True Crime
It’s often thought that the best way to truly understand crime is to “get into the head” of the criminal. If that premise is indeed valid, then a look at some true crime literature that does exactly that might be of benefit.Following are some hot titles that might be worth a read. If you don’t see a title here that intrigues you, rest assured there are thousands of titles that deal with some of the most notorious criminals from years past, all with riveting insight and explanation that other sources may not have uncovered.John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster (Sam Amirante, Danny Broderick, and Vincent Bugliosi) has not yet been released (as of this writing) but is anticipated to be a blockbuster since one of the co-authors, Vincent Bugliosi , was a prosecutor in the Charles Manson case and this book’s 304 pages will no doubt take a similar in-depth look into one of the most evil serial killers in history. Release date is expected in August 2011.Showdown: How the Outlaws, Hells Angels and Cops Fought for Control of the Streets (Jerry Langton) goes into frightening and compelling detail of Canada’s underbelly to let readers experience firsthand the personalities and day-to-day workings behind the brutal and deadly rivalries that mark one piece of the country’s criminal underworld.Killing for Sport: Inside the Minds of Serial Killers (Pat Brown) is considered a most valuable insight into the minds of serial killers since it is an honest portrayal of the “predator-next-door” and how he hunts for his victims, why he likes to torture them, and where he tends to stash their bodies. This book sets aside a lot of myths created by fiction novels.Organized Crime in Our Times (Jay S. Albanese) provides a clear understanding of organized crime and the criminal justice response to it. Included is a comprehensive history of the Mafia in the United States for those who have wanted to glean a deeper understanding of this, as well as topics such as human smuggling, Internet crimes, and other transnational criminal operations. At 424 pages you bet you’ll get an understanding of some concepts and topics that might have remained vague otherwise.