Books
7 True Crime Books For 'Making A Murderer' Fans
The world was captivated by the conviction of Steven Avery when Netflix brought his story into the spotlight with season one of Making a Murderer in December of 2015. Now, fans have to wait until the second season is released, but until then, pick up one of these true crime books for Making A Murderer fans.
For months, it seemed like all anyone could talk about was the documentary series that examined the murder of Theresa Halbach. Prior to the Theresa Halbach case, Steven Avery was convicted of sexual assault, and he had served 18 years in prison before his release in 2003. In 2005, he was convicted of Halbach's murder. The details of the investigation are revisited throughout the series, and left more than a few viewers furious and convinced of his innocence.
The first season of the documentary was viewed over 19 million times within the first 35 days of its premiere on Netflix, so it came as no surprise when fans were ecstatic about the announcement of a second season. The new season will focus on the post-conviction process and the impact it had on Avery and his family. It hasn't been announced yet when the new episodes will hit your Netflix accounts, but until it does, there are plenty of other true crime stories to keep you occupied. Here are 7 true crime books every Making a Murderer fan will get lost in.
1. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
This classic true crime work focuses on the investigation of the murder of the Clutter family in Kansas in 1959. The family of four was brutally killed with a shotgun, despite a complete lack of motive. Truman Capote's recreation of the investigation was one of the first of its kind, and remains one of the most well-known true crime books.
2. Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule
Ann Rule is a household name when it comes to true crime, and Small Sacrifices is the perfect example of how that came to be. Originally published in 1988, Small Sacrifices delves into the life of Diane Downs, a mother convicted of shooting her three children, killing one and injuring two. Though she attempted to pin the crime on a stranger, Downs was herself convicted, and even today there are people convinced of her innocence.
3. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is as engrossing and gripping as any fiction novel, and will have you so involved in the story, you'll almost forget that the murder of Danny Hansford by Jim Williams is completely real. Williams went to trial a total of four times for the murder, making it one of the most prominent murder trials of the 1980s.
4. Footsteps in the Snow by Charles Lachman
Footsteps in the Snow gives new meaning to the term cold case. When a little girl, Maria, disappears while playing in the snow, only to be found dead in April, the nation is thrown into the ongoing investigation into the mysterious person who appeared minutes before Maria's disappearance. Though the police had over 70 suspects over the course of the investigation, no one was ever charged for the crime. Over 50 years later, however, the coldest case in history is re-opened after a deathbed confession.
5. The Wicked Boy by Kate Summerscale
If you're looking for a change of pace in your true crime reading, The Wicked Boy is the (terrifying) answer to that. In 1895, two boys, Robert, age 13, and Nattie Coomes, age 12, enjoyed meals in fancy restaurants and trips to the theater. When questioned, they explained that they were home alone while their mother was visiting relatives. Suspicious, an aunt forced her way into their home, and found the body of their mother. The two boys were arrested, and Robert ultimately confessed to the murder, though he expressed no remorse. A chilling look at an infamous child murderer, The Wicked Boy will have you losing sleep.
6. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
A must-read for true crime addicts, The Devil in the White City is the story of H.H. Holmes, a serial killer pretending to be a friendly doctor. As one of the designers of the Chicago World's Fair, Holmes was responsible for the construction of the World's Fair Hotel, which contained a crematorium and gas chamber, where he would ultimately lure his victims with his charm. Erik Larson's work is bone chilling, and the realization that this isn't just a really good thriller will keep haunt you.
7. Lost Girls by Robert Kolker
Lost Girls is a terrifying look into the unsolved murders of Long Island, New York. Girls associated with an online escort service were repeatedly disappearing, only to be found murdered later on. Lost Girls focuses on the victims of the crimes, and the secrets that lie within even seemingly perfect parts of America.
Image: Netflix
