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The True Crime File: Serial Killings, Famous Kidnappings, Great Cons, Survivors and Their Stories, Forensics, and More
Perfect for newcomers and hardened crime junkies alike, The True Crime File is an impulse gift book designed to deliver the mixed pleasures of true crime across more than 200 stories of mayhem, madness, and survival. Adapted from the perennially popular A Year of True Crime Page-A-Day® Calendar, here is a full celebration of the genre, more than 400 pages packed with tales of slashers and serial killers, grifters and con men, dogged investigators and miraculous survivors, and of course the story behind the immortal New York Post headline “Headless Body in Topless Bar.”
And so very much more, including: Ted Bundy’s prison escape, mini-rampage, and eventual capture; the tragic litany of missed early chances to capture Jeffrey Dahmer; and the fascinating puzzle of the Zodiac Killer. Also: celebrity stories, like the murder of Tupac Shakur, and old-yet-still-chilling tales such as the Lindbergh kidnapping, the Black Dahlia murder, the drowning at Chappaquiddick. Readers will learn about DNA profiling and tattoo analysis, get a smattering of cartel drug lingo, and take quizzes like “Where Did They Hide?” Compulsively readable, illustrated throughout, and animated with the frisson that comes with discovering there are real monsters under the bed, The True Crime File is a little book that delivers big to true crime fans of all stripes.
And so very much more, including: Ted Bundy’s prison escape, mini-rampage, and eventual capture; the tragic litany of missed early chances to capture Jeffrey Dahmer; and the fascinating puzzle of the Zodiac Killer. Also: celebrity stories, like the murder of Tupac Shakur, and old-yet-still-chilling tales such as the Lindbergh kidnapping, the Black Dahlia murder, the drowning at Chappaquiddick. Readers will learn about DNA profiling and tattoo analysis, get a smattering of cartel drug lingo, and take quizzes like “Where Did They Hide?” Compulsively readable, illustrated throughout, and animated with the frisson that comes with discovering there are real monsters under the bed, The True Crime File is a little book that delivers big to true crime fans of all stripes.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 8, 2022
Ooh-wee, this was like a true crime encyclopedia with more than 200 cases! That is a lot I know but they are all like fast facts with only a few paragraphs. I liked how engaging and easy to read this book was. However I think any seasoned true crime junkie would be familiar with more than half of the cases here. But if you want to try out this genre, I would recommend this book. It was super informative!
April 4, 2022
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley.
Not what I was expecting. This honestly is a good primer if you have not read a true crime book before. But I was familiar with about 90 percent of the stories that the author chose to provide details to. What was unexpected was this book included definitions for certain things such as bail and then did a lot of trivia throughout. The book just jumped back and forth and I wish that the book had more structure. Maybe get into famous cases (by alphabetical order) first and then include a glossary or a section on terms. Then include a section on books that a reader can read further details about along with movie/tv adaptations.
"The True Crime File" book is an adaptation of the "A Year of True Crime Page-A-Day" calendar. I have never heard of the calendar and am going to hard pass on that. I don't mind reading about true crime, but I can't see myself wanting to see a new terrible fact every day when I look at my calendar. My current calendar is a Ladies of Literature Desk Calendar. January was Dorothy Parker, February was Emily Dickinson, March was Octavia Butler and now the month of April is Sylvia Plath.
Back to the book. I did love the font and pictures included in this book. It was very easy to read I thought. I just wanted something with more oomph. Also, I wish that Daly had done things in chronological order. Start with either serial killings, or kidnappings, cons, survivors, cons, etc. Also the sections on some of the subjects felt very short to me. I get why though if it's just a longer form version of the calendar a day. As I said earlier the book jumps around a lot and there's a lot of information in these book. We get trivia like, put together how a list of murderers got caught, and here's a list of books you can read that go into this and this, etc. It is definitely made to just be a book you dip into and out of. But I can't see myself wanting this for myself though.
Since this is being sold as a nice gift to give to a True Crime enthusiast, I can see that many would appreciate this.
Not what I was expecting. This honestly is a good primer if you have not read a true crime book before. But I was familiar with about 90 percent of the stories that the author chose to provide details to. What was unexpected was this book included definitions for certain things such as bail and then did a lot of trivia throughout. The book just jumped back and forth and I wish that the book had more structure. Maybe get into famous cases (by alphabetical order) first and then include a glossary or a section on terms. Then include a section on books that a reader can read further details about along with movie/tv adaptations.
"The True Crime File" book is an adaptation of the "A Year of True Crime Page-A-Day" calendar. I have never heard of the calendar and am going to hard pass on that. I don't mind reading about true crime, but I can't see myself wanting to see a new terrible fact every day when I look at my calendar. My current calendar is a Ladies of Literature Desk Calendar. January was Dorothy Parker, February was Emily Dickinson, March was Octavia Butler and now the month of April is Sylvia Plath.
Back to the book. I did love the font and pictures included in this book. It was very easy to read I thought. I just wanted something with more oomph. Also, I wish that Daly had done things in chronological order. Start with either serial killings, or kidnappings, cons, survivors, cons, etc. Also the sections on some of the subjects felt very short to me. I get why though if it's just a longer form version of the calendar a day. As I said earlier the book jumps around a lot and there's a lot of information in these book. We get trivia like, put together how a list of murderers got caught, and here's a list of books you can read that go into this and this, etc. It is definitely made to just be a book you dip into and out of. But I can't see myself wanting this for myself though.
Since this is being sold as a nice gift to give to a True Crime enthusiast, I can see that many would appreciate this.
March 15, 2023
2.5 stars★★☆☆☆
**I was provided with an ARC from Workman Publishing and Netgalley for an honest review**
✿ My review is also posted right here on my blog ✿
It is out now!!
☞ Trigger warnings: **contains spoilers**
As a true crime aficionado, I was excited when I was sent this arc. True Crime Files is not a simple recollection of the biggest, infamous crimes in western society. Surprisingly, True Crime Files is explores famous known and unknown gems that would intrigue many interested or just getting started in the True Crime genre. The cases presented are have very little in terms of gory details, giving an air of respectful reporting, rather than sensationalisation. However, I would say each crime case isn't as extensive as I expected, with the bare bones facts with some context on the social climate around the case. They are essentially the case timelines with a small afterword on theories, the aftermath and any other interesting facts. I believe True Crime Files recognises it cannot be as comprehensive as there is just too many cases with too many facts to truely cover extensively. It implores the reader to research further if these cases interest them, associating certain books with those that explore further theories that may interest readers. It is a great starting point for those who will go off and research the cases on their own, or find documentaries on the subject to stream.
Unfortunately, as I was making my way through I found myself bored. Many of the cases were well known to me and I found that this book did not illuminate any no new information to me. The crimes were explained in a succinct, almost clinical way, with no emotional threads that could connect the reader. It is unfortunate as this book was unique in its delivery with the intersperses the cases with quizzes, book recommendations and true crime facts and explanations.
Ultimately, what lost me was reiterating things I already knew. I am an avid True Crime junkie, with a head full of weird facts and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the cases that have framed modern society. True Crime Files doesn't offer anything new to those well versed, who inhale all things true crime. Unlike Murder Book, where it was a mixture of memoir, history of true crime and the marginalisation of the true crime victims and the woman shaping true crime story telling, True Crime Files is almost too scientific with very little emotions. It swings too close to a standard report of the crime and has no emotive connections towards the victims and the context surrounding the crime. There are inklings of the deeper issues surrounding cases, like the racial aspect in the Manson Family murders or the case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her victimisation but it isn't substantial enough to offer a definitive opinion about these aspects. Simply glancing through them isn't enough and I think should be the start to deeper questions and offer the reader a chance to re-evaluate their understanding of certain subjects, through the law and crime lens.
Would I recommend this book?
For newcomers of true crime, this is perfect book to dip your toe in and start your journey into the world of True Crime.
If you know quite a bit of true crime then I would avoid it as it doesn't add anything new. .
I think it would be a great coffee table book or a book to gift someone newly interested in True Crime.
Will I re-read this book/series?
No.
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February 20, 2022
Thanks to netgalley for this copy!
This book has a bit of everything. Killers and survivors, U.S. cases as well as international cases. What I liked the most was the focus on the injustice commited against marginalized communities. There were several cases I already knew about, but many others were new to me. I actually feel I learned a lot from this book. It was a good read over all.
This book has a bit of everything. Killers and survivors, U.S. cases as well as international cases. What I liked the most was the focus on the injustice commited against marginalized communities. There were several cases I already knew about, but many others were new to me. I actually feel I learned a lot from this book. It was a good read over all.
February 20, 2023
It was just fine. If you watch Date Line, ID channel, history channel ect, this is redundant. Basically short snippets of factoids.
August 22, 2022
These are rapid fire stories that just hit the high points. There were some obscure cases mentioned I didn't know, so that was a nice surprise. I liked how quickly it moved from case to case, and not going into a ton of detail on any one specifically.
April 10, 2022
This was a collection of true crime stories that were condensed down to anywhere from a paragraph to only a few pages with true crime facts and quizzes sprinkled throughout. I think, like the book said, if you’re new to true crime, or have been into it for years you’d still enjoy this book. They had everything from cases everyone knows at least a little about like Charles Manson, to less known cases. I also very much enjoyed that the author did a better job at acknowledging the societal aspects at play in these cases (like media bias, justice system bias, misogyny, racism etc) then a lot of true crime. I really enjoyed this book and I’m really glad I read it!
Release date: May 10th 2022
*a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Release date: May 10th 2022
*a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 10, 2022
I love everything true crime. There were some cases that I never heard of before and it was very interesting to learn about the new cases and other new information from cases that I've heard of.
November 27, 2023
The True Crime File is a collection of a bunch of true crime stories. As the title says, it is a mix of serial killings, famous kidnappings, cons, and more. This is actually a collection compiled from a calendar in which it gives you a true crime story everyday.
I liked this book! I think it would be a good gift to people who are into true crime. Not everyone is and obviously this book has some dark topics throughout due to the nature of the stories. I would recommend this to people who are newer into true crime. Some of the stories I already knew because I took a class about true crime in college and I like watching documentaries about it. I am now leaning more away from true crime in general but I liked this book.
Thanks to netgalley and Workman publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! (This book was published in 2022 and I am trying to catch up on some of my reviews!)
I liked this book! I think it would be a good gift to people who are into true crime. Not everyone is and obviously this book has some dark topics throughout due to the nature of the stories. I would recommend this to people who are newer into true crime. Some of the stories I already knew because I took a class about true crime in college and I like watching documentaries about it. I am now leaning more away from true crime in general but I liked this book.
Thanks to netgalley and Workman publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! (This book was published in 2022 and I am trying to catch up on some of my reviews!)
May 14, 2022
Evil exists in this world and the information in this book proves it! This was a well-written book with overviews of various criminal cases (mostly murders, I think) and some snippets of crime news too. I was familiar with some of the stories. Some made me look up on the Internet for more information.
Not a work of fiction - you can't help but rejoice when justice is done, and feel bad when a killer seems to have gone scot-free!
Not a work of fiction - you can't help but rejoice when justice is done, and feel bad when a killer seems to have gone scot-free!
May 14, 2025
A collection of short stories, interesting facts, and a few quizzes about crimes. Some are well known, but there were enough lesser-known stories to keep me interested.
December 3, 2022
If you're looking for very brief treatments of a lot of famous or infamous crimes throughout history, this is a good book for you. Of course because it does feature "more than 200" tales in a book of only 385 pages, you know you're getting a light treatment. Some of the stories are less than a page long.
But the book isn't too short to be of any use. Obviously it's not the right book if you're looking for a detailed study of any of the crimes. Some of the individual stories have had multiple volumes written about them. Instead what you're getting are little nuggets of stories that give you just enough to expand your knowledge of true crime trivia or to whet your appetite for a deeper study after you finish reading this one. On the whole, the book is very good at what it's trying to do.
It's not without flaws, however. One might criticize the book for a lack of any overarching theme, organization, or "connective tissue" between the stories. They seem to be presented in a completely random order. There is a table of contents at the front that divides them into categories for killers, survivors, thieves, and so forth, but I would have preferred some kind of logical organization within the body of the text itself. That's a minor complaint however.
I also detected occasional errors of fact and typos throughout the book. Very few of them are substantial enough to affect the reader's enjoyment of the book, but it would have been nice if the editors caught a few more of them.
Equally troublesome though also not particularly obtrusive on the whole are moments when the author's own political leanings are allowed to color the presentation of controversial legal ideas. That's not to say those opinions are incorrect or that any of the facts presented are necessarily incorrect. Rather, because the book maintains its "bite sized" presentations of all of its issues, legitimately difficult legal debates are relegated to such a short space that the reader could walk away with an incomplete portrait of some important ideas.
To the extent that a little book like this can prompt readers to investigate matters further, however, it is to be applauded. It would have very much benefitted from brief bibliographies following each entry to point readers toward more detailed treatments of its topics, but most of these cases are famous enough that no one should have any trouble finding the requisite information.
Overall, I recommend the book. The stories are (almost universally) fascinating. Just don't expect to learn much in depth.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
But the book isn't too short to be of any use. Obviously it's not the right book if you're looking for a detailed study of any of the crimes. Some of the individual stories have had multiple volumes written about them. Instead what you're getting are little nuggets of stories that give you just enough to expand your knowledge of true crime trivia or to whet your appetite for a deeper study after you finish reading this one. On the whole, the book is very good at what it's trying to do.
It's not without flaws, however. One might criticize the book for a lack of any overarching theme, organization, or "connective tissue" between the stories. They seem to be presented in a completely random order. There is a table of contents at the front that divides them into categories for killers, survivors, thieves, and so forth, but I would have preferred some kind of logical organization within the body of the text itself. That's a minor complaint however.
I also detected occasional errors of fact and typos throughout the book. Very few of them are substantial enough to affect the reader's enjoyment of the book, but it would have been nice if the editors caught a few more of them.
Equally troublesome though also not particularly obtrusive on the whole are moments when the author's own political leanings are allowed to color the presentation of controversial legal ideas. That's not to say those opinions are incorrect or that any of the facts presented are necessarily incorrect. Rather, because the book maintains its "bite sized" presentations of all of its issues, legitimately difficult legal debates are relegated to such a short space that the reader could walk away with an incomplete portrait of some important ideas.
To the extent that a little book like this can prompt readers to investigate matters further, however, it is to be applauded. It would have very much benefitted from brief bibliographies following each entry to point readers toward more detailed treatments of its topics, but most of these cases are famous enough that no one should have any trouble finding the requisite information.
Overall, I recommend the book. The stories are (almost universally) fascinating. Just don't expect to learn much in depth.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
November 30, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley & Workman Publishing for the eARC.
🔪🔪🔪
This comes out in 2022, but I was in a crime mood when the approval for the ARC came in and I am not the most patient person ever so I hopped right in!
I was hoping that with almost 400 pages there would be a multitude of in depth analysis of cases, but each case was really only dedicated one page, with the bigger cases having maybe 3 or 4 pages. There wasn’t a lot of detail, either. I understand skimming the details with popular cases, like Ted Bundy or the Zodiac, but even then there was such a slim description- victims weren’t always mentioned, either, which is disconcerting because in true crime discussions today, there’s an added emphasis on remembering who these monsters killed.
read my full review on my blog: https://megansbookstacks.wordpress.co...
🔪🔪🔪
This comes out in 2022, but I was in a crime mood when the approval for the ARC came in and I am not the most patient person ever so I hopped right in!
I was hoping that with almost 400 pages there would be a multitude of in depth analysis of cases, but each case was really only dedicated one page, with the bigger cases having maybe 3 or 4 pages. There wasn’t a lot of detail, either. I understand skimming the details with popular cases, like Ted Bundy or the Zodiac, but even then there was such a slim description- victims weren’t always mentioned, either, which is disconcerting because in true crime discussions today, there’s an added emphasis on remembering who these monsters killed.
read my full review on my blog: https://megansbookstacks.wordpress.co...
January 28, 2022
Received this as an arc through Netgalley
——-
Very engaging and great startersguide! There’s a lot of information on well-known as well as lesser-known serial killers and their crimes.
Throughout the book you can quiz yourself om the knowledge you gained, which I loved. Another feature that I appreciated was the space that was given for survivorstories.
Overall I really loved the book but since I follow a lot of true crime shows I knew most of it already so that bumps my rating to 4 stars.
——-
Very engaging and great startersguide! There’s a lot of information on well-known as well as lesser-known serial killers and their crimes.
Throughout the book you can quiz yourself om the knowledge you gained, which I loved. Another feature that I appreciated was the space that was given for survivorstories.
Overall I really loved the book but since I follow a lot of true crime shows I knew most of it already so that bumps my rating to 4 stars.
October 10, 2022
lots of interesting cases that are famous the only issue i had was the story on manson where they went to the tate house steven parent was shot in the driveway as he was leaving from a visit with the caretaker who lived behind the house she said he was killed in the house with the others..besides that the book was really good and interesting to read.
May 17, 2022
Interesting brief stories of crimes. Many you might know, some were new to me. I enjoy listening to podcasts about crime, so this book was good for me. And if you want to know more about many of these stories, you can find books or documentaries to go more in-depth.. Worth a read!
April 21, 2022
3.5/5⭐️
The True Crime Files by Kim Daly is an interesting and informative compilation of everything true crime. From popular and lesser known cases to true crime jargon, this gift book has everything a true crime junkie needs to know.
I found this book to be a good introduction into the true crime world but not as interesting of a read if you are a regular true crime reader/listener/watcher. I was familiar with many of the cases discussed and there was little detail given to compose a full picture. In my opinion, it would have been better if the author had written about less cases so they could go into further detail for the cases they did cover.
That being said, the short chapters did make it easily digestible and keeps readers interested by only presenting the most important facts. I acknowledge that, as a gift book, lots of shorter chapters is the status quo for these types of books so from that perspective, it was excellent. I also really enjoyed the recommendations for true crime books, podcasts and movies/series, especially when connected to a case that was just covered.
All in all, this is a great read if you are looking for simple but digestible descriptions of a lot of true crime cases and related information, but I wouldn’t suggest this if you are looking for a more in-depth read.
This book was given to me as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The True Crime Files by Kim Daly is an interesting and informative compilation of everything true crime. From popular and lesser known cases to true crime jargon, this gift book has everything a true crime junkie needs to know.
I found this book to be a good introduction into the true crime world but not as interesting of a read if you are a regular true crime reader/listener/watcher. I was familiar with many of the cases discussed and there was little detail given to compose a full picture. In my opinion, it would have been better if the author had written about less cases so they could go into further detail for the cases they did cover.
That being said, the short chapters did make it easily digestible and keeps readers interested by only presenting the most important facts. I acknowledge that, as a gift book, lots of shorter chapters is the status quo for these types of books so from that perspective, it was excellent. I also really enjoyed the recommendations for true crime books, podcasts and movies/series, especially when connected to a case that was just covered.
All in all, this is a great read if you are looking for simple but digestible descriptions of a lot of true crime cases and related information, but I wouldn’t suggest this if you are looking for a more in-depth read.
This book was given to me as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 11, 2022
I enjoy reading true crime books, and I always enjoy reading anthologies or collections of stories. I find a lot of these collections feature the same people over and over, and it can become a bit repetitive.
This collection, however, was different. From the table of contents, which laid out different headings under which the bite sized stories lay, to the little quiz boxes sprinkled throughout the book, my interest was caught.
There were a lot of cases included that we’ve all heard of - Bundy, Gacy, Ramirez etc. - but there were also the stories of survivors such as Elizabeth Smart and Jaycee Dugard. I also liked the inclusion of different books/movies that people could look into if they were interested in delving further. The nature of the book means that there just wasn’t the space to get deep into each different story, but what there was was interesting, to the point, and concise.
This book really lends itself to someone who might not read a lot of true crime or who wants it in small 2-3 page bites. However, there’s definitely enough new and interesting information in there to keep true crime buffs happy too. I was enthralled and came away with some new book recs too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This collection, however, was different. From the table of contents, which laid out different headings under which the bite sized stories lay, to the little quiz boxes sprinkled throughout the book, my interest was caught.
There were a lot of cases included that we’ve all heard of - Bundy, Gacy, Ramirez etc. - but there were also the stories of survivors such as Elizabeth Smart and Jaycee Dugard. I also liked the inclusion of different books/movies that people could look into if they were interested in delving further. The nature of the book means that there just wasn’t the space to get deep into each different story, but what there was was interesting, to the point, and concise.
This book really lends itself to someone who might not read a lot of true crime or who wants it in small 2-3 page bites. However, there’s definitely enough new and interesting information in there to keep true crime buffs happy too. I was enthralled and came away with some new book recs too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2022
Pop culture writer Kim Daly's "The True Crime File: Serial Killings, Famous Kidnappings, Great Cons, Survivors and Their Stories, Forensics, and More," pocketbook book sized compilation of criminals, nemeses and survivors is the perfect bedtime reading as autumn darkness sets in-- or for any time of year.
Daly includes some of the best-known names of her genre -- the likes of Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and John Hinckley, Jr. -- but sprinkles in historic killers and lesser-knowns from around the world, mixes in legislation sparked by outrage to crimes such as hate killings, adds law enforcement goofs and foibles, and leavens the whole with tales of the brave, ingenious, and sometimes just lucky survivors of violent crimes.
Readers who long for a break from human villainy can turn to the "Antics and Accidents" section for the likes of "Assault with a Deadly Gator" and my favorite, "The Bizarre Body Snatching of Gram Parsons," involving a dead rock star, a pair of inebriated friends, and a wrecked hearse. "B)ecause there was no law in California at that time against stealing a dead body," Daly deadpans, the criminals were only charged with stealing the coffin. Someday I may visit the national park where the friends attempted to cremate the star, and its unofficial monument to him -- and them.
Daly includes some of the best-known names of her genre -- the likes of Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and John Hinckley, Jr. -- but sprinkles in historic killers and lesser-knowns from around the world, mixes in legislation sparked by outrage to crimes such as hate killings, adds law enforcement goofs and foibles, and leavens the whole with tales of the brave, ingenious, and sometimes just lucky survivors of violent crimes.
Readers who long for a break from human villainy can turn to the "Antics and Accidents" section for the likes of "Assault with a Deadly Gator" and my favorite, "The Bizarre Body Snatching of Gram Parsons," involving a dead rock star, a pair of inebriated friends, and a wrecked hearse. "B)ecause there was no law in California at that time against stealing a dead body," Daly deadpans, the criminals were only charged with stealing the coffin. Someday I may visit the national park where the friends attempted to cremate the star, and its unofficial monument to him -- and them.
May 12, 2022
The True Crime File is a starter kit for any true crime fan just getting started. From the historical to modern day crimes and everything in between. This book covers it all from the known to the unknown and they even have chapters on the forensics of crime solving. Even the story I was familiar with Ed new details I did not know. This is a great book! It is so long that even if you know a story and want to skip it there’s lots of others to read. I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. If you love true crime and want to have a Best knowledge of this book is a great book to have. Any true crime fan would be a miss if this book isn’t in their library. I received this book from net galley, but I am leaving this review voluntarily. #TrueCrimeFile #NetGalley
January 27, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The True Crime File by Workman Publishing.
This is the perfect little handbook, a starter pack if you will, of true crime stories. Each account is normally no more than a page of either a famous true crime story, or a piece of science or psychology that helped advance the world of criminology. You will not get a single deep dive into any of it, which is why I call it a starter pack. I chuckled at a few of the cases, like Lorena Bobbit, a case so complex that there is a multiple episode documentary on it, yet this boils it down to one page. However, I believe that was the whole point of the book, and it made for a quick and true crime loving read.
This is the perfect little handbook, a starter pack if you will, of true crime stories. Each account is normally no more than a page of either a famous true crime story, or a piece of science or psychology that helped advance the world of criminology. You will not get a single deep dive into any of it, which is why I call it a starter pack. I chuckled at a few of the cases, like Lorena Bobbit, a case so complex that there is a multiple episode documentary on it, yet this boils it down to one page. However, I believe that was the whole point of the book, and it made for a quick and true crime loving read.
July 9, 2022
Incredible compilation. Great writing by Kim Daly. Bought one for me and several for my friends and family after reading. I love how the author gives respect and focus on the victims and not solely on the perpetrators. Some silly and odd ones in here too that break up the intensity of some of these crimes. This book really shines a light on the justice system highlighting the strengths and cracks. I walked away with a different view on some of these crimes I remember from my childhood. I love the way this book is written and put together and it is a must for any true crime enthusiast or anyone interested in human interest, short, nonfiction reads.
August 14, 2022
This was such a fascinating book! I had originally figured I'd flip through and read a few of the stories here and there in between other books but once I started, I couldn't put this one down. It's a solid 383 pages of True Crime Stories - some you've heard about but many you haven't. I learned things about more popular stories I never knew and learned a lot about crimes and criminals not as well known. This would be the perfect gift for any true crime lover in your life!
Thanks to Workman Publishing for a #gifted copy of this book! My thoughts are my own.
My reviews can also be seen at www.instagram.com/justonemoorebook.
Thanks to Workman Publishing for a #gifted copy of this book! My thoughts are my own.
My reviews can also be seen at www.instagram.com/justonemoorebook.
July 11, 2025
Fast paced. And eerily intriguing. The way the book was written in short file style made me want to keep reading and reading just to read the next crazy scheme.
Ever heard of the Great Feather Heist? Or the Maple Syrup Heist? With fun short synopsis and eerily true crime, this book was a great way to just read something different. I always find in the summer I like a good True Crime/ Mystery book mixed in with the fluffy romance and summer reads.
If you see this on the shelf, and you’re not sure it’s your style, just flip to a random page and spend the couple of minutes to read the story you turn to. It may give you something to think about.
If this was sitting on someones coffee table it would make for great conversation!
Ever heard of the Great Feather Heist? Or the Maple Syrup Heist? With fun short synopsis and eerily true crime, this book was a great way to just read something different. I always find in the summer I like a good True Crime/ Mystery book mixed in with the fluffy romance and summer reads.
If you see this on the shelf, and you’re not sure it’s your style, just flip to a random page and spend the couple of minutes to read the story you turn to. It may give you something to think about.
If this was sitting on someones coffee table it would make for great conversation!
May 13, 2022
A comprehensive yet easy to read guide to the most famous crimes, killings, and kidnappings. There's enough information to give you a good idea of what happened but enough room to also allow for the deep dive for additional research if you want more. Interesting tidbits as well as quizzes to test your knowledge. True stories of survivors are added in to help lighten the more gruesome stories. These are more modern day so I was familiar with most of these but still some great information included.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2025
This was perfect timing for this book. I've been on a non fiction kick and being nostalgic to my teen years when I first got into it, which was mostly because of library books with a bunch of stories of different cases...so exactly what this is but better and up to date. (Though one person was up for parole in 2024 in the book that would be the only thing I noticed not current information)
And again as a long time true crime nerd (I picked it up watching csi at 9 years old and I'm now 32 and there was STILL things in this book I hadn't known before and was actually rare.
And again as a long time true crime nerd (I picked it up watching csi at 9 years old and I'm now 32 and there was STILL things in this book I hadn't known before and was actually rare.
June 21, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this as someone who is just getting into the true crime reading scene.
It was a great introduction since it had a huge variety of cases with short and easy to follow presentations. I think that if you have been into true crime for a long time you might already know a lot of these cases, specially since there isn't exactly a deep dive, but I found it great for beginners.
I really liked this as someone who is just getting into the true crime reading scene.
It was a great introduction since it had a huge variety of cases with short and easy to follow presentations. I think that if you have been into true crime for a long time you might already know a lot of these cases, specially since there isn't exactly a deep dive, but I found it great for beginners.
July 26, 2022
I actually have this in paperback form but it wasn't listed in goodreads in that form. So much for Amazon taking care of one of their babies. Anyway, I read the parts of this book that interested me most. Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, people like that. Plus I read the small articles and lists; those were fascinating. I've been on a true crime kick lately and this is a great little book to sit and immerse yourself. Lots of research went into this book and it shows.
February 25, 2023
Oops, I read an audiobook that was adapted from a calendar. No wonder the entries were so short. These are brief but interesting descriptions of crimes, scandals, hoaxes, statistical trends, and so on. My favorite was the one about beloved children's show host Fred Rogers. No, he didn't do anything wrong! He was babysitting and somebody stole his Oldsmobile. The thief or thieves realized whose car it was (there were puppets inside) and returned the car to his home, undamaged.
August 16, 2022
There's no doubt there's evil in this world and this book will remind you of that with every page. If you enjoy learning about true crime, this is the book for you. Masterfully researched and written, there are tons of interesting stories. You won't be able to put it down.
(Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)
(Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)
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