10 Best Mystery & Thriller Books For True Crime Fans

Some of the most exciting mystery and thriller books incorporate true crime elements that make them perfect for fans of the genre. The true crime genre has been around since the 16th century, but it really boomed in 2014, when the podcast Serial launched. Like many others, I became fascinated by true crime. Since then, it has become a popular genre across all forms of media. However, true crime's literary influence isn’t limited to non-fiction books. Mysteries and thrillers now use true crime elements as a hook, with many benefits. Authors can explore psychology and social justice themes common in the true crime genre without navigating the ethical minefield of writing about real tragedies. These stories offer meaningful commentary on the genre's issues, contributing to an ongoing conversation in true crime spaces. True crime podcasters and writers make compelling protagonists. Plus, mixed-media writing adds variety. Many writers have experimented with these approaches, but some succeed more than others. These ten books stand out as the best mysteries and thrillers for true crime fans. Sadie by Courtney Summers Courtney Summers' Sadie is one of the best books for fans, telling a thriller story with a hybrid format. Devastated and angry by the murder of her sister Maddie, Sadie goes in search of Maddie’s killer. Months later, a true crime podcast called The Girls, run by a journalist named West McCray, investigates the murder of Maddie and the subsequent disappearance of Sadie. This book might technically have the YA label, but the bleak tone and heavy subject matter make it feel more like an adult crime novel with a new adult protagonist. The writing alternates between Sadie's first-person perspective and the transcript of The Girls. The story asks us why we engage with true crime and the cost of consuming violence against women, a meaningful question. On top of that, the phenomenal audiobook actually feels like a podcast because of the production style. Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen The highly anticipated Gothic mystery-thriller book Please Enjoy Your Stay feels tailor-made for true crime fans. As a teen, Mia witnessed her cousin’s murder and helped convict the killer. A decade later, a popular true crime podcaster claims the murderer is innocent, pointing the finger at Mia’s Aunt Iris, a true crime author. To find proof of her aunt’s innocence, she returns to the Austrian castle-turned-hotel where it happened. From the first chapter to the last, I could tell Goedjen loves true crime. Common genre themes, such as possible wrongful convictions and eyewitness reliability, take center stage. The story explores the ethics of sensationalized true crime media and its impact on victims' families. Plus, the book includes Iris' journal entries and research notes about a previous murder at the castle, plus short snippets of the true crime podcast. Purchase Please Enjoy Your Stay here. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera Listen to the Lie is a fan-favorite book for individuals who like true crime. In small-town Texas, Lucy was found covered in the blood of her best friend, Savvy, with no memory of what happened. Years later, the popular podcast, Listen for the Lie, hosted by Ben Owens, decides to cover the murder in its second season. She must leave her new life in LA and return home to solve her best friend’s murder. This page-turner book uses dual perspective, shifting between traditional prose and a podcast transcript. The podcast sections have the same addictive scripting as real-life audio productions like Serial. Host Ben Owens brings amateur-sleuth energy to the story, and he makes the unfortunately common mistake of jumping to conclusions about a suspect, reminding us to be mindful of the real people behind the cases. Purchase Listen to the Lie here. Murder Most Actual by Alexis Hall Most fiction books perfect for true crime fans are gripping, but Murder Most Actual is a cozy mystery that’s perfect for unwinding. A semi-successful true crime podcaster named Liza and her corporate financier wife, Hanna, vacation at a Scottish castle hotel to rekindle their dying marriage. However, they find themselves trapped because of the snow, with dead bodies stacking up, and Liza could be the only one capable of solving the crime. Murder Most Actual has the most unique tone and style on this list. The story’s a zany homage to Golden Age detective novels, and the most grounding element is Liza’s knowledge of murder, thanks to her job. Other appealing parts of the book are the in-jokes that poke fun at the true crime genre. Plus, there’s an interesting clash between Liza building her career around true crime and Hanna hating it. Murder Most Actual is only available on Kobo. I Don't Wish You Well by Jumata Emill I Don’t Wish You Well captures readers immediately and doesn’t let go until the last page. Five years ago, a masked killer took out four high school football players in the small town of Moss Pointe, Louisiana, and the killer was put behind bars. 18-year-old aspiring journalist and true crime podcaster Pryce Cummings has avoided his hometown since coming to terms with his sexuality, but he finds evidence that suggests the killer might be innocent. So, he must return to find out the truth. Emill’s thriller mostly uses prose, but it also mixes in interviews, investigative files, and news articles. The formats give the story a grounded, realistic feel. The story has depth, integrating social commentary on subjects like homophobia and child abuse. What’s more, Pryce’s strong sense of justice will likely resonate with true crime fans. Purchase I Don't Wish You Well here. Penance by Eliza Clark Most mixed-media books with true crime roots still feature some prose, but Penance defies that expectation. Written like a true crime manuscript, Penance centers on the murder of 16-year-old Joni Wilson, who was set on fire and killed by three of her classmates named Dolly, Violet, and Angelica. The book includes interviews, witness statements, town history, Tumblr posts, family background information, letters to the killers, and podcast transcripts. Penance’s in-universe writer is a disgraced tabloid journalist, so the writing includes many of the flaws found in sensationalist true crime. He’s deeply unreliable, forcing readers to question how much of the information is true. Throughout the book, readers have to sit with the ethical questions of consuming true crime. On top of that, the actual mystery at the heart of the story is thrilling. Girl, 11 by Amy Suiter Clarke Amy Suiter Clarke wrote Girl,11, a story that will keep true crime fans up all night, eager to finish the book. Elle Castillo, a social worker-turned-true crime podcaster focused on child cold cases, centers her fifth season on The Countdown Killer, a ritualistic serial killer who suddenly stopped killing. Soon thereafter, new victims start popping up. Instead of solving the case, Elle must face the fact that her podcast has potentially brought back a serial killer. Like other books on this list, Girl, 11 seamlessly blends a traditional format with a podcast script. Elle is a compelling protagonist because her social work past gives her a psychology background, and she truly cares about the victims. The Countdown Killer is a terrifyingly realistic murderer, and his crimes will haunt readers. What’s more, it includes a nuanced look at the true crime genre. The Nothing Man By Catherine Ryan Howard Catherine Ryan Howard’s thriller The Nothing Man has a unique storytelling approach that will draw true crime fans in. At twelve years old, Eve Black survived a notorious serial killer, and she wrote a true crime memoir in adulthood about her efforts to catch him. Later, supermarket security guard Jim Doyle, the killer, reads her book and discovers how close she is to finding him. There’s so much to appreciate about the way The Nothing Man handles true crime themes. Unlike other writers, Howard doesn’t romanticize serial killers. Jim is just an ordinary person with nothing particularly special about him. The story gives agency to a survivor who uses her voice to seek justice. What’s more, Howard’s book lets readers into the minds of both the victim and the killer, which isn’t super common. Purchase The Nothing Man here. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson The entire A Good Girl’s Guide series is fantastic for folks who enjoy true crime, and it all started with the titular first novel. High school senior Andie Bell is killed by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who dies by suicide afterward. Or so the official story goes. Five years later, Pippa Fitz-Amobi chooses to investigate the crime as her senior project, determined to prove Sal’s innocence. A Good Girl's Guide Book Series Book # Book Title Publication Year #0.5 Kill Joy 2021 #1 A Good Girl's Guide to Murder 2019 #2 Good Girl Bad Blood 2020 #3 As Good As Dead 2021 Holly Jackson’s YA thriller is a perfect read for audiences of all ages, and the audiobook is even better. The writing blends third-person prose with project logs, documents, case notes, interview transcripts, and texts. Pippa’s obsession spirals out of control, showing how true crime can become all-consuming. On top of that, themes like police misconduct and innocent suspects become important throughout the book trilogy. The best news is, if a reader likes this novel, Netflix’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder adaptation is also fantastic. Purchase all the A Good Girl's Guide books, including the titular first book, here. Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar The metafiction thriller Chasing the Boogeyman is a great choice for true crime lovers who enjoy a horror tone. In the book, a recent college graduate and aspiring writer, Richard Chizmar, returns to his hometown where multiple girls’ bodies are found mutilated. He decides to write a true crime memoir, but he doesn’t realize the book will haunt him for years. First off, the book often gets mistaken for true crime because the author is the main character, and the town and details from his life are real. Chizmar’s perspective and voice in the book match reality. He also includes fake police documents, photos, and newspaper articles, which sell the idea that this is a true story. However, the serial killer and investigation are fabricated. Essentially, it’s a true crime book without the guilt of consuming someone else’s traumas. Purchase Chasing the Boogeyman here.