Obsessed With True Crime

Maybe it’s the psychology or the questions of “why” or maybe it’s the mystery of true crime, but let me tell you … I AM ADDICTED TO IT.

Obsessed With True Crime

Years ago when I was in high school, I became heavily dependent on a televised trial that went on for months. OJ Simpson, anyone? I would get home from school, watch what was remaining of trial that day, watch the replay on A Current Affair, and then watch any new footage I could find. I would share my opinions with friends (who probably couldn’t really care less) and with my parents. I loved watching the process and seeing it all play out.

Unsolved Mysteries was also favorite when I was growing up. Any Lifetime movie with suspense was captivating to me. I also loved horror movies and anything that explores the mind of a crazy person.

Women are raised to be fearful. First it’s strangers, then later in life, it’s the men or neighbors in our lives, living alone, walking to our cars, going out by ourselves, raising children, etc. We women are encased in FEAR. True crime shows us what happens when things turn bad, there in turn, exposing us to all of our fears. It’s therapy of sorts. I believe women are wired to be empathetic and want to understand why people the things that they do. There are always so many questions with crime stories. Why was someone so easily fooled? Why did a mother snap so suddenly? What made this person do such awful things? 

I know that I am not alone in my love for true crime. Many women love it as much as I do.

Dateline and Forensic Files are usually after-the-kids-go-to-bed top picks for most moms that I know. Maybe it’s the amazement that people commit acts that we as moms could never fathom. Or maybe it’s because we think we could possibly prevent anything that we hear about from happening in our own lives. That we are somehow preparing ourselves to look for certain things that might present themselves, in people we know, strangers and our own children. Which is why I no longer answer the door for the UPS man or why I tend to freak out if someone takes too long to return my calls. 

The best part of my day is getting off of work and enjoying a true crime Podcast while sitting in traffic. Reading about crimes is also something I enjoy. Researching cases and theories about what happened is something I could spend all day doing. The widely known cases are interesting, but to me, I prefer hearing about those stories that aren’t so popular. Those cases where the person lived a seemingly normal life but lived a different life behind closed doors are what I tend to chose. There is such an allure to hearing the details about that coworker or teacher who was a different person and had a dark secret. Those are the scariest to me because it really drives home that you never REALLY know people. 

My husband does not share my love for true crime.

I think in the beginning he was a little perplexed as to why I would chose to read or watch something that obviously never ends well. I honestly couldn’t explain it to him, and as hard as I tried, I could never get him on board with any of it. Now he sees criminology documentaries and books and says “This looks disturbing. You would probably like it.” He is usually right. 

While to some, true crime can be upsetting and something they try to avoid, to me it’s mysterious and complex. The voice of Peter Thomas is soothing to me. Hearing the details of a person gone mad is exciting. What does it take for one person to go mad and commit the ultimate crime? These are the things that draw me in to true crime.

Theses are my favorite True Crime podcasts. I recommend them all!

Sword and Scale
Sword and Scale Rewind
True Crime Garage
S-Town
Atlanta Monster
Hollywood and Crime
My Favorite Murder
Young Charlie
Done Disappeared 
Dear John

Best True Crime books out there:

Colombine – Dave Cullen
Member of the Family – Dianne Lake
The Road to Jonestown – Jeff Guinn
In Cold Blood – Truman Capote
The Journalist and the Murderer – Janet Malcolm
Son of a Gun – Justin St. Germain
The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson
Lost Girls – Robert Kolker
The Stranger Beside Me – Ann Rule
Devil’s Knot – Mara Leveritt

I know that there are many more women who share this love for this genre. If you read a good true crime book or find a good documentary, let me know!