As American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson comes to a close, true crime junkies everywhere will need to find a new well from which to tap their courtroom fodder (Judge Judy, anyone?). The Internet is already abuzz with second season rumors of everyone’s 2016 Netflix obsession Making a Murderer, but with the fates of its most integral figures still up in the air, there’s no telling how long the wait may be. Never fear — we’ve compiled a list of 10 new true crime books (released within the last year) that are filled with enough mystery and suspense to tide even the most clever of Nancy Drew-bies over in the interim. Better get crackin’ – these whodunits require some serious sleuthing!
1. Gitchie Girl by Phil and Sandy Hamman ($11): This harrowing tale of a Midwest campfire-gone-wrong in the 1970s is sure to send chills down your spine. Five teenagers, alone in the woods, at night? What on Earth could go wrong? Gulp.
2. Alligator Candy by David Kushner ($17): Alligator Candy is unique in the sense that it’s written from the perspective of a victim (the author’s missing brother is the subject of the book) and a renowned reporter — the terms are not mutually exclusive, as David Kushner proves here.
3. The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and the Hunt for America’s First Serial Killer by Skip Hollandsworth ($19): Before H.H. Holmes was dubbed “America’s first serial killer,” an unknown assassin was making the rounds in Austin, Texas, where at least eight would lose their lives and eight more would be injured. Some say this may have even been the work of none other than London’s very own Jack the Ripper. Creepy much?
4. Then No One Can Have Her by Caitlin Rother ($8): If you’ve already used your super-sleuthing skills to deduce that this one miiiiiight be about a jealous boyfriend based on its title, you’d be correct, but not to worry — there’s still enough twists and turns in the plotline to keep you plenty invested in this dark tale of slayage — and for once, we don’t mean the term in a good way.
5. The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller ($14): Almost everyone has heard of the infamous Lizzie Borden murders (or, at the very least, watched Christina Ricci’s adaptation of them in the Lifetime movie-turned-series), but what really happened on that fateful day in Fall River, Massachusetts? That’s just what author Sarah Miller intends to find out.
6. While the City Slept: A Love Lost to Violence and a Young Man’s Descent into Madness by Eli Sanders ($19): Eli Sanders, a journalist who received a Pulitzer prize for his coverage of a shocking 2009 Seattle crime, relives the gruesome incidents all over again while shining a spotlight on important mental health issues avoided for too long.
7. A Murder Over a Girl: Justice, Gender, Junior High by Ken Corbett ($21): Those awkward teenage years were rough on all of us, no doubt, but they were especially brutal for young Leticia King — whose life was cut short as she was not only coming into her own as a young adult, but also as a transgendered woman.
8. Blind Rage: A True Story of Sin, Sex, and Murder in a Small Arkansas Town by Anita Paddock ($13): This tale of a small town scandal has it all: murder, wealth, family secrets, intrigue — unfortunately, the events that unfolded here were anything but scripted.
9. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson ($10): Imagine, if you will, a tell-all written by the likes of Steven Avery’s former defense team —aka Internet heartthrobs Dean Strang and Jerry Buting — detailing their collective experiences representing a client they believed was innocent, and you more or less have the premise of Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy. Just like Strang and Buting, Stevenson was tasked with representing a man sentenced to die for a crime he swore he didn’t commit — or did he?
10. Without a Doubt by Marcia Clark ($13): If you still believe O.J.’s guilty, you’re not alone: This re-release by trial prosecutor Marcia Clark offers insight from the other flip of the coin.
Which one are you most excited to read? Let us know at @BritandCo!
(Feature image via Getty)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.