The Most Disturbing True Crime Books (That You Can't Put Down)

Truman Capote's story is the best! Must read In Cold Blood. You will love it.

All of Ann Rules books were Great.

Girl you are my go to when comes to book recommendations. Luv the same books, authors, etc…

You always have me die laughing at the same time.

Thank you for getting me back into reading again!!

American Predator is amazing.

Israel Keyes is one scary dude.
Edit - Was One scary dude 🩸

I came here specifically to be disturbed! Which one was the most psychologically unsettling for you?

I read If you tell and i cried so hard because it was so heartbreaking.

I’ve read 2 of your 3 recommendations, but need to reserve American Predator. I recommend Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll. It’s a fictional account from the victim’s perspective and loosely based on Ted Bundy (though he is never named).

My house got broken into and robbed while I was in high school so home invasions became a huge fear for me as well. No one got hurt but the feeling of being violated in your safe space was there. I think it's what sparked my interest in true crime. I felt like to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Obviously that's not necessarily true but that's how I feel.

I'll Be Home in the Dark scared the crap out of me too.

Some other true crime recs if you haven't read them yet and are interested:

Raven by Tim Reiterman - this is another true crime classic. It's about the Jonestown kool-aid massacre. Tim Reiterman is also a character in it towards the end because he went to Jonestown on assignment to investigate what the cult was up to and got shot up in the plane when they were leaving right before the massacre. It was published in 1982, just a few years after the massacre took place.

Road to Jonestown by Jeff Guinn - Other than Raven, this is the best book about the Jonestown massacre.

The Man in the Monster by Martha Elliott - This is one of the scariest true crime books I've ever read about a serial killer. Martha Elliott is a character in this one because she's a journalist who interviewed Michael Ross and had weekly calls with him over the course of a decade before he was eventually killed via death penalty. This one includes a detailed description of Ross' thought and fantasy process in how he selected women to stalk, grape and then unalive. It's necessary reading for anyone who wants to understand how serial killers see victims. Truly horrifying.

Hi Beth, glad to find your channel. In my 75 years the best true crime book I’ve ever read beside in cold blood is. Serpentine by Thomas Thompson. He was an awesome writer and the book is terrifying and believe it or not. The killer is free in France. Thompson also wrote blood and money which was made into a TV movie back in the 80s. I read every Manson book and they are all scary and have different perspectives but I would start with. Helter skelter because it’s well written and some of the others aren’t. Aloha from hawaii.

I'll Be Gone In The Dark was so well written, so thoughtful. Highly recommend.

I am in a True Crime book that came out in 2023. It's at Barns & Noble and Amazon called Vanished In Vermillion by Lou Raguse. My two friends disappeared in 1971. I was suppose to go with them but my best friend (we r still friends today) talked me out of going with them. There is no gore and the investigation is mind blowing. I still get upset when I think of that day in the spring. The author interviewed hundreds of people and it shows in his book. This author has a new book coming out this spring.

Would you say the Caitlin Doughty books would make death a little less scary? Im more paranoid for my loved ones honestly

Add The Lost Girls by John Glatt, The Bike Path Rapist by Jeff Schober and Pizza Bomber by Jerry Clark to your tbr. Especially if you live in the NE (Cleveland, Buffalo, Erie settings) 😳🤯

I read all those true crime books you mention I have read. I agree American Predator is the best one out of the bunch.

House of Evil about Sylvia Likens is the book that ended a long reading slump for me! I actually found it in a little free library in Indianapolis! It is written by a local news reporter, but in such an interesting story form. I also read the book while staying just a few blocks from the crime location. That house has been gone for years, but it hit deep to be so near all the locations mentioned in the book.

Good luck with in cold blood I hated it 😅I look for true crime books that pay homage to the victims more than glorifying the killers and I thought in cold blood did more of the latter so could just be a me thing 🤷🏻‍♀️ Hope you like it better of course! so many of these sound amazing and scary though I’ve definitely added a few to my list!

Patricia Cornwell used to work for a medical examiner in VA and did some work with the police department.

I read The Stranger Beside Me and Helter Skelter years ago. Both are excellent books.

The Manhunt book was turned into a british tv show-one season about the night stalker and the other is about a second offender that the same detective helped catch. It's pretty good.

I’m fascinated by Jack The Ripper. In 2019 I was lucky enough to go to the Jack The Ripper museum in London. You should check out The Five by Hallie Rubenhold, it deep dives into his 5 victims, really well done.

Omg The Strangers scared the hell out of me too. We were in VA recently and saw a news story where people were doing that in the neighborhood where we were staying- they were dressing up and pounding on doors etc. Hell no we left the next day after seeing that news story

Beth! Love your videos. Thanks for sharing these, I have added a couple to my TBR and I have read “If you tell” and it’s one book that till this day has stuck with me and I can’t believe she is being let out in the world! Also, I love your shirt, I need one of those.

Greetings! Great video! I recently found American Predator, and now I can’t wait. I just wanted to say that while you are reading Helter Skelter, remember that Vincent Bugliosi, the author, was also the prosecutor of Manson and some of his minions. That made it all the more interesting to me. Thanks📚

Beth you are the best love your videos keep them coming :) and Wow American Predator was mind blowing. Happy Reading

Curious what you tabbed in the stranger beside me

I want to throw up listening to these crimes.

Stranger Beside Me is so good! Ann Rule is the absolute queen of true crime writing.

Now I'm interested in reading that Jack the Ripper book!

Have you read Chasing the Boogeyman? It’s a fiction but reads like a true crime book to the point where the author writes himself into the book.

Reading PENANCE currently...like In Cold Blood...a novelization of a true case. It's compelling. Check out the synopsis and see if it's up your street.

Omg yes same about The Strangers. My dad made me watch it as a kid and it gave me nightmares for yearrrrrs

adds American Predator, The Stranger Beside me & Manhunt to Libby ✏️ 📝

The strangers was such a good movie (not including the new ones🤢)

I’ve read some off this list but not the one said should be the one to read first!!! Will have to check it out!

I tried Stranger Beside Me last year when I was trying to inch my way into being a reader and I think it was just way too much for me at the time. It's long and I struggled so hard. Now that I'm a year into consistent reading I think I'm going to try it out again.

Updating my comment now that i'm farther in the video, I tried reading Chaos before and struggled with that as well. I'll probably look into Helter Skelter

I’m reading Chaos right now. Sooo interesting and kind of mind boggling. You should definitely pick it up.

What a great video!!! Loved this. Also, my 11 year old niece told me that Jack Skelington is Jack the Ripper. Must be true! LOL

Portrait of a Killer gave me nightmares for weeks. The crime scene pictures haunted me for weeks on end. So just be prepared. It's probably been 15 years since I've read it and I still get creeped out if I think about it.

American predator and the stranger beside me are great books! I would also recommend shelter skelter (Charles Manson) and the nightstalker (Richard Ramirez)!

Every time I see you've posted a video, I get so excited. You're my favorite!

Suspish!! I watch alot of Bailey Sarian 😅
Im adding these to my TBR 🎉

Good morning Beth!! Thanks for making my day by posting! ♥️♥️♥️