Non-Tacky True Crime

Leftist

Any recommendations?

Not looking for some cheap history of grisly murders or murderers. Something case specific preferably. Alternative to in cold blood.

Ipso

I recommend a book on Jack the Ripper by Philip Sugden. I think its called The complete history of Jack the Ripper.
It avoids the nonsense conspiracy theories and looks at all known evidence.

Aenaes

I read The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh a year or two ago and found it good.

Toby Take a Bow

The Devil in the White City was a good one, read it some time back, very interesting case, set in the 19th century around the time of a world fair in Chicago.

NaNaNa1

Charles Manson: Coming Down Fast by Simon Wells. Very interesting read if you're in any way interested in Manson.

old hippy

"A Tragedy Waiting to Happen" - Tony and JJ Muggivan. Tragic story of Brendan O' Donnell who was abused and then failed by the State, went feral and culminated in the shocking murders of Imelda Riney, her boy and a local priest. Nearly 20 years ago, now.

I recently read "Death on the Hill" by Abigail Rieley. Some society murder out in Howth. Not as moving or as engrossing (if that's the right word in this instance) as the Muggivans' book but still worth a look.

Harry Angstrom

"Lifers" by Barry Cummins

Giruilla

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher was quite enjoyable. Based on one specific murder case and seen as the inspiration for forensic science and Sherlock Holmes.

TheEscapist

Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden reads like a thriller except it's all true which makes it all the more readable.

D-FENS

The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule, is probably the best true crime book I ever read, it’s about 10 years since I did and I still remember the affect it had on me
Chillingly well detailed, both in giving details of Ted Bundy’s early life / what the author thinks caused him to do what he did, and in the killings themselves.
Not gratuitously gruesome but just extremely well written to the point that you understood how so many woman in North America must have felt at the time
Add to this the fact that Ann Rule actually knew him and, for a well educated women, refused to believe he was a serial killer for quite a while, based purely on the fact that the man she knew was so charming and kind, makes it all the more hard hitting and at times, almost unbelievable that this was a real person and not someone created by Thomas Harris

Paddy Samurai

Homicide by David Simon.
Is a great "True Crime "read ,one of my favourite books.
Although not case specific ,the is one case (as far as I remember) that runs through most of the book.(The murder of a child).

Aenaes wrote: »

I read The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh a year or two ago and found it good.

+1 on the book.

I think I remember watching a film about it as well ,with James Woods.
Long time back.....................

Trisha XxX

Leftist wrote: »

Any recommendations?

Not looking for some cheap history of grisly murders or murderers. Something case specific preferably. Alternative to in cold blood.

Anything by Robert Ressler would be good but I think you would have to order his books online. Or Manhunters by Colin Wilson. I enjoyed anyway.