Best Murder mystery/serial killers Books?

Question

So I’m on a reading fix and I’m looking for some good murder mystery or serial killer book. What are some of y’all favorites?

Answer 1

Please, get a copy of the Library of America's "True Crime" volume. There is no other volume that combines

contributions by Truman Capote, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Zora Neal Hurston, H.L. Mencken, Jimmy Breslin and

Abraham Lincoln(!).

Answer 2

These aren't all murder mystery or serial killer, some are true crime - but I would think that might fit into your tastes...



The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer is an absolute must read. It's more of a "true-crime novel" but a spectacular book for any genre.



In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is similar in genre, but not in content or storytelling - also an amazing book overall.



The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is quite a read. It's parallel stories about the Worlds Fair/Expo in 1893 and a serial killer - both going on in Chicago. Unbelievably researched and crafted.



American Psycho by Brett Elllis Easton is a novel, but oh is it good and creepy!



Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi is the classic book by Charles Manson's prosecutor. Another must read.



Fatal Vision by Joe McGinniss is kind of the book that really made true crime popular. Not a serial killer but quality reading.



And I'll agree with Bone Alone - Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta books are really a good series. A lot of other murder mystery series are as much about where they take place and the character. They can get silly and fun. I think all of that is actually often a good thing, but Cornwell is just more hard core and definitely has a scary edge to her writing.

Answer 3

Dashiell Hammett

Raymond Chandler

David Goodis

James M. Cain

Cornell Woolrich



The first two are probably the two best American writers of the 20th century.

Answer 4

A list of some authors

Agatha Christie

Ellery Queen

Edgar Wallace

PD James

James Patterson

Patricia Cornwell

Sue Grafton

Answer 5

There are my favorite books, DON'T KNOW WOULD YOU LIKE ANY OF THEM.





Most of the novels by Tom Clancy



Most of the novels by John Le Carre



Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas



The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms by Christopher Finch



Since the World Began: Walt Disney World - The First 25 Years Jeff Kurtti



One Day at Disney by Pam Brandon



Capturing the Magic: A Photographic Journey Through the Walt Disney World Parks by Holly Wiencek



Poster Art of the Disney Parks by Daniel Handke and Vanessa Hunt and Introduction byTony Baxter



Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis by Robert F. Kennedy and Foreword by Arthur Schlesinger Jr.



The President's Book of Secrets: The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to America's Presidents from Kennedy to Obama by David Priess and Forward by George H. W. Bush



Inside the CIA: Revealing the Secrets of the World's Most Powerful Spy Agency by Ronald Kessler



From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insider's Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War: Robert M. Gates



The CIA's Black Ops: Covert Action, Foreign Policy, and Democracy by John Jacob Nutter



Cold Zero : Inside The FBI Hostage Rescue Team by Christopher Whitcomb



MI6: Inside the Covert World of Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service by Stephen Dorril



Operation Mincemeat by Ben MacIntyre



U.S. Special Operations Forces by Special Operations Warrior Foundation



Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces by Linda Robinson



Larry Bond's Red Dragon Rising series by Larry Bond & Jim DeFelice



Agents of Innocence: A Novel by David Ignatius



The Director: A Novel by David Ignatius



The Company: A Novel of the CIA by Robert Littell



Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn



JB: Role of Honor by John Gardner



The James Bond Archives: SPECTRE Edition by Paul Duncan



James Bond Encyclopedia by John Cork









MAYBE these books for your future reading list





Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn



Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker



The St. Valentine's Day Massacre: The Untold Story of the Gangland Bloodbath That Brought Down Al Capone by William J. Helmer and Arthur J Bilek



Red Dragon by Thomas Harris



The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter) by Thomas Harris



Hannibal by Thomas Harris



Along Came A Spider by James Patterson



Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross 2) by James Patterson



Roses Are Red (Alex Cross Book 6) by James Patterson



Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross Book 8) by James Patterson



I, Alex Cross: (Alex Cross 16) by James Patterson



Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson



The People vs. Alex Cross (Alex Cross 23) by James Patterson



Twice Dead (An FBI Thriller Boxset Book 3) by Catherine Coulter



Whiplash (An FBI Thriller 14) by Catherine Coulter



Enigma (An FBI Thriller Book 21) by Catherine Coulter



Black Sunday by Thomas Harris



Los Angeles by Peter Moore Smith



The Last Detective (Elvis Cole Series) by Robert Crais



Taken (Elvis Cole and Joe Pike) by Robert Crais



The Wanted (Elvis Cole and Joe Pike) by Robert Crais



The First Rule (A Joe Pike Novel) by Robert Crais



Gosnell: The Untold Story of America's Most Prolific Serial Killer by Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer



Killer Clown: The John Wayne Gacy Murders by Terry Sullivan with Peter Maiken



The New York Ripper: The True Story of Serial Killer Richard Cottingham by Peter Vronsky

Answer 6

"The Cat Who Could Read Badkwards" by Lilian Braun;

"Code of Conduct" by Brad Thor;

"The Fallen Angel" by Daniel Silva;

"The Code of the Woosters" (not a murder mystery) by P. G. Wodehouse.

Answer 7

"The Alienist" by Caleb Carr. I like Elizabeth George. I think her husband also writes mysteries.

Answer 8

The Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

Answer 9

I used to read Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta series of books. The Body Farm is what got me started. Then I stopped because I pretty much stopped reading books.



John Sanford’s Prey seres are also really good. Used to feather but then I stopped reading books.

Answer 10

JA Jance writes several good ones, 2 set in Arizona, 1 in Seattle WA,