True crime has established itself as a genre that consistently captivates readers with its exploration of the darkest aspects of human behavior. The year 2023 was no exception, as authors delved into a diverse range of real-life crimes, from mysteries to notorious cases that continue to haunt the public consciousness. From chilling narratives that unravel the complexities of human nature to gripping accounts of criminal investigations, these 40 nonfiction true crime books released in 2023 offer a glimpse into the depths of human depravity and the resilience of those who seek justice. Whether you’re a seasoned true crime aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, you will undoubtedly find something in the new release list to keep you on the edge of your seat.
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A Few Days Full of Trouble, by Reverend Wheeler Parker Jr. & Christopher Benson
Revelations on the Journey to Justice for My Cousin and Best Friend, Emmett Till
Released on January 10, 2023 by One World
Emmett Till’s cousin recounts the harrowing abduction and lynching of his best friend while reflecting on the enduring legacy of racial violence in America.
Waco, by Jeff Guinn
David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage
Released on January 24, 2023 by Simon & Schuster
Jeff Guinn delivers a gripping and thoroughly researched account of the Waco siege, exposing poor decisions, cover-ups, and direct links to the modern militia movement, featuring never-before-seen documents and interviews with former ATF agents.
Smash, Smash, Smash, by Philip Fairbanks
The True Story of Kai the Hitchhiker
Published on February 6, 2023 by Is It Wet Yet Press
A viral sensation after fending off an attacker with a hatchet, the mysterious hitchhiker’s story took a dark turn when he was later charged with killing a New Jersey lawyer in self-defense against sexual assault. Investigative journalist Philip Fairbanks reveals the shocking truth, exposing a decade of hidden details, including evidence tampering and trial secrecy.
I Know Who You Are, by Barbara Rae-Venter
Published on February 7, 2023 by Ballantine Books
Barbara Rae-Venter unveils her groundbreaking work in investigative genetic genealogy, revolutionizing law enforcement’s approach to hunting serial killers, including the capture of the Golden State Killer, and shares thrilling accounts of solving chilling cold cases in just three years.
The Art Thief, by Michael Finkel
Published on February 16, 2023 by Knopf
A riveting true-crime narrative of Stéphane Breitwieser, the world’s most prolific art thief, who executed over two hundred audacious heists driven by obsession and flawed genius, providing a captivating exploration of art, crime, love, and an insatiable hunger for beauty at any cost.
Vanished in Vermillion, by Lou Raguse
The Real Story of South Dakota’s Most Infamous Cold Case
Published on February 27, 2023 by Post Hill Press
Exposing South Dakota’s largest law enforcement embarrassment Vanished in Vermillion by Lou Raguse investigates the cold case of two seventeen-year-olds who disappeared in 1971, revealing a story of decades-long pain for two families and a chilling twist that ensnares a third.
We Were Once a Family, by Roxanna Asgarian
A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America
Published on March 14, 2023 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
A harrowing and deeply moving account of the tragic events that led to the murder-suicide of six children in Texas in 2018. Asgarian investigates the lives of the children, their parents, and the social workers involved in their case, exposing the systemic flaws and racial biases that contributed to the tragedy.
Fool Me Once, by Kelly Richmond Pope
Scams, Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion-Dollar Fraud Industry
Published on March 21, 2023 by Harvard Business Review Press
Forensic accounting expert Kelly Richmond Pope delves into the world of financial crimes, exploring the motivations of perpetrators, the vulnerabilities of victims, and the courage of whistleblowers, equipping readers with insights to protect themselves and their organizations from fraud.
Ghosts of the Orphanage, by Christine Kenneally
A Story of Mysterious Deaths, a Conspiracy of Silence, and a Search for Justice
Published on March 21, 2023 by PublicAffairs
Explore the hidden horrors of twentieth-century orphanages—hiding violence, abuse, and deaths for decades. Christine Kenneally’s decade-long investigation, centered on St. Joseph’s in Vermont, reveals a shocking global trail of crimes.
A Fever in the Heartland, by Timothy Egan
The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them
Published on April 4, 2023 by Viking
A Fever in the Heartland tells the true story of a conman’s Klan takeover plot and the ordinary woman who dared to stop him.
Koresh, by Stephan Talty
The True Story of David Koresh and the Tragedy at Waco
Published on April 11, 2023 by Mariner Books
Koresh goes beyond a mere retelling of events. It delves into the psychological complexities of Koresh and his followers, the cultural anxieties and conspiracy theories that fueled their beliefs, and the government’s missteps that fanned the flames of tragedy.
The Delphi murders: The Quest To Find ‘The Man On The Bridge’, by Nic Edwards, Brian Whitney
Published on April 17, 2023 by WildBlue Press
True Crime Garage podcast host Nic Edwards, along with co-author Brian Whitney, offers a gripping account of the investigation into the murders of teenagers Abigail Williams and Liberty German, exploring a range of possible suspects before the eventual arrest of Richard Allen in October 2022, raising questions about law enforcement’s pursuit and the motives behind the heinous crime.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, by David Grann
Published on April 18, 2023 by Doubleday
The Wager by David Grann recounts the harrowing tale of British shipwreck survivors initially celebrated as heroes in Brazil, only for a later revelation in Chile to expose them as mutineers, leading to a high-stakes court martial and a riveting exploration of human behavior at its extremes.
The Best Minds, by Jonathan Rosen
A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions
Published on April 18, 2023 by Penguin Press
A heartbreaking account of Michael Laudor’s journey from a promising Yale graduate with paranoid schizophrenia to a tragic figure who fatally stabbed his girlfriend, Carrie, unfolding an American tragedy that explores the bonds of family, friendship, and the pursuit of intellectual achievement.
Searching for Savanna, by Mona Gable
The Murder of One Native American Woman and the Violence Against the Many
Published on April 25, 2023 by Atria Books
Searching for Savanna investigates the disappearance of pregnant Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, exposing the alarming epidemic of violence against Native American women and scrutinizing the government’s complicity, all while highlighting the historical dehumanization of Indigenous women and the ongoing advocacy for change.
Homegrown, by Jeffrey Toobin
Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism
Published on May 2, 2023 by Simon & Schuster
Homegrown explores the history and legacy of Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, tracing how McVeigh’s extremist ideologies continue to influence events like the January 6 Capitol riot. Utilizing unreleased materials, Toobin provides a cautionary tale for the future, revealing the lasting impact of McVeigh’s actions.
What the Dead Know, by Barbara Butcher
Learning About Life as a New York City Death Investigator
Published on June 20, 2023 by Simon & Schuster
Barbara Butcher, the second woman ever hired as a Death Investigator in Manhattan, recounts over two decades of gritty, demanding, and sometimes dangerous work at the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office, investigating more than 5,500 death scenes, including the 9/11 attacks, revealing surprising life lessons learned through her experiences.
A Thread of Violence, by Mark O’Connell
A Story of Truth, Invention, and Murder
Published on June 27, 2023 by Doubleday
Mark O’Connell explores the chilling story of Dublin socialite Malcolm Macarthur, whose desperate plan to commit a bank robbery in 1982 spiraled out of control, resulting in the needless deaths of two civilians.
Little, Crazy Children, by James Renner
A True Crime Tragedy of Lost Innocence
Published on June 27, 2023 by Citadel
In 1990, the murder of sixteen-year-old Lisa Pruett in Shaker Heights, Ohio, led to the arrest of high school outcast Kevin Young, who was later acquitted. In his meticulously researched account, James Renner unveils the dark undercurrents within the community, exploring lingering questions and wounds that persist more than thirty years after the tragic event.
When Crack Was King, by Donovan X. Ramsey
A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era
Published on July 11, 2023 by One World
A critical examination of the often-overlooked crack epidemic, debunking myths from Reagan’s war on drugs and tracing its enduring impact, including a racially biased criminal justice system, mass incarceration, gentrification, and increased police brutality.
American Black Widow, by Gregg Olsen
Published on July 13, 2023 by Thread
In 1976 Colorado, suspicions arise in Rocky Ford when Reverend Mike Fuller’s wife, Sharon, charms the congregation and has an affair with married optometrist Perry Nelson. After Perry’s accidental death, Sharon claims his insurance and remarries fireman Glenn Harrelson. When Glenn dies under mysterious circumstances, questions arise about the series of deaths linked to Sharon.
Anansi’s Gold, by Yepoka Yeebo
The Man Who Looted the West, Outfoxed Washington, and Swindled the World
Published on August 1, 2023 by Bloomsbury Publishing
The captivating tale of John Ackah Blay-Miezah, a Ghanaian con artist who orchestrated an audacious fraud post-Ghana’s independence. Yepoka Yeebo explores Blay-Miezah’s charismatic scams, involving an alleged Nkrumah trust fund, and the unraveling of his elusive trail amidst Cold War entanglements and African dreams.
Tangled Vines, by John Glatt
Power, Privilege, and the Murdaugh Family Murders
Published on August 8, 2023 by St. Martin’s Press
In South Carolina’s low country, the Murdaugh family, known for their century-old law practice, faces tragedy when attorney Alex Murdaugh discovers the bodies of his wife and son in 2021. The subsequent investigation reveals dark secrets about the influential family, including privileged treatment following a previous incident involving their son. As financial fraud and suspicious deaths unravel, a desperate Alex emerges, willing to go to extreme lengths to salvage the family’s reputation.
Murder on Elm Street, by Jeremy L Luberts
A True-Life Crime Story
Published on August 14, 2023 by Beaver’s Pond Press
In Little Falls, Minnesota, on Thanksgiving 2012, a true-life horror story unfolds when two teenage cousins break into a residence on Elm Street. Unaware of the sinister trap set by the retired homeowner, they lose their lives. Detective Jeremy Luberts responds to a subsequent suspicious activity complaint at the same residence over twenty-four hours later, initiating a case that sparks a national debate on the limits of self-defense in one’s home.
Grim Paradise, by Rod Sadler
The Cold Case Search for the Mackinac Island Killer
Published on August 17, 2023 by WildBlue Press
In July 1960, the murder of widow Frances Lacey on Mackinac Island left few clues, leading to a cold case. Over sixty years later, in Grim Paradise, true crime author Rod Sadler explores this perplexing murder mystery, raising the possibility that advanced DNA technology, as seen in the Golden State Killer case, could finally unveil the identity of Lacey’s killer.
Trail of the Lost, by Andrea Lankford
The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail
Published on August 22, 2023 by Hachette Books
Award-winning former law enforcement park ranger and investigator, Andrea Lankford, embarks on a true crime adventure, driven by her quest to locate missing hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail, forming an unlikely alliance with an eclectic group of allies.
Down the Hill, by Susan Hendricks
My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi
Published on September 19, 2023 by Hachette Books
Investigating the enduring mystery and community impact of the unsolved double homicide of two teens in Delphi, Indiana, a comprehensive exploration of the case’s chilling details, the victims’ families’ resilience, and the broader implications on the American heartland.
In Light of All Darkness, by Kim Cross
Inside the Polly Klaas Kidnapping and the Search for America’s Child
Published on October 3, 2023 by Grand Central Publishing
A gripping account of the kidnapping and murder of Polly Klaas, a crime that shocked the nation and led to significant changes in child safety laws.
Behind the Door, by Amy Price
The Dark Truths and Untold Stories of the Cecil Hotel
Published on October 3, 2023 by William Morrow
Amy Price, the general manager of the infamous Cecil Hotel in downtown LA for a decade, shares the hotel’s disturbing history and her personal experiences in her memoir, Behind the Door.
While Idaho Slept, by J. Reuben Appelman
The Hunt for Answers in the Murders of Four College Students
Published on October 3, 2023 by Harper Paperbacks
In While Idaho Slept, J. Reuben Appelman explores the aftermath of the chilling University of Idaho murders, providing a profound examination of our societal fascination with true crime, media sensationalism, and the evolving landscape of homicide investigations, all while intimately delving into the lives of the victims and the suspected killer against the backdrop of a small-town murder investigation thrust into the global spotlight.
A Light in the Dark, by Kathy Kleiner Rubin, Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, PhD
Surviving More than Ted Bundy
Published on October 3, 2023 by Chicago Review Press
This memoir by Kathy Kleiner Rubin, a confirmed survivor of Ted Bundy’s Chi Omega sorority house attacks, challenges the prevailing narrative of Bundy as a charming killer, recounting her harrowing experience and emphasizing her resilience through three life-threatening situations, including the infamous encounter with Bundy, while giving a voice to the silenced stories of the women he murdered.
Lay Them to Rest, by Laurah Norton
On the Road with the Cold Case Investigators Who Identify the Nameless
Published on October 17, 2023 by Hachette Books
A captivating exploration of forensic science’s evolution, delving into the cutting-edge techniques employed to solve cold cases, including the recent breakthroughs exemplified by forensic genealogy in the Golden State Killer case, while also spotlighting real-life John & Jane Does and the unsung heroes in the field who tirelessly work towards justice, ultimately creating a poignant and illuminating narrative that reflects on the progress made and the challenges that persist in the world of solving unsolved cases.
Dear Jacob, by Patty Wetterling
A Mother’s Journey of Hope
Published on October 17, 2023 by Minnesota Historical Society Press
In Dear Jacob, Patty Wetterling recounts the 27-year search for her kidnapped son, Jacob Wetterling, culminating in the discovery of his remains, detailing the investigation’s challenges, her family’s struggles, and her resilient advocacy for missing children, alongside unexpected allies whose combined efforts ultimately solved the case, providing both a personal and historical perspective on the enduring impact of Jacob’s abduction.
A Death in Malta, by Paul Caruana Galizia
An Assassination and a Family’s Quest for Justice
Published on November 7, 2023 by Riverhead Books
A Death in Malta is a journalistic account by Paul Caruana Galizia, detailing the murder of his mother, Daphne Caruana Galizia, a muckraking journalist in Malta, whose work aimed at exposing corruption and inequality. The narrative unfolds the events leading to her death in a 2017 car bombing, portraying the subsequent quest for justice by the family and its broader societal implications.
Among the Bros, by Max Marshall
A Fraternity Crime Story
Published on November 7, 2023 by Harper
Among the Bros is a true-crime story that follows an investigative journalist as he uncovers a dark and hidden world of drugs, money, and murder within the elite fraternity system of the College of Charleston.
Ghosts of Honolulu, by Mark Harmon, Leon Carroll (Primary Contributor)
A Japanese Spy, A Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor
Published on November 14, 2023 by Harper Select
A U.S. naval counterintelligence officer working to safeguard Pearl Harbor; A Japanese spy ordered to Hawaii to gather information on the American fleet. On December 7, 1941, their hidden stories are exposed by a morning of bloodshed that will change the world forever.
The Princes in the Tower, by Philippa Langley
Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case
Published on November 23, 2023 by Pegasus Books
The Princes in the Tower challenges the historical narrative surrounding the disappearance of Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, presenting groundbreaking findings from “The Missing Princes Project,” a comprehensive investigation that unveils a surprising and untold story behind one of history’s greatest mysteries.
Starkweather, by Harry N. MacLean
The Untold Story of the Killing Spree that Changed America
Published on November 28, 2023 by Counterpoint
Harry N. MacLean provides a definitive and chilling account of the 1958 crime spree led by nineteen-year-old Charles Starkweather, considered the first modern mass killer in America, as he, along with his fourteen-year-old girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate, left a trail of terror in Lincoln, Nebraska, resulting in the murder of ten innocent people and leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s consciousness, with new material and reporting shedding light on the lasting impact of this infamous event.
The Lost Tomb, by Douglas Preston
And Other Real-Life Stories of Bones, Burials, and Murder
Expected publication on December 5, 2023 by Grand Central Publishing
Douglas Preston’s book The Lost Tomb is a collection of true stories about buried treasure, enigmatic murders, lost tombs, bizarre crimes, and other fascinating tales of the past and present.
Warhol After Warhol, by Richard Dorment
Secrets, Lies, Corruption in the Art World
Expected publication on December 5, 2023 by Pegasus Crime
Richard Dorment unravels the corruption and lies within the art world, exposing the mystifying authentication process through a captivating tale of art forgery, deceit, and legal battles.
