Join Mind Over Murder podcast co-hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley for our annual True Crime Holiday Gift Guide for 2023. Kristin creates a list of some of the best books and other gift ideas, and we discuss why they would make a great gift for your favorite true crime fan, including yourself.
Thanks to all of you for your support this year. Happy Holidays!
True Crime Holiday Gift Guide 2023 Welcome to the true crime holiday gift guide for 2023. If you don’t know what to get for the true crime aficionado in your life, never fear … the True Crime Holiday Gift Guide is here! We’re happy to offer you our humble opinions on the best books of this year, as well as recommendations for other crime themed gifts as well. Sit back, relax, grab a cup of seasonal coffee, and peruse the list. Whenever possible, we encourage you to support small businesses by buying these books direct from the author or from indie bookstores.
In Light of All Darkness—Kim Cross. For my money, this is the best true crime book of the entire year, if not one of the best I’ve ever read. Kim Cross offers the book of record on the Polly Klaas kidnapping, investigation, and aftermath. It’s the most thoroughly researched and well-written book on the case, and it alternately had me in tears of rage and sympathy. Highly recommended! We interviewed Kim on episode #307 of Mind Over Murder, which ran October 9, 2023.
Tangled Vines—John Glatt. This year has seen new twists and turns in the Murdaugh and Murdaugh-adjacent cases and a lot of media coverage as a result. Out of the myriad books, documentaries, and podcasts related to the case, one stands out over the others and that’s this book from veteran true crime author John Glatt, which offers the most comprehensive look at the case and the closest accounting of the damage the Murdaugh dynasty has done to the Low Country over the years. We interviewed John on episode #289 of Mind Over Murder which ran August 7, 2023. We liked our conversation with John Glatt so much we ran it again as a Thursday bonus episode on October 19, 2023.
Lost Girls—Robert Kolker. The Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) case (or Gilgo Beach case) came roaring back into the spotlight in July with the arrest of Rex Heuermann as the suspected killer of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Shannan Gilbert, Megan Watermen, and Amber Costello, as well as other unidentified victims on nearby Fire Island. While the case continues to unfold in the media, catch up on the lives of the victims and the early theories of the case with Kolker’s 2014 book. We interviewed Bob on episode 301 of Mind Over Murder Monday, September 18, 2023. We also recently discussed whether Rex Heuermann could be connected with the unsolved Route 29 Stalker case in Virginia with Sarah Sherman Soule just recently on December 4, episode #323.
A Light in the Dark—Kathy Kleiner Rubin. It’s time to stop caring about Ted Bundy. His victims deserve our attention. Serial survivor Kathy Kleiner Rubin’s story is the one you want to be reading instead. A survivor of childhood lupus, breast cancer, Hurricane Katrina, and the horrific attack by Bundy, Kathy’s story is the light in the dark that we all need to guide us in times of trouble. Don’t miss this amazing and hopeful book. We interviewed Kathy in our episode dated October 30, 2023 of Mind Over Murder, episode #313.
In My DNA—Lindsey Wade. Case work at its finest is on display in this great new book from Investigator Lindsey Wade. Her career is notable for her focus on cold cases that can be solved with DNA, especially those of two missing young women in Seattle. Join Lindsey for an absolutely intriguing look at her cases and her career. We interviewed Lindsey on episode #315 of Mind Over Murder, dated November 6.
Evidence of Things Seen—Sarah Weinman. A follow-up to her amazing collection of long-form true crime pieces UNSPEAKABLE ACTS, Sarah’s newest collection EVIDENCE OF THINGS SEEN takes a lean toward social justice and the ethics of true crime. A much-needed spotlight is shed on these increasingly serious matters, leaving the reader with a lot to ponder. We interviewed Sarah about this collection on episode #249 of Mind Over Murder on March 20, 2023. We liked to so much we re-ran it as a bonus episode on October 5.
America Autopsy—Dr. Michael Baden. Ask any true crime fan to name forensic experts and several names will rise to the top … Dr. Henry Lee, Dr. Cyril Wecht, and, above all, Dr. Michael Baden. Dr. Baden not only reflects on his amazing career but also on the very real issues of racism in policing through gripping stories of his most challenging cases. We interviewed Dr. Baden about his work on episode #282 of Mind Over Murder on July 13, 2023.
The Hunt for Brianna Maitland—Greg Overacker. One of the most confounding cases to come out of Vermont over the last two decades is the disappearance of Brianna Maitland. Private Investigator Greg Overacker has written the definitive book of record on the case, using his own investigation into Brianna’s disappearance and probable murder as a stepping stone. We interviewed Greg Overacker last week, on Mind Over Murder episode #325.
In the Damage Path—Dr. Katherine Ramsland. Dr. Ramsland’s Nutcracker series is our one nod to fiction on this list. This rip-roaring installment sees Annie Hunter (modeled on the good doctor herself) knee deep in a mysterious crime on the Outer Banks of North Carolina … and she’s in for some nasty weather to boot! The answer to the question “how is a serial killer like a violent storm” can be found in these well-written pages. Look for several episodes with Dr. Ramsland earlier this season, most recently on July 24, 2023 as episode #285.
A Murder in Hollywood—Casey Sherman. This excellent new book from Casey Sherman of HELLTOWN fame will not be out until February 2024 but we urge you to preorder it! This glitzy, gritty look at the murder of Hollywood starlet Lana Turner’s abusive boyfriend Johnny Stompanato is full of first-rate storytelling and writing. Look for our episode with Casey Sherman in February…and look for Kristin’s blurb on the back cover of the book!
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