True crime fans, listen up! We’ve all heard about blockbusters like “Helter Skelter” or “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark,” but what about the lesser-known gems that deserve their moment in the spotlight? The world of true crime is vast, filled with jaw-dropping stories and masterfully written books that somehow manage to fly under the radar.

If you’re looking to expand your bookshelf and uncover hidden treasures in the genre, here’s a list of underrated true crime books that will utterly captivate you. These picks offer mystery, chilling insights, and storytelling that will seriously haunt you—in the best way possible.

“The Spider and the Fly” by Claudia Rowe

This chilling memoir-meets-true-crime story dives into the mind of Kendall Francois, a serial killer who murdered eight women in upstate New York during the 1990s. The author, Claudia Rowe, develops an unusual correspondence with Francois, drawing out his confessions to better understand his motives.

  • Themes: Psychology of killers, journalist dynamics, and human darkness.
  • Why It Stands Out: Rowe expertly balances her own vulnerabilities with Francois’s disturbing revelations, creating an engrossing, intimate portrait of true horror.

“Lost Girls” by Robert Kolker

Robert Kolker masterfully pieces together the lives of five women whose murders are linked to the still-unsolved Long Island Serial Killer case. More than just a whodunit, “Lost Girls” is an exploration of the marginalized lives of these women, who all worked as escorts.

  • Themes: Inequality, institutional neglect, and systemic failures.
  • Why It Stands Out: Kolker brings humanity to victims who might otherwise only be seen as statistics, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about society.

“Death in the Air” by Kate Winkler Dawson

Part true crime, part historical account, this book explores two eerie events in 1952 London: the Great Smog that killed thousands and the horrifying murder spree of John Reginald Christie. Kate Winkler Dawson weaves these seemingly unrelated events into a chilling narrative.

  • Themes: Environmental catastrophe, 1950s London, and serial killers.
  • Why It Stands Out: The juxtaposition of mass death caused by pollution and Christie’s crimes makes this a haunting, unique tale.

“American Predator” by Maureen Callahan

Have you heard of Israel Keyes? Probably not, but Callahan makes the case that he’s one of the most terrifying serial killers of all time. Keyes meticulously planned murders while leading a completely normal, unsuspecting life.

  • Themes: Hidden monsters, FBI failure, and methodical horror.
  • Why It Stands Out: Callahan’s sharp writing exposes how Keyes avoided capture for so long, keeping you glued to the pages.

“The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist” by Radley Balko and Tucker Carrington

This jaw-dropping true crime book exposes the massive flaws in America’s criminal justice system by focusing on two “experts” in the field of forensic science. Their fraudulent work led to innocent people being convicted, exposing a chilling ripple effect in Mississippi and beyond.

  • Themes: Corruption, wrongful convictions, and justice reform.
  • Why It Stands Out: It’s as much an exposé as it is a true crime book, shedding light on how flawed forensic “science” can destroy lives.

“The Fact of a Body” by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich

This genre-bending book is part memoir, part true crime investigation. The author confronts her own traumas while researching the case of Ricky Langley, a man convicted of horrific crimes. “The Fact of a Body” blurs the lines between the personal and the criminal.

  • Themes: Personal trauma, morality, and memory.
  • Why It Stands Out: Its unique structure and lyrical prose make it unlike anything else in the true crime genre.

“A False Report” by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong

This gripping book follows the stories of women who reported sexual assaults but were dismissed as liars by the very people meant to protect them. Meanwhile, a serial rapist was operating unchecked. The book masterfully weaves investigative journalism with victims’ resilience.

  • Themes: Gender bias in law enforcement, systematic failure, and perseverance.
  • Why It Stands Out: It’s heartbreaking and enraging, but ultimately empowering and demands change in how we treat victims of crime.

“Under the Banner of Heaven” by Jon Krakauer

This investigative book digs into a horrifying double murder committed in the name of religious belief. Krakauer examines the history and darker aspects of Mormon fundamentalism, tying it to the brutal killings.

  • Themes: Religion, fanaticism, and morality.
  • Why It Stands Out: Krakauer’s signature style takes readers into a complex and sometimes unsettling world with gripping clarity.

“We Keep the Dead Close” by Becky Cooper

This fascinating blend of investigative journalism, memoir, and campus politics revisits the unsolved 1969 murder of Harvard graduate student Jane Britton. Becky Cooper reflects on how the academic power structure may have buried the truth.

  • Themes: Academic power, misogyny, and cold cases.
  • Why It Stands Out: Cooper’s intimate yet investigative tone makes this a compelling read for fans of unresolved mysteries.

If you love true crime and think you’ve read it all, you haven’t—not until you’ve checked out these underrated books. Each one exposes a different side of human nature, from heartbreaking tragedies to chilling criminal minds and broken justice systems.

Whether you want a personal deep-dive like “The Fact of a Body” or an investigative thriller like “A False Report,” these titles prove there’s still so much to discover in the true crime genre. Give them a shot, and don’t be surprised if they leave you completely shook.