This column, featuring some of OPL staff's favorite true crime books of the last decade, appeared in the October 11, 2026, edition of the Omaha World-Herald. It is also available at Omaha.com (opens in a new tab).
Omaha Public Library (OPL) wants to help readers find new books — or at least books new to them. Our employees recommend reading based on different writing genres, themes or styles. OPL staff have recommended their favorite true crime books of the last decade for you to find your next chilling read. Find these books and more at your local branch or omahalibrary.org.
“American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road” by Nick Bilton (2017). “This is the fascinating story of a man building an online drug empire from his bedroom and the investigation to bring him to justice—or is it?” — Jessica Pierson, assistant branch manager at the Millard Branch
“The Devil at his Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty” by Valerie Baurlein (2024). “The true story of Alex Murdaugh's fall from power and privilege through theft, fraud and murder.” — Pierson
“The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century” by Kirk W. Johnson (2018). “I always love a heist story, and this museum heist saga is not only a compelling crime story but also an introduction to the niche community of fishing fly-tiers. In order to replicate some of the iconic Victorian fishing lures, feathers from endangered or extinct bird species need to be acquired; hence, specimens are stolen from British Natural History Museum at Tring.” — Courtni Kopietz, marketing manager at OPL
"The Fort Bragg Cartel" by Seth Harp (2025). “‘The Fort Bragg Cartel’ is a disturbing and well researched book about the dark underbelly of drug smuggling, substance abuse, murders and suicides within the U.S. Special Forces. It does a good job at looking at both the personal stories of soldiers who participate in these crimes, as well as looking at how the systems that make it happen developed. The book works well as both a thrilling work of true crime and a thoughtful work of political journalism.” — David Dick, assistant branch manager at the Downtown Branch
“Gator Country: Deception, Danger, and Alligators in the Everglades” by Rebecca Renner (2023). “A U.S. Fish and Wildlife officer has to go undercover to investigate alligator poaching in the Florida Everglades. To go undercover — and seamlessly integrate himself into the community — he needs to open and operate his own alligator farm with virtually zero startup resources and little experience. It’s a fascinating look into a unique criminal ecosystem written by a rockstar journalist.” — Kopietz
“I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer” by Michelle McNamara (2018). “A detective nearing retirement, online amateur sleuths, and the crime writer Michelle McNamara contributed to solving a 40+ year-old cold case using archives and online genealogy records. Haunting and resonant, I still think about it years after I read it for the first time.” — Laura Krasneck, library specialist at Central Library
“Killers of the Flower Moon” by David Grann (2023). “The depth of human greed is simply stunning. Prominent citizens who tried to help prevent the murder of Osage tribal members were killed with no repercussions.” — Lynn Sullivan, library specialist at Central Library
“Last Call: a True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York” by Elon Green (2021). “This book focuses on the human lives at the center of the story. Green writes a typical true crime narrative but with an emphasis on the people, places, and community affected by the Last Call Killer.” — Kassian Lemke-Elznic, assistant branch manager at Downtown Branch
“The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, and the Hunt for America’s First Serial Killer” by Skip Hollandsworth (2016). In the late 1800s, Austin, Texas, was transforming from a Western outpost into a bustling city when a series of brutal murders plunged the community into panic. Beginning in 1894, a mysterious killer terrorized residents across racial and class lines, prompting a desperate search for the murderer. Hollandsworth brings this little-known chapter of American crime history vividly to life.” — Laura Marlane, executive director at OPL
“Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers” by Caroline Fraser (2025). “Caroline Fraser explores the lives of Ted Bundy, the Green River Killer, the Night Stalker, Charles Manson, and others, while investigating a provocative connection between the rise of serial murder and the toxic environmental conditions surrounding America’s industrial smelting sites. An unusual and thought-provoking take on the history of serial murder.” — Marlane
“Raised by a Serial Killer: Discovering the Truth About My Father” by April Balascio (2024). “A compelling account of a woman’s traumatic childhood and her quest to uncover the truth about her father—and help other victims’ families find answers. Stark and unflinching, this is both a powerful memoir and a fascinating true-crime investigation. It is also the story behind the acclaimed true-crime podcast The Clearing.” — Marlane
“What the Dead Know: Learning About Life as A New York City Death Investigator” by Barbara Butcher (2023). “A death investigator in New York City relays some of her most interesting cases, including the recovery efforts after 9/11.” — Pierson
Behind every headline and cold case are real human lives, and the best true-crime writing reminds us that honoring victims means seeking the truth. As technology advances, more cold cases are finally being solved, giving long-overdue answers to families who have waited decades. Head to your local OPL branch today to pick up your next read and explore these powerful stories.
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