Going West: True Crime
Book Recommendations

Going West: True Crime

Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman discuss haunting details of different disappearance and murder cases week by week. New episodes released every Tuesday and Friday.

Episodes 516
Books 129

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

Gray's Anatomy: Anatomy Descriptive and Surgical (Leather-bound Classics) cover

Gray's Anatomy

Dr. Henry Gray FRS

Mentioned 11 months ago

The Craigslist Killer // 528

The medical textbook was found to have been hollowed out by the suspect to conceal a 9mm handgun.

9mm handgun which matched the shell casings found at the scene of Jalisa's murder and get this Philip was concealing this gun inside a hollowed out copy of the medical textbook, Grey's Anatomy.

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The Joy of Sex: The Timeless Guide to Lovemaking, Ultimate Revised Edition cover

The Joy of Sex

Alex Comfort

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Bellevue Killer // 521

It was mentioned as the predecessor to the book *More Joy of Sex*, which was discovered at one of the crime scenes.

under her left wrist was the book More Joy of Sex, which is the sequel to the book Joy of Sex, which marketed itself as a quote, gourmet guide to lovemaking.

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More Joy of Sex(Completely Revised and Updated) cover

More Joy of Sex(Completely Revised and Updated)

Alex Comfort

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Bellevue Killer // 521

This book, marketed as a "gourmet guide to lovemaking," was found positioned in the mouth of victim Randy Levine during the discovery of her body.

under her left wrist was the book More Joy of Sex, which is the sequel to the book Joy of Sex, which marketed itself as a quote, gourmet guide to lovemaking.

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Charmer: A Single Mom, Rockstar Romantic Comedy (Name in Lights Book 2) cover

Charmer

Kayley Loring

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Bellevue Killer // 521

This book detailed the crimes and legacy of George Russell, and contained a quote from an anonymous acquaintance about George's parents' desire to get rid of him.

there is an anonymous acquaintance who knew George from his childhood later divulged in the book Charmer, which detailed George's crimes and legacy quote, they both wanted out.

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A Man's Guide on How to Save Your Marriage Without Having to Talk About It cover

A Man's Guide on How to Save Your Marriage Without Having to Talk About It

Doug Holt

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Green Widow Murders // 520

Bob Samuels was reportedly reading this self-help book in an attempt to rehabilitate his marriage with Mary Ellen, even up until two months before his murder.

However, Bob continued to work on himself and consider rehabilitating their marriage. Like, even up until two months before his murder, he was reading the self-help book, How to Save Your Marriage.

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Night Watcher cover

Night Watcher

Daphne Woolsoncroft

Mentioned 1 year ago

Simeonette Mapes-Crupi // 519

The host's debut thriller novel was released and received positive feedback, with listeners picking it up after the previous episode discussion.

Big shout out to everybody who has been supporting my debut thriller novel, Night Watcher.

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The Gashlycrumb Tinies cover

The Gashlycrumb Tinies

Edward Gorey

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Hiding Man: Anatomy of a Serial Killer // 518

The speaker mentioned being exposed to the cover of this book years ago, which featured a skeleton man in a top hat with an umbrella, and this image later served as inspiration for a character's mask design in her own novel.

Sure. But years ago, I started a candle company and I had just been exposed recently to the cover of and the book itself, The Gashley Crumb Tinies by Edward Gorey. And on the cover, there's this skeleton man in a top hat with an umbrella.

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You Let Me In cover

You Let Me In

Camilla Bruce

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Babysitter from Hell // 516

This book was mentioned because it explored themes similar to the case being discussed, specifically focusing on two sisters where one escapes trauma by creating a fantasy world.

This actually is so reminiscent of this book I just read and loved recently called You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce because it explores these two sisters, one of whom is being abused and she creates this fantasy world to escape the trauma.

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How to Disappear: Erase Your Digital Footprint, Leave False Trails, And Vanish Without A Trace cover

How to Disappear

Frank Ahearn

Mentioned 1 year ago

Carol Kennedy // 508

Steve Demacher ordered books on how to disappear and change his identity to a rental apartment unit in his name before his second trial began.

The Garden Within: Where the War with Your Emotions Ends and Your Most Powerful Life Begins cover

The Garden Within

Dr. Anita Phillips

Mentioned 1 year ago

Kiplyn Davis // 505

The father of the missing girl wrote this book detailing his experience with his daughter's disappearance, and the proceeds were directed to a scholarship fund.

if it were their daughter, what would they want the parents to do? I would try to make it right.

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I Am Jessica: A Survivor’s Powerful Story of Healing and Hope cover

I Am Jessica

Jamie Collins

Mentioned 1 year ago

Prom Night Murders // 504

Jesse released this book in 2019, on the 30th year anniversary of the murders, detailing her journey with grief after the tragedy.

The New Sex Bible for Women: The Complete Guide to Sexual Self-Awareness and Intimacy cover

The New Sex Bible for Women

Amie Harwick

Mentioned 1 year ago

Amie Harwick // 467

Dr. Harwick published this book in 2014 after completing her academic studies, culminating her work in the field.

Most Recommended

Ali Was Here: A Promising Life. A Brutal Murder. Justice, and a Legacy of Hope. Cover

James Kirkpatrick Davis

Ali Was Here

A Promising Life. A Brutal Murder. Justice, and a Legacy of Hope.

It was a tribute to Ali Kemp, who was murdered in 2002, covering her life, her death, the pursuit of justice, and the legacy of hope her family and friends created.

"

A local Kansas City author, James Kirkpatrick Davis, even penned a tribute to her called Ali Was Here, a promising life, a brutal murder, justice and a legacy of hope.

— Episode: Ali Kemp // 304

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Episode: Ali Kemp // 304

It was a tribute to Ali Kemp, who was murdered in 2002, covering her life, her death, the pursuit of justice, and the legacy of hope her family and friends created.

"

A local Kansas City author, James Kirkpatrick Davis, even penned a tribute to her called Ali Was Here, a promising life, a brutal murder, justice and a legacy of hope.

The Movie Crazy Pretty Girl : Children's book with audio description Cover

Letícia Magalhães

The Movie Crazy Pretty Girl

Children's book with audio description

It was described as a hybrid novel memoir, which was Kelly's first book and she was working on it at the time of her disappearance.

"

According to friends as well as her LinkedIn, Kelly was hard at work on her first book. She titled it Pretty Girl Crazy and described it as a hybrid novel memoir. I'm calling a novoir.

— Episode: Kelley Brannon // 294

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Episode: Kelley Brannon // 294

It was described as a hybrid novel memoir, which was Kelly's first book and she was working on it at the time of her disappearance.

"

According to friends as well as her LinkedIn, Kelly was hard at work on her first book. She titled it Pretty Girl Crazy and described it as a hybrid novel memoir. I'm calling a novoir.

Indefensible: One Lawyer's Journey into the Inferno of American Justice Cover

David Feige

Indefensible

One Lawyer's Journey into the Inferno of American Justice

It was published in 2016, the year after 'Making a Murderer' premiered on Netflix, and details Steven Avery's former fiance's perspective on his character and capabilities.

"

Indefensible: The Missing Truth About Steven Avery, Teresa Halbach, and Making a Murderer

— Episode: Teresa Halbach // 248

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Episode: Teresa Halbach // 248

It was published in 2016, the year after 'Making a Murderer' premiered on Netflix, and details Steven Avery's former fiance's perspective on his character and capabilities.

"

Indefensible: The Missing Truth About Steven Avery, Teresa Halbach, and Making a Murderer

Jason 3D: A Comprehensive Exposé on Friday the 13th Part 3 Cover

R. G. Henning

Jason 3D

A Comprehensive Exposé on Friday the 13th Part 3

The podcast noted that Mark owned two copies of the title, illustrating his strong obsession with the Friday the 13th franchise.

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Case Studies in Drowning Forensics Cover

Kevin Gannon

Case Studies in Drowning Forensics

It was published by Doc and Kevin Gannon and focused on 13 specific instances where authorities assumed a death was accidental or suicide without further investigation; it's now used as a textbook at St. Cloud University.

"

Doc and Kevin have actually published their findings in a book called Case Studies in Drowning Forensics, focusing on 13 specific instances where authorities assumed a death was an ac...

— Episode: The Smiley Face Killer // 240

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Episode: The Smiley Face Killer // 240

It was published by Doc and Kevin Gannon and focused on 13 specific instances where authorities assumed a death was accidental or suicide without further investigation; it's now used as a textbook at St. Cloud University.

"

Doc and Kevin have actually published their findings in a book called Case Studies in Drowning Forensics, focusing on 13 specific instances where authorities assumed a death was an accident or suicide without training the recovery site as a crime scene or investigating further.

Doc now uses it as one of the textbooks in his class at St. Cloud University,

Hotel For Dogs Cover

Lois Duncan

Hotel For Dogs

It was mentioned that the book was adapted into a film and considered a children's movie, which was a different genre to the author's typical horror thrillers.

"

And more than one of Lois's novels were turned into movies, like I said, including Hotel For Dogs, which was published in 1971 and then produced and made into a film in 2009.

— Episode: Kaitlyn Arquette // 225

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Episode: Kaitlyn Arquette // 225

It was mentioned that the book was adapted into a film and considered a children's movie, which was a different genre to the author's typical horror thrillers.

"

And more than one of Lois's novels were turned into movies, like I said, including Hotel For Dogs, which was published in 1971 and then produced and made into a film in 2009.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.