Catching the Killer: Read I’ll Be Gone in the Dark Before it Hits HBO (And What to Read Next)

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, the bestselling book turned six-part documentary premiering on HBO June 28th, is the haunting true story of the “Golden State Killer” and one woman’s relentless search for justice. Michelle McNamara died tragically while still investigating the case and writing this book, but her obsessive attention to detail and ability to link cases together eventually led to the killer’s arrest two years later. Hailed as a modern true crime classic, Stephen King probably described it best when he wrote that “what readers need to know—what makes this book so special—is that it deals with two obsessions, one light and one dark. The Golden State Killer is the dark half; Michelle McNamara’s is the light half. It’s a journey into two minds, one sick and disordered, the other intelligent and determined. I loved this book.”
So, if you’re one of the few who has yet to indulge in this addictive genre, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark might just be the perfect place to start. And if you’re already an armchair detective, we’ve got a few more that you can add to your list.

Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit 
Speaking of streaming documentaries, Mindhunter is now a Netflix original series and follows the harrowing career of Special Agent John Douglas. In case that name doesn’t mean anything to you, he was the model for the character of Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs. So, now that you’ve got that image in your head, know that this was the man responsible for pursuing some of the most notorious serial killers of our time. While this read is not for the faint of heart, the detailed account of Douglas’ interview techniques and processes are fascinating and forever changed the way we profile killers today.

Chase Darkness with Me: How One True-Crime Writer Started Solving Murders 
So, you’ve read the books, listened to the podcasts, watched the documentaries … now what? If you’re ready to solve the case for yourself, then this might be the read for you. After fifteen years investigating unsolved murders, journalist Billy Jensen came up with a plan to solve them himself. Rolling Stone says, “Part memoir, part how-to guide, Chase Darkness With Me includes rules for responsible citizen detective work.” Jensen continues to pour all his resources into crowdsourcing ongoing murder investigations and has helped solve ten open homicides to date. Now in paperback, this edition includes a behind-the-scenes conversation between Billy Jensen and retired detective Paul Holes on their favorite cold cases.

Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide
And for something a little different, the voices behind the hit podcast My Favorite Murder turn their attention on themselves while still fiercely advocating the importance of personal safety. With the same dry humor you’d expect if you’re a fan of the podcast, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark are like your two best girlfriends dishing out great advice while also filling you in on all the relevant true crime stats you need to know. Patton Oswalt, husband of the late Michelle McNamara and bestselling author of Silver Screen Fiend, raves that “Kilgariff and Hardstark bring a much-needed dimension to our current, true crime fever dream—an empathetic, slangy dose of acidic humor, weary compassion, and nervous hope.”