Real Life Monsters

One of the main reasons for the appeal of true crime is the fascination with monsters. We all grew up hearing stories of monsters under the bed or in the closet, but as we got older, those monsters became less frightening. True crime brings back that feeling of being scared of monsters, but this time, they’re real.

In a way, true crime stories become a modern-day version of the monster story. We are fascinated by the depravity of these criminals, the darkness that lurks within them. We want to understand what motivates them, what makes them tick. We want to know how they can commit such heinous acts, and how they can get away with it for so long.

True crime also offers a glimpse into the darker side of human nature. We like to think that we are all good people, but the reality is that we are all capable of evil. True crime stories remind us of this fact, and they challenge us to confront our own morality. We may never understand why someone would commit a murder, but by trying to understand, we gain a deeper insight into ourselves.

Another reason for the popularity of true crime is the sense of justice it provides. In many cases, true crime stories end with the perpetrator being brought to justice. We want to see justice served, and we feel a sense of satisfaction when the criminal is caught and punished. In a world where there is so much injustice, true crime offers a sense of closure and resolution.

However, the appeal of true crime is not without controversy. Some argue that true crime glorifies violence and exploits the victims. There is also the concern that it may desensitize people to violence and make them more likely to commit crimes themselves. These are valid concerns, and it is important to approach true crime with a critical eye.

The appeal of true crime is multifaceted. It offers a glimpse into the darker side of human nature, provides a sense of justice, and satisfies our fascination with monsters. However, it is important to approach true crime with caution and to remember that these are real stories with real victims. By doing so, we can enjoy the thrill of the story while still being respectful to those whose lives were affected by these crimes.

Here is a list of some of the best-selling true crime books of all time:

• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1966): This book tells the story of the brutal murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. It is considered one of the most important works of true crime ever written.
• Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi (1974): This book tells the story of the Manson Family murders. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into a successful film.
• The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule (1980): This book tells the story of Ted Bundy, a serial killer who was executed in 1989. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into a television movie.
• Black Dahlia by James Ellroy (1987): This book tells the story of the unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, a young woman who was found brutally murdered in Los Angeles in 1947. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into a film.
• The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson (1977): This book tells the story of a family who claimed to be terrorized by demons in their home in Amityville, New York. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into several successful films.
• The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer (1979): This book tells the story of Gary Gilmore, a man who was executed in Utah in 1977. It was a huge bestseller and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
• Zodiac by Robert Graysmith (1986): This book tells the story of the Zodiac Killer, a serial killer who terrorized San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into a film.
• The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst by Andrew Jarecki (2015): This book tells the story of Robert Durst, a wealthy real estate heir who has been accused of several murders. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into an HBO documentary series.
• I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (2018): This book tells the story of Michelle McNamara, a journalist who was obsessed with the Golden State Killer, a serial killer who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into a Netflix documentary series.
• Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (2017): This book tells the story of the Osage murders, a series of murders that took place in Oklahoma in the 1920s. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into a film by Martin Scorsese.
• American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road by Nick Bilton (2016): This book tells the story of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace for illegal drugs. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into a film.
• Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker (1995): This book tells the story of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, which was founded in the 1970s to study serial killers. It was a huge bestseller and was later made into a Netflix series.