The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett

Released: October 2010

Journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett presents a captivating combination of true crime and the art of antique book collecting in her debut book The Man Who Loved Books Too Much.

After an intriguing introduction in which she shares her own personal experience with an alleged stolen, centuries-old German book, Bartlett gives us insight into the antiquarian book world and the bibliophilic thieves that threaten the business. More specifically, Bartlett delves into the world of book-dealer turned detective Ken Sanders and his quest to apprehend notorious book thief John Gilkey. Not only does Bartlett interview Gilkey in prison, but upon his release she personally accompanies him on his "shopping expeditions" to antiquarian book stores. In one of the most interesting, engaging and page-turning true crime books I've ever read, Bartlett dissects the dark side of the book-dealing business.

The Best True Crime Books (and Authors)

The true crime genre is loosely based on examining actual crimes and the actions of real-life people, and in most cases, closely evaluates the subjects of criminal psychology and social realism.

While many books in this genre cover popular, well-known, notorious crimes, other books will focus on lesser-known, obscure crimes. After all, the media only reports crimes that they feel the public can handle. Reading books in the true crime genre is an ideal way to learn about the gruesome and heinous crimes that may have taken place in your own backyard!

Father of the Year by Glenn Puit

Released: May 2009

Father of the Year is the second novel by Glenn Puit, otherwise known as the "King of True Crime"—a well-deserved title.

Father of the Year tells the story of Bill Rundle, a con man who murdered his wife and discarded her corpse on the side of the road. Rundle also killed his mother in addition to multiple other sick and heinous crimes. Rundle once won the Father of the Year award after his son praised him in a school assignment, but ironically, this very Las Vegas resident became infamous after his true ugly nature was revealed to the public.

Denial: A Memoir of Terror by Jessica Stern

Released: 2010

Denial: A Memoir of Terror is the true story of a rape victim who investigates her own case - experienced and written by terrorism expert and author Jessica Stern.

After receiving an email from police lieutenant Paul Macone regarding Stern's unsolved rape case from years before, Stern dives headfirst into confronting her deepest fears and overcoming her trauma. In the process, she conducts intimate interviews with members of her family and victims of the same rapist.

Polly Klaas: The Murder of America's Child by Barry Bortnick

Released: 1995

Polly Klaas: The Murder of America's Child is a true story about the abduction, murder, and aftermath of the book's namesake. The book begins on October 1, 1993, a night Polly hosts a sleepover for some friends and is later kidnapped. Following the scary and disturbing events of that night, we are made privy to the criminal background of murderer Richard Allen Davis and given detailed steps taken by the small town of Petaluma to support the Klaas family and help bring awareness.

Polly Klaas reads like an extended newspaper spread, providing us the basics surrounding the abduction and murder but going into minute detail about the search efforts, memorial, and effects Polly's murder had on America at the time. A large portion of the book is based on interviews mainly with Polly's father Marc and grandfather Joe.

Fall: The Rape and Murder of Innocence in a Small Town by Ron Franscell

Released: 2007

Fall: The Rape and Murder of Innocence in a Small Town is a true crime story about two girls who are abducted, raped, and murdered in the small town of Casper, Wyoming in 1973. The book is written by Ron Franscell, a Casper native who eventually became a newspaper journalist and knew the girls personally. Because of this very fact, Ron Franscell's account is well-researched and questions surrounding the crime have been thoroughly answered because of Ron Franscell's interest. The book is severely impacting from a personal standpoint and well-written.

Salt of the Earth by Jack Olsen

www.fantasticfiction.co.uk

Released: May 1996

Salt of the Earth is just one of Jack Olsen's many true crime books, and an excellent one at that! Salt of the Earth is a perfect qualifier for the category well-known in the reading world as "Nonfiction That Reads Like a Novel", because it definitely does!

Salt of the Earth is a true story about the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl named Brenda Gere, and the effect it has on her family, especially her mother, Elaine.

From the time Brenda went missing, authorities believed that she was abducted by Michael Kay Green, a local steroid abuser. However, the justice system failed to prove at the time that Green was involved with Brenda's disappearance.

Columbine by Dave Cullen

www.davecullen.com

Released: April 2009

Dave Cullen's Columbine is a breakdown of the true events behind the April 20, 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado.

Cullen's work in Columbine is fascinating, mainly because all the facts he presents in this book are garnered from real and concrete documentation. Before he even delves into the events surrounding the Columbine shooting, Cullen kicks off his book with a helpful prelude about his sources, which lets us know that the material we're about to read isn't fabricated, or opinionated.