Crime Reads » History

Naomi Kaye on Why Royal Murder Mysteries Still Hook Readers Today

Naomi Kaye on Why Royal Murder Mysteries Still Hook Readers Today

The enduring intrigue of unsolved crimes, from ancient Egypt to 20th-century Russia

By Naomi Kaye | February 19, 2026

The Only Mob Boss Fried in Old Sparky

The Only Mob Boss Fried in Old Sparky

Of all New York's notorious mob figures, only Louis “Lepke” Buchalter was executed in the state's electric chair.

By Jeffrey Sussman | February 18, 2026

The Blurry Lines Between the Mafia, Political Extremists, and Narcoterrorists

The Blurry Lines Between the Mafia, Political Extremists, and Narcoterrorists

An excerpt from Mafia: A Global History by Ryan Gingeras

By Ryan Gingeras | February 17, 2026

Springs Toledo on the Winter Hill Gang, Joe Mac, and the Ghosts of Boston's Underworld

Springs Toledo on the Winter Hill Gang, Joe Mac, and the Ghosts of Boston's Underworld

An excerpt from the new book, Don't Talk About Joe Mac

By Springs Toledo | February 13, 2026

The Death of a Mafia Hit Man

The Death of a Mafia Hit Man

Working in back of the Gemini Lounge in Flatbush, Joey Testa and his crew were linked to dozens of gruesome murders.

By Michael Cannell | February 12, 2026

James Sallis: A Remembrance

James Sallis: A Remembrance

Following news of Sallis' death, Adrian McKinty remembers pancakes in the desert and the distinct brilliance of the Lew Griffin novels.

By Adrian McKinty | February 2, 2026

Best Reviewed
Books of the Week

The Greatest Muckrakers of the Progressive Era

By Rob Osler | January 29, 2026

William J. Mann on Rumors, the Press, and the Black Dahlia Murder's Enigmatic Players

By William J. Mann | January 27, 2026

Big Pimpin: Pimps in Black Pop Culture from the 1970s to the Early 2000s

By Michael Gonzales | January 15, 2026

9 Classic Crime Stories That Have Just Entered the Public Domain in 2026

9 Classic Crime Stories That Have Just Entered the Public Domain in 2026

Books by Dashiell Hammett, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Carolyn Keene now belong to everyone.

By Olivia Rutigliano | January 7, 2026

"Skinhead capital of the world": The Racist Terrors of Orange County, California

An excerpt from "American Reich" by Eric Lichtblau

By Eric Lichtblau | January 6, 2026

The KGB Librarian Who Smuggled Soviet Secrets into the West

The KGB Librarian Who Smuggled Soviet Secrets into the West

An excerpt from "The Spy in the Archives: How One Man Tried to Kill the KGB" by Gordon Corera

By Gordon Corera | January 6, 2026

The Day They Jailed The Babe

The Day They Jailed The Babe

How a penchant for speed and a daylong jail stint sidelined the sports world's biggest star.

By Dean Jobb | December 23, 2025

The Strange History of Erle Stanley Gardner and the Las Vegas Private Eye

The Strange History of Erle Stanley Gardner and the Las Vegas Private Eye

How the lives of a famous author and a Vegas sleuth intersected in sensational fashion.

By James T. Bartlett | December 17, 2025

Why Harry Truman Didn't Trust the U.S. Military with Atomic Bombs

Why Harry Truman Didn't Trust the U.S. Military with Atomic Bombs

At a pivotal moment in the Cold War, the decision was made that the President would be ultimately responsible for atomic weapons.

By Alex Wellerstein | December 11, 2025

Haunted Housewives: 7 Books that Explore Gender, Witchcraft, and Domesticity

Haunted Housewives: 7 Books that Explore Gender, Witchcraft, and Domesticity

Kristi DeMeester shares her literary influences from Shirley Jackson to Raymond Buckland

By Kristi DeMeester | December 9, 2025

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