Although perhaps not explicitly true crime in that there is no murder, kidnapping, or other sensational crime, The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife and the Missing Corpse: An Extraordinary Edwardian Case of Deception and Intrigue (Liveright, 2015) by Piu Marie Eatwell unravels the complexities of one of the most tangled legal cases of the late nineteenth century, …
Tag: book review
Unexpected by Chris Thomas
Chris Thomas’ new memoir, Unexpected: The Backstory of Finding Elizabeth Smart and Growing Up in the Culture of an American Religion (Post Hill Press 2023), grounds its premise in Thomas’ work as a public relations specialist with expertise in crisis communications related to his work on the Elizabeth Smart abduction, rescue, and the trial of her kidnappers. Unexpected also, …
The Italian Boy by Sarah Wise
In her debut book, The Italian Boy: A Tale of Murder and Body Snatching in 1830s London (Metropolitan Books, 2004), Sarah Wise unravels a riveting story of the “Italian Boy,” a young orphan, later revealed to be Carlo Ferrari, murdered by “resurrection men” in order that his body might be sold to one of London’s many medical …
The Curse of the Marquis de Sade by Joel Warner
Joel Warner’s new book, The Curse of the Marquis de Sade: A Notorious Scoundrel, a Mythical Manuscript, and the Biggest Scandal in Literary History (Crown Publishing 2023) is an incredible, thoroughly researched book whose story spans hundreds of years. The twists and turns of this novel are truly stranger than fiction and I was hooked until …
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The Beautiful Cigar Girl by Daniel Stashower
In The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder (Dutton, 2006) Daniel Stashower unravels the sensational tale of the ghastly murder of the young and beautiful Mary Rogers while simultaneously recounting the life of Edgar Allan Poe and the inspiration he drew from this murder case. On 28 July 1841 the …
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Starvation Heights by Gregg Olsen
If you’re looking for the perfect winter read that will truly thrill and haunt you in equal measure, I cannot recommend Gregg Olsen’s Starvation Heights: The Chilling True Story of the Doctor who Starved her Patients to Death (Thread Books 1997 [reissued 2023]) more. By turns captivating and heartbreaking, Starvation Heights kept me guessing until the very end. Olsen’s …
The Real-Life Murder Clubs by Nicola Stow
Nicola Stow’s new anthology-style work of true crime, The Real-Life Murder Clubs: Citizens Solving True Crimes (Ad Lib Publishers 2022) is one of the first fascinating looks into some lesser-known citizen sleuths and the networks they use to solve cold cases and identify unknown murder victims. The Real-Life Murder Clubs is a timely and insightful look into what citizen …
The Forever Witness by Edward Humes
The Forever Witness: How Genetic Genealogy Solved a Cold Case Double Murder (Dutton 2022) by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Edward Humes is one of the best works of true crime published this year. The Forever Witness is bound to inform readers’ understanding of criminal investigation and DNA testing. The text recounts the murder investigation and close …
Forensic Files Now by Rebecca Reisner
Rebecca Reisner’s new book, Forensic Files Now: Inside 40 Unforgettable True Crime Cases (Rowman & Littlefield 2022) is a hugely innovative and interesting text that will appeal to almost any true crime fan. Reisner’s text focuses on the television show that, for many of us, foregrounded our interest in true crime programs. Since its premiere in 1996, Forensic …
The Ghosts That Haunt Me by Steve Ryan
Steve Ryan’s new memoir, The Ghosts That Haunt Me: Memories of a Homicide Detective (Dundurn 2022), is an anthology-style text that recounts some of Ryan’s most memorable cases as a homicide and cold case detective with the Toronto Metropolitan Police. Across his career of over a decade, Ryan walks the reader through several infamous murder cases from …
True Crime Index 