True Crime
Talk a walk on the dark side with these true-life stories of murder and mayhem.
At any cost : a father's betrayal, a wife's murder, and a ten-year war for justice
Rosenberg, Rebecca (Journalist), author
2022
"At Any Cost unravels the twisted story of Rod Covlin, whose unrepentant greed drove him to an unspeakable act of murder and betrayal that rocked New York City. Wealthy, beautiful, and brilliant, Shele Danishefsky had it all. After climbing Wall Street's corporate ladder to the top, she was eager to build a family with her much younger husband, a handsome Ivy League grad named Rod Covlin. But when Rod's hidden vices, from online gambling to rampant affairs, began to break through the surface, marital bliss soon gave way to a volatile divorce battle. Covlin was entirely supported by Shele's successful career, and her threats to cut him out of her will-and cut him off from the millions their two children would inherit-would destroy his lavish lifestyle. In late December 2009, Shele made arrangements to meet with her lawyer and change her will. She would never make it to the meeting. Two days later, on New Year's Eve, Shele was found dead in the bathtub of her Upper West Side apartment. Police ruled it an accident, and Shele's deeply Orthodox Jewish family quickly buried their loved one without an autopsy. But her death was only the first obstacle in Covlin's ruthless pursuit of her fortune. As the two families waged war over custody of Shele's children-and their inheritance- Covlin concocted a series of increasingly unhinged schemes, even plotting to kill his own parents, to get his hands on his wife's money. And as investigators closed in on Covlin, he decided in a final, desperate act to frame his own daughter for her mother's death. Journalists Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar reconstruct the ten years that passed between the day Shele was found dead and the day her killer was finally brought to justice in this chilling portrait of how one man's irrepressible greed devolved into obsession, manipulation, and murder"-- Provided by publisher.
Boundless : the rise, fall, and escape of Carlos Ghosn.
Kostov, Nick.
2022
'Boundless' explores the unprecedented rise and catastrophic fall of one of the worlds most feared and admired business executives - Carlos Ghosn - a remarkable story of innovation, hubris, alleged crimes, and daring international escape, as chronicled by two Wall Street Journal reporters.
Catch the sparrow : a search for a sister and the truth of her murder
Rear, Rachel, author
2022
Growing up, Rachel Rear knew the story of Stephanie Kupchynsky's disappearance. The beautiful violinist and teacher had fled an abusive relationship on Martha's Vineyard and made a new start for herself near Rochester, NY. Rear writes a poignant reconstruction of the dark and serpentine path, across more than two decades, to try to solve the case. Rear reveals how a dysfunctional justice system laid the groundwork for Stephanie's murder and stymied the investigation for more than twenty years, and what those hard years meant for the lives of Stephanie's family and loved ones.
Dead in the water : a true story of hijacking, murder, and a global maritime conspiracy
Campbell, Matthew (Reporter), author
2022
"From journalists Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel, the gripping, true-crime story of a notorious maritime hijacking at the heart of a massive conspiracy-and the unsolved murder that threatened to unravel it all. In July 2011, the oil tanker Brillante Virtuoso was drifting through the treacherous Gulf of Aden when a crew of pirates attacked and set her ablaze in a devastating explosion. But when David Mockett, a maritime surveyor working for Lloyd's of London, inspected the damaged vessel, he was left with more questions than answers. How had the pirates gotten aboard so easily? And if they wanted to steal the ship and bargain for its return, then why did they destroy it? The questions didn't add up-and Mockett would never answer them. Soon after his inspection, David Mockett was murdered. Dead in the Water is a shocking expose of the criminal inner workings of international shipping, told through the lens of the Brillante hijacking and its aftermath. Through first-hand accounts of those who lived it-from members of the ship's crew and witnesses to the attacks, to the ex-London detectives turned private investigators seeking to solve Mockett's murder and bring justice to his family-award-winning Bloomberg reporters Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel piece together the astounding truth behind one of the most brazen financial frauds in history. The ambitious culmination of more than four years of reporting, Dead in the Water uncovers an intricate web of conspiracy amidst the lawless, old-world industry at the backbone of our new global economy"-- Provided by publisher.
Deliberate cruelty : Truman Capote, the millionaire's wife, and the murder of the century
Montillo, Roseanne, author.
2022
The doomsday mother : Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the end of an American family
Glatt, John, author.
2022
"In The Doomsday Mother, bestselling true crime author John Glatt tells the twisted tale of Lori Vallow, accused of having her two children murdered to start a new life with her new husband, doomsday prepper Chad Daybell. At first, the residents of Kauai Beach Resort took little notice of their new neighbors. The glamorous blonde and her tall husband fit the image of the ritzy gated community. The couple seemed to keep to themselves--until the police knocked on their door with a search warrant. Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had fled to Hawaii in the midst of being investigated for the disappearance of Lori's children back in Idaho--Tylee and J.J.--who hadn't been seen alive in five months. For years, Lori Vallow had been devoted to her children and her Mormon faith. But when her path crossed with Chad Daybell, a religious zealot who taught his followers how to prepare for the end-times, the tumultuous relationship transformed her into someone unrecognizable. As authorities searched for Lori's children, they uncovered more suspicious deaths with links to both Lori and Chad, including the death of Lori's third and fourth husbands, her brother, and Chad's wife. In June 2020, the gruesome remains of J.J. and Tylee were discovered on Chad's property, and the newlyweds were arrested and charged with murder. And in a shocking development, horrifying statements revealed that the couple's fanatical beliefs had convinced them the children had become zombies--a belief that may have led to their deaths. Bestselling author and journalist John Glatt takes readers deeper into the devastating crimes of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell in an attempt to unravel the lethal relationship of this doomsday couple." -- Provided by publisher.
The ghosts that haunt me : memories of a homicide detective
Ryan, Steve (Homicide detective), author
2022
Retired detective Steve Ryan worked in Toronto's homicide squad for over a decade. For him, the stories of Toronto's most infamous crimes were more than just a headline read over morning coffee - they were his everyday life. After investigating over one hundred homicides, the tragedies Steve saw will never leave him and he'll never forget the victims whose deaths he investigated. Steve reflects on six cases, eight people whose lives were senselessly taken, that he still thinks about nearly every day.
The Gotti wars : taking down America's most notorious mobster
Gleeson, John, 1953 July 14- author
2022
"This epic, page-turning courtroom drama is a brilliantly told crime story of a tenacious prosecutor who managed to end John Gotti's reign with a murder conviction that subsequently took down the Mafia altogether"-- Provided by publisher.
A haunted road atlas : sinister stops, dangerous destinations, and true crime tales
Schiefer, Christine, author
2022
"Jam-packed with illustrations, fun facts, travel tips, and beverage recs, this illustrated guide includes some of the country's most notorious crime scenes, hauntings, and supernatural sightings. You'll also find Christine and Em's personal recommendations to the best local bars and ice cream parlors, oddity museums, curiosity shoppes, and more. Explore some of the most bizarre cases you've heard on the show, as well as exclusive new content from bayous, basements, and bars!"-- Provided by publisher.
Helltown : the untold story of a serial killer on Cape Cod
Sherman, Casey, 1969- author
2022
1969: The hippie scene is vibrant in Provincetown, Massachusetts - and Tony Costa is at the center of it all. To a certain group of smitten young women, he is known as Sire - the leader of their counter-culture movement. When young women begin to disappear, Costa's natural charisma and good looks initially protect him from suspicion. But as the bodies are discovered, the police close in on him as the key suspect. This is a landmark true crime narrative that transports us back to the turbulent late 1960s to reveal the secrets of a notorious serial killer.
The I-5 killer
Rule, Ann.
2022
Randall Woodfield had it all. He was an award-winning student and star athlete. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers to play in the NFL, and chosen by Playgirl as a centerfold candidate. Working in the swinging West Coast bar scene, he had his pick of willing sexual prospects. But Randall Woodfield wanted more than just sex. An appetite for unspeakable violent acts led him to cruise the I-5 highway through California, Oregon, and Washington, leaving a trail of victims along the way. As the list of his victims grew to a total of at least 44, the police faced the awesome challenge of catching and convicting a suspect who seemed too handsome and appealing to have committed such ugly crimes--crimes that filled every woman within his striking range with feat and horror....
In the mouth of the wolf : a murder, a cover-up, and the true cost of silencing the press
Corcoran, Katherine, author
2022
Journalist Regina MartÃnez's stories for the magazine Proceso laid out the corruption and abuse underlying Mexican politics. In 2012, shortly after Proceso published an article on corruption and two Veracruz politicians, MartÃnez was bludgeoned to death. The message was clear: no journalist in Mexico was safe. Regina hadn't even written the controversial article. But did she have something else that someone didn't want published? Former AP Mexico bureau chief Katherine Corcoran confronts how silencing the free press threatens basic protections and rule of law across the globe.
The missing cryptoqueen : the billion dollar cryptocurrency con and the woman who got away with it
Bartlett, Jamie, author
2022
An acclaimed tech journalist, through a globe-crossing investigation into criminal underworlds, corrupt governments, and the super-rich, presents the inside story of the smartest and biggest cryptocurrency scam of the twenty-first century--and the genius behind it who is still on the run.
Murder among friends : how Leopold and Loeb tried to commit the perfect crime
Fleming, Candace.
2022
Taking readers back to 1924, this shocking true crime story follows two eighteen-year-old college students who kidnapped and murdered a child they both knew, their trial, and how a renowned defense attorney enabled them to avoid the death penalty.
Riding with evil : taking down the notorious Pagan Motorcycle Gang
Croke, Ken, author
2022
Longtime ATF agent Ken Croke had earned the right to coast to the end of a storied career, having to be the first federal agent in history to go undercover and successfully infiltrate the infamous - and infamously violent - Pagan Motorcycle Club, a white supremacist biker gang. Utilizing exclusive cooperation of those who lived the case with Croke, as well as thousands of pages of court files and hours of surveillance tapes and photos, Croke delivers a frightening, nail-biting account of the secretive and brutal biker underworld.
Scoundrel : how a convicted murderer persuaded the women who loved him, the conservative establishment, and the courts to set him free
Weinman, Sarah, author
2022
"A true-crime masterpiece, this is a story of wrongful exoneration of killer Edgar Smith and the prominent crusaders who fell prey to his charm. Having spent almost half his lifetime in California's state penitentiary system, convicted killer Edgar Smith died in obscurity in 2017 at the age of eighty-three--a miracle, really, as he was meant to be executed nearly six decades earlier. Tried and convicted in the state of New Jersey for the 1957 murder of fifteen-year-old Victoria Zielinski, Smith was once the most famous convict in America. Scoundrel tells the true, almost-too-bizarre story of a man saved from Death Row by way of an unlikely friendship--developed in nearly 2000 pages of prison correspondence--with National Review founder William F. Buckley, Jr., one of the most famous figures in the neo-conservative movement. Buckley wrote articles, fundraised and hired lawyers to fight for a new trial, eventually enlisting the help of Sophie Wilkins, a book editor with whom Smith would have a torrid epistolary affair. As a result of these friends' advocacy, Smith not only gained his freedom, he vaulted to the highest intellectual echelons as a bestselling author, an expert on prison reform, and a minor celebrity--only to fall, spectacularly, back to earth, when his murderous impulses once more prevailed."-- Provided by publisher.
Slenderman : online obsession, mental illness, and the violent crime of two midwestern girls
Hale, Kathleen, 1986- author
2022
The Slenderman stabbing of May 31, 2014, in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha, Wisconsin, shocked the local community and the world. What was frightening was that they had done so under the influence of a figure born by the internet: the so-called "Slenderman." Yet the even more urgent aspect of the story, that the children involved were suffering from undiagnosed mental illness, was often overlooked in coverage of the case. This is the first full account of the Slenderman stabbing, a true crime narrative of mental illness, the judicial system, the trials of adolescence, and the power of the Internet.
A taste for poison : eleven deadly molecules and the killers who used them
Bradbury, Neil, author
2022
Trailed : one woman's quest to solve the Shenandoah murders
Miles, Kathryn, 1974- author
2022
In May 1996, Julie Williams and Lollie Winans were brutally murdered while backpacking in Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. Despite an extensive joint investigation by the FBI, the Virginia police, and National Park Service experts, the case remained unsolved for years. On the 20th anniversary of the murder, Kathryn Miles' investigation into the cold case discovers evidence of cover-ups, incompetence, and crime-scene sloppiness that seemed part of a larger problem in America's pursuit of justice in national parks. She also zeroes in on a different likely suspect.
The true crime file : serial killers, famous kidnappings, great cons, survivors & their stories, forensics, oddities & absurdities, quotes & quizzes
2022
"More than 200 stories of killers, con artists, master theives, and brazen kidnappers--and strong survivors, detectives, forensic breakthroughs, and legal minds on all sides of the action. In other words, a mini-encyclopedia perfect for newcomers and hard-core crime fans alike."-- Back cover.
We thought we knew you
Phelps, M. William, author
2022
Takes readers deep into the murder of Mary Yoder, a popular wife, mother, and healer in Upstate New York -- telling a gripping tale of a family drama, a determined investigation, and a killer with the face of an angel.
When a killer calls : a haunting story of murder, criminal profiling, and justice in a small town
Douglas, John E., author
2022
"On May 31, 1985, two days before her high school graduation, Shari Smith was abducted from the driveway of her family home in South Carolina. Based on the crime scene and the abductor's repeated and taunting calls to the family, law enforcement quickly realized they were dealing with a sophisticated and highly dangerous criminal. A letter arrived the next day entitled "Last Will & Testament," in which Shari, knowing she was to be murdered, wrote bravely and achingly of her love for her parents, siblings, and boyfriend, saying that while they would miss her, she knew they would persevere through their faith. The abduction rocked her quiet town, triggering a massive manhunt and bringing in the FBI, which enlisted profiler John Douglas. A few days later, a phone call told the family where they could find Shari's body. Then nine-year-old Debra May Helmick was kidnapped from her yard, confirming the harsh realization that Smith's murder was no random act. A serial killer was evolving, and the only way to stop him would be to use the study of criminal behavior to anticipate his next move before he could kill again. Douglas devised a risky and emotionally fraught strategy to use Shari's lookalike older sister Dawn as bait to draw out the unknown subject. Dawn and her parents courageously agreed. One of the most haunting investigations of Douglas's storied career, this case details how the eerily accurate profile he created--alongside his carefully crafted and stage-managed manipulation of the killer's psychology--combined with dedicated police work and cutting-edge forensic science to end a reign of criminal terror. As Shari's family took incredible personal risks to lure her killer from the shadows, Douglas and the FBI pushed criminal profiling to its limits, culminating in one of his most dramatic and effective confrontations with a sadistic and remorseless killer."--
With the devil's help : a true story of poverty, mental illness, and murder.
Wooten, Neal.
2022
Neal Wooten traces five decades of his dirt-poor, Alabama mountain family as the years and secrets coalesce.