Patrick Murtha
Reader
True crime has a reputation as one of the scuzziest branches of writing, but it doesn't NEED to be (and some of the scuzzy examples are admittedly entertaining). A good true crime book will inevitably have a sociological dimension (like that TV series City Confidential some 20 years ago; I loved that).
Some examples I have read fairly recently:
John Buntin, L.A. Noir (full-bodied account of Los Angeles crime at mid-20C)
Bryan Burrough, Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34 (a book I frequently recommend)
Dave Cullen, Columbine (sobering analysis)
August Derleth, Wisconsin Murders (fun short takes)
Karen Dybis, The Witch of Delray: Rose Veres & Detroit’s Infamous 1930s Murder Mystery (good example of the sociological dimension)
T.J. English, Havana Nocturne (entertaining survey of the pre-Castro years)
Harry J. Maihafer, Oblivion: The Mystery of West Point Cadet Richard Cox (see post below)
Robin Odell, Ripperology (excellent survey of theories)
Richard Rayner, A Bright and Guilty Place (a great companion to the Buntin volume above, coveting the period just prior)
Nick Reding, Methland (eye-opening)
Kate Summerscale, The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher (absorbing Victoriana)
Douglas Woodruff, The Tichborne Claimant (ditto)
Some examples I have read fairly recently:
John Buntin, L.A. Noir (full-bodied account of Los Angeles crime at mid-20C)
Bryan Burrough, Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34 (a book I frequently recommend)
Dave Cullen, Columbine (sobering analysis)
August Derleth, Wisconsin Murders (fun short takes)
Karen Dybis, The Witch of Delray: Rose Veres & Detroit’s Infamous 1930s Murder Mystery (good example of the sociological dimension)
T.J. English, Havana Nocturne (entertaining survey of the pre-Castro years)
Harry J. Maihafer, Oblivion: The Mystery of West Point Cadet Richard Cox (see post below)
Robin Odell, Ripperology (excellent survey of theories)
Richard Rayner, A Bright and Guilty Place (a great companion to the Buntin volume above, coveting the period just prior)
Nick Reding, Methland (eye-opening)
Kate Summerscale, The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher (absorbing Victoriana)
Douglas Woodruff, The Tichborne Claimant (ditto)
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