The true crime genre is one of the most fascinating out there. It's gripping, shocking, disturbing, but fans can't stop listening. At it's core, the genre tells stories of some of the most depraved and twisted people in history, committing some of the worst crimes ever reported. But there's something special and unshakable about binge-listening your next favorite true crime audiobook, hoping that the bad guy gets caught in the end. And, unfortunately, with no shortage of insane and notorious serial killers throughout history, there's a wide selection of audiobooks about them to match. From California, New York, and Washington, here are the stories behind some of the most chilling and unrepentant serial killers from each state.
California
If you ask someone what California is famous for you might get responses like Hollywood, earthquakes, Silicon Valley, wildfires, and traffic. Here are two fun facts: California is the most populous state in the United States, and its agriculture industry has the highest output of any state in the country. Here is one un-fun fact: California has the most serial killers of any US state. Whether you’re a fan of diving deep into true crime or you’re just getting your toes wet, these are the California killers you absolutely need to know!
Ted Bundy
We seem to be living in a new golden age of true-crime entertainment. But while I'll Be Gone in the Dark and My Favorite Murder have recently captured the true-crime community by storm, 30 years ago the most famous author discussing the dark subject of serial killers was Ann Rule. Her true-crime origin story started at the University of Washington, where she befriended a kind, empathetic co-worker…who would later be unveiled as one of the most notorious criminals in history. Rule’s account of her friendship with Ted Bundy, as well as his horrific crimes and eventual capture, is detailed in her first book, The Stranger Beside Me.
The Stranger Beside Me
Sometimes you approach true crime like a scientist, nobly plumbing the depths of human behavior or dispassionately weighing the evidence, and sometimes you just let its black wave of malevolence wash over you with a shudder. I listened to The Stranger Beside Me on a camping trip, with my kids snuggled in sleeping bags beside me. As they snoozed, I kept an ear out for bears and succumbed to the terror of knowing the great crime writer Ann Rule had worked alongside Ted Bundy purely by chance—had let him walk her to her car on dark nights, had exchanged letters with the killer, had drunk Chablis with him even after his first arrest (luckily for Rule, she was a few years older and didn’t part her hair down the middle). Part of the narrative thrill is Rule’s late-dawning discovery that her old chum is the very maniac she seeks, yet careful listeners may wonder just how much Rule truly suspected about Bundy in real time. Was it really such a shock when, presented with overwhelming evidence in court, she was literally sick with the realization? Or did she (consciously or not) look past the plain facts a little too long for enhanced dramatic effect? We’ll likely never know, but the incredible fates that collided to bring this book to fruition are, in the end, what elevate it from tabloid fare to true-crime classic. Whether you come to The Stranger Beside Me to untangle these complex questions or for its trusty dopamine rush, you’re guaranteed a queasy ride.
Green River Killer
Rule went on to write many, many more true crime chronicles, including one about the Green River Killer, Green River, Running Red. But there's an account by someone with a more intimate knowledge of the case: Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer by Sheriff David Reichert. Reichert was the first detective assigned to the case in 1982; 20 years—and 49 bodies—later, he captured the killer, a truck painter named Gary Ridgway. As if this story isn’t fascinating enough, the audiobook is magnificently narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris, who has received five Audie Awards and seven Golden Earphone Awards for his work on more than 100 audiobooks.
Chasing the Devil
For eight years, Sheriff David Reichert devoted days and nights to capturing the Green River Killer - the most notorious serial killer in American history....
Fred Coe
For seasoned true-crime listeners or newbies to the subject, these are two audiobooks that can’t be missed! And for another wild Washington true-crime story to put in your ears, check out Son by Jack Olsen, about a mother in Spokane who hired a hitman to murder a judge and prosecutor—after her son was convicted of murder! If it sounds too wild to be true, remember: in the Evergreen State, just about anything can happen.
Son
Recounts the tragic events that followed the arrest of Fred Coe, a conservative, clean-cut young man, for a series of rapes committed in the city of Spokane and led to revenge and murder....
New York
It would be safe to say that 2019 was a bit of a true-crime turning point. True-crime shows, podcasts, documentaries, books, and audiobooks are dominating our media. An arrest had been made in the Golden State Killer case. Charles Manson died. The O.J. Simpson case turned 25. Ted Bundy had yet another film revival. Everywhere you looked, people were discussing crime. Probably because everywhere you looked, people were committing crimes. Take New York, for instance. It's interesting to think that while New York is home to the largest city in the United States, it doesn't have as many serial killers as several other states. If you were to ask a stranger to list famous serial killers from New York, they might be able to name David Berkowitz, aka the Son of Sam. That's probably the only New York case brought up when people discuss American serial killers. But that doesn't mean New York doesn't have a lot of them.
Washington
Washington is a gorgeous state, with a lot of mountainous regions, rivers, forests, and even volcanoes. But all that secluded outdoor space can prove problematic. If you’ve ever watched Twin Peaks, you’ve seen how the state is almost a character itself. All those tall trees and fog add an extra layer of eeriness as the police search for a killer. Washington has seen more than its fair share of killers in real life. The state has the dubious honor of having the eighth-highest number of serial killers on record. (Surprising no one, California holds the top spot.) For starters, Washington was home to arguably the most famous of all American serial killers: Ted Bundy. But the state counts other famous serial killers—including the Green River Killer, Robert Lee Yates, and Westley Allan Dodd—as natives too. And even if their crimes didn't actually occur in Washington, the state sure seems to breed them. (Why didn’t Frasier Crane discuss that on his radio show?)
