The fall season has made its stormy presence known these last few weeks, and I, for one, welcome it. What better excuse to curl up on the sofa with a blanket, a cup of tea, and a spooky story to read? Whether you need a good book to hide in this holiday season, or a break from the doomscrolling, whatever the reason, consider some of these recent, thrilling true crime reads. You may be pleased to know I have also included a tea to pair with each of these reads, something to stave off the encroaching winter’s cold.
Lise Olsen’s aptly named “The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston’s Lost Boys” chronicles the investigation into the unidentified victims of the “Candy Man”—and you? You’re just along for the journey, getting swept up in the obsessions of a novice forensic anthropologist and dredged up memories. The identity of the serial killer who terrorized Houston from 1970 to 1973 is hardly a mystery; rather, his victims spin the yarn of unanswered questions. Five decades pass before then rookie forensic anthropologist Sharon Derrick discovers that box of assorted bones and belongings. It’s dismal and yet, not unlike Sharon; you can’t turn away from the inevitable truth. What begins as just a few boxes of skeletal remains, of long bones, muddied soles, and tattered clothes, grows and reveals real people. Boys with stolen lives. The book looks intensely at the case and the despair left in its wake. It’s heartbreaking, odious, and profoundly dreadful to experience a rich narrative of discovery, relief, grief, and loss. I cannot recommend this enough. I had a hard time putting this down. Written with care, compassion, and an exceptionally earnest tone, this read is perfectly complemented by a calming and contemplative cup of chamomile tea—nothing too punchy, giving you room to truly appreciate the depth of the tragedy.
Too intense? Perhaps such a concentrated dissection of the facts isn’t your cup of tea? Why not try out a more historical angle? Within the depths of Simon Read’s “Scotland Yard: A History of the London Police Force’s Most Infamous Murder Cases” is a journey into the convoluted path, more a winding tributary of the Thames than a straight road, that the nearly 200-year-old agency walked. Read is keen to explore the agency’s highs and lows; their failures and what they learned, and their triumphs and how they managed them. The book presents cases with vivid characters and an enticing but not unwieldy amount of detail. No clinical profiles of cases and criminals, simply the grisly stories of the cobbled streets of London and the macabre murders within its bounds. Read presents the cases that shaped Scotland Yard’s rocky start in a way that feels as if you were taking a personal midnight tour of foggy old London’s seediest streets with nothing but a gas lantern and your courage. You walk cobblestone paths of the 18th century into the rapidly evolving investigative techniques of the 20th century, and how Scotland Yard finally found its footing. Not too gruesome but still thrilling. For my recommendation here, what could be more apt to accompany you through the story of London’s premier detective force than a classic London fog? Ironically originating in Canada, a London fog requires Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and just the smallest splash of vanilla. A treat to be sure.
If you are as of yet unconvinced, then how about an easy read from a likely familiar name to dip your toes into the genre? Did you know, bestselling author James Patterson dabbles in a smidgen of true crime here and there, example? In “The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy,” he worked with journalist Vicky Ward to provide a detailed account, following the investigation of the slaying of four University of Idaho Students in Moscow, Idaho. The news of the killings captivated the nation in 2022; everyone from internet sleuths to national news outlets had something to say. The publicity invited theories, suspicions, and rumors aplenty, but with the killer’s life sentence being handed down just a few short months ago, perhaps it’s time to find out what really happened that early November morning. Patterson and Ward deliver just that, detailing the investigation, the families’ experiences, and what we actually know about the tragedy. For this read, a classic, reliable, ubiquitous option is in order: a nice cup of black tea. Assam, English Breakfast, any you like.
Please look for these and many more fun reads at A.K. Smiley Public Library; we look forward to your patronage.
R.A. is a Library Specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library who has little courage and many fears, perhaps due to their obsession with true crime stories.