True crime stories have a charm that draws readers in.
Some true crime books tell stories not told elsewhere, while others offer a unique perspective on highly publicized crimes.
The authors of these macabre stories often interview people who were close to the crime, and in some cases even the murderer himself.
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Some people draw on personal experiences with the incident or the perpetrator.
Here are some of the best-selling nonfiction true crime books that are sure to send shivers down your spine.
True crime books often explore well-known cases from a new perspective. (St. Petersburg)
- “In Cold Blood” Truman Capote
- “Helter Skelter” Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry
- “Stranger Next Door” Ann Rule
- “The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez” by Philip Carlo
- “American Predator” Maureen Callahan
- “Devil in the White City” Eric Larson
1. “In Cold Blood” Truman Capote
Truman Capote's In Cold Blood depicts the horrific murders of the Clutter family in 1959.
Four members of the Clutter family lived in Holcomb, Kansas.
Few clues were left behind about the mysterious murder.
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When Capote heard about the incident, he headed to Kansas to write about the crime. He gathered information through interviews with town residents and conversations with investigators.
After completing all the interviews, he collected thousands of pages of notes to use in his true crime novel, or as some people call it, “creative nonfiction.”
Capote spent approximately six years writing this book, which became one of the best-selling true crime books in history. It was originally published in The New Yorker and published as a book in 1966.
True crime is a popular genre among readers. (St. Petersburg)
2. “Helter Skelter” Vincent Bagliosi and Curt Gentry
With over 7 million copies sold, “Helter Skelter” is the best-selling true crime book of all time.
This book focuses on the 1969 Manson Murders, a series of mysterious murders committed by cult leader Charles Manson and his followers.
“Helter Skelter'' provides a first-hand account of the Manson incident. Author Vincent Bagliosi served as prosecuting attorney during the trial.
This book covers everything from Manson's investigation to his arrest and indictment. The film was released in 1974, just a few years after the Manson trial.
3. “Stranger Next Door” Ann Rule
Ann Rule has written many successful true crime books.
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Her most popular title is “The Stranger Beside Me,” a chilling first-hand account of one of the most famous serial killers, Ted Bundy.
Author Ann Rule struck up a friendship with Ted Bundy (see photo), who would go on to commit murder years later. (Getty Images)
Ruhl developed a friendship with Bundy when they were colleagues at a crisis clinic in Seattle.
Ruhl knew Bundy as a friend even before he was revealed to the world as a serial killer.
Other popular true crime books by Rule include Green River, Running Red, The Want-Ad Killer, The I-5 Killer, and Everything She Ever Wanted.
4. “The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez” by Philip Carlo
The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez is the result of years of research by author Philip Carlo.
The book is based on about 100 hours of interviews Carlo conducted with Ramirez while he was on California's death row.
Nearly 100 hours of interviews with the serial killer were used to create the book “The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez.'' (Getty Images)
5. “American Predator” Maureen Callahan
“American Predator'' tells the story of a serial killer named Israel Keyes, described by prosecutors as “a force of pure evil.''
For 14 years, Keyes attacked targets across the United States.
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Author Maureen Callahan was intrigued by this killer who had evaded capture for more than a decade. Callahan spent several years writing the book before it was published in 2019.
6. “Devil in the White City” Eric Larson
The true crime book The Devil in the White City, published in 2003, is two stories in one.
The film tells the story of Daniel H. Burnham, an architect who led the construction of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and serial killer Holmes HH, who created a place called “Murder Castle.”
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