Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion
2018 Read Harder Challenge
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Task #2: A book of true crime
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Dec 19, 2017 11:50AM
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I found both of these very interesting:1. Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed
2. Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: The Uncensored Story of the JonBenet Murder and the Grand Jury's Search for the Truth
Okay, so, does anyone have any suggestions for something lighter for this one? Like maybe a crazy caper kind of true crime?
What about something like a version of the Darwin awards...world's dumbest criminals or something?
I was thinking In Cold Blood but now I'm leaning towards this one: The Ax Murders of Saxtown: The Unsolved Crime That Terrorized a Town and Shocked the Nation -- it's a case I never heard of before.
Brooklyn wrote: "What about something like a version of the Darwin awards...world's dumbest criminals or something?"I would definitely be interested in something like that!
Jordan wrote: "Brooklyn wrote: "What about something like a version of the Darwin awards...world's dumbest criminals or something?"I would definitely be interested in something like that!"
Here's one I found:
Weird but True: Stupid Criminals: 100 Brainless Baddies Busted, Plus Wacky Facts
I have Mrs Sherlock Holmes on my list for true crime books. I don't know much about it but the thought of a female detective was intriguing.
Jordan wrote: "Okay, so, does anyone have any suggestions for something lighter for this one? Like maybe a crazy caper kind of true crime?"Maybe something like Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts ?
Brooklyn wrote: "What about something like a version of the Darwin awards...world's dumbest criminals or something?"That's a great idea! I wouldn't have even thought of that. I actually have this prompt twice, in this challenge and one other that I'm doing, so I was planning on reading My Friend Dahmer for one. I get that it's not really about his crimes, but it's his backstory so I think it can still work.
The only book I found that interested me is The Arsenic Century: How Victorian Britain Was Poisoned at Home, Work, and Play and that's really stretching the definition of true crime, in my opinion. I'm glad to see some less murderous options.
I’ll probably go with In Cold Blood since it has been on my to read list so long, but I’d love to find something with a similar feel to The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America (serial killer plus historical backdrop), which I really enjoyed.
Amber wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Okay, so, does anyone have any suggestions for something lighter for this one? Like maybe a crazy caper kind of true crime?"Maybe something like [book:Ballad of the Whiskey Robber:..."
That definitely sounds good, thanks!
I have had The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America for so long that I think I’ll use it for this or The Black Dahlia
Sarah, here's another suggestion with a historical backdrop -The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and the Hunt for America's First Serial Killer
Daph wrote: "Sarah, here's another suggestion with a historical backdrop -The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and the Hunt for America's First Serial Killer"
Thanks!
I've DNF'd In Cold Blood a couple times, so maybe I'll give that one another chance to see if I can finally get through it. It's more likely that I'll go with Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI which I've been dying to get to.
Jordan wrote: "Okay, so, does anyone have any suggestions for something lighter for this one? Like maybe a crazy caper kind of true crime?"I haven’t read it, but I’ve heard great things about Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts and I’m pretty sure it’s a lighter true crime read.
Theresa wrote: "I've DNF'd In Cold Blood a couple times, so maybe I'll give that one another chance to see if I can finally get through it. It's more likely that I'll go with Killers of the Flo..."Don't feel bad about DNFing In Cold Blood. I finished it, but it was a slog, even with a good audiobook narrator.
I think one of my book clubs is planning to read Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, so I expect that is what I'll go with.
Yeah, I'm definitely after a non-murderous one, too!
The Innocent Man by John Grisham is a fantastic true-crime read. Grisham does excellent research but writes the story with his abilities to write fiction. Very approachable and enjoyable true crime book.
I'm going with Columbine for this task. I'm not sure if I can actually finishing considering the heart-breaking subject but I'd like to give it a try.
I'm also after something non-murderous/violent.
I'm thinking of reading The Map Thief for this. It might help out folks looking for non-violent true crime
Maryam wrote: "I'm going with Columbine for this task. I'm not sure if I can actually finishing considering the heart-breaking subject but I'd like to give it a try."This book was amazing. I followed it with A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy. It was heartbreaking, but I learned so much not jsut about what happened, but about how truly shocking it was for those who knew the Klebold and to a lesser extent Harris.
Maryam wrote: "I'm going with Columbine for this task. I'm not sure if I can actually finishing considering the heart-breaking subject but I'd like to give it a try."Same. Either Columbine or Disco Bloodbath (I loved the movie)
For those that are looking for less gruesome options:The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft
There are also several other books about the Gardner heist.
Jordan wrote: "Okay, so, does anyone have any suggestions for something lighter for this one? Like maybe a crazy caper kind of true crime?"I'm with you on this one. Not looking forward to reading this category.
Bugamok wrote: "For those that are looking for less gruesome options:The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft
There are also several other books about the Gardne..."
Thank you!!!
Jordan wrote: "Okay, so, does anyone have any suggestions for something lighter for this one? Like maybe a crazy caper kind of true crime?"Heist: The Oddball Crew Behind the $17 Million Loomis Fargo Theft
Theresa wrote: "I've DNF'd In Cold Blood a couple times, so maybe I'll give that one another chance to see if I can finally get through it. It's more likely that I'll go True crime isn't usually my genre - but I REALLY enjoyed Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. I read it for an alphabet challenge in 2017 where the K book was a book about a killer. It was a great read!
I've been looking around for more non-violent true crime and I think I'm going to go with Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America - meant to read it last year for my set-within-100-miles item, but didn't. On the list again. :)
I read The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit this year, or it would have made an excellent pick!I won't sleep if I read about murders, which is what a LOT of true crime is about, so I'm probably going to go with either The Dark Net: Inside the Digital Underworld or Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.
I'm probably going to go with Absolute Madness: A True Story of a Serial Killer, Race, and a City Divided because I grew up around Buffalo and the history of that city is really something else, although if I can't get my hands on a copy, I have a few books about the early days of the FBI on my list.
I've never read true crime before, but I think Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI or Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith look interesting.
I'll add my recommendation for Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI as an excellent read. I also would suggest American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road, a fascinating dive into online crime and bitcoin and how government agencies work (or don't work) together.
I'd argue for The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession as well. If you haven't read it, here is a great opportunity.
I loved the Serial podcast that featured this case and the book has been on my TBR. This is the perfect chance.Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial
Jesica wrote: "I've been looking around for more non-violent true crime and I think I'm going to go with Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History" You could read a autobiography of Tom Keating, a notorious art forger. That's not violent crime, just violence against the wallet! The book is rather fun to read too! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Riah wrote: "I've never read true crime before, but I think Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI or [book:Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith|1..."Under the Banner of Heaven was a great book- Jon Krakauer is an excellent writer.
I've got The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York earmarked for this one.
I'm thinking of reading Jane: A Murder by Maggie Nelson for this one, though I'm not sure it fits exactly.
I was looking at Columbine for this one... I remember when it happened (I was a freshman in high school at the time) and it's taken on a very monolithic place in history, so I feel like it fits... but it`s not like a potboil-y dissection as far as I can tell. So would it still count?
I haven't started it yet, but I picked up City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris from the library recently and it's a bit of a detour from modern true crime, so it might be an interesting read for this one.
Riah wrote: "I've never read true crime before, but I think Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI or [book:Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith|1..."I've read both of those and they are excellent!
Debra wrote: "Riah wrote: "I've never read true crime before, but I think Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI or [book:Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Vi..."Both 5-star reads for me as well.
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara could count for this one AND task #1, a book published posthumously!
Tori wrote: "I was looking at Columbine for this one... I remember when it happened (I was a freshman in high school at the time) and it's taken on a very monolithic place in history, so I feel l..."I don't see why not. Just says "A book of true crime".
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
For All the Tea in China: Espionage, Empire and the Secret Formula for the World's Favourite Drink (other topics)In Cold Blood (other topics)
Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest (other topics)
Newtown: An American Tragedy (other topics)
The Feather Thief (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Michelle McNamara (other topics)Michelle McNamara (other topics)
Margaret Atwood (other topics)
Gayle Forman (other topics)
Gayle Forman (other topics)
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