tour for her book. I haven’t heard much since his arrest.. I hope they got their man.

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Katie

It’s so good. Best true crime book I’ve ever read.

2
Elizabeth

This book was SO GOOD and we really need to sing it’s praises from the rooftops.

0
Katie

? The ones I like have been mentioned. I read The Stranger Beside Me and Helter Skelter young and was totally engrossed by both.

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Anne

Anything by Karen Slaughter

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Aly

Jeffery Deaver is the master.

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Kira

The Stranger Beside Me

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Sue

The Killer of Little Shepherds –and is true!

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Alex

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. 3 part series. Simple yet interesting.

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Maureen

The Kind Worth Killing

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Jennifer

The Stranger Beside Me is the BEST true crime book, period! That book is what got me hooked on the genre and even though I have read plenty of true crime, The Stranger Beside Me still remains the best!

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Molly

My story, exactly. All books by Ann Rule, whom I met and correspondend with. Not all her books are about serial killers, but they’re all good. I am so sad that she passed away.

2
Tina

I agree, for me too!

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Leandra

??????

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Susan

Chelsea Cain series

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Jean

The Stranger Beside Me

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Brook

He devil in the white city

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Roger

The monster of Florence.

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Vaishnavi

Copycat by Erica spindler

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Hillary

Mind Games: Cat and Mouse with a Serial Killer. https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mouse-Games-Serial-Killer/dp/078710860X

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Tammy

Love these type of books

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Elizabeth

Anything by Mo Hayder. 😀 Poppet was terrifying though. The first book in the series is Birdman but you can read them out of order. I read Poppet first and was able to follow it along easily.

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Jennifer

Dark Rivers of the Heart by Dean Koontz

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Molly

My favorites have already been mentioned for the most part- John Douglas, Vincent Bugliosi, Truman Capote and mostly the late Ann Rule- “The Stranger Beside Me” is her tour de force about Bundy, so I became fascinated with him too, and read all books about him, as well as all of Rule’s books, including her short stories.
When I met her at a reading, she was so kind, and I corresponded with her a bit.
My dad had the good fortune to have dinner with her.
She said her most prolific readers were women, that women seemed to be more interested in serial killers than men!
For fiction, you might try Laura Lippman and of course, Thomas Harris.
Happy “hunting”!

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Renee

Patricia Cornwell–The Kay Scarpetta series; not really true crime but read like it.

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Holly

Or her Ripper book too!

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Cynthia

@Holly, I tried to listen to her Ripper book on audio and kept falling asleep. It was fascinating but for me was better to read it than listen. ?‍♀️

1
Pola

The Last Victim!!!!! By Jason Moss

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Kate

Me too!!!

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Holly

Devil and the White City, Erik Larson. True story

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Tina

On my tbr!

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Niki

lost girls by caitlin rother based on chelsea’s law .. non fiction .

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Glenda

I’m reading The Devil in the White City now. It is very good. Anything by Ann Rule. You will enjoy all of those.

Also, not about serial killers but the best true crime book I’ve ever read is Blood and Money by Thomas Thompson. Also Fatal Vision by Joe McGuiness. Enjoy. Love my true crime.

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Mitzi

True Crime – here’s another one similar to Fatal Vision!

2
Molly

Yes.. Jerry Bledsoe! Met him decades ago, as we’re both in NC. Great writer.

2
Molly

Not sure how I forgot Joe McGuiness. Thomas Thompson was a fantastic true crime writer as well. I think he also wrote “Serpentine”- a fascinating book.

2
Minda

Blood and Money was great.

2
Sue

Im a true “murderio”. Love true crime novels. I’m reading Mindhunters by JohN Douglas. Really good. Just finished I’ll be gone in the dark. Also great considering he was just caught. Anything by Ann Rule is on my top list as well.

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Tammy

I watched the series of Mindhunters on Netflix, it was great. Loved it!

2
MoodyQuestion author

Tammy C MacMullin I started watching that. Does it get better

1
Tammy

I really liked it. It wasn’t an action packed kinda show, but I found it very interesting

1
Fiona

The Ripley series by Patricia Highsmith is excellent.

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Glenda

I am really enjoying this thread. However, it is expanding my TBR list. Lol. Just what I need.

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Kimberly

yesss books, documentaries, movies, I love anything & everything relating to serial killers…trust me I’m quite normal ?
Nobody’s Woman- victims of Anthony Sowell
Helter Skelter- Manson murders
The Stranger Beside me – about Ted Bundy
Fatal- about the nurse who poisoned patients Jane Toppan
Deviant- murders of Ed Gein that later inspired the films Psycho, the Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Silence of the Lambs

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Erin

@Lindsey

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