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.
(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)
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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/?
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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”!
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.
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.
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.
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
The devil in the white city
Is it fiction or non fiction
Non fiction
Who is it about
HH Holmes
Thankyou
Soon to be made into a film by Scorsese and DiCaprio, cannot wait.
Worst book I ever read!
I luved all the info about the Chicago World’s Fair. Very interesting book.
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.
Level 26 by Anthony Zuiker
Thanks
I’ll be gone in the dark by Michelle McNamara.
Thankyou
I just finished this one. It was amazing.
Really recommend this one!
I’m reading the Cold Justice Series by Toni Anderson…. good serial killer stories in these
Thanks ill look that up
I found them in Audible the first series is 3 books and I am in the 2nd 3 book series
Any of the Dreams and Reality series by Hadena James.
Thanks
She’s an indie author and amazing!
I’ve never heard of these, but the first 2 are free right now on Amazon for the Kindle!
I’m a beta reader for her. The series is amazing! It’s on 13? I think?
@Lisa Something like that. But I’m going to start with the first 2 free ones. 🙂
I just finished Mindhunter by John Douglas. It was good.
Thankyou
I can’t wait to read this
Stranger Beside Me by Anne Rule is about Ted Bundy…she actually worked with him. Helter Skelter is about the Manson murders.
Thankyou, ill look them up
Actually, a lot of Ann Rule’s books are amazing.
Also In Cold Blood by Truman Capote as long as we are on true stories.
agree with these recommendations. BTW, Helter Skelter is Vince Bugliosi, who was the prosecutor in the Manson case.
Ann Rule’s @Green about the Green River Killer is also a terrific one.
(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)
The Devil in the White City – two correlating true history stories in one.
Thankyou
Loved this one !
Sweetpea by C J Skuse.
Thankyou
Ed McBain 87th Precinct
Thankyou
Swedish authors write wicked serial killer books. Jo Nesbö, @Henning for starters
Are they in english
Yes, translated.
The Snowman by Jo Nesbo was top notch.
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.
Thankyou, Ill look him up
Born Darkly series by Trisha Wolfe. It has elements of a forbidden romance too. I enjoyed both books in the series.
Thankyou
@Moody You are welcome! ?
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.
No, ive not heard of them before. Ill look them up
Thankyou
The Chelsea Cain series is really good and scary. Sometime gets kind of graphic, but they are really well written.
The Beauty Killer. You are right. They are intense but very well written books. Highly recommend.
Love them. I read Ann Rule most often. Mainly because I can identify with the area since I live in the Northwest.
Thankyou
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.
I totally understand
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.
I just got as copy of it
It’s very good, but I will say I did have to stop it the other night because I got scared ??♀️?
In cold blood, Truman Capote
Thanks
Helter Skelter. It’s about Charles Manson.
Thankyou
Lawrence Sanders is an early master of the genre!
Thanks, ill look him up
Patricia Cornwell,
Thanks
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”.
Thanks, sounds good
Awesome I got a copy
The Devil In The White City is a very good book-read it a few years back. You’ll enjoy it a lot.
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.
That would be cool
@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.
The Girls by Emma Cline. A twist on the Manson story from a young girls perspective. Pretty heavy.
Thankyou
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.
Im assuming its Fred and Rose west
@Moody yep
Sounds good, thankyou
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/?
Are they available as kindle downloads
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
Awesome, ill check them out. Thankyou
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Preston & Child
Thankyou
This is my favorite of the Agent Pendergast series.
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.
Career of Evil JK Rowling
JK rowling?
Awesome, thankyou
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.
These were good. I believe they are turning them into a tv series as well.
Good Me, Bad Me, by Ali Land. *Very* creepy.
Loved it!
Creeped me out for days after I finished it. So well done.
Sounds good, thanks
The newest book about Golden State killer, I’ll be Gone in the Dark! Fantastic!
Thanks, i got a copy
@Moody , they recently caught the guy too!
How recently
@Moody , like a month ago! It was amazing how they caught him!
It was so awesome. I finished the book, and they caught him the next day!
StillHouse Lake by Rachel Caine is really good, as is the sequel
Thankyou
i love ruth rendells books, mostly contain murder
Thanks. I’ve heard of her but never read any of her books
Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag
Thanks
You’re welcome. This book kept me on my toes literally the entire time. One of the best books I’ve read
Fiction: Robert W. Walker’s Instinct series and Chelsea Cain’s Heart series are good.
Thankyou
Following
Can you tell l you me the author?
I mean can you tell me. Thank you
I meant I was following for suggestions
@Katie LOL – But there is a book that someone recommended called Following but I haven’t been able to find it.
Intensity by Dean Koontz.
Thanks
I devoured that book. The title suits it.
I am currently reading a YA series The Naturals by Jennifer Barnes. I am on book 4. I am enjoying them.
Is it jennifer lynn barnes
Yes
F
Devil in the White City.
Thanks
Great book. I was wondering is he was asking about fiction or nonfiction
Oops. I see it was already suggested a couple times.
Thankyou
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
Thanks
I just read this book and I really liked it. The fictional character in this book was inspired by Ted Bundy.
Thanks
I just got an encyclopedia of serial killers
I already have a copy of that
Chris carter
Thanks
You by Caroline Kepnes. Listened to the audiobook. There’s a sequel as well.
Thankyou
I loved the TV show “Dexter”, I heard that it was based on a book titled “darkly dreaming Dexter”
I know that show
The books are really good
That’s awesome! Hi, Shane!
Dark Rivers of the Heart, Koontz.
Thanks
Keri Brevis, Dead Letter Day and Dead Write.
thanks
Pretty Girls
Thankyou
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.
Awesome. Im getting it
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
Thanks
she worked with bundy when he was still in the northwest. her books are all non fiction. pretty good writer.
Jo Nesbo Harry Hole series
Thankyou
.
Classic is Silence of the Lambs.
Classic
There was a recent thread on this with a lot of good suggestions. Search ‘crime’ on this site.
Karin Slaughter books
Thanks
Cody McFadyen
John Connelly- “Every dead thing” is the first of the series
Just read The Pope of Palm Beach by Tim Dorsey. It is fiction and funny, but there is definitely a serial killer!
The Stranger Beside Me, Anne Rule.
Ted Bundy by Ann Rule, The Strnger Beside Me
Stranger
The Bride Collector , Bonemans Daughter, and Adam by Ted Dekker.
The Evelyn Talbot series by Brenda Novak beginning with Hanover House!
Devil in the White City. Non fiction.
The stranger beside me. The green river killer.
@Kara
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
Devil in the White City. Chicago. Columbian expo.
ZODIAC by robert graysmith
I am not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells starts a trilogy that has a Dexterish quality.
On the Farm is good. I just finished it. It’s about a crazy serial killer in Canada who was a pig farmer.
That guy was/is truley INSANE!
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!
criminal minds had a horrific pig story. i got the creeps thinking of pigs for quite awhile!
Who’s the author
@Margaret Yes! That’s the one! Not CSI. I still can’t even hear the word pig lol.
Stevie Cameron @Moody <3
Check out this page
http://stopyourekillingme.com/
The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie is a good one
The Sandman by Lars Kepler
The Fourth Monkey
Mind Hunter by John Douglas
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.
Serial killer books or movies is one genre I really dislike and don’t go near.
“Devil in The Darkness” or “The Brilliant Serial Killer” both true stories of Israel Keyes, probably the most meticulous serial killer
Authors Djurich? Hope you’re well!
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 …
Mark Tolbert *
First one is pretty scary, exciting , well written and portraying him in authentic way , i didn’t like the second one that much tbh
I found the second one on GR. I’ll look up the first by the author. Looks like they’re obscure.
First one as i’ve expected has pretty good reviews ? you won’t regret if you decide to read it
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
And of course ‘Night Stalker’ but I loaned it to my friend :/
Killer on the Road by James Ellroy. ??
YOU by Caroline Kepnes (but has a lot of foul language)
Who is it about
It’s fictional. Well written. The main character kills for his own personal reasons.
You by Caroline Kepnes.
Did you read the sequel, Hidden Bodies?
@Gabe yup, sure did!!
I love the tv series!
Mr Mercedes by Stephen King
It’s a series and seriously disturbing.
Great books and tv series
@Gabe Ooooh I didn’t know it was made into a TV series.
Yes! The series is going into its second season soon. It’s really great!
Loved that trilogy
Mr mercedes is the first in the trilogy? What are the other 2 called
@Moody Finders Keepers and the third is End of Watch
@Gabe Thanks
The Bill Hodges trilogy
I’m reading I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. It’s really good.
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.
It’s so good. Best true crime book I’ve ever read.
This book was SO GOOD and we really need to sing it’s praises from the rooftops.
? The ones I like have been mentioned. I read The Stranger Beside Me and Helter Skelter young and was totally engrossed by both.
Anything by Karen Slaughter
Jeffery Deaver is the master.
The Stranger Beside Me
The Killer of Little Shepherds –and is true!
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. 3 part series. Simple yet interesting.
The Kind Worth Killing
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!
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.
I agree, for me too!
??????
Chelsea Cain series
The Stranger Beside Me
He devil in the white city
The monster of Florence.
Copycat by Erica spindler
Mind Games: Cat and Mouse with a Serial Killer. https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mouse-Games-Serial-Killer/dp/078710860X
Love these type of books
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.
Dark Rivers of the Heart by Dean Koontz
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”!
Patricia Cornwell–The Kay Scarpetta series; not really true crime but read like it.
Or her Ripper book too!
@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. ?♀️
The Last Victim!!!!! By Jason Moss
Me too!!!
Devil and the White City, Erik Larson. True story
On my tbr!
lost girls by caitlin rother based on chelsea’s law .. non fiction .
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.
True Crime – here’s another one similar to Fatal Vision!
Yes.. Jerry Bledsoe! Met him decades ago, as we’re both in NC. Great writer.
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.
Blood and Money was great.
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.
I watched the series of Mindhunters on Netflix, it was great. Loved it!
Tammy C MacMullin I started watching that. Does it get better
I really liked it. It wasn’t an action packed kinda show, but I found it very interesting
The Ripley series by Patricia Highsmith is excellent.
I am really enjoying this thread. However, it is expanding my TBR list. Lol. Just what I need.
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
@Lindsey