Crime Reads » Essays

Midwest Murders: The Dark Legacy of Iowa's Adoption Program for Korean Children

Midwest Murders: The Dark Legacy of Iowa's Adoption Program for Korean Children

An excerpt from What They Stole: A Familicide Rooted in Intercountry Adoption by Paige Towers

By Paige Towers | May 29, 2026

5 Mysteries Set in the Rugged Wilderness (Plus a Quiz)

5 Mysteries Set in the Rugged Wilderness (Plus a Quiz)

Rhodi Hawk recommends sylvan suspense and shares the science behind our desire for the wild unknown

By Rhodi Hawk | May 28, 2026

Jessica Guerrieri on Gendered Violence, Survival, and Why True Crime Is Addictive

Jessica Guerrieri on Gendered Violence, Survival, and Why True Crime Is Addictive

The author of Both Can Be True explores the dark appeal of a genre to female audiences

By Jessica Guerrieri | May 28, 2026

Pop Novelist: Rereading Michael Crichton’s 'Sphere'

Pop Novelist: Rereading Michael Crichton’s 'Sphere'

Ian Mackenzie on the formative reading and the lasting influence of an underwater space orb.

By Ian Mackenzie | May 27, 2026

An Aria to the Mad Scientist

An Aria to the Mad Scientist

"[A] mad scientist is a veritable cornucopia of incendiary incidents. They’re forever pushing the plot forward."

By Nick Cutter | May 27, 2026

Eli Raphael on Identity, Outsiders, and Creating Accountability in Thrillers

Eli Raphael on Identity, Outsiders, and Creating Accountability in Thrillers

The author of Night Objects mulls the allure of assimilation and belonging

By Eli Raphael | May 27, 2026

Best Reviewed
Books of the Week

Kerri Hakoda on the Symbolic Power of Rivers in Mystery

By Kerri Hakoda | May 26, 2026

Andrea Hairston on Crossing Genres, Science Fiction, and Taking Romance Seriously

By Andrea Hairston | May 26, 2026

Carmela Dutra on Why Public Crime Scenes Work So Well in Mysteries

By Carmela Dutra | May 25, 2026

Amanda West on the Joyful Challenge of Changing Thriller Genres

Amanda West on the Joyful Challenge of Changing Thriller Genres

The author of The Memory Foundation moves from psychological to speculative suspense

By Amanda West | May 25, 2026

Leslie Baird on Surveillance in Society and Fiction

Leslie Baird on Surveillance in Society and Fiction

How George Orwell, Laila Lalami, and others capture the tension of being watched by governments, peers, and more

By Leslie Baird | May 22, 2026

How 'At Close Range' Set the Tone for Rural Crime Storytelling

How 'At Close Range' Set the Tone for Rural Crime Storytelling

Once overlooked, the 1986 noir now has an outsize influence.

By Keith Roysdon | May 21, 2026

Appalachian Jump Scare

Appalachian Jump Scare

Michael Amos Cody on crime, terror, and the Appalachian sublime.

By Michael Amos Cody | May 19, 2026

Tori Eldridge on Capturing the Culture of Hawaii's Cowboys in Her New Novel

Tori Eldridge on Capturing the Culture of Hawaii's Cowboys in Her New Novel

The author of Hawai‘i Rage explores the Pacific islands' history of paniolo

By Tori Eldridge | May 19, 2026

Crime and the City: Cologne, Germany

Crime and the City: Cologne, Germany

Our international series tours a German city of medieval architecture and classic mysteries.

By Paul French | May 18, 2026

Sam Beckbessinger: A Brief History of the Female Werewolf

Sam Beckbessinger: A Brief History of the Female Werewolf

"To modern eyes, a female werewolf feels like a twist of the norm. But really, the older subversive strain has always been there"

By Sam Beckbessinger | May 14, 2026

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