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Masters of True Crime
Riveting true crime that even mystery and thriller readers will devour, assembled by bestselling criminologist R. Barri Flowers in this unparalleled collection of some of the top true-crime writers in the world.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
26 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
R. Barri Flowers
260 books96 followersR. Barri Flowers is an award-winning criminologist and bestselling author of romantic suspense, crime and thriller fiction, crime nonfiction and true crime, relationship novels, young adult mysteries, and children's books.
The author is a member of the International Thriller Writers,
The author is a member of the International Thriller Writers,
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 16, 2018
Anthology of true crime stories by various authors, most of which I found interesting and readable. Great for anyone with an interest in true crime and what motivates it.
January 3, 2013
I found this collection to be a big book of meh, but to be completely honest, my lack of reaction is likely due to the fact that I already know so much about all the murders discussed in this book that it was old hat. To a novice reader of true crime, this collection may be deeply interesting.
Still, some of this collection does justify blah feelings. Some of the writers were simply not particularly good story tellers, or at least they were not good story tellers in a short format. I bought this book specifically because it included a look at the Keddie murders - a largely overlooked mass murder - and because Katherine Ramsland wrote an article for the collection.
Sadly, the article Ramsland wrote was about Leonarda Cianciulli, who killed women as sacrifices in order to protect her son, who was entering the military. She turned her victims into soap. A lurid story, but once one knows about it not even Ramsland has the skill to make it seem fresh and interesting.
The article about the Keddie murders - Nightmare on Spanish Creek by Robert Scott - was interesting but somehow did not manage to capture the sheer horror of the case. In 1981, Sue Sharp was murdered, along with her son and one of his friends, in the cabin she was renting in Keddie, California. Her youngest child, Tina, was also killed but this was not immediately noticed because she had been removed from the crime scene by the murder(ers). But the article brought nothing new to the table for anyone (like me) who has seen the Cabin 23 documentaries about the case. But if this is the first you are hearing about the case, it likely will be a deeply interesting and saddening read.
This collection also has two other "big names" attached to it. Carol Anne Davis wrote a fascinating story about a British arsonist with a large body count. This was the first I had read of this particular killer and Davis is an excellent writer. Harold Schechter wrote about a young woman who was killed in her bathtub, a crime almost a century old. Schechter is an old hand at true crime so even though this was not one of the more lurid cases discussed in the book, it still managed to interest me.
Another excellent article was from Camille Kimball called "The Trophy Wife." This tells the sorry story of a lovely young woman who meets a charming grifter. She takes care of him - he is the trophy wife in the story - and he runs roughshod over her until she holds little use for him. Laura James also tells the story of a fascinating Russian femme fatale from the turn of the 19th century that is very much worth a read.
Otherwise, the rest of these true crime tales were unremarkable and not worth discussing. Like I said, perhaps a newcomer to true crime will find more to like in this book but I found the rest of the stories to be less than compelling, likely because the writing was not stellar. I feel full of meh, but this is not the worst true crime collection I have ever read, so that counts for something, I think.
Still, some of this collection does justify blah feelings. Some of the writers were simply not particularly good story tellers, or at least they were not good story tellers in a short format. I bought this book specifically because it included a look at the Keddie murders - a largely overlooked mass murder - and because Katherine Ramsland wrote an article for the collection.
Sadly, the article Ramsland wrote was about Leonarda Cianciulli, who killed women as sacrifices in order to protect her son, who was entering the military. She turned her victims into soap. A lurid story, but once one knows about it not even Ramsland has the skill to make it seem fresh and interesting.
The article about the Keddie murders - Nightmare on Spanish Creek by Robert Scott - was interesting but somehow did not manage to capture the sheer horror of the case. In 1981, Sue Sharp was murdered, along with her son and one of his friends, in the cabin she was renting in Keddie, California. Her youngest child, Tina, was also killed but this was not immediately noticed because she had been removed from the crime scene by the murder(ers). But the article brought nothing new to the table for anyone (like me) who has seen the Cabin 23 documentaries about the case. But if this is the first you are hearing about the case, it likely will be a deeply interesting and saddening read.
This collection also has two other "big names" attached to it. Carol Anne Davis wrote a fascinating story about a British arsonist with a large body count. This was the first I had read of this particular killer and Davis is an excellent writer. Harold Schechter wrote about a young woman who was killed in her bathtub, a crime almost a century old. Schechter is an old hand at true crime so even though this was not one of the more lurid cases discussed in the book, it still managed to interest me.
Another excellent article was from Camille Kimball called "The Trophy Wife." This tells the sorry story of a lovely young woman who meets a charming grifter. She takes care of him - he is the trophy wife in the story - and he runs roughshod over her until she holds little use for him. Laura James also tells the story of a fascinating Russian femme fatale from the turn of the 19th century that is very much worth a read.
Otherwise, the rest of these true crime tales were unremarkable and not worth discussing. Like I said, perhaps a newcomer to true crime will find more to like in this book but I found the rest of the stories to be less than compelling, likely because the writing was not stellar. I feel full of meh, but this is not the worst true crime collection I have ever read, so that counts for something, I think.
December 22, 2015
A interesting collection of true crime stories. I hesitated to give it four stars because it seems a little weird to say you "really liked" a whole collection of stories in which at least one person died in every story. But it was very well written and the audio narration was fabulous so that alone is what the four stars reflect.
Lessons learned from this book: 1) Don't trust anyone-especially your spouse and your best friends 2) Never trust nice strangers that try to help you 2) If you are in a love triangle--get out and move across the country (or to a different country) 3) those who are the worst at covering their own tracks, oddly enough, seem to be those involved in solving crimes.
If you like television series about crimes and murders you will probably enjoy listening to, or reading, this book.
Lessons learned from this book: 1) Don't trust anyone-especially your spouse and your best friends 2) Never trust nice strangers that try to help you 2) If you are in a love triangle--get out and move across the country (or to a different country) 3) those who are the worst at covering their own tracks, oddly enough, seem to be those involved in solving crimes.
If you like television series about crimes and murders you will probably enjoy listening to, or reading, this book.
August 5, 2018
Listened to in audio format.
Master of true crime was comprised of seventeen tales told by a variety of authors. Unfortunately because the stories were written by different authors some I enjoyed but others were boring. Also because this was a selection of articles there stories did not go in-depth enough about the victims or the police investigation.
This book was an OK listen to dip in and out of, but I prefer books that focus on one criminal or investigation.
Master of true crime was comprised of seventeen tales told by a variety of authors. Unfortunately because the stories were written by different authors some I enjoyed but others were boring. Also because this was a selection of articles there stories did not go in-depth enough about the victims or the police investigation.
This book was an OK listen to dip in and out of, but I prefer books that focus on one criminal or investigation.
January 10, 2021
Good read to see which true crime writers you like. Some interesting crimes.. murder murder and more murrrrrder
January 2, 2025
This book contained chapters by various authors. I found this format a little more difficult to read (though they were certainly all informative) than there being a single author.
September 3, 2015
I really wanted to like this book because the audio version was given to me for an honest review. I also purchased the Kindle book. Apparently I didn't like true crime as much as I thought I would, although I have enjoyed full-length books about specific true life crimes (like Ann Rule books) Because the entries were shorter there was less background on the why of the murders. It was a good book, just not great in my eyes.
June 1, 2016
I don't know HOW I even created my "the shit" grouping/folder/list or whatever the heck u wanna call it, nevermind how this book ended up IN the group. I don't know. Anyway, this book was ok. I'd say it's on the up-side of books like this one. Some of them are horrendously written, this one was good. If you like this sorta book, you've probably read others along the same lines, this is one of the better ones. 3-Titties!
November 5, 2015
Ya. I guess it's a guilty pleasure. The whole "real murder" thing. Entire books about a murder(s) can't really hold my attention, but this one was just right because it was collection of different events. Some were super cheesy, some were decent, but all managed to keep me interested just long enough to finish their sections.
January 16, 2013
I was hoping this book might fill the void that abandoned Americas Best Crime Reporting series filled. It doesn't. While the crimes are interesting the writing, and presentation, is merely average. A true crime time killer at best.
February 13, 2015
I love true crime stories and this book is full of them. Some stories are better than others, but this is a good collection of stories, many which would only be known by those around at the time.
A good read for true crime lovers.
A good read for true crime lovers.
July 2, 2016
It's great. The stories are varied from old times to 2000s. Some of the standouts are the fortune teller lady who believed she was cursed and boiled the bodies of 2 good friends in a big cauldron, and the police officer lady's man who shot his wife in cold blood. A great introduction to the genre.
February 3, 2013
Some really interesting recent true crime stories.
February 6, 2013
I've never read true crime stories before, but I was disappointed. Few of the short stories gave sufficient character development or suspense.
February 24, 2013
An okay read. Quality of writing fluctuates throughout, which means some stories were taut & some flabby. Overall, I can't really recommend it. For true-crime obsessives only.
June 29, 2015
Not bad. It's simply different cases written by different authors and put into one book. There was only a story or two that I skipped.
March 23, 2018
It's not incredibly well written at all. Some of the stories are a bit of a drag, my favourite story is the second one about the disabled guy from the UK who murdered people. I love how when you turn the pages, you see a bullet- thought that was neat. A real page turner, it's impossible to put the book down
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2021
This was a really interesting book with a variety of different stories. The only story I didn’t care for was chapter 4 (I believe) as I don’t think “came at them like a pitbull” is an appropriate saying in 2021. Let’s break down that stigma about pit bulls. Other than that, it was really interesting. Great for true crime fans.
November 15, 2020
I don't like my truecrime narrated like it was a fairy tale or a tale to scare a 5 year old.
January 4, 2022
It was okay, some stories were much better than others I skipped a couple because I just couldn’t get into
November 10, 2022
Interesting book dealing with different types of murders from the past.
March 26, 2023
They were mainly USA crimes unsurprisingly but the two most interesting were committed in Britain and Italy.
April 4, 2023
5. Unusually, I had not heard of many of these reports. Being an avid reader of true crime, and watcher of Cold Justice, 48 hours and other true crime tv shows. Some more macabre than others.
July 18, 2023
Short stories about disturbing cases, fast read, great content.
June 7, 2025
Masters of True Crime is a standout in the genre—a gripping, intelligently curated anthology that does exactly what true crime should do: it unsettles, informs, and compels. Edited by seasoned crime writer R. Barri Flowers, this collection brings together an impressive roster of veteran authors, each contributing a real-life case that’s as haunting as it is revealing.
What elevates this book above others in the field is its balance. It’s not just a parade of violence and voyeurism. Many of the contributors explore the emotional aftermath of crime—on victims, families, and even investigators—with a sense of moral weight. You get a mix of investigative detail, psychological insight, and human vulnerability that makes the stories linger long after you’ve closed the book.
The variety is another strong point. From infamous cold cases to lesser-known horrors that deserve wider attention, every chapter feels like a new lens on the nature of evil and justice. The writing styles are distinct but consistently strong, and there’s very little filler here—each piece earns its place. It’s like getting a masterclass from some of the best writers in the true crime world, all in one volume.
This book respects the genre and its audience. It avoids the cheap shock tactics that plague a lot of modern true crime and instead offers thoughtful, well-researched narratives that show how complex and often tragic these cases truly are.
If you’re a fan of Forensic Files, Mindhunter, or longform investigative journalism, Masters of True Crime is essential reading. It’s chilling, yes—but it’s also smart, compassionate, and impossible to put down.
What elevates this book above others in the field is its balance. It’s not just a parade of violence and voyeurism. Many of the contributors explore the emotional aftermath of crime—on victims, families, and even investigators—with a sense of moral weight. You get a mix of investigative detail, psychological insight, and human vulnerability that makes the stories linger long after you’ve closed the book.
The variety is another strong point. From infamous cold cases to lesser-known horrors that deserve wider attention, every chapter feels like a new lens on the nature of evil and justice. The writing styles are distinct but consistently strong, and there’s very little filler here—each piece earns its place. It’s like getting a masterclass from some of the best writers in the true crime world, all in one volume.
This book respects the genre and its audience. It avoids the cheap shock tactics that plague a lot of modern true crime and instead offers thoughtful, well-researched narratives that show how complex and often tragic these cases truly are.
If you’re a fan of Forensic Files, Mindhunter, or longform investigative journalism, Masters of True Crime is essential reading. It’s chilling, yes—but it’s also smart, compassionate, and impossible to put down.
November 5, 2012
I picked up this book from the library after it was highly recommended from a blog that I read. To be honest, I was disappointed. Many of the stories were 8-15 pages long, which was fine, but many were very boring to me. Maybe I was expecting it to be something like Ann Rule's short stories, which wasn't the case. And there were no pictures! It's rare to have a true crime book that has no pictures. I would give this 2.5 stars.
May 16, 2013
A very good book on true crime on more recent ones that I didn't know about. I tend to read more historical true crimes although I did know one or two.
July 25, 2015
Some good stories some are really well written
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews