I love watching the True Crimes shows on tv, but I've never read any books in the genre.  What are some good books to start with?  Are true crime books super gory?

Not all TC books are gory.  The ones that do bother me are when young children are murdered.  I've been reading them for years...so I don't get shocked much.  I worked in a bookstore for 18 years..so I think I have read about every TC book that has been published ( or I have them in a pile here)

A classic like ~In Cold Blood~ by Capote is a great read and timeless.  A scary type is ~The Night Stalker~ by Carlo..Shattered by Casey was a great  new tc read I finished last weekend.  I also watch all the true crime programs on tv...and some of the Dateline type of crime stories are also made into books.

 I would recommend Helter Skelter By Vincent Bugliosi   Zodiac By Robert  Greysmith  The Stranger Beside Me By Ann Rule  The Black Dahlia By James Mc Elroy these books are some of the best true crime books I think everyone who reads true crime have read alot of these and I agree with In Cold Blood also. I hope you come to enjoy this genre as much as all of us TC fans

                                                        Happy Reading,Heather

Awesome!  I'm going camping this weekend and wanted something different to read.  These make for a great start!  Off to the library!  Thanks!

I started with "Helter Skelter" but first you have to decide what you like and dislike about true crime.  Although I have read a few, I tend to stay away from child murders because a couple of them really disturbed me after reading.  Then you have your authors.  I like Ann Rule, Kathryn Casey, Corey Mitchell, Carlton Stowers, and Carlton Smith to name a few.  Here a few more to add to your list:

1.  Dead and Buried - Mitchell

2. Pure Murder - Mitchell

3. The Stranger Beside Me - Ann Rule

4. And Never Let Her Go - Ann Rule

5. Shattered - Kathryn Casey

6. Descent Into Hell - Casey

7. Fatal Vision - McGuiness

8. Blood Bath - Susan Mustafa

9. Unanswered Cries - French

10. Without A Trace: The disappearance of Amy Billing

I could go on and on......

I had forgot about :Without A  Trace' I have read that book twice it was so  sad she spent all those years searching  for her daughter and so many people took advantage of her.I don;t think bikers got her I think it was the guy who phoned her for all those years. I do have to say that is a great book

I went to the library and got Zodiac, Helter Skelter and In Cold Blood.  That seemed like a good starting point, and I'l work my way through the suggestions provided!  Thanks so much!  I can't wait to sit back and do nothing but read this weekend. 

I read  "Without A Trace" many years ago but I vaguely remember the man on the phone.  I think it was bikers.  I think she hitched a ride when they were in town and they kidnapped her and kept her drugged and traded her around.  Whatever happened, it was very sad for that poor mother.  She was one tough cookie.  Heartbreaking story.  I think you and I like the same type of books.  Try "Unanswered Cries" that was a pretty good one, if you haven't read that already.