Warning: This article discusses extreme violence and death.
True crimeis one of the most popular television genres, and there are plenty of amazing books that desperately need to be adapted for the smaller screen. Films are already a significant medium for true crime novels, such as the recent release ofThe Strangers, based on a true story.However, multiple episodes are often a better way of recreating some of the most spine-chilling crime tales because each installment builds huge suspense for viewers,and many shows prove thatTV is a better medium for book adaptations.
Certain TV shows are believed to be based on real-life events, but they aren’t. For example, atrue crime case inspiredThe Fugitive, both the show and the film, but the two are actually fictional stories.Over the years, many incredible true crime novels have haunted readers with gritty and horrifying details,but these depictions of the most heinous acts have yet to be made into a TV show. From grizzly murders to relatively unknown but impactful figures in law enforcement, these true crime books deserve the TV adaptation treatment.
The 25 Best True Crime Books Of All Time (& Which Have Been Adapted To Screen)
The best true crime books scintillate, fascinate, and speak to the dark heart of humankind, with many being adapted into movies and TV shows.
10American Sherlock
By Kate Winkler Dawson
American Sherlockby Kate Winkler Dawson is a fascinating true crime novel that focuses on the true story of Edward Oscar Heinrich, one of the very first forensic scientists in U.S. history. Set in California in 1933,American Sherlockrecounts various events from Heinrich’s career, in which he solved an astonishing 2,000 cases.The novel delves into how Heinrich is gifted the title of the American Sherlock Holmes,and the impact he had on the world of criminal investigations is nothing short of groundbreaking.
While manySherlock Holmes movies and TV shows are currently in development,American Sherlockoffers a new, unique twist.Heinrich is a real historical figure, so he would be a fascinating individual to bring to lifebecause he has flaws and more elements of humanity than Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic literary character. Heinrich’s legendary efforts and brilliant scientific achievements are crucial to law enforcement, even years later, and an adaptation of the peaks and valleys of his career has the potential to be a fantastic and engaging watch.
9Coronado High
By Joshuah Bearman
Joshuah Bearman’sCoronado Highis a fascinating book anda story that has great promise as a TV adaptation.The bookis a full-length novel that follows on from Bearman’sAtavistarticle of the same name, which dives into the events of a group of high school students in the ‘60s who built up a multi-million drug empire (viaAtavist). One of Bearman’s past articles is also the basis of the Oscar-winning movieArgo, so there’s no doubt thatCoronado Highcan work on-screen.Joshuah Bearman’s interview withScreenRantaboutLittle Americaalso proves this.
One of Bearman’s past articles is also the basis of the Oscar-winning movieArgo, so there’s no doubt thatCoronado Highcan work on-screen.
The students inCoronado Highare initially depicted as stereotypical surfer hippies from the late 1960s, but in reality, they are drug-smuggling geniuses. Their fascinating idea of using swimming bundles to shift tonnes of marijuana across the Tijuana border in the summer of 1969 leads them to oversee a full-blown operation, which is run by their teacher, Lou Villar.Villar tells his students to stay away from substances, but behind the scenes, he’s a prominent Kingpin,which makes him a brilliant potential protagonist for a TV adaptation.
8The Executioner’s Song
By Norman Mailer
The Executioner’s Songby Norman Mailer is easily the author’s best piece of work. The book concentrates on the murderer Gary Gilmore, a man whose brutal killings of two men in 1976 resulted in one of the strangest requests for the death penalty of all time.Gilmore’s fight against the legal system and his pleas for his demise over the years create an engaging and impactful tale,and Mailer’s translation of the criminal’s drawn-out journey is fascinating.
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The Executioner’s Songis a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner, which gives audiences hope that a TV reinterpretation of the baffling true story will be an amazing watch. AlthoughThe Executioner’s Songhas been adapted as a made-for-TV movie before, remaking the project in the era of streaming offers a lot of promise. Gilmore’s harrowing experience highlights him as both relatable and unlikeable, and he’s a great individual to focus on.The Executioner’s Songcould easily become one ofthe best miniseries ever, or even a multi-season TV show, especially following the success of titles likeThe Devil’s Hourrecently.
7The Burning Of Bridget Cleary: A True Story
By Angela Bourke
Angela Bourke is a fantastic author in the crime and folklore genres. Although she is known for herbooks inspired by mythology, she is also the mind behind the amazing nonfiction titleThe Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story. Bourke’s novel looks at the mysterious disappearance of Bridget Cleary in 1895, the discovery of the woman’s corpse, and the suspicious responses of her family in the fallout of her death. What’s so fascinating about this true crime book, however, is thatBourke also delves into the superstitions and legends of fairies in the rural area of Tipperary, Ireland.
Even though Bridget Cleary’s death has been solved, the combination of the gruesome details of her demise and elements of the ethereal is an excellent premise for the screen.
The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Storymay be based on factual events, but it has the potential to work as a beautifully intriguing fictional TV show. Even though Bridget Cleary’s death has been solved, the combination of the gruesome details of her demise and elements of the ethereal is an excellent premise for the screen.A show based onThe Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Storycould go in several directions, and the idea could be amazing as either a docuseries or a loose reimagination with a fantasy twist.
6The Devil In The White City: Murder, Magic, And Madness At The Fair That Changed America
By Eric Larson
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed Americaby Erik Larson is a captivating historical book presented in a novelistic style, offering a unique angle. The title, which is split into four parts, is set in the late 1890s and jumps between two key narratives: the architect of the 1893 World Fair, Daniel Burnham, and the serial killer H. H. Holmes. Although the two stories don’t overlap very much,the unusual split between the men’s stories presents readers with an excellent insight into the time that these events play out.
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An adaptation has been planned previously by Leonardo DiCaprio, who owns the book rights, but the project has never happened. However, there’s still hope for future attempts.Even if a network or streaming service decides to just focus on Holmes and eliminate Burnham’s storyline,there’s a good chance thatThe Devil in the White Citycould be a huge success. There are plenty of thebest serial killer TV shows airing on Netflixright now, andThe Devil in the White Citycan easily replicate the same hype that titles likeYouandMindhunterhave.
5My Dark Places By James Ellroy
My Dark Placesis a truly distinctive true crime story because the author, James Ellroy, is so close to the actual events. The book recounts Ellroy’s experiences at the age of ten following the brutal murder of his mother, Jean. Ellroy doesn’t sugarcoat his relationship with Jean during his childhood, but his outlook on the crime, which is forgotten by many except for him, is a refreshing take.The complexities of Ellroy’s grief, from his youth to adulthood, are extremely profound and would be a great starting point for a TV adaptation.
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There have been several fantasticmystery TV series throughout the 2020salready, but there’s always room for more, andMy Dark Placesis an ideal candidate to join the list. The compelling story of Jean’s unsolved killing andEllroy’s personal connection to the crime could be an interesting way for a TV adaptation to use a nonlinear timeline. However, another reason whyMy Dark Placesstands out from other true crime books and warrants a TV show is that another notable crime frequently overshadows Jean Ellroy’s murder – the Black Dahlia case.
4Helter Skelter: The True Story Of The Manson Murders
By Vincent Bugliosi (With Curt Gentry)
The 1974 publicationHelter Skelter: The True Story of The Manson Murdersisn’t the first book to discuss the nefarious killer Charles Manson. However,Helter Skelteris a unique take on the events of Manson’s trial because prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi is the co-author.The book analyses the investigation, arrest, trial, and sentencing of Manson over his horrific killings of multiple women. In 2024, 50 years after its release,Helter Skelteris still the best-selling true crime book in history.
Although there are already multiple adaptations ofHelter Skelter, they are mainly films, and there has yet to be a fictional TV show version of the book. There are also severalmovies that explore the Manson murders, but Bugliosi’s point of view deserves further expansion, and the TV format is a great way to do so. By staggering Bugliosi’s astonishing historical account across a number of episodes,viewers can truly appreciate the most dramatic parts ofHelter Skelter.Plus, Bugliosi’s life is very intriguing by itself, and this would be a good subplot, especially if it is dramatized.
3American Predator
By Maureen Callahan
Maureen Callahan’sAmerican Predatoris a notable true crime book because it looks at the crimes of Israel Keyes, a mass murderer who isn’t discussed as much as figures like Ted Bundy or John Wayne Gacy. Many are unaware of Keyes, who is worthy of being aMindhunterserial killer, but his blood-curdling actions are some of the most disturbing crimes in modern history.American Predatorlooks at Keyes’ process, which includes him burying specific tools and resources, traveling across the US to use them, and then returning to his mundane lifeas if nothing had happened.
Maureen Callahan also wrotePoker Face: The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga(2010) - A biography of the pop star Lady Gaga
The reason why Callahan’s book is so enthralling is that it discusses how Keyes manages to go undetected by police for so long. His killings are random and sporadic, and the lack of obvious motivation is terrifying. The author also delves into his deeply loving relationship with his daughter, which raises the stakes. A TV adaptation ofAmerican Predatorcould be an intense and gripping watch, switching between the points of view of Keyes, his daughter, and even Callahan herself.
2People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate Of Lucie Blackman
By Richard Lloyd Parry
People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackmanby Richard Lloyd Parry is a perfect candidate for a TV adaptation for several reasons. Lucie Blackman is a young British woman who is killed and dismembered in Japan in the year 2000, a story that Parry follows closely as a journalist. The decade-long trial over Lucie’s murder against the man accused of her death, Joji Obara, is a tense and intricately detailed story. However,Lucie’s death isn’t the most compelling part ofPeople Who Eat Darkness;it’s Parry’s involvement.
A perfect candidate for a TV adaptation for several reasons.
A TV show recreation ofPeople Who Eat Darknesshas a lot of material to draw from.For example, Obara’s attempts to sue Parry and the mysterious packages containing surveillance images delivered to the reporter are two fantastic potential plotlines. As there is an incredible ten years of story to cover, minimum, there are easily multiple seasons worth of content for aPeople Who Eat Darknessadaptation. There are manythrilling crime dramas for wannabe detectivesthat focus on investigators who aren’t the police, andPeople Who Eat Darknesscould also be one of these shows.
1Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil
By John Berendt
John Berendt’s first-ever project,Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, is a brilliant non-fiction book. The novel looks at antique dealer Jim Williams and his trial for the killing of Danny Hansford, one of his employees, and it is still one of the longest-standing titles on theNew York Timesbestseller list.Berendt uses the testimonies of local residents and his own experiences to form a nail-biting recount of Williams’ arrest, sentencing, and denial of murder.
While the events of thetrue crimebook are blurred in comparison to Berendt’s actual involvement with the case,Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evilis unique because Williams agreed to work with the author in the hopes that his story would be shared.The Pulitzer Prize nominee is the inspiration for theunderrated Clint Eastwood movieof the same name, but it desperately needs to be adapted for TV. This is especially because, in 2024, Berendt has officially said he believes William is guilty (viaGarden & Gun Magazine).
