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A well-documented look at the submarine community that combines true crime with science writing and history. It’s a good pick for fans of Erik Larsen, as Frank also intersperses the events of a crime within a subject’s larger context, all in engaging and haunting writing.
A fascinating exploration of predation in the criminal justice system and its impact on marginalized communities.
Starkey masterfully uses a unique blend of storytelling and legal documentation to share his declarations excellently.
Despite the tie-in to the cult TV show, perhaps only avid Twin Peaks viewers will find a connection here.
This is not for readers looking for cold, hard answers; instead, it’s an exhaustively crowdsourced account of a grim chapter in punk history.
This book is an informative one-stop shop that is sure to provide a little something for a wide range of readers.
A thoughtful and well-researched compilation of unsolved crimes, perfect for any true crime collection. Listeners interested in more of Renner’s work may also want to check out Little, Crazy Children and the forthcoming Scout Camp.
PREMIUM
The Wrongs and Rights Come Apart
Not an easy read but a pertinent one on an important, thorny topic about untidy laws and opposing theories of rights, wrongs, and morality.
An intelligent, essential compendium that creates a 360-degree view of the United States’ crisis of mass incarceration.
This absorbing narrative with textbook clarity is a must for readers interested in the facts of CRT and how it understands the U.S. legal and political systems’ impact on systemic racial inequality. Highly recommended.
Kuhne describes the harrowing experience of the rafters in painstaking detail, using the trial transcripts as a primary source. This book grippingly exposes the disastrous events that played out on the rafting trip, while delivering a sobering mediation on accountability and survival and raising haunting questions.
PREMIUM
The Worst Trickster Story Ever Told: Native America, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. Constitution
Blending serious scholarship with a chatty and lively narrative style, this introduction to plenary power within the context of relations between the U.S. and Indigenous peoples will intrigue law students, advocates, and general readers.
The lack of books on the Boy Scouts largest summer camp makes this deeply personal, captivating, and accessible title an essential addition to true crime collections.
Highly recommended for readers concerned about public policy issues. Pair with Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, whosesixth lesson is especially relevant to German’s work.
Voeten’s meticulous research has made for easily the most comprehensive work ever done on this subject. A must for collections, this highly recommended book expertly describes and shows with evidence-based research and powerful accounts the terrifying reality of this global issue.
This audiobook offers a nuanced, empathetic portrayal of Mandelbaum, considering her criminal enterprises while spotlighting her as a pioneering figure and astute businessperson.
PREMIUM
Children of Darkness and Light: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell and the Story of a Murderous Faith
An intense, heartbreaking listen.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a thoroughly researched, thought-provoking collection of true crime that highlights this country’s need for criminal justice reform. Recommended for fans of Barred by Daniel S. Medwed.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an immersive, impassioned nonfiction work about the miscarriages of justice and one man’s mission to help. Recommended for fans of Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a tense true crime about the Idaho student killings and several related cases. Recommended for fans of Shawn Cohen’s College Girl, Missing and other contemporary crime nonfiction.
A worthwhile listen for readers fascinated by true crime and the impact that politics and policies have on justice and truth.
Kennedy’s efforts to find out what happened to Goddard after she faded from public life uncover not only personal details but also an in-depth history of the treatment of women survivors of sexual assault and other crimes. Readers with an interest in police procedure or true crime will find this book fascinating.
Sklansky’s impactful, crisply written study makes a cogent argument for criminal justice reform as a means to preserve U.S. democracy. Readers interested in criminal justice reform and the legal system will enjoy checking out this title.
For concerned readers and scholars seeking an evidence-based argument that free speech has gone awry.
The details, research, and candor in this highly recommended work will captivate readers, who won’t be able to put it down.
Even though some listeners may wish for a more proportional account, this expertly narrated audio sheds light on a key trial that continues to be unsettlingly relevant today. Recommended for those who enjoyed Greg Jarrett’s The Trial of the Century.
An intriguing portrait of a charming career criminal, perfect for fans of Frank W. Abagnale and Stan Redding’s Catch Me If You Can.
Slater’s fleet, detail-filled narrative brings Rothstein and Shoenfeld to the forefront. This book will entertain readers of American history, Jewish history, and true crime.
Readers who enjoy stories about organized-crime families will appreciate this book. Give to fans of Five Families by Selwyn Raab and For the Sins of My Father by Albert DeMeo.
An intriguing perspective on a lesser-known case. This book proves that history can repeat itself in unexpected ways, and not everyone is eager to revisit the past.
Readers who enjoy true crime will love this chance to go beyond the headlines and discover the whole story of the horrors that landed this couple in prison. Daybell was sentenced to death; Vallow’s sentence was life without parole.
Readers interested in the U.S. Supreme Court and its history, the legal system, and contemporary America will enjoy this book.
PREMIUM
Swamp Kings: The Story of the Murdaugh Family of South Carolina & a Century of Backwoods Power
A solid recommendation for true crime buffs and those who enjoyed Mandy Matney’s Blood on Their Hands.
Readers interested in true crime or the legal system will be delighted with Rosenberg’s narrative gift. They won’t want to miss her memoir’s unique perspectives.
A highly readable account of murder and systemic racism. This title is a compelling example of how to take stories that made headlines and find the deeper, more nuanced narrative strains that rarely come across in the media.
For police memoir fans and people who enjoy reading about triumph over adversity. This isn’t as blistering as Edwin Raymond and Jon Sternfeld’s An Inconvenient Cop, which was about the NYPD, but this is a worthwhile and insightful account from a retired police superintendent.
PREMIUM
The Witch of New York: The Trials of Polly Bodine and the Creation of Tabloid Justice in America
A winning recommendation for listeners interested in true crime or the intricacies of the legal system. This account of the devastating power of rumors and hearsay is both fascinating and chilling.
Recommended for lovers of unconventional true crime such as The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser and In Vino Duplicitas by Peter Hellman.
Lovers of true crime, gangsters, and the Golden Age of Hollywood will devour this book about an infamous case and the women who stood their ground.
PREMIUM
Fear Is Just a Word: A Missing Daughter, a Violent Cartel, and a Mother’s Quest for Vengeance
A heart-wrenching depiction of violence and a mother’s love. Recommended for listeners who appreciated Cristina Rivera Garza’s Liliana’s Invincible Summer.
This intriguing examination of a horrific killing spree may have listeners wondering if Fugate was innocent after all. An excellent recommendation for true crime fans and anyone interested in delving into the background of the Starkweather and Fugate case.
A story of conspiracy and murder, providing intimate knowledge of each person involved and allowing listeners to understand how far people will go to preserve a community’s solidarity.
Companies and their safety employees will appreciate this updated, well-written, authoritative summary of OSHA law and practice.
An insightful read about using fear to frame public policies for political advantage. For First Amendment scholars and general readers alike.
PREMIUM
The Disquieting Death of Emma Gill: Abortion, Death, and Concealment in Victorian New England
This highly researched and detailed book serves as a stark reminder of the sometimes fatal consequences women face when denied the right to safe, legal abortions.
Fans of true crime tales will enjoy this retelling of the case of a woman whose two husbands mysteriously end up dead.
This audiobook will appeal to those just learning of Lam’s death and the Cecil Hotel, but those seeking tell-all true crime rather than a memoir may be disappointed.
Perfect for true-crime lovers who want a story about sinister thefts that aims to uncover the psychological motivations behind some sensational crimes.
PREMIUM
Pain Hustlers
Emily Blunt and Chris Evans star in a recently-released Netflix film based on the book, but Hughes’s riveting account about the opioid epidemic stands on its own as a work of outstanding narrative nonfiction that should find a place in most libraries.
PREMIUM
Treaty Justice: The Northwest Tribes, the Boldt Decision, and the Recognition of Fishing Rights
Readers interested in the history of Indigenous peoples, the Pacific Northwest, and legal battles will enjoy this book.
A great addition to collections about the history of film or organized crime, chronicling famous and lesser-known mobsters who made a killing, literally and figuratively, in Hollywood. Sussman’s diligent research and juicy storytelling will appeal to fans of his other works.
Readers will be able to visualize Zalkind’s murder board as they take in her meticulous, intriguing summation of her years of research. This is an eloquent book that is part true-crime deep dive and part memoir. It’s a definitive resource on a crime that, while officially unsolved, appears to be littered with conspiracies, corruption, and poor decisions.
This book will appeal to readers of true-crime stories, but it’s also ideal for those looking for a real-world example of what human trafficking looks like today.
For true-crime fans who want to be taken through the details, the theories, and every piece of evidence of the Berman murders case.
Readers intrigued by recent FBI histories such as Beverly Gage’s G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century should access this first comprehensive biography of one of Hoover’s predecessors. It has the rapid pace of a spy novel. For specialists and generalists alike.
A clear and comprehensive primer about the culture and values required to operate constitutional government as the country’s founders intended. This is, indeed, an imperative read for engaged citizens.
This title about police departments will appeal to concerned citizens and policy makers. Pair it with An Inconvenient Cop by Edwin Raymond with Jon Sternfeld.
A solid purchase for libraries seeking to broaden their coverage of women in history. Share with readers of Katherine Sharp Landdeck’s The Women with Silver Wings, which offers a similarly heartening account of women’s accomplishments in the military.
An excellent and thorough biography of a character whose true story is not widely known, and a wild ride through the Depression and the U.S. prison system; many will enjoy the journey.
Measurably advances the conversation about ways to meet people’s legal needs. This narrative demands the attention of readers interested in making the legal system work for everyone, regardless of their resources.
Fans of true crime will enjoy this collection of tales from the annals of American justice; they will surely come away eager to learn more about the crimes that have meaningfully shaped the judicial system.
A deeply affecting look at a tragedy involving three families. True crime fans will be enthralled and deeply moved by this impeccably researched account.
A well-researched and new take on one of Hollywood’s most notorious mysteries. True-crime fans and celebrity mavens will enjoy.
Those who are new to the case and those who followed it since the beginning should enjoy this thorough exploration of corruption, influence, and depravity in this prominent Southern family. For fans of Sarah Weinman’s Scoundrel or Juan Martinez’s Conviction.
A much-needed corrective to stereotypes about the reasons behind some women’s acts of violence. This title spotlights highly personal stories of trauma, while signaling the need for systemic change.
Parts of this book stretch the story longer than necessary. But this is still an important title for community college or university libraries since it offers difficult-to-find details about the culture and history of fraternities.
An absorbing and thought-provoking memoir that provides a clear and compelling argument for police reform.
PREMIUM
Hearts of Darkness: Serial Killers, the Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI
A gripping and readable memoir that’s an essential read for audiences who want to understand the history of the FBI and the BSU. True-crime fans will enjoy Monroe’s tales about some of the most memorable cases she worked.
One of the best true crime books out there. It shows the anguish and toll on the investigators and witnesses to a heinous crime. True-crime and public-affairs readers will devour this well-researched book. It’s as good as the outstanding Unmasked by Paul Holes with Robin Gaby Fisher.
This book is less of a biography and more of a window with a view of McAfee’s world. Its twists and turns are certain to fascinate readers.
Butcher provides a nonsensationalist glimpse into the real world of crime scene investigations, serving as a knowledgeable yet sensitive guide. This is a title that could well become required reading in the field; share with readers of Paul Holes’s Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases.
An empathetic, beautifully narrated audio that details a heartbreaking tragedy complicated by social media and a politicized law-enforcement system.
Although it may be difficult for listeners to relate to Breitwieser, Ballerini’s expert narration makes this a recommended purchase for all collections.
Toobin’s authoritative chronicle, which allows the facts to speak for themselves, is as unsettling as it is powerful. A timely and impressive account of the roots of domestic terrorism.
PREMIUM
Searching for Savanna: The Murder of One Native American Woman and the Violence Against the Many
Gable makes the case for the need to protect the rights of Indigenous women in this gripping work.
A magnum opus for the well-worn aphorism “the police cannot police themselves,” this audio’s impact lies in the wealth of examples emphasizing that this abusive conduct is etched in place by pattern and practice. The authors make a powerful case that public pressure is essential in making police departments accountable.
A compelling and moving book with excellent narration that captivates from beginning to end. For readers of Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy.
Leitner speaks to the impact of sexual assault, describing the devastation wrought on survivors as well as their families and friends.
PREMIUM
The Trial of the Century
Listeners will likely find this story riveting, as it speaks to still relevant debates surrounding intellectual freedom, evolution, and the separation of church and state.
Fans of true crime and Netflix’s I Am a Killer series will enjoy this well-written, well-researched book, but some readers may find portions disturbing.
This book provides clear evidence of the problems within the U.S. guardianship and conservatorship system and how easily it can affect anyone at any time. Readers interested in law, civil rights, and stories about everyday people will be drawn in quickly, but it’s a book for everyone.
The book is clearly written and argued, and each chapter includes a legal cartoon, which legal reformers will likely enjoy. There are also plenty of practical tips.
This deeply moving book is a personal challenge to doctrinaire notions of justice verses the Christian conviction that each person is redeemable.
Drawing on a wide array of secondary literature, the book’s provocative discussion of the automobile’s pervasive and profound impacts on the United States will likely appeal to readers interested in any of the interconnected issues of crime and punishment, individual independence, equality of opportunity, mobility, public health and spaces, the environment, and social justice.
An accessible, informative, instructive, and adroit analysis of the forces that are shaping choices and defining technology’s future promises. For policymakers, this is an essential read.
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