Recently, at nonfictioned.com we had a post 40 New True Crime Books Released in 2023, which shows the fantastic range of true crime books published in the year 2023, but we wanted to narrow that down and bring you the best of true crime for 2023, so without further ado here are our picks for the 11 best true crime books released in 2023.
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In Order of Popularity, Our Picks for the Best True Crime Books Released in 2023
A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them, by Timothy Egan
What’s it About
It is a historical thriller that tells the story of the Klan’s rise to power in the 1920s, the cunning con man who drove that rise, and the woman who ultimately brought them down.
Released on April 4, 2023 by Viking
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, by David Grann
What’s it About
The Wager by David Grann, the author of Killers of the Flower Moon, is a thrilling historical narrative that explores the true story of the HMS Wager. This British Royal Navy vessel met a disastrous fate in 1740 during a voyage to the South Pacific.
Released on April 18, 2023 by Doubleday
We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America, by Roxanna Asgarian
What’s it About
A powerful and poignant true story that delves into the heartbreaking history of forced child removal in America, specifically focusing on the devastating impact on Native American families.
Released on March 14, 2023 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession, by Michael Finkel
What’s it About
The Art Thief explores the captivating and bizarre tale of Stéphane Breitwieser, arguably the most prolific art thief in modern history. Published in 2023, the book has garnered widespread acclaim for its suspenseful narrative, nuanced character study, and insightful exploration of the psychology behind art obsession.
Released on June 27, 2023 by Knopf
In Light of All Darkness: Inside the Polly Klaas Kidnapping and the Search for America’s Child, by Kim Cross
What’s it About
A gripping true-crime account of the 1993 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Polly Klaas in Petaluma, California.
Released on October 3, 2023 by Grand Central Publishing
Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage, by Jeff Guinn
What’s it About
This is the definitive account of the disastrous siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, featuring never-before-seen documents, photographs, and interviews, from former investigative reporter Jeff Guinn
Released on January 24, 2023 by Simon & Schuster
What the Dead Know: Learning About Life as a New York City Death Investigator, by Barbara Butcher
What’s it About
Barbara Butcher was early in her recovery from alcoholism when she found an unexpected lifeline: a job at the Medical Examiner’s Office in New York City. The second woman ever hired for the role of Death Investigator in Manhattan, she was the first to last more than three months. The work was gritty, demanding, morbid, and sometimes dangerous—and she loved it.
Released on June 20, 2023 by Simon & Schuster
The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions, by Jonathan Rosen
What’s it About
A powerful and haunting memoir that explores the complex relationship between Rosen and his childhood friend, Michael Laudor, who later tragically murdered his girlfriend.
Released on April 18, 2023 by Penguin Press
Ghosts of the Orphanage: A Story of Mysterious Deaths, a Conspiracy of Silence, and a Search for Justice, by Christine Kenneally
What’s it About
Ghosts of the Orphanage explores the dark and disturbing history of orphanages in the 20th century, specifically focusing on the abuse, neglect, and even deaths that occurred within their walls.
Released on March 21, 2023 by PublicAffairs
I Know Who You Are, by Barbara Rae-Venter
What’s it About
A gripping true-crime memoir that recounts Rae-Venter’s extraordinary journey from retired patent attorney to instrumental figure in catching the infamous Golden State Killer.
Released on February 7, 2023 by Ballantine Books
American Black Widow, by Gregg Olsen
What’s it About
American Black Widow plunges into the dark heart of Sharon Nelson, a seemingly pious preacher’s wife whose charm masks a tangled web of greed, manipulation, and suspected murder. As two husbands meet suspicious ends, doubts swirl regarding Sharon’s innocence, forcing a chilling exploration of secrets, deception, and the monsters that can lurk beneath the surface of ordinary lives.
Released on July 13, 2023 by Thread
