In a recent post we gave you an exhaustive list, of every true crime book published in 2024. This post narrows that list down to the Top 10 releases in true crime from last year. We’ve extensively researched all true crime books in this list. We’ve analyzed book reviews, bestseller lists, awards, and reviewed a number of titles ourselves. To bring you this list of the 10 Best New True crime books released in 2024.
This page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using links on this page, we might earn a commission.
The 10 Best True Crime Books From last year
Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions, by John Grisham, and Jim McCloskey
Published in October 2024
John Grisham and innocence advocate Jim McCloskey expose ten shocking cases of wrongful conviction, revealing systemic flaws like racism, corruption, and junk science. These gripping, meticulously researched stories follow the fight to free the innocent, proving justice isn’t guaranteed.
Raised by a Serial Killer: Discovering the Truth About My Father, by April Balascio
Published in December 2024
April Balascio’s chilling memoir reveals how she uncovered her father’s secret life as serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards, sparking a true crime investigation that cracked cold cases. A raw, haunting account of manipulation, fractured memories, and the courage to confront evil. Perfect for fans of The Clearing podcast and psychological true crime.
The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi, by Wright Thompson
Published in September 2024
Wright Thompson exposes the buried truth of Emmett Till’s murder, revealing the barn where it happened, the eight accomplices never charged, and the systemic cover-up that followed. A searing, meticulously researched account of racism, power, and justice denied.
By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, by Rebecca Nagle
Published in September 2024
Rebecca Nagle masterfully intertwines the violent history of Native land dispossession with a landmark Supreme Court battle over tribal sovereignty. This gripping narrative, part investigative journalism, part generational reckoning, exposes America’s broken promises and the relentless Indigenous fight for justice.
Guilty Creatures: Sex, God, and Murder in Tallahassee, Florida, by Mikita Brottman
Published in July 2024
A Southern Baptist love triangle turns deadly in this chilling true crime saga. When Mike Williams vanishes during a hunting trip, suspicions swirl around his wife and best friend, who later marry. Eighteen years of lies unravel in a shocking confession.
There Is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America’s Biggest Catfish, by Anna Akbari
Published in June 2024
Three smart women fall for the same elusive online lover, until they discover “Ethan” doesn’t exist. A gripping true story of emotional deception in the digital age, where no money was stolen, but trust was shattered.
College Girl, Missing: The True Story of How a Young Woman Disappeared in Plain Sight, by Shawn Cohen
Published in May 2024
Lauren Spierer vanished after a night out at a party school, but security footage and witnesses abruptly stop at the doors of privileged male students. Investigative journalist Shawn Cohen uncovers explosive new details in this chilling deep dive into a case that shocked the nation.
Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling, by Jason De León
Published in March 2024
Anthropologist Jason De León embeds with human smugglers for seven years, revealing their complex world beyond the stereotypes. This groundbreaking work, winner of the National Book Award, follows one coyote’s struggle to escape the trade, blending heartbreak and hope in an unforgettable portrait of survival at the margins.
Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom, by McCracken Poston Jr.
Published in February 2024
A small-town TV repairman stands accused of killing the wife no one knew he had, but his lawyer uncovers a shocking truth. This riveting true crime memoir, blending Just Mercy and Rain Man, reveals how Alvin Ridley’s undiagnosed autism shaped his trial.
The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty, by Valerie Bauerlein
Published in August 2024
The definitive account of the Murdaugh dynasty’s collapse, from power, privilege, and generations of secrets to Alex’s shocking murder of his wife and son. Award-winning journalist Valerie Bauerlein exposes new layers of deception in this gripping deep dive into Southern Gothic corruption. A can’t-miss for true crime fans.
Thank you for reading. These are the highly rated True Crime books from last year, we recommend adding to your TBR to read in 2025. Let us know in the comments which ones you’ve read, or have added to your TBR. Follow us on X:@Nonfictioned1 to join the conversation.
