“Before We Were Innocent” by Ella Berman. No one is perfect in their teen years, but what happens when your teenage drama results in a true crime documentary? A summer in Greece for three best friends ends in the unthinkable when only two return home. Bess and Joni are cleared of their friends’ Evangeline murder, but that doesn’t stop the media from ripping apart their teenage lives like vultures. In adulthood, Bess cannot help but mourn the naïve teenage girl she once was, and although she’s grown up when Joni comes knocking at her door asking her for a favor, Bess can’t help but fall back into old habits.
“Notes on an Execution” by Danya Kuafka. This book follow the woman’s lives disturbed by serial killer Ansel Parker, scheduled for execution in twelve hours for his crime against their loved ones. One woman mourns her sister whose life ended at Ansel’s hands. The next woman is a homicide detective who played a key role in locking Ansel behind bars. Finally, Ansel’s mother mourns the boy he once was, and fears the monster that he’s become. This book shows that one man cannot define the lives of these woman, because they are more than just his victims: they are human.
“Diary of a Murder and Other Stories” by Yong-ha Kim. What happens when a prolific serial killer slowly begins to forget the crimes he’s committed? That is a question our narrator must answer as he begins to write in a diary. In his diary, he reveals a rising tension between himself and his adult adoptive daughter, who knows she is adopted, but does not know that the one she calls “dad” is responsible for her biological mother’s murder. This book is perfect for fans of the psychological horror genre.
“My Dark Vanessa” by Elizabeth Kate Russell. This novel explores the lasting effects of a powerplay affair between English teacher Jacob Strance and his naive student Vanessa Wye. Switching between both past and present, this novel reflects the psychological impact of the affair which has left a lasting impact decades after the affair ended. This novel is painful and infuriating to read at times, but it is without a doubt a story you will never forget
“Uriah” by Toffou. This graphic novel is available to read for free by using the Webtoon app or their website. A rainy night, a mysterious island, and a boy with a dangerous story to tell— if only he could remember who or where he was. So begins a chilling journey into the unknown, when uncovering a twisted world of secrets is the only way to survive. Uriah has a lot of true crime tropes that would be spoilers if I reveal them, so I highly recommend you check it out in your spare time.
And if true crime isn’t your preference, then these criminal romance books might be another great choice.
“The Kiss of the Spider Woman” by John Kander. Valentina , a revolutionary undergoing torture, and Molina is an out homsexual charge with deviant behavior, are cellmates in a Latin American prision. Molina tells Valentina tales of the silver screen, as the line between fantasy and reality becomes blurred, and Molina falls for a man he can never have.
“Y/N“ by Esther Yi. What happens when innocent idolization turns into obsession? Although this book does not necessarily fit the crime genre, it does hit the beats of a psychological thriller by exploring how idolizing a celebrity and putting them on a pedestal can quickly lead to losing oneself.
“Anatomy, a Love Story” and “Immortality, a love story” by Dana Schwartz. Hazel Sinnet is a medical student in the 19th century who, after being kicked out due to her gender, finds herself working alongside a grave robber, Jack Currer.
And in her sequel she follows the continuation of Hazel’s investigation, more determined than ever to solve London’s secret, and maybe rewrite history.
“The London Seances Society” by Sarah Penner. Skeptic Leena Wickes finds herself drawn into the world of seances after her younger sister Evie’s death. In her journey, Leena finds herself conflicted as she develops a romantic attraction to her late sister’s séance teacher, the beautiful spiritualist Vaudeline. Leena does not know if she truly believes in ghosts, but she does believe that she is starting to develop feelings for Vaudeline, and together they’ll either solve a series of strange murders or end up in the grave.
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