In last years best true crime post we listed 10 books. This year we struggled to narrow it down to 13. Needless to say, True Crime journalism in all it’s forms, podcasts, blogs, books is a booming industry. In this post we look at new books from True Crime heavy weights like Gregg Olsen, to inexperienced amateur sleuths. So without further ado here are the 13 Best True Crime Books released in 2025 in publication order.
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The 13 Best True Crime Books Published in 2025
Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation, by Michael Cannell
Published in January 2025 by Minotaur Books
Blood and Badge details the shocking true story of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two corrupt NYPD detectives who led a horrifying double life. While serving as decorated officers, they secretly acted as assassins and informants for the Mafia in the 1980s. Their crimes included leaking critical police intelligence to the mob and directly participating in multiple murders.
The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy, by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber
Published in February 2025 by St. Martin’s Press
This true crime exploration of Munchausen by Proxy syndrome investigates the disturbing form of child abuse, where a caregiver (often a mother) fabricates or induces illness in a child for attention and sympathy. The narrative follows high-stakes investigations, shares stories from those affected, and aims to demystify the psychological and systemic issues surrounding these complex cases.
Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress, and Dr. Crippen, by Hallie Rubenhold
Published in March 2025 by Dutton
A historical true crime re-investigation of the infamous 1910 murder by Dr. Crippen. Author Hallie Rubenhold shifts the focus from the murderer to the lives of the three women central to the case: Crippen’s two wives and his mistress. Using new evidence, she dismantles the traditional, sympathetic narrative of Crippen and the victim-blaming of his wife, instead revealing the complex stories of the women themselves and the societal constraints of their era.
Home of the Happy: A Murder on the Cajun Prairie, by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot
Published in April 2025 by Mariner Books
Jordan LaHaye Fontenot, investigates the 1983 murder of her great-grandfather in rural Louisiana. She delves into the case, exploring persistent community doubts about the convicted man’s guilt. The narrative unravels family secrets and examines the lasting trauma of the crime, all while questioning whether a wrongful conviction has stood for over forty years.
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers, by Caroline Fraser
Published in June by Penguin Press
Murderland investigates the rise of serial killers in the 1970s and 80s Pacific Northwest, using figures like Ted Bundy as case studies. Fraser, argues a provocative thesis: she connects this “epidemic” of violent psychopathy to the region’s history of widespread industrial pollution, suggesting environmental toxins may have played a role in warping young minds.
The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy, by James Patterson, and Vicky Ward
Published in July 2025 by Little, Brown and Company
The Idaho Four is a definitive true crime account of the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. Authors James Patterson and Vicky Ward present a comprehensive narrative built from hundreds of interviews, detailing the victims’ lives, the police investigation, the impact on the families, and the complex psychological portrait of the accused killer, Bryan Kohberger.
The Carpool Detectives: A True Story of Four Moms, Two Bodies, and One Mysterious Cold Case, by Chuck Hogan
Published inn July 2025 by Random House
The Carpool Detectives is a true crime story about four stay-at-home moms who, united by their passion for true crime podcasts, decide to investigate a cold case double homicide from their community during the 2020 pandemic. With no professional experience but diverse skills, they pursue leads and witness interviews, eventually gaining the attention of authorities and helping to officially reopen the case, while putting themselves in unexpected danger. It’s a story of amateur sleuthing turning into a high-stakes, real-life investigation.
Out of the Woods: A Girl, a Killer, and a Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home, by Gregg Olsen
Published in August 2025 by Thomas & Mercer
Out of the Woods is the true story of Shasta Groene, who, as a child, was abducted by a serial killer after her family was murdered. The book details her traumatic 48-day ordeal and, more significantly, follows her lifelong, difficult struggle to survive and reclaim her life in the decades after the rescue, dealing with the profound and lasting impact of the trauma.
The Man No One Believed: The Untold Story of the Georgia Church Murders, by Joshua Sharpe
Published in August 2025 by W. W. Norton & Company
The Man No One Believed is an investigates a double murder in a Georgia church, 1985. It follows journalist Joshua Sharpe as he re-examines the case, uncovers evidence of a flawed investigation and corruption, and works to prove the innocence of Dennis Perry, a man wrongfully convicted of the crime.
The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces, by Seth Harp
Published in August 2025 by Viking
The Fort Bragg Cartel examines a series of unsolved murders and a drug-trafficking network within the elite U.S. Special Forces community at Fort Bragg. Journalist and veteran Seth Harp links the deaths to a culture of addiction, corruption, and impunity fostered by prolonged covert warfare.
Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent’s Search for Hope and Justice, by John Edward, Robert Hilland
Published in September 2025 by St. Martin’s Essentials
Chasing Evil is a true crime memoir that details the unlikely, 25-year partnership between a skeptical FBI agent and the famous psychic John Edward. It chronicles how their collaboration began with a breakthrough in a cold case and evolved as they worked together on multiple investigations, blending traditional detective work with psychic intuition to seek justice and find personal healing.
The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and the Stories That Define Us, by John J. Lennon
Published in September 2025 by Celadon Books
The Tragedy of True Crime is a unique work of immersive journalism written by a convicted murderer turned journalist, John J. Lennon, from inside prison. It moves beyond sensational headlines to tell the complex, full life stories of four incarcerated men, including the author himself, exploring their paths to violence and their searches for redemption.
Bone Valley: A True Story of Injustice and Redemption in the Heart of Florida, by Gilbert King
Published in 2025 by Flatiron Books
Bone Valley investigates a potential miscarriage of justice in Florida. It centers on Leo Schofield, imprisoned for 35 years for his wife’s murder, and Jeremy Scott, who later confessed to the crime. Expanding on the hit podcast, the book details the conflicting confessions and the state’s refusal to reconsider the case, building a compelling argument for Schofield’s innocence and a shocking failure of the justice system.
We hope you enjoyed this post of the best true crime from 2025. For more true crime books check out our other posts here: True Crime
