Obsessed with True Crime discussion

Hello, I am new and wanted to thank you all for creating a group for True Crime lovers. I wanted to contribute by asking what was the first TC book you read that whet your appetite for the genre. For me, it was Blood Will Tell: A True Story of Deadly Lust in New Orleans by Joe Bosco (not to be confused by the one by Carlton Smith). I had to read it in college for a class on Court Trials and the Media, since it took place in NOLA and I was in school there (I think a reporter who covered the case spoke to us, but it was a long time ago). I highly recommend it. Thanks again for great group.

Hi Courtenay & welcome to the group. As far as I can remember, the first true crime book that I really got into was Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. I read that one when I was in 7th or 8th grade & have been periodically reading true crime ever since. I will check out Blood Will Tell: A True Story of Deadly Lust in New Orleans. I had not heard of that one before. Thanks!

Blood and honor by George Anastasia

My first true crime experience was Blood and Money by the great Tommy Thompson. He was a master at spinning a great yarn. My three true crime books have all been the outgrowth of first reading that book although my books tend to concentrate on lawyers and their strategies. In fact, my newly re-released Every Woman's Nightmare wone a State Bar of Texas Gavel Award. In the course of my career I have accumulated 2,000 courtroom hours.

The first true-crime I read was when I was in high school, and was Hunter S. Thompson's seminal work on the Hell's Angels. A brilliant book, and from that time forward I was hooked on the genre and have been ever since. For the last 5 or 6 years, I have become obsessed with early crimes taken place in 19th and early 20th century NYC, which abound in great numbers - many available free for download on Google Books.

Steven wrote: "My first true crime experience was Blood and Money by the great Tommy Thompson. He was a master at spinning a great yarn. My three true crime books have all been the outgrowth of first reading that..."

Blood and Money is a classic. I had forgotten about that one. That was probably one of my first true crime reads as well. Wow! 2,000 hours... I guess it's safe to say you know your way around a courtroom.

Peter wrote: "The first true-crime I read was when I was in high school, and was Hunter S. Thompson's seminal work on the Hell's Angels. A brilliant book, and from that time forward I was hooked on the genre an..."

HST(RIP) is one of my all time favorite writers. Totally agree...Hell's Angels was epic. That guy was one of a kind.

The first true crime book I read was In A Child's Name by Peter Maas. I had seen the made-for-TV movie years before, and obviously wanted to read the book. I was still young at the time, so obviously seeing how the movie spun certain details that maybe weren't quite true gave me my first taste of the difference between reality and fiction. Maas did a great job in terms of giving enough detail and facts from the beginning of the case until the end to keep you interested and not being lost or having to look back at previous chapters to remember who's who or what's going on. It's one of the few true crime books that I've read numerous times, and highly recommended to others. That book made me fall in love with the genre, sparked my interest in criminal justice as a possible career, and gave me an early interest in potentially writing true crime.

Kari wrote: "The first true crime book I read was In A Child's Name by Peter Maas. I had seen the made-for-TV movie years before, and obviously wanted to read the book. I was still young at the time, so obvio..."

I usually say In a Child's Name: The Legacy of a Mother's Murder is the first TC book I read, but in reality the first was Serpico also by Peter Maas. I probably read IACN because of how much I liked Serpico. Funny thing is I didn't read the whole book just the Reader's Digest condensed version. I read it because of the TV show.

Craig wrote: "Blood and honor by George Anastasia"

Just adding links. :)
Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob, the Mafia's Most Violent Family by George Anastasia

Steven wrote: "My first true crime experience was Blood and Money by the great Tommy Thompson. He was a master at spinning a great yarn. My three true crime books have all been the outgrowth of first reading that..."

More links.
Blood and Money by Thomas Thompson

Peter wrote: "The first true-crime I read was when I was in high school, and was Hunter S. Thompson's seminal work on the Hell's Angels. A brilliant book, and from that time forward I was hooked on the genre an..."

Still linking.
Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson

That's for all the great books. That creaking sound you hear is my TBR shelf starting to give with the weight of books I just added.

:D

♥Bella★✰ wrote: "Craig wrote: "Blood and honor by George Anastasia"

Just adding links. :)
Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob, the Mafia's Most Violent Family by George Anastasia"

Thank you.

The first true crime book I recall reading was The Blooding by Joseph Wambaugh. It details the use early use of DNA to solve a murder. I even refer to it so many years later when I wrote one myself, Among Murderers and Madness where DNA evidence became crucial in an unsolved triple homicide. Thanks for the group.

The Blooding
Among Murderers and Madness

I'm not quite sure what my first was but my favourite would have to be either Houses Of Death by Gordon Kerr, Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil by Nigel Blundell
or Helter Skelter!

My first was Zodiac, and Son Of Sam

Siana wrote: "I'm not quite sure what my first was but my favourite would have to be either Houses Of Death by Gordon Kerr, Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil by Nigel Blundell
or Helter Skelter!"

Houses of Death by Gordon Kerr

Serial Killers: The World's Most Evil by Nigel Blundell

Cynthia wrote: "My first was Zodiac, and Son Of Sam"

Zodiac by Robert Graysmith

Lu wrote: ""Fatal Vision" by Joe McGinniss. Collette was from Long Island, like me."

Fatal Vision by Joe McGinniss

Helter Skelter

Well, I might be dating myself since this book has been around for so long . . . but it was The Boston Strangler.

Derek wrote: "Hi Courtenay & welcome to the group. As far as I can remember, the first true crime book that I really got into was Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. I read that one when I was ..."

I, too, first read Helter Skelter...and, in Cold Blood.

Susan wrote: "Well, I might be dating myself since this book has been around for so long . . . but it was The Boston Strangler."

The Boston Strangler by Gerold Frank

Saysayg wrote: "I, too, first read Helter Skelter...and, in Cold Blood."

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

My love of true crime books started over 30 years ago when I read Blood and Money by Tommy Thompson. I reread it last year and enjoyed it as much as the first time.

Blood and Money by Thomas Thompson

♥Bella★✰ wrote: "Susan wrote: "Well, I might be dating myself since this book has been around for so long . . . but it was The Boston Strangler."

The Boston Strangler by Gerold Frank or The Boston Strangler by Rob..."

The one by Gerold Frank, written in the 60s.

Susan wrote: "The one by Gerold Frank, written in the 60s...."

Thanks.

It was inside the mind of a serial killer or something like that. It talked about various serial killers

Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule
I was about 12 when I read it for the first time

Helter Skelter. I was in high school at the time, and I recall a substitute teacher being very disturbed that I was reading it. At any rate, it was that book that pulled me into the true crime genre.

Crystal wrote: "Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule
I was about 12 when I read it for the first time"

I have read this book twice. It's a very sad story and quite rrightening. I have read alot of Ann Rule's books, but this is definately one of her best.

Brian wrote: "Hi everyone. There's a very interesting and controversial true-crime book that just came out. It is causing people to re-think whether parole is necessary at all. It contains some rather disturbing..."

It's One of California's Biggest Disasters: How Massive Corruption in the California Parole Department Creates More Crime and Wastes Billions of Dollars by S B Turner

Crystal wrote: "Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule
I was about 12 when I read it for the first time"

Small Sacrifices: A True Story of Passion and Murder by Ann Rule

And The Sea Will Tell (Bugliosi). Then all other Bugliosi books... then McGinnis... and then, I kept searching for that next Bugliosi experience: gripping description, total immersion in the story, insight into the characters and their relationships, a great trial. I've found a few others-- many, in fact, that approach literature while also being good, solid, knowledgeable reporting-- but it's rare to find anything that has approached any of Bugliosi's books.

The Executioner's Song. I think I read this over twenty years ago. I found it amazing and it fueled my love of true crime.
Another great book that sticks in my mind is Compulsion. This was fantastic also.

my first TC books were called Great Crimes and Trials of the Twentieth Century cant remember how many were in the set not but i had them all

Janna wrote: "And The Sea Will Tell (Bugliosi). Then all other Bugliosi books... then McGinnis... and then, I kept searching for that next Bugliosi experience: gripping description, total immersion in the story,..."

And the Sea Will Tell by Vincent Bugliosi

Jean wrote: "The Executioner's Song. I think I read this over twenty years ago. I found it amazing and it fueled my love of true crime.
Another great book that sticks in my mind is Compulsion. This was fantast..."

The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer

♥~Beth~♥ wrote: "my first TC books were called Great Crimes and Trials of the Twentieth Century cant remember how many were in the set not but i had them all"

Great Crimes And Trials Of The Twentieth Century by Paul; Fido, Martin Begg

Great Crimes And Trials Of The 20th Century by Peter Arnold

American Justice: Great Crimes and the Trials of the Twentieth Century by Paul Begg

Mine was probably Helter Skelter

Love TC novels and have to say Ann Rule is one of the best out there. My first was her novel I-5 killer. Been reading them ever since. Love cop dramas and crime tv shows too.

Probably Fatal Vision , In Cold Blood , Blood and Money --the main ones that several mentioned already .All Excellent !

Mine is Too Young To Kill by M. William Phelps

Hannah
I haven't read any of Phelp's books yet. How did you like his writing and have you read any others ?

Helter Skelter and In Cold Blood...been a fan ever since.

Helter Skelter was what turned me on to true crime as well. I also found fascinating.

I'm embarrassed to say I have yet to read Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders. I don't have a good reason why . I have a copy right now that I just picked up the other day . I have had several copies of it and never read it . That has gotta be put on my list of Things To Do !

In Cold Blood is one of my all time favorites ! I've read it 2 or 3 times now and it is still just as good . Truman was a terrific story teller .