Just curious as to how many people enjoy the True Crime books. I've gotten into them in the past year and have so many I want to read yet!

If you do enjoy them, what is one you found to be pretty interesting?

The only kind I DON'T like are the graphic serial killer ones, those I won't read.

I love true crime novels. If you don't want anything too graphic, check out Ann Rule. She's written many true crime books. I liked "The Green River Killer" it was interesting. Also "Devil's Knot" if you want a look at how the justice system goes wrong sometimes. "Helter Skelter" is good too. The next one I'm going to recommend may be a bit too graphic for your tastes it's called "Little Lost Angel." This was a very brutal crime, so it may disturb you. I think DakotaNorth has read it too, perhaps she could chime in.

That's all I can think of for now, but I may be back with a few more later.

Samantha, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote was really good, but very disturbing for me.

My husband, Charlie, recently finished Hot Toddy by Andy Edmonds, and he said it was really good. It's about the death of the 1930's movie star Thelma Todd. Edmonds believed she was murdered, and discusses the different theories of her death including the theory that Lucky Luciano had her murdered. You might enoy it, too.

I quite like true crime and at the moment I'm reading a book about Jack the Ripper it's called Portrait of a Killer and it's by Patricia Cornwell. It is very interesting but you may not like it since you don't like graphic serial killer ones, I don't know yet how graphic it is but I'll let you know once i've finished reading it.

My better half loves true crime, can't say I like it that much because it makes me paranoid! There are two good ones I have read by Paul Britton, a forensic psychologist though. They're called 'The Jigsaw Man' and 'Picking Up The Pieces' and although they're a bit worrying I really enjoyed reading them. I think I'll stick to fluffy bunnies in future!

I like true crime too but, like Samantha, I don't like those that are too graphic. What I really like is learning about the forensic science and how it is used to catch perpetrators.

I got Patricia Cornwell's latest ("Portrait of a Killer" about Jack the Ripper) for Christmas but haven't read it yet. I've read most of her books and quite like them.

However, I like Kathy Reichs more because she goes into more detail about the science side of things. Kathy Reichs is a board-certified forensic anthropologist (one of only 50 in the world). I don't think Patricia Cornwell has such qualifications (but am not sure about this). Kathy Reichs has written 5 books and although technically they are fiction, they are in fact all based on real cases.

When I studied forensic science at university, we studied some of the cases which I later recognised when reading her books. She explains the forensic science aspects very clearly for non-scientific readers. I was fortunate enough to attend one of her lectures back in April 2000.

Anne Rice has been recommended to me but I haven't got around to reading any of her books yet.

Jeffrey Deaver is also very good with forensic information in his books but the ones I have read so far have been quite graphic. I am currently reading "The Stone Monkey".

"In Cold Blood by Truman Capote was really good, but very disturbing for me"
I loved in cold blood, what a great book, I didnt' realize that was true though (well maybe I did), but even as disturbing as it may have been I kind of admired one of hte characters (I don't remember which one) but I admired him for his faithfulness, his ability to reason, and all that, not for his cold blood killing.
One of the best true crime books out there is "Joey the Hitman: The autobiography of a mafia killer" by Joey with David Fisher which was originally published as Killer by Joey its a great book that is acctually really funny and explains alot about the mafia, but thats more for you mafia buffs out there, and yes i do realize the last post in this post was more then 2 weeks ago... since when is that an excuse? i wouldn't post if it was a month... but 2 weeks?

I am a true crime buff..although not quite as much as DakotaNorth (have you seen all of her criminal quizzes?)

Favorite true crime book for me is "Helter Skelter." That book really cinched everything for me! The amazing thing is because of that book I know so much about Manson and his whacked out family...now that is a scary thought! It is amazing that I know so much about events that took places when I was only nine months old!

And the book "Taming the Beast: Manson Revealed," is well, an interesting look into the mind of a true madman. It was written with his permission by his prison counselor.

Digging into the minds of criminals is exciting, and extremely interesting!
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Agnes (JTJ)

I would have chimed in earlier, but this thread was just brought to my attention.

"Little Lost Angel" is pretty graphic, as it goes into specific detail about how Shanda Sharer was murdered. If that kind of thing doesn't bother you, then I suggest you read it.

My favorite true crime books are:

"The Case of The Hillside Stranglers"
"The Search for The Green River Killers"
"Fatal Vision"
"Innocent Victims"
"The Deliberate Stranger"
"And The Sea Will Tell"
"The Jack The Ripper Casebook"
"The Burning Bed"
"I Know My First Name is Steven"
"Evil Angels"

Agnes,

I met Vincent Bugliosi when I was 12! He lectured at the University and my friend and I begged her mom to take us. He was impressed because we were by far the youngest people there. He's a very nice guy too.

I'm just finishing up "Lobster Boy" by Fred Rosen, it's a pretty good book. It isn't really graphic, so most people should be able to handle it.

I liked "Joey The Hit Man". It was interesting. "In Cold Blood" was scary as it was Capote's true life story of the Clutter family murders. Bugliosi did do an excellent job on "Helter Skelter".

John Douglas wrote a scorcher titled "Mindhunter". He was one the FBI agents who set up the profiling program. He interviewed several different serial killers including Charles Manson and Ed Kemper. He also described several cases. It's an interesting and eye-opening read.

I just read "Silent Witness" by Roxana Ferllini. This had several cases and how they were solved including Dalmer and John Wayne Gacy. It actually steps into the forensics of murder and techniques used to identify remains.

I like "The Case of The Hillside Stranglers," because it's the true story of the Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi. It goes into explicit of the crimes, and goes on to tell of the capture and eventual conviction of Bianchi and Buono.

"The Search for The Green River Killer" is about King County detectives on the search for the serial killer of prostitutes. They had too much evidence, and the book basically shows what can happen when the police have too much evidence. However, because of that much evidence, a suspect was captured recently and is going to stand trial as the Green River Killer.

"Fatal Vision" is the true story of the murders of Colette, Kimberly, and Kristen MacDonald by Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald. MacDonald was a Green Beret who claimed that four intruders broke into his house, while he was asleep on the living room couch, and brutally murdered his family. He claims that they attacked him. However, all evidence points directly to him, even though he, his defense team, and his supporters claim he is a victim of our government.

"Innocent Victims" is the true story of the murders of Katie, Kara, and Erin Eastburn. It is also the story of justice gone awry. The police in Fayetteville, North Carolina claim that Army Sergeant Tim Hennis murdered the Eastburns, even though all of the evidence cleared him. Hennis was convicted of first degree murder and sent to death row. About three years later, Hennis was released and granted a new trial. Hennis became the first person in North Carolina to come off of death row and win the second trial.

"The Deliberate Stranger" is the true story of Ted Bundy.

"And The Sea Will Tell" is the true story of the murder of Mac and Muff Graham, and the trial of Buck Walker and Jennifer Jenkins. Walker was convicted of the murder of Muff, but Jenkins was exonerated.

"The Jack The Ripper Casebook" is the history of the Ripper killings, along with theories as to who the Ripper could have been.

"The Burning Bed" is the true story of housewife Francine Hughes, a battered wife of 13 years who set her husband's bed on fire, murdering him.

"I Know My First Name Is Steven" is the true story of the disappearance of Steven Stayner, a shy 7 year old who was kidnapped on his way home from school by a pedophile. Steven returned home 7 years later after rescuing a 5 year old boy that his kidnapper had stolen.

"Evil Angels" is the true story of the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain by a dingo at Ayers Rock in Australia. Her mother, Lindy, was accused of her child's murder. Five years after the conviction, Lindy was exonerated when searchers, looking for the remains of a man who fell off of Ayers Rock, found Azaria's matinee jacket.

Anyone know of more true crime, preferrably not mafia crime, that they could recommend to me?

Hi Lisa, You may want to try books by Thomas Noguchi. He was the L.A. coroner to the stars for years. This was so interesting on the Green River murder investigation. I'll have to get this book. Thanks for the suggestions.

You're welcome for the suggestions and thank you for the suggestion.

Lisa,

I'd recommend Devil's Knot by Mara Levine(sp). It's about the West Memphis Three case. I just ordered a book called "Mother's Day" that looks like it should be pretty good. "The Night Stalker" was good too. I'll dig through my True Crime library at home and see if I can suggest a few more.

Thanks Indie, that would mean a lot to me. Do you know how boring it gets reading the same books over and over?

"Do you know how boring it gets reading the same books over and over? "

DN - that's why we have public libraries (LOL ).

Seriously, though, I am going to try to get the one you mentioned previously - "The Jack the Ripper" casebook. Have you checked out the Jack the Ripper website (www.casebook.org)? They claim they are "the world's largest public repository of Ripper-related information!"

I think you'll really like the site and there is enough reading material there to keep you occupied for a very long time!

Lisa,

Have you read "Whoever Fights Monsters?" I think you would enjoy it. I'm still digging through my library to find you more books. I know there are two or three that I want to recommend, I just need to get the titles right.

Okay, DN, I'm dying to know - who do you think the Ripper was? (Please PM me if you don't want to post). I don't have any theories on this one. I've read Cornwell's book "Portrait of a Killer" (and wrote a quiz on it, as you probably already know). I don't think she PROVED her theory as to who it was - but I think she established that he sent some of the so-called Ripper letters. But he could have just been a hoaxer.

DN,

If you're sharing your theory, please share it with me too. I'd love to hear who you think the Ripper was.

I read a bit on the site and realized that I will not be buying Patricia Cornwell's book. I like her fiction, but she seems to not take certain things into account in the Ripper case.

Alright, Indie and MG, you two convinced me to share my theory (but all you had to do was take my quiz on Jack The Ripper to find out in Q24 who I thought was the Ripper ).

So here goes:

I believe the Ripper was Sir William Gull, the Queen's doctor. My reason for this theory is: In the early morning of September 30, 1888, Elizabeth Stride was murdered in Dutfield Yard, off Berner Street. Her body was discovered at 1:00 AM. Elizabeth was last seen about 12:30 AM. That same morning, Catharine Eddowes was murdered in Mitre Square. Her body was found at 1:44 AM. Catharine was last seen at 1:30 AM.

According to Scotland Yard, it took twenty-five minutes to get to Mitre Square from Berner Street, walking. However, it only took between five and ten minutes to get to Mitre Square from Berner Street with a coach.

The most important thing in all the murders, with the exception of Mary Jane Kelly and Elizabeth Stride, was that there was hardly any blood on the ground where the women laid. This means that the women had to have been murdered elsewhere and brought to where they were found.

I know you're thinking that a coach could be stopped by the police, yes an ordinary coach would have been stopped, but not a royal coach.

In the murders of Stride and Eddowes, a double event, the murderer would have been seen by numerous individuals running from the scene, especially since during the month of September, foot patrols were going on every 15 minutes.

Now, grant it, Stride only had her throat cut, which suggests that the murderer got out of his coach and went to her in Dutfield Yard, and was scared off by the approaching Louis Diemshutz, who was taking his pony cart to Dutfield Yard. The murderer didn't have time to mutilate Stride.

Another very important thing about the murders of Nichols, Chapman, Stride, and Eddowes is that no one ever heard them scream, something that would have been heard if the murders happened outside.

I have two scenarios as to why Gull began his double identity as the Ripper:

1.) Prince Albert Victor, also known as Eddy, was known for visiting the slums of Whitechapel. He was seen with Mary Kelly quite often when he visited. It was suspected that Mary Kelly became pregnant with his child, and Eddy knew he wouldn't inherit the throne if it was found out. He sent someone (Gull) to kill Mary. The problem was that Gull didn't know what she looked like, and this is how four women (maybe more) were murdered and mutilated. When Mary Kelly was found on November 9th, not only was her heart missing, but so was her uterus. Note: Mary Kelly was the only one murdered indoors, and she had told a friend that she was going to meet someone "special." Mary Kelly was also the only one who was the most gruesomely mutilated.

According to Scotland Yard the person who committed the murders and authored the three authentic Jack The Ripper letters was left-handed. Only two suspects were left handed: Sir William Gull and John Pizer.

(John Pizer, a professional boot maker, lived at 22 Mulberry Street with his wife and children. He was arrested by Detective Sergeant Thicke on September 10, 1888, for suspicion of murder. Pizer was known by the locals as Leather Apron. When Annie Chapman and Mary Ann Nichols were murdered everyone thought that John Pizer was responsible, but only because he was Jewish. Pizer was released a few days after he was arrested and testified at the Coroner's Inquest, clearing himself of any wrong doing. Was John Pizer really innocent? Considering the known facts of the case I think John Pizer really was innocent.)

2.) Sir William Gull suffered a massive stroke in 1887. In 1890, Gull died at the age of 73. It was widely believed that Gull killed the prostitutes so he could try to control the monster that overcame him. Gull had his coachman bring the prostitutes to the coach, and once inside the coach, Gull would kill them. In the case of Elizabeth Stride, one could assume that Stride never reached the coach, thus not being mutilated. In the case of Mary Kelly she had her own flat, so it was easier for Gull just to go to her place and murder her there where he could take his time in mutilating her. One would think that with murders being performed in a coach the coach would be a bloody mess if it was ever stopped by a police officer. However, no police officer would dare stop this coach because it wasn't just a regular coach, it was a Royal coach. In my personal opinion Gull was more than likely Jack The Ripper.

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I'm sure this isn't very impressive, but it is my theory.

Hi Lisa, This is interesting. You evidently have done your homework. I had heard of this theory before, but it wasn't explained in depth. I just ran into an interesting book. It's called "Murder and Mayhem" by D.P. Lyle M.D.. People write to the doctor posing possibe plots for murder stories. He then answers with the actual medical results. He goes through all kinds of trauma. Take care. Charlie

Hmmmm! Food for thought! I'll have to check out your quiz, DN!