Books
17 Feelings You Know Far Too Well If You're A True Crime Reader
True crime readers are the first to admit that it's a genre unlike any other. True crime books are filled with unspeakable tragedy, horror, and violence; yet, when written with care and respect, they are also filled with humanity and empathy. In true crime books, authors expose the darkest crevices of mankind, but they also reveal the opposite end of the spectrum, and almost every gradient in between. And of course, there's something undeniably interesting about the dark side — what can you learn in the face of unspeakable tragedy? What can you learn about the people affected? What can you learn about living with more empathy and kindness?
It's easy to get swept away in the grisly details of true crime books. But in reality, that's not what hooks readers. Or at least, that's not what hooks me. There's something undeniably addictive about trying to work through the clues and figure out what happened, but it's not just a puzzle to solve; it's an examination of human nature at its worst and its best.
If you read true crime, you already know this to be true. But no doubt, you've also experienced some of the following emotions in your reading:
1Not Being Able To Sleep Because You're Too Freaked Out
This is true crime. It really happened. Which means... IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU. Good luck sleeping tonight.
2Feeling Like You Are ONE CLUE AWAY From Figuring It All Out.
The answer must be right in front of you!
3Thinking You've Got It All Figured Out — Only To Have Your Theory Squashed By More Evidence
BACK TO THE WHITEBOARD.
4But Still Feeling Like You're An Expert On All Things Forensics & Could Definitely Be A Homicide Detective
Honestly, you missed your real calling.
5Feeling Creeped Out By Your Own Damn Self, Because You're So Obsessed With Morbid Details
I don't need your judgment, Nancy.
6Feeling Like Your Heart Is Legitimately Going To Stop When You Read A Particularly Horrifying Detail
Honestly, true crime is stranger than fiction.
7Not Being Able To Think About Anything But The Case — Even When You're At Work, At School, At The Grocery Store, On Dates...
OK, but how many times have you accidentally brought up murder on a first date?
8Knowing In Your Heart That You Know The Real Truth, Even If You Can't Prove It
Sometimes you've got a gut feeling that you know who did it. You just know.
9Being Suspicious Of Totally Normal Things In Your Life
OK, but why is this BLOCKED number calling me? Is it the Zodiac killer?
10Freaking Yourself Out While Thinking About How It Would All Play Out If The Crime Happened In Your Neighborhood
It's hard not to apply these stories to your own life and get lost in worst case scenarios. Who could you trust?
11Feeling Hopeful That The End Of The Book Will Actually Have Some Answers
Unfortunately, there's a whole lot of unsolved crimes. And even the solved crimes rarely have satisfying endings.
13Needing To Talk To Everyone You Know About The Case
"OK, yes, I know I'm just picking up my dry-cleaning, but have you heard about The Golden State Killer?"
14Feeling A Little Thrill When You Look Up A Case Online
The book almost always has better information, but you can get it quicker on the internet.
15That Feeling Of Pure Joy When You Meet Someone Who's Equally Obsessed With True Crime
The friends who creep together, stay together.
