Historical True Crime

Step into a world where ancient enigmas meet modern investigation. From the haunting depths of vanished civilizations to cold cases that still chill detectives today, Epic Historical Mysteries takes you on a thrilling journey through humanity’s most captivating unsolved puzzles.

Grace Metalious, born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, came from humble beginnings. A former mill worker, mother of three, and school principal’s wife, she would shock the nation in 1956 with the publication of Peyton Place, her first novel about a murder in a small town. Quickly becoming the best-selling book of its time, the sexually charged book spawned sequels, two Hollywood movies, and a long-running television series on ABC starring Mia Farrow and Ryan O’Neal.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The epic true crime story of the most successful bootlegger in American history and the murder that shocked the nation, from the New York Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City and Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy “Gatsby-era noir at its best.”—Erik...

On the night of June 9, 1912, eight people went to sleep in a white timber house in Villisca, Iowa. By morning, all of them were dead. The crime scene was discovered within hours. Investigators arrived promptly. Evidence was collected. Suspects were identified and interrogated. Trials were held. Newspapers across the country followed every development in a case that seemed to demand resolution—a prosperous family and two young guests killed in their beds by an intruder who left behind ritualistic staging but no clear motive, no definitive trail, and no certain identity. More than a ...

The astonishing story of Benny Binion - a rip-roaring saga of murder, money, and the making of Las Vegas. Benny Binion was many things: a cowboy, a pioneering casino owner, a gangster, a killer, and founder of the hugely successful World Series of Poker. Blood Aces tells the story of Binion's crucial role in shaping modern Las Vegas. From a Texas backwater, Binion rose to prominence on a combination of vision, determination, and brutal expediency.

Weird but True Stories from the Roaring 1920s: Strange and Bizarre Tales from the Prohibition Era is a riveting collection of real, historically documented events that prove truth is stranger than fiction. From haunted courtrooms and dance marathons that drove people to madness, to bootlegging schemes, deadly medical frauds, and a massacre that changed organized crime forever, this book explores the weirdest corners of 1920s America. Set against the backdrop of Prohibition, jazz, flappers, and gangsters, these ten unforgettable stories showcase the bizarre side of the decade that redefined ...

What makes a man—or a moment—turn lethal? Why do some societies spot predators early while others do not? After Dark examines thirty cases of serial killing from medieval Europe to the DNA era, bringing forensic clarity, courtroom drama, and measured moral reflection to stories too often told as spectacle. Each chapter reconstructs a life of crime and the investigation that ended it—Burke and Hare’s trade in corpses; Ted Bundy’s theatrical court appearances and late confessions; the forensic breakthroughs that finally unmasked long‑evading predators—while always asking the ...

True Crime in Adams County Adams County, Illinois...a place where the Mississippi carves its path through the land and history runs deep in every brick and backroad. But beneath the surface of this quiet Midwestern county lies a trove of chilling secrets and unspeakable acts long whispered about and rarely confronted. In True Crime in Adams County, these unforgettable stories take readers on a haunting journey through two centuries of murder, mystery, and mayhem. These are not fictional accounts, but true events pulled from dusty courthouse records, yellowed newspaper clippings, and the ...

WANTED WOMEN: True Stories of Outlaw Women of the Wild West They were accused, arrested, and erased—yet they never stopped riding. In this gripping volume of historical nonfiction, Richard Fleischman uncovers the true stories of women who defied law and convention to become fugitives, rebels, and outlaws on the American frontier. From saloon shootouts to stagecoach heists, from the gallows to the open plains, these women lived outside the lines—and paid the price. They carried revolvers under corsets. They stole horses, smuggled whiskey, ran brothels, and broke jail. Some were hardened ...

Current Edition - Updated Annually Step into the shadowy realm of humanity's most notorious figures The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers: Who, When, Where, Why! delves into the lives, methodologies, and dark motives of the world's most infamous predators. From Victorian London's fog-laden alleys to the modern streets of Beijing, each page unveils chilling tales and mind-boggling mysteries. Discover not just the crimes, but the twisted psyches behind them. Learn about the tireless detectives, the unsolved enigmas, and the very fabric of what creates a killer. A great research tool and a must-...

Crime Scenes takes you behind the police tape and immerses you in the stories of astonishing crimes from around the world. A town created by Disney, a luxury yacht in the Caribbean, an impenetrable Australian forest, the backstreets of Liverpool and a bungalow in Wales all provide settings for a series of sinister, and at times unbelievable, true crimes.

This audiobook uncovers 10 amazing true crimes that exploded into the national news, shocking Americans from coast to coast - crimes that were eventually forgotten - until now. Many of these incredible cases went unexplored for decades.

In a gay nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016, the shooter, Omar Mateen, murdered 49 people and wounded 53 others. The attack was the deadliest act of violence against the LGBTQ+ community in US history and the deadliest terrorist attack in the United States since 9/11. But there’s a story you haven’t heard. The FBI had a secret history with the shooter and his father. To obscure that history, the FBI pushed a false story that the media dutifully carried—that the attacker was a secretly gay Islamist extremist who had chosen to target Pulse and planned the attack for weeks.

Some secrets refuse to stay buried, even when the ground is frozen solid. Nature can be a pristine sanctuary or a brutal accomplice. In this gripping anthology, the harshest winter environments play a central role in some of the most baffling and chilling investigations in history. From remote mountain passes to quiet suburban streets buried under sudden blizzards, extreme weather has a unique way of freezing time, concealing tracks, and preserving vital evidence that waits decades to be uncovered. Journey through a meticulously researched collection of harrowing accounts where plunging ...

The Dark Side of History: 50 True Crime Stories of Murder, Power and Intrigue By Prof. Heinrich Müller Step into the shadowy corridors of history where power, passion, and politics collide in chilling acts of true crime. In this gripping and meticulously researched collection, renowned historian Prof. Heinrich Müller unveils 50 of the most fascinating real-life crimes from ancient times to the 21st century. These are not just tales of murder—they are windows into the darkest corners of human ambition, greed, and betrayal. From ancient political assassinations to modern-day spy scandals,...

When she was kidnapped from Long Meadow Farm in Stony Brook, New York, in 1937, Alice McDonell Parsons was the heir to a vast fortune among Long Island's wealthy elite. The crime shocked the nation and was front-page news for several months.

Starvation. Poison. Cannibalism. Extermination. History's worst horrors weren't committed by monsters. They were carried out by governments, documented in official records, and conducted in broad daylight while the world looked away. You know the atrocities everyone remembers. The ones taught in schools, commemorated in memorials, discussed in documentaries. This book is about the others. The mass deaths that were buried, minimized, or erased from collective memory. The systematic cruelties that unfolded in isolated places where no one intervened. The horrors that killed thousands—...

True Crime Stories You Won't Believe-Omnibus Edition s brings together three critically acclaimed volumes—Books One, Two, and Three—into a single, unflinching collection of true crime stories that dig deeper than most. From forgotten killers and overlooked trials to psychological profiles and courtroom spectacles, this is a journey through the darkest corners of criminal history. Written by forensic psychologist and author Romeo Vitelli, Ph.D., this omnibus offers a sweeping look at real-life crimes that defy easy explanation. These aren’t just tales of murder—they are explorations ...

Famous Crimes the World Forgot Volume II uncovers more amazing true crimes that exploded into the national news, shocking Americans from coast to coast - crimes that were eventually forgotten - until now. Each one of these stories transports you back to the time they happened, propels you through all the suspense-filled developments, and explores each one with an in-depth look into the actions of humans so evil, it's hard to believe they were real.

What drives a person to commit unspeakable acts of violence? How does a seemingly ordinary individual become a monster? This gripping collection takes you deep inside twenty of the most harrowing and complex criminal cases in modern history. Forget simple headlines and sensationalism. This is a meticulous work of investigative journalism that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche. Each chapter is a comprehensive deep dive, detailing the perpetrators' backgrounds, their chilling methodologies, and the desperate investigations that brought them to justice. From the calculated ...