Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Elena wrote: "I think the one she wrote about Ted Bundy (she WORKED WITH HIM!) is particularly chilling. It's called The Stranger Beside Me. Insane.

Shasta wrote: "Elena wrote: "Anything by Ann Rule!"

My frien..."

That sounds fascinating, Elena -- thanks for the suggestion!

Megan wrote:
Everything She Ever Wanted
"You'll want to reach in and strangle her!"

Sounds like it would also work for the "book about a villain or antihero" prompt, since it doesn't specify fiction. Thanks for the tip!

Tara wrote: "A few of us are going to do a group read of stranger if you are interested in waiting, haven't decided when yet :)"

Yes, I'm definitely interested in the group read of The Stranger Beside Me, please keep me posted. Thanks!

Tara wrote: "In another thread a few of us talked about doing a group read of The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule; this is about her friendship with Ted Bundy before knowing who and what he was. I'll start a thr..."

This sounds awesome! Count me in!

I'll start a thread in the new year :)

Here is the Edgar Awards list for it's Fact Crime nominees. Here are a few:

The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer

Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA and More Tell Us About Crime

Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art

The Mad Sculptor: The Maniac, the Model, and the Murder that Shook the Nation

Duel with the Devil: The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder Mystery

The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Imposter

Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art

Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa

The Rescue Artist: A True Story of Art, Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece

poshpenny wrote: "Here is the Edgar Awards list for it's Fact Crime nominees. Here are a few:

The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer

[book:Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, D..."

Here's a list of all the books I just added to my TBR!

Lindi wrote: "I've never ready any true crime - which is odd because I love true crime movies/shows. I'm going with Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI since it..."

This was one of my favorites reads in 2017. I think you will enjoy it.

I was thinking about IIn Cold Blood, but I've changed my mind. I'm going with The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story. I want to join the group read for this one.

Tara wrote: "A few of us are going to do a group read of stranger if you are interested in waiting, haven't decided when yet :)"

I'd like to join the group read, please.

Keep an eye out for the thread, I'll start it sometime in early January and we can discuss when we want to start :) maybe February

Would My Friend Dahmer work for this? It's tagged on Goodreads as true crime, but it isn't necessarily what I would think of when it comes to the genre since it covers Dahmer's life before his crimes. I've been really wanting to read it though, so it seemed like this prompt could be a good fit.

The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer

I'd say yes, a book about a notorious serial killer, even about a non active time of his life, would count.

I love true crime novels! I am a teacher, and my students read In Cold Blood, which I see a lot of people have decided to read. I definitely recommend this one!

Here are some others that I have read recently that I thought were very well done:
The Night Stalker - This book was very well researched and written. It does have a long trial section, but is great if you enjoy reading about trials!
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder - I read this in complete shock and disbelief!
Columbine - This novel was so well written!

Rachel wrote: "Would My Friend Dahmer work for this? It's tagged on Goodreads as true crime, but it isn't necessarily what I would think of when it comes to the genre since it covers Dahmer's life..."

I've read it, and I think I'd describe it as more a true crime-adjacent memoir than actual true crime. There is some discussion about how no adults in Dahmer's life saw any of the warning signs and intervened, though, so I think it could work, depending on how strict you want to be. But since it's a graphic novel, it's a fairly quick read, so even if you read it and decide it's not the best fit, it's not a huge loss of time.

I found one for $0.99 for my Kindle that is called I Survived Ted Bundy: The Attack, Escape & PTSD That Changed My Life by Rhonda Stapley, with a forward by Ann Rule. I figured it would work, even though it's more about the author and her experience than about Bundy himself. It's still about the crime he committed against her and her life trying to deal with the aftermath of it all.

Rebecca wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Would My Friend Dahmer work for this? It's tagged on Goodreads as true crime, but it isn't necessarily what I would think of when it comes to the genre since it cover..."

That's what I was worried about, since it seems to cover the time before the crimes. I might stretch the prompt though since I've been meaning to try this one for a while and haven't yet found anything else that really appeals.

Kenya wrote: "Yay, I can finally get around to reading The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America"

My book club read this a couple of years ago and loved it! Parts of it can be dry but it's a fascinating read overall.

Tara wrote: "A few of us are going to do a group read of stranger if you are interested in waiting, haven't decided when yet :)"

I have this as my True Crime read too, my brother-in-law recommended highly. Let me know when the group read is happening.

Lots of recommendations here from my favourite podcast True Crime Garage on their Recommended Reading section: https://www.truecrimegarage.com/recom...

I really enjoyed American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land and Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial and Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.

Would Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption fit for this prompt? It's more about the justice system than the crime itself.

Autobiographical on when he was kidnapped for ransom,
German: Jan Philipp Reemtsma: Im Keller: Jan Philipp Reemtsma (has been translated, In the Cellar)

So I am hopefully looking to find my book choice through other reader's thoughts, but I'm looking for an incredibly SHORT True Crime book....I struggle with and don't feel easy with this genre so if anyone has any quick, short, and light suggestions I am very much open to them!!

Here are some more suggestions I found. Mostly non-violent, which is probably lighter than most.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession

The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime

Winged Obsession: The Pursuit of the World's Most Notorious Butterfly Smuggler

Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History

Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History

In Vino Duplicitas: The Rise and Fall of a Wine Forger Extraordinaire

Chasing Phil: The Adventures of Two Undercover Agents with the World's Most Charming Con Man

The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren

Caveat Emptor: The Secret Life of an American Art Forger

The Thieves of Threadneedle Street: The Incredible True Story of the American Forgers Who Nearly Broke the Bank of England

Stealing Lincoln's Body

Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam

Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series

Mrs. Sherlock Holmes

Would Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake count? I've already read it, but it's one of my absolute favorites. I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a lighter/quicker read.

I just found a listopia for historical true crime books. Some of them were already mentioned here but theres a few I didn't see:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

I'm eyeing: Dead Wrong: Straight Facts on the Country's Most Controversial Cover-Ups

Lucky Would Lucky by Alice Sebold fall under this category?

Yes, Lucky would be great.

Definitely will second the recommendation for The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession. Really interesting story, and totally relatable for this group!

Would a memoir of someone who was imprisoned in a Bangkok prison for drug traffiking count? I've had Forget You Had a Daughter: Doing Time in the 'Bangkok Hilton' siting on my shelf for years...

I would like to read In Cold Blood though, but I don't own a copy and I'm trying to read books I already own as much as possible.

Megan wrote: "A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy is what I want to read."

I read this last year! It is so interesting and heartbreaking and terrifying all at once! Good choice.

Tara wrote: "Black Dahlia, Devil in the White City, Helter Skelter, green river running red, zodiac, and for anyone who liked the Netflix series Mind Hunter is fantastic!!"

Zodiac by Robert Graysmith is what I picked for this one. My mom is a big true crime fan and this is one of her favorites so I’m giving it a try.

Recently came across Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and it interested me so I bought it for Hubby for Christmas so I'll probably read that.

My youngest daughter is obsessed with the Australian Underworld and has heaps of books about it so it's not as if I don't have a choice but I've always liked the title of MITGOGAE. Or I could read about Carl Williams (big Aussie underworld figure) and use Midnight for the time of day prompt. Either way it's going to be used for this challenge.

This is a good one if you like thorough trial procedures and heartbreaking details: Hush Little Babies: the true story of a mother who murdered her own children

I'm going to use this as an opportunity to read Mindhunter by John Douglas & Mark Olshaker

Last year, I read Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple, and The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir, and I enjoyed them very much.

Jacqueline wrote: "Recently came across Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and it interested me so I bought it for Hubby for Christmas so I'll probably read that.

My youngest daughter is obsessed with the Aust..."

I read Midnight when it came out and remember thinking it was excellent. A good choice for either category.

True crime was my genre once upon a time. I've read Stranger and it is incredibly creepy because Bundy was such a typical sociopath with the folks around him knowing nothing about his crimes.

For those who don't like the gore, creepiness, etc. of the genre, Sharyn McCrumb has done a couple of fictionalized accounts of historical crimes. They are all set during the trial but cover the crime as well. It might be a stretch but they are great books.

The Ballad of Tom Dooley (excellent choice)

The Ballad of Frankie Silver

Prayers the Devil Answers

The Unquiet Grave

I'm going back in history for this category and reading Lift Up Your Head, Tom Dooley: The True Story of the Appalachian Murder That Inspired One of America's Most Popular Ballads. This book was one of the sources for McCrumb's fictionalized account. Dula (Tom's actual name) was from my home county, the murder took place there, and his story is one of the ones I tell on my ghost tours.

Would The Da Vinci Code fit for this? I think it does and it's a book that I have started multiple times but never been able to finish it and I would love to finish it soon.

Since I am not a big fan of violence but love reading about white collar crimes, i have this choice:

The Medici Conspiracy: The Illicit Journey of Looted Antiquities--From Italy's Tomb Raiders to the World's Greatest Museums

Mellanie wrote: "Would The Da Vinci Code fit for this? I think it does and it's a book that I have started multiple times but never been able to finish it and I would love to finish it soon."

No, it's completely fictional story.

Tytti wrote: "Mellanie wrote: "Would The Da Vinci Code fit for this? I think it does and it's a book that I have started multiple times but never been able to finish it and I would love to finish it soon."

No, ..."

It should work, however, for a novel based on a real person, since it is based on Da Vinci.

Kellene wrote: "Tytti wrote: "Mellanie wrote: "Would The Da Vinci Code fit for this? I think it does and it's a book that I have started multiple times but never been able to finish it and I would love to finish i..."

I don’t know that I’d say it’s based on Da Vinci. I mean, he’s a real person and his works figure into a part at the beginning, but the book is definitely not based on him.

Angela wrote: "I love true crime novels! I am a teacher, and my students read In Cold Blood, which I see a lot of people have decided to read. I definitely recommend this one!

Here are some others ..."

I recommend The Good Nurse too. It'll fill you with such rage that he was allowed to practice medicine for so long.

Reading either of these
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

I am thinking of either doing Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial by Rabia Chaudry

Or

Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest by Gregg Olsen

Would either of these be OK? I'm leaning toward Adnan's Story,

Found an interesting link.. Top Ten Best True Crime Books

I have really been into true crime books lately. I really enjoyed all of these audiobooks:

The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story
Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, the Original "Psycho"
John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster
Breaking Free: How I Escaped My Father-Warren Jeffs-Polygamy, and the FLDS Cult
Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside His Cult, and the Darkness That Ended the Sixties
Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple

Not sure yet what I'm going to read for this category. Maybe My Story or Perfect Victim: The True Story of "The Girl in the Box" or a book about Waco, Tx.

Crumb, I liked Adnan’s Story a lot. I listened to the Serial podcast and then the one RabiaChaudry worked on. I’d suggest at least listening to Serial before reading.