BOOKISH

A Not-So-Ordinary Book Discussion

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

WRITTEN BY TIFFANY KILLOREN

Let’s be honest. Real life is scarier than anything people can write. People are capable of nightmarish things. The following true crime books will give you nightmares, not for fear of things that go bump in the night, but because the scariest people are sometimes right in front of you.

Helter Skelter

Curt Gentry & Vincent Bugliosi, 1974

There are all sorts of misconceptions about this book, which is actually a fascinating read from the prosecutor’s perspective of the Manson Family crimes and how they were ultimately caught and convicted. The crimes, of course, are discussed, but not in a gratuitous way; rather, Bugliosi walks the reader through the puzzle that had to be solved to bring down one of the country’s most notorious criminals and, with him, a “family” that was frightening in their blind devotion. As a former attorney, I was fascinated at the story of how a young prosecutor took on a formidable opponent—and won.

Bitter Harvest

Ann Rule, 1997

I’m not going to lie—this was a tough read for many reasons. First and foremost, any crime involving children is especially atrocious, but this true story about a woman who became unhinged in Prairie Village, Kansas, and the events that followed is particularly troubling because it happened in our backyard. Also difficult is the realization that surviving family members may still live in the area and the sincere hope that they have somehow found peace and happiness in the years after. I’m a huge fan of Ann Rule’s books, and this is just one crime of many she explored. Another one of her books that you should check out, The Stranger Beside Me, is an absolutely terrifying tale of her relationship with one of the most prolific serial killers in history.

The Good Nurse

Charles Graeber, 2013

Good golly, this book was scary! There was no suspense or dark corners to steer clear of, but this true story of a nurse who killed his patients left me shaken. As horrific as his actions were alone, the negligence of the hospital systems that employed him are beyond comprehension and should shoulder some of the responsibility for his ability to carry on an evil agenda for so long. Health care providers who hurt patients after taking a Hippocratic oath to “do no harm” reside in a special dark place in society reserved for the scariest of souls.

Leopold & Loeb, The Crime of the Century

Hal Higdon, 1999

One innocent boy. Two narcissistic young men who believed themselves above worldly laws. This combination resulted in a horrific murder in 1924 Chicago that shook the world and questioned what becomes of someone when all conscious consideration for human life or order is lost. Considered at the time as “the crime of the century,” one of the most prominent lawyers of the day, Clarence Darrow, represented the two men. True crime history buffs will enjoy the legal aspects of this case and a lawyer’s summation that has gone down in history, but anyone will be chilled by this account of a crime that is terrifying to its core.

Tiffany Killorenis a local author and lover of the written word. Her novel, GOOD WILL, was released in 2020 and she is always thinking

of new stories to tell. Follow her at @readandthreads on Instagram for book and life musings as she tries to balance career, family and her passion for writing one step - or word - at a time. PHOTO BY MOLLY KUPLEN