"Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases" by Paul Holes, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $17.62
Paul Holes was a cold case investigator known for his work on cases like the Zodiac Killer, Laci Peterson, Jaycee Dugard, and, most notably, the Golden State Killer. This true crime memoir looks back on his rewarding and draining career of tracking down killers and sacrificing relationships to bring closure to others.
"I'll Be Gone in the Dark" by Michelle McNamara, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $13.27
The Golden State Killer terrorized California for more than 10 years, committing more than 50 sexual assaults and 10 violent murders before disappearing. Though the police were unable to identify or locate the man, Michelle McNamara was an investigative journalist who was determined to bring him to justice. This book is the fast-paced account of her efforts, and a compelling accumulation of years of dedicated work. Michelle McNamara passed away suddenly during her investigation, but her lead researcher and her husband, Patton Oswalt, collaborated to finish this story, a compelling accumulation of years of dedicated work.
"Walking the Bowl: A True Story of Murder and Survival Among the Street Children of Lusaka" by Chris Lockhart & Daniel Mulilo Chama, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $20.68
This true story of survival and endurance centers around the murder investigation of a 10-year-old boy whose body was found in a Lusaka landfill. It follows four children — Moonga, Timo, Lusabilo, and Kapula — in a narrative nonfiction story of their daily lives and those of other "street kids."
"In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.29
"In Cold Blood" is a true crime classic, one that reconstructs a senseless murder of four family members in 1959 Kansas, each killed by a shotgun blast inches from their faces. Truman Capote's writing reads like a thriller as he breeds suspense through journalistic research of the crime, the investigation, and the ultimate execution of the killers. This is an in-depth look at the criminals who left almost no clues for the investigators, a book that was once required reading in many schools and now a favorite amongst true crime readers for the depth of characterization and Truman's unique and alluring use of language.
"The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple" by Jeff Guinn, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $14.59
"The Road to Jonestown" is a comprehensive true crime tale of Jim Jones, who was ultimately responsible for the largest murder-suicide in American history. This narrative read follows Jones from his time as a young minister, through affairs and drug use, to the events that lead to the Jonestown Massacre.
"Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls" by Jessica McDiarmid, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $14.89
This true crime read is a history of the Indigenous women who have gone missing or been found murdered along the isolated Highway 16 in British Columbia. Through a series of interviews with those closest to the victims, this nonfiction book examines the effects of these tragedies, the cultural tensions, and the system that has continuously failed Ingedinous people.
"Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries" by Rick Emerson, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $22.57
In 1971, a diary called "Go Ask Alice," which outlined a teenager's destructive descent, was anonymously published and has since sold five million copies. "Unmask Alice" unravels the literary deception of this book and "Jay's Journal," both of which captivated readers with their startling content.
"Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators" by Ronan Farrow, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $14.90
The investigative story of the abuses and cover-ups surrounding Harvey Weinstein, this true crime book reads like a thriller. Ronan Farrow is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist who fought against an elaborate web of lies to expose the outrageous truths of predatory sexual and harassment in Hollywood, not only from Weinstein but from an industry of offenders who abused their power and silenced their victims. While many readers are likely familiar with this story due to its high publicity, Farrow's elaborate takedown of powerful abusers is worth reading about in detail.
"Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup" by John Carreyrou, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $11.45
Elizabeth Holmes was the CEO of Theranos, a company that revolutionized the medical industry with a machine that would make blood tests faster and easier. Seen as the female Steve Jobs and hailed as a genius across the media, Elizabeth's net worth quickly rocketed to $4.7 billion and her company to $9 billion — until it was discovered that her product didn't work. The book outlines how one woman managed to defraud medical facilities, FDA researchers, and her own employees, a story of unparalleled corporate fraud and unchecked greed.
"Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI" by David Grann, available on Amazon and Bookshop, from $9.16
When oil was discovered beneath the land of the native Osage in Oklahoma in the 1920s, they became some of the richest people in the world. But, slowly, the Osage were being killed or dying under mysterious circumstances. As the death toll reached 24, the newly established FBI began to investigate. Famously corrupt at the time, the FBI failed to solve the case until the director teamed up with one of the only Indigenous agents to uncover the mystery around one of the most sinister conspiracies in American history. This shocking historical injustice is an important piece of purposefully buried history that needs to be told.
Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@insider.com.