Crime Reads » Essays

How the Rise of Mystery Podcasts Created the True Crime Memoir Boom

How the Rise of Mystery Podcasts Created the True Crime Memoir Boom

James Renner explores the phenomenon of true crime authors writing themselves into their stories

By James Renner | July 28, 2026

Shannon Morgan on Why Islands Are Perfect Settings for Mysteries

Shannon Morgan on Why Islands Are Perfect Settings for Mysteries

Exploring how remote settings force characters into suspenseful situations

By Shannon Morgan | July 28, 2026

Maria DiLorenzo on Capturing the Souls of Serial Killers in True Crime and Memoir

Maria DiLorenzo on Capturing the Souls of Serial Killers in True Crime and Memoir

The author of Confessions of the Green River Killer explores evil's facets in a hybrid genre

By Maria DiLorenzo | July 27, 2026

Melodrama-Monster-Myth: What Twin Peaks Taught Me about Subverting Genre

Melodrama-Monster-Myth: What Twin Peaks Taught Me about Subverting Genre

"That genre slipperiness is, I think, precisely what keeps the melodrama from feeling tropey and the horror from feeling unmoored."

By Jen Julian | July 24, 2026

100 Years of Russian Espionage in the U.S.

100 Years of Russian Espionage in the U.S.

Robert McCaw chronicles a century of Russian spy operations - and some very high profile arrests - in the U.S.

By Robert McCaw | July 23, 2026

How AI Deepfakes Are Changing the Rules of Crime Fiction

How AI Deepfakes Are Changing the Rules of Crime Fiction

Dervla McTiernan on the cutting edge of mystery.

By Dervla McTiernan | July 23, 2026

Best Reviewed
Books of the Week

Cliff Dorfman on Crime Families, Loyalty, and Rooting for the Bad Guys in Fiction

By Cliff Dorfman | July 23, 2026

Rosanne Limoncelli on the Joy of Following Characters Through Multiple Stories

By Rosanne Limoncelli | July 23, 2026

Rene Denfeld on What Writers Get Wrong About Death Row

By Rene Denfeld | July 22, 2026

Chess, Hacking, and More: Jason M. Hough on Writing Protagonists with Niche Skills

Chess, Hacking, and More: Jason M. Hough on Writing Protagonists with Niche Skills

The author of Throw Away the Key explores characters who excel in unexpected areas

By Jason M. Hough | July 22, 2026

Rowan Beaird on the Enduring Allure of Cults in Times of Uncertainty

Rowan Beaird on the Enduring Allure of Cults in Times of Uncertainty

The author of Tenderness reflects on a culture's shared obsession

By Rowan Beaird | July 21, 2026

Fashion Cues and Clues: MJ Soni on Why Clothing Matters in Mysteries

Fashion Cues and Clues: MJ Soni on Why Clothing Matters in Mysteries

From the author of 'The Masala Chai Mystery Club'

By MJ Soni | July 21, 2026

Christopher Golden's Secrets to Creating Dread and Writing Great Horror Thrillers

Christopher Golden's Secrets to Creating Dread and Writing Great Horror Thrillers

The author of Carry Me to My Grave shares advice on pacing, atmospherics, and more

By Christopher Golden | July 21, 2026

Sarah Lotz on the Catharsis of Transforming Grief into Crime Fiction

Sarah Lotz on the Catharsis of Transforming Grief into Crime Fiction

The author of How to Kill a Crime Writer channels loss into a darkly comic murder mystery

By Sarah Lotz | July 20, 2026

Teresa Dovalpage on Writing Herself into Her New Novel

Teresa Dovalpage on Writing Herself into Her New Novel

The author of The Novel Detective returns to the Cuba of her youth as scribe, narrator, and character

By Teresa Dovalpage | July 17, 2026

Jack Friday on 'The Big Sleep', Invented Cities, and Chronicling a Changing Austin, Texas

Jack Friday on 'The Big Sleep', Invented Cities, and Chronicling a Changing Austin, Texas

The author of Killer Vibes writes a queer sleuth and grapples with Raymond Chandler's shortcomings

By Jack Friday | July 16, 2026

« First ‹ Previous 4 5 6 789 10 11 12 Next ›Last »

Page 8 of 211