Nightmares and Dreamscapes discussion

Real life and true stories can be scarier than fiction. Let us know what some of your favorite non-fiction reads are!

Ooohhh cool! A true crime thread :) I was thinking of creating one but wasn't sure. Now we have one. :)

So I've not gotten into much true crime myself, but I made a promise that I'd read this some time this year. Marriage is about compromise, right?

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

Sally wrote: "So I've not gotten into much true crime myself, but I made a promise that I'd read this some time this year. Marriage is about compromise, right?

[book:I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obses..."

I read that book! It was really good! :)

Marie wrote: "Sally wrote: "So I've not gotten into much true crime myself, but I made a promise that I'd read this some time this year. Marriage is about compromise, right?

[book:I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One..."

I know I'll like it, but you know me, the never ending TBR is insane and there aren't any ghosts, fairies, dragons or vampires in this. LOL!

I have read quite a bit of true crime. Ann Rule was my first true crime author and I have read quite a few of her books.

Other true crime authors I have read are:

Ryan Becker
R.J. Parker
Les Macdonald

Marie wrote: "I have read quite a bit of true crime. Ann Rule was my first true crime author and I have read quite a few of her books.

Other true crime authors I have read are:

[author:Ryan Becke..."

I have a few of Ann Rule's books on my Kindle! I'll check them out.

Ooh, now that I have my eyes open for non-fiction stuff I'm noticing some things I think I might love. Look at this!

Sally wrote: "Ooh, now that I have my eyes open for non-fiction stuff I'm noticing some things I think I might love. Look at this!

"

You know what? I saw that come across my feeds on here from a friend that added it to their tbr. That does look good! I need to track that down! lol

For real-life horror, I recommend by Donald Rumbelow. This book lays out all the gory facts in the case, but lets readers make their own judgement. Not for the faint-hearted; even I found it disturbing. Nonetheless, I used it as background material and inspiration for one of my stories in my Dracula: INTO THE MOUTH OF DEATH.

Check out this book on Goodreads: The Black Alchemist https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Sally wrote: "Ooh, now that I have my eyes open for non-fiction stuff I'm noticing some things I think I might love. Look at this!

"

Guess what?! I own this book! I forgot I had it - haven't read it yet though. We should buddy read it. I grabbed it last October on a kindle deal. :)

A couple of great books.

In Cold Blood - a True classic and a must read.

Kids for Cash: Two Judges, Thousands of Children, and a $2.6 Million Kickback Scheme - This one left me sick to my stomach.

Actual Innocence: When Justice Goes Wrong and How to Make it Right - This one is just brutal and shows how right can go wrong.

Devil In The White City. Dueling stories that eventually intertwine. A) The massive undertaking to make the Chicago World’s Fair a success. B) The sadistic serial killer who used the fair to his advantage by luring victims from all over the world who were visiting Chicago into his deadly traps.

One of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read. Both stories are equally compelling.

I've had that one in my TBR forever.

Not true-crime but non-fiction is one of my most anticipated books of the year:

Phillip wrote: "Not true-crime but non-fiction is one of my most anticipated books of the year:
"

Wow Phillip! Looks like someone wrote a book specifically for you!

Papaphilly wrote: "A couple of great books.

In Cold Blood - a True classic and a must read.

Kids for Cash: Two Judges, Thousands of Children, and a $2.6 Million Kickback Scheme - This ..."

I think I've owned In Cold Blood for years but never picked it up, I'm going to look for it and add it to the current TBR tower. Thanks Papa!

Sally wrote: "Phillip wrote: "Not true-crime but non-fiction is one of my most anticipated books of the year:
"

Wow Phillip! Looks like someone wr..."

I hope it´s not only for me...otherwise Tor Nightfire might get into trouble, I only pre-ordered one copy :-D

This is not about books or reading but I am curious if anyone watches the true crime shows and if you do which ones do you like?

I watch a few on Discovery+ like: Forensic Files, The First 48, People Investigates, American Detective with Joe Kenda, In Pursuit with John Walsh, Fear Thy Neighbor, Evil Lives Here, and I have been watching reruns of Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack.

Oh man I have so many awesome memories of watching unsolved mysteries the supernatural ones when I was a kid. My grandma lives across the street so I got left home alone at an earlier age then maybe was prudent. But then my parents and brother were gone for whatever reason my dad would get me McDonald’s (we NEVER got fast food or restaurant food when I was young so it was a big deal) and I’d eat my burger, fries and soda and watch the scary unsolved mysteries, scare the crap out of myself and spend the rest of the evening at my grandmas house. Damn those were good times.

Felina wrote: "Oh man I have so many awesome memories of watching unsolved mysteries the supernatural ones when I was a kid. My grandma lives across the street so I got left home alone at an earlier age then mayb..."

Yeah the ghost/paranormal mysteries are really good on Unsolved Mysteries. They were really creepy. The Discovery+ network has literally "all" the paranormal shows too besides the true crime shows. :)

Marie wrote: "This is not about books or reading but I am curious if anyone watches the true crime shows and if you do which ones do you like?

I watch a few on Discovery+ like: Forensic Files, The First 48, Peo..."

I watch tons of them and all that you listed and plenty not listed.

Papaphilly wrote: "I watch tons of them and all that you listed and plenty not listed..."

What are the ones I don't have listed? Enlighten me Papa as I would like to add some more to my watch list. :)

Marie wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "I watch tons of them and all that you listed and plenty not listed..."

What are the ones I don't have listed? Enlighten me Papa as I would like to add some more to my watch list..."

Murder in the Heartland
Murder Comes to Town
Where Murder Lies
Hometown Homicide
Signs of Psychopath
See No Evil
Grave Secrets
A Time to Kill
Lockup (series of various prisons)
The Fog of Murder
American Monster
The Case that Haunts Me
The Killer Beside Me
Fear Thy Neighbor
The Murder Tapes
Solved
Crime Scene Confidential
Disappeared

Papaphilly wrote: "Murder in the Heartland
Murder Comes to Town
Where Murder Lies
Hometown Homicide
Signs of Psychopath
See No Evil
Grave Secrets
A Time to Kill..."

Wow! Thank you so much, Papa! That is freaking awesome!

Marie wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "Murder in the Heartland
Murder Comes to Town
Where Murder Lies
Hometown Homicide
Signs of Psychopath
See No Evil
Grave Secrets
A Time to Kill..."

Wow! Thank you so much, Papa! T..."

There is so much more out there, this is just what I have watched.

I read this book a few years back and it has always stayed with me probably because it was one of the strangest true crime stories I have ever read.

The Vampire Next Door: True Story of the Vampire Rapist and Serial Killer by J.T. Hunter

Is this the guy who would only go into houses where they left the door unlocked? If so, I listened to a Last Podcast on the Left about him and after he was caught there was a slew of people who called into the police station saying they saw him at their doors, try to open it casually and if it was locked he just went away. How crazy to know how close they were to being victims. My door is always locked!

Felina wrote: "Is this the guy who would only go into houses where they left the door unlocked? If so, I listened to a Last Podcast on the Left about him and after he was caught there was a slew of people who cal..."

Yeah that is him. I am like you - door is always locked. Now days it is best to be safe than sorry.

If anybody has a true crime recommendation where zero children are hurt, I would love to read it. I used to be huge into true crime then I had my son and now I can’t deal and seems like most serial killers go after kids. No kids please. Adults are fine. 🤔😉 I mean they’re not but they are. You know what I mean.

Felina wrote: "If anybody has a true crime recommendation where zero children are hurt, I would love to read it. I used to be huge into true crime then I had my son and now I can’t deal and seems like most serial..."

I know what you mean. I will have to see what I can find for you in my reads as I use to read tons of true crime stuff too. I will have to go through my bookshelves on here. :)

This isn't true crime but this, being you have kids, is the perfect, and fun title, for both you and the family. Plus, it's "non-fiction". It's called Funtastic 507 Fantastic Fun Facts by Zach Olson. I picked it up for my Kindle, as a free book a the time, and it has been a blast reading out loud with my wife and son. Not only do we become extremely engaged with all these things, but there are somethings you may end up chatting about for days. I highly recommend it.

Felina wrote: "If anybody has a true crime recommendation where zero children are hurt, I would love to read it. I used to be huge into true crime then I had my son and now I can’t deal and seems like most serial..."

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land

The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York

Thanks guys!!

You're welcome :0)