The Haunting of Hill House meets I’ll Be Gone in the Dark in bestselling author Sarah Gailey’s new darkly gothic thriller.“Come home.” Vera’s mother called and Vera obeyed. In spite of their long estrangement—she’s come back to the home of a serial killer. Back to face the love she had for her father and the bodies he buried there, beneath the house he’d built for his family.There are secrets yet undiscovered in the foundations of the Crowder House. Vera must face them and find out for herself just how deep the rot goes. The genre’s appeal isn’t in question, then. But one must wonder, why is this the case? What is it about true crime that draws us in and keeps us focused? Perhaps, like tragedies in Ancient Greece, they offer a catharsis of sorts. Like genres such as crime fiction and horror, true crime elicits a range of emotions from the audience: fear, anger, confusion, sorrow. As Jennifer Schmidt-Petersen puts it, referring to TV series and documentaries, “These programmes also allow us to examine the darker sides of humanity from a safe distance, and they bring in another crucial element — our natural desire for justice.” The genre certainly has its dangers, but it can also have significant positive consequences. SundanceTV’s docuseries It Couldn’t Happen Here featured the case of Devonia Inman, a man who, at the age of 20, was wrongfully convicted to life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Although there was DNA evidence supporting his innocence, it was ignored for over a decade. Inman was spending his 23rd year in prison when the show aired, and the publicity culminated with his release. But let’s say that you’re already well-versed in all things true crime. What’s the next step? Well, fiction, of course! But are there fictional works that can replicate the appeal of true crime? Glad you asked! The following eight novels are either focused on true crime enthusiasts, centered on cold cases, or evoke some other aspect of what makes the genre popular. Hold on tight and read on. Can’t get enough of true crime? Try these audiobooks, or some extra fiction read-alikes. As they get to know each other, Shea is left with an unsettling thought: should Beth have been acquitted? Cut to West McCray, a radio personality who hears about the case and decides to find Sadie before it is too late. To this end, he starts a podcast with the goal of tracking her down. Will he succeed? But Sera has much to learn. Among these lessons? There’s a major difference between listening about crime from the safety of your home and diving headfirst into it.
