Best True Crime Novels – 2026 List
Sometimes life truly is stranger than fiction, and this is rarely truer than true crime. From the “nurture vs. nature” debate to how some of the most iconic criminals and serial killers got caught, we simply can’t get enough true crime in 2025, and that’s ok. Today, I’ll be giving you some of the very best true crime novels you can read! So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Table Of Contents
Best True Crime Novels
This list is in no particular order, but each novel is must-have reading for true crime fans. Some offer unique perspectives on classic cases, while others are by the killers themselves, giving you their personal recounting of their crimes and lives. Regardless, they’re all good reading. So, without ado, let’s get into the best true crime novels for 2025/2026.
1. Cries In The Desert – John Glatt
We’re starting the list off with a bang – Cries in the Dessert is a dive into the world of David Parker Ray, infamously known as the “Toy-Box Killer.” The book plunges you into his soundproofed torture chamber, a specially modified trailer he called the “Toy Box,” where he would abduct, drug, and brutalize women, often for weeks or months at a time. What makes this book so chilling is the methodical nature of his crimes and the chilling “advisory tape” he’d play to his victims, outlining the horrors they were about to endure.
What you might not know: Ray was suspected of killing up to 60 women, but because he was so meticulous in disposing of bodies (or simply never killing them, instead releasing them after extensive torture, often with amnesia-inducing drugs), he was never actually convicted of murder.
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His convictions were for kidnapping and sexual assault. It’s also wild to realize how many people around him, including his own daughter and girlfriend, were complicit or knew what was happening and did little to stop it. The book really highlights the shocking social complacency that allowed him to operate for so long.
2. I’ll Be Gone In The Dark – Michelle McNamara
This book isn’t just about a serial killer; it’s also a tribute to the unwavering dedication of Michelle McNamara, a true crime blogger who became consumed by the case of the Golden State Killer. She coined the “Golden State Killer” moniker herself, which is now universally recognized.
The book (with a foreword by Gillian Flynn) masterfully blends the authors personal journey and relentless investigation with the grim details of GSK’s reign of terror – the rapes, the murders, the sheer audacity of a killer who seemed to vanish into thin air. It’s a testament to the power of citizen sleuths and the enduring impact of cold cases.
Michelle McNamara unfortunately passed away before she could finish the book, and it was completed posthumously by her husband, comedian Patton Oswalt, and her research collaborators. There’s something moving about her words, especially knowing she never got to see how the case played out.
But still, her work was undeniably instrumental in the eventual capture of Joseph James DeAngelo through genetic genealogy. It truly feels like her spirit guided that investigation to its conclusion. The book also went on to inspire a TV series by the same name.
3. The Co-ed Killer – Margaret Cheney
If you want to get inside the mind of a truly terrifying individual, Edmund Kemper III is your guy, and this book does a phenomenal job. Kemper, a towering figure at 6’9″, earned his nickname by preying on female hitchhikers, primarily college students, in the Santa Cruz area.
But it’s not just the murders; it’s the quite macabre details of his crimes, including necrophilia and mutilation, and his chillingly intelligent, self-aware interviews with law enforcement that make this case so unforgettable. And even before his “co-ed” killings, Kemper murdered his own paternal grandparents at age 15.
I also find it interesting that after being institutionalized and seemingly “rehabilitated,” for killing his grandparents, he was released. Then, went on to hang out with local police officers in Santa Cruz, becoming a familiar face at their favorite bar, before he embarked on his final killing spree, which culminated in the murder of his own mother and her friend.
4. Helter Skelter – Vincent Bugliosi
This book is a cornerstone of true crime literature (actually the #1 bestselling true crime novel) for a reason. Written by the lead prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, Helter Skelter is a detailed account of the Manson Family murders, specifically the Tate/LaBianca slayings.
This one isn’t just about the acts, but the deep dive into Charles Manson’s manipulative charisma, the bizarre “family” he created, and his twisted prophecy of a race war, which he dubbed “Helter Skelter” after the Beatles song. Bugliosi’s insider perspective provides a rather unparalleled look into the investigation and the complex legal battle that sent Manson and his followers to prison.
Beyond the infamous murders, Manson had a long rap sheet of petty crimes and spent significant time in correctional facilities long before the days of the the Manson Family. Also, the “Helter Skelter” motive, while central to Bugliosi’s prosecution, has been debated by some who argue Manson’s true motives were less about a race war and more about getting his friend, Bobby Beausoleil, out of trouble for another murder.
5. The Ice Man – Philip Carlo
The “Ice Man” Richard Kuklinski, embodies cold-blooded killer, and this book lays bare his career as a contract killer for the Mafia. What sets Kuklinski apart is not just the sheer volume of kills (he claimed over 200), but the variety and inventiveness of his methods and the fact it was his “job.” But make no mistake, he enjoyed killing.
He’d use anything from guns and knives to cyanide and even literally freezing bodies to obscure the time of death. The book gives you an unfiltered look into his brutal efficiency and utter lack of remorse. Plus, a look into the inner workings of the mob at the time, which I found added additional interest and conflict to an already interesting story.
Kuklinski also maintained a seemingly normal family life, with a wife and children who reportedly had no idea about his gruesome profession. He was a doting father and husband in one life, and a remorseless killer in another. And this dichotomy is another interesting aspect of his story. The Ice Man, has something for everyone, even if mob stories aren’t your usual cup of tea.
6. In Cold Blood – Truman Capote
This book is not just a true crime novel; it is arguably the one that invented the modern genre. Capote called it a “nonfiction novel,” and its influence on both journalism and literature is undeniable. It meticulously details the brutal murders of the four members of the respected Clutter family in their remote Holcomb, Kansas, farmhouse.
Capote’s real triumph is not just documenting the crime, but the why—or rather, the lack thereof—and the deep psychological portraits of the two killers, Perry Smith and Richard “Dick” Hickock. The narrative masterfully alternates between the tranquil lives of the victims, the investigators, and the haunted journey of the perpetrators.
7. Deranged – Harold Schechter
Harold Schechter is as good as it gets in terms of historical true crime, and Deranged is a chilling deep dive into my pick for America’s most legitimately unsettling killer: Albert Fish. This one isn’t for the faint of heart.
Schechter explores the details of Fish’s life as a pedophile, sadist, cannibal, and serial killer in the early 20th century and focuses heavily on the disappearance of Grace Budd and the shocking letter Fish sent her parents confessing to her murder in chilling detail.
If you’re unfamiliar with Fish, this is a great introduction. And if you’re a long time Fish fan, you’ll find plenty of disturbing details that reveal the true extent of his derangement.
8. The Son Of Zodiac – Jack Myers
This one is a real wild card in the Zodiac canon, because it is a unique perspective on one of America’s most enduring cold cases. While countless books try to definitively unmask the Zodiac, The Son of Zodiac delves into a theory from a man who believes his own father was the infamous killer. It’s a fascinating and often sad look at the weight of his suspicion and the terrifying possibility that the monster you’re searching for might be under your own roof.
To me, that’s what makes The Son of Zodiac stand out – It isn’t about solving the case with DNA evidence though it plays a role in the author’s personal journey. Instead, it’s about piecing together circumstantial evidence, familial patterns, and unsettling revelations from a son who grew up with a father he increasingly suspects was capable of the unspeakable. And explores the psychological toll of such a realization and provides a deeply personal, albeit controversial, look at the Zodiac mystery from an entirely new angle.
Plus, there are some nice (albeit controversial) tie-in’s with the Son of Sam killer as well. If you’re looking for engaging, interesting, true crime novels in 2025/2026, I highly recommend you check this one out.
9. The Nightstalker (Updated Version) – Philip Carlo
Ah, Richard Ramirez, aka, “The Night Stalker,” is one of my favorite serial killers. He terrorized Los Angeles in the mid-1980s with a brutal crime spree that seemed to defy logic or pattern. This updated version ensures you get the full scope of his killings, from the home invasions and rapes to the torture and murder.
What’s so gripping about this book is how it captures the sheer panic that gripped Southern California, and the incredible, sprawling manhunt to catch The Night Stalker. I highly recommend the updated version (linked above) because it does includes new insights into his childhood and psychological profile, and goes into the details of his life on death row, right up until his death.
10. Monster: My True Story – Aileen Wuornos
Aileen Wuornos, is one of Amaerica’s most iconic female killers and the subject of the film Monster. This book by the same name, is her telling her own story in this incredibly raw way. Working as a sex worker in Flordia, she would kill a total of seven men.
Often presented as her confessions and letters, the book offers a glimpse into her troubled past – a childhood rife with abuse and trauma – and her claims of self-defense against men who allegedly tried to rape or harm her. It’s a challenging read, that makes you confront the complexities of victimhood, desperation, and the brutal reality of her life on the fringes of society.
While the movie is great for the overall story, reading Wuornos’s own words provides a much more direct, albeit often chaotic and self-serving, insight into her psyche. Furthermore, the book highlights the intense public and media scrutiny she faced, as well as the complicated legal arguments surrounding her claims of self-defense versus premeditated murder.
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How To Write True Crime With LivingWriter
If you’re a fan of true crime novels and are interested in writing your own, let me make your life a little easier. True crime offers all the traditional problems writers face with fiction, (outlining, pacing, maintaining tension, etc) and has the added challenge of not being able to take liberties with the story and facts.
When you write with LivingWriter, you have everything you need in terms of storytelling plus built-in fact checking, easy citations for sources, and devoted research sections.
Instant Outlines And Plotting
When it comes to true crime, interesting perspectives are good but facts are king. With LivingWriter, you can generate an entire outline even for known cases and stories. Simply add some basic info, like this, and you’ll get an invaluable jumping off point to write your book.
Just by selecting a template and adding that my book will be about Ed Gein, the LivingWriter technology gives me an entire framework in which to write a cohesive story. Check out what I got based on the info pictured above.
The outline includes a general description and includes every section from the opening hook to the resolution, and everything in between. And the best part, is that LivingWriter doesn’t do the writing for you. So, you can be sure your writing is authentic to you by writing within the framework.
Research Sections
With devoted research sections, you never have to worry about keeping the facts straight or keeping up with multiple folders, note pages, or scraps of paper. Instead, you can add notes, links to articles, and even images right into your work space.
