Generation Why: True Crime
Book Recommendations

Generation Why: True Crime

Since its debut in June 2012 with the episode Jury Duty, Generation Why Podcast has been your source for gripping true crime, intriguing mysteries, and fascinating conspiracies every week. Hosted by Justin and Aaron, the podcast combines in-depth research and discussion to bring you cases that chall...

Episodes 586
Books 167

Recently mentioned

Latest Recommendations

The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle cover

The Suspect

Kent Alexander

Mentioned 1 year ago

The Olympic Park Bombing part 3 - 588

The book, "The Suspect in Olympic Bombing", details the events surrounding the Olympic Park bombing and Richard Jewell's ordeal, and was recommended for those seeking more information on the case.

In 2019, Kevin Salwyn and Kent Alexander's book about the Olympic Park bombing was published. It's titled "The Suspect in Olympic Bombing", the FBI, the media, and Richard Jewell, the man caught in the middle. This book is highly recommended if you want more information. You can get it at any bookstore.

Buy on Amazon
The Most Dangerous Game cover

The Most Dangerous Game

Richard Connell

Mentioned 1 year ago

New Zodiac Killer Suspect

The podcast host mentioned reading "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell when they were 14 years old, sparking their interest in true crime. It was referenced as a book that introduced the host to the genre.

Dance with the Devil: A Dark Standalone Romance cover

Dance with the Devil

Amanda Richardson

Mentioned 1 year ago

Andrew Bagby and Zachary Turner - 583

It was published in March 2007 and was written by Andrew Bagby's father, David, about the events that led to his son's and grandson's deaths.

David Bagby published a book in March 2007 titled Dance with the Devil.

Buy on Amazon
SAM - Volume 4 - We Will Never Forget You cover

SAM - Volume 4 - We Will Never Forget You

Richard Marazano

Mentioned 1 year ago

Terrance Yeakey - 582

Terrance Yeakey, a rescue worker at the Oklahoma City bombing, described in this book his experience rescuing Randy Ledger from under the rubble, detailing the horrific injuries Ledger sustained and the challenges faced during the rescue operation.

all we could see was part of his face. He was completely buried. We couldn't tell where his arms or legs were. We began lifting blocks of concrete off of Randy. He would tell us it hurt as we lifted the chunks one by one. I lifted a board off of his face and part of his face peeled back. Finally, we freed Randy and started to carry him out. Suddenly, the ground I was walking on gave way and I fell in a hole.

Buy on Amazon
Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed cover

Ask Not

Maureen Callahan

Mentioned 1 year ago

Max DeVries - 580

It is a children's book about a cat; the speaker expressed happiness with how it turned out.

Also, if anybody has forgotten, I wrote a book last year. It's a children's book, Not True Crime. I'm really happy with it and it's about a cat.

Buy on Amazon
Boop! cover

Boop!

Bea Birdsong

Mentioned 1 year ago

Max DeVries - 580

This children's book, released on August 5th, is about a family getting a new puppy; it is similar to the author's previous book.

Well, I have a new book out as of August 5th and it's titled Wagga Boop. Very similar to the first one but it's about a family getting a new puppy.

Buy on Amazon
The Hidden History of the White House: Power Struggles, Scandals, and Defining Moments cover

The Hidden History of the White House

Corey Mead

Mentioned 2 years ago

Marjorie Nugent - 578

The authors of the podcast American History Tellers created a book with details of the White House, including events, scandals, and decisions that shaped the nation, from its foundation in 1792 through to the Obama administration.

Inspired by the hit podcast American History Tellers, Wondery and William Morrow present the new book, The Hidden History of the White House.

Buy on Amazon
Happily Never After cover

Happily Never After

Lynn Painter

Mentioned 2 years ago

Libby Caswell - 577

The podcast Happily Never After told a story about a chef named Dan and his wife Nancy. The story was compared to a murder mystery novel, with a twist ending, as it was revealed that Nancy was suspected of her husband's murder.

As writers we'd written our share of murder mysteries. So when suspicion turned to Dan's wife, Nancy, we weren't that surprised.

Buy on Amazon
A Beautiful Child cover

A Beautiful Child

Matt Birkbeck

Mentioned 2 years ago

Girl In The Picture - 576

Matt Burbeck's book brought Sharon's case back into the spotlight and encouraged internet sleuths to look into her true identity.

In 2004, Matt Burbeck published his book about Sharon's life, A Beautiful Child, and this book helps bring the spotlight back onto the case, and many amateur internet sleuths start looking into Sharon's true identity.

Buy on Amazon
The Art of the Heist: Confessions of a Master Art Thief, Rock-and-Roller, and Prodigal Son cover

The Art of the Heist

Myles J Connor Jr.

Mentioned 2 years ago

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist - 574

Miles Connor Jr. wrote "The Art of the Heist" which was his confession of being a master art thief. It mentioned the Gardner heist and connected it to Robert Donati.

In 2009, he wrote "The Art of the Heist, Confessions of a Master Art Thief, Rock and Roller, and Prodigal Son" that mentioned the Gardner heist and connected it to Robert Donati.

Buy on Amazon
None of This Is True: A Novel cover

None of This Is True

Lisa Jewell

Mentioned 2 years ago

Carla Walker - 573

It was described as a shocking psychological thriller.

If you're in the mood for a shocking psychological thriller, check out None of This is True by Lisa Jewell.

Buy on Amazon
Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World cover

Doppelganger

Naomi Klein

Mentioned 2 years ago

Carla Walker - 573

It was described as an interesting, deep and philosophical psychological look in the mirror.

I'm currently listening to Doppelganger. It's an interesting take from Naomi Klein.

Buy on Amazon

Most Recommended

The Trail of Ted Bundy: Digging Up the Untold Stories Cover

Kevin Sullivan

The Trail of Ted Bundy

Digging Up the Untold Stories

Published on March 22, by Wild Blue press, it is a companion volume to "The Bundy Murders" and contains further new information and testimony that had never been brought to light before; it was described as an abbreviated version of the first book, hitting upon important milestones in Bundy's trail of murder.

"

this year on March 22nd, I believe it was, my new book about Ted Bundy, a companion volume titled The Trail of Ted Bundy, Digging Up the Untold Stories, was published by Wild Blue Pre...

— Episode: Untold Stories of Ted Bundy - 180

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Untold Stories of Ted Bundy - 180

Published on March 22, by Wild Blue press, it is a companion volume to "The Bundy Murders" and contains further new information and testimony that had never been brought to light before; it was described as an abbreviated version of the first book, hitting upon important milestones in Bundy's trail of murder.

"

this year on March 22nd, I believe it was, my new book about Ted Bundy, a companion volume titled The Trail of Ted Bundy, Digging Up the Untold Stories, was published by Wild Blue Press.

It reminded me of... It was just like an abbreviated version of your first book, but just hitting upon the really important kind of milestones in Bundy's trail of murder.

Lethal Intent: The Shocking True Story of One of America's Most Notorious Female Serial Killers! Cover

Sue Russell

Lethal Intent

The Shocking True Story of One of America's Most Notorious Female Serial Killers!

It is a fact-based account of Aileen Wuornos' life and death, covering her arrest, trial, conviction, and execution a decade later. The book details her difficult upbringing, relationships, and the events that may have led to her becoming a serial killer.

"

I did indeed write Lethal Intent and the book is a fact-based account of Aileen's life and death ultimately.

— Episode: Aileen Wuornos - 173

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Aileen Wuornos - 173

It is a fact-based account of Aileen Wuornos' life and death, covering her arrest, trial, conviction, and execution a decade later. The book details her difficult upbringing, relationships, and the events that may have led to her becoming a serial killer.

"

I did indeed write Lethal Intent and the book is a fact-based account of Aileen's life and death ultimately.

When I began the book, it was she had been arrested and I covered her trial and her various court hearings and ultimately her conviction and a decade later, her execution, which was a whole other phase of her life because she was a rare volunteer for execution.

Everything you ever wanted to know is in this book. Eileen's family history, her relationships, her arrests, and the murders.

Audible has 180,000 titles, but today's subject, it's one you're going to want to know the entire backstory on and Lethal Intent will not disappoint. It's a large book, but it will keep your interest.

As a reminder, if anyone is interested in reading Lethal Intent, you can find it at Amazon and most any other place where you can order books. And I highly recommend it.

The Illustrated Courtroom: 50+ Years of Court Art Cover

Elizabeth Williams

The Illustrated Courtroom

50+ Years of Court Art

This book, co-authored with five court artists, features artwork from trials spanning 50 years, including those of Watergate, the Black Panthers, Charles Manson, Michael Jackson, and Bernie Madoff. Sue Russell provided the text accompanying the artwork.

"

The most recent book that I wrote is The Illustrated Courtroom, 50 Years of Courtroom Art.

— Episode: Aileen Wuornos - 173

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Aileen Wuornos - 173

This book, co-authored with five court artists, features artwork from trials spanning 50 years, including those of Watergate, the Black Panthers, Charles Manson, Michael Jackson, and Bernie Madoff. Sue Russell provided the text accompanying the artwork.

"

The most recent book that I wrote is The Illustrated Courtroom, 50 Years of Courtroom Art.

Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story Cover

Allyn Atadero

Missing

When the Son Sets

It is a book about the author's son's disappearance in the Colorado mountains and the subsequent investigation and aftermath. The book details the mystery surrounding the disappearance and explores various theories, ultimately leaving the cause unresolved.

"

My book is called 'Missing When The Sun Sets' and it's spelled S-O-N because it's about my son and it's about my son more or less vanishing out of my life.

— Episode: Jaryd Atadero - 171

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Jaryd Atadero - 171

It is a book about the author's son's disappearance in the Colorado mountains and the subsequent investigation and aftermath. The book details the mystery surrounding the disappearance and explores various theories, ultimately leaving the cause unresolved.

"

My book is called 'Missing When The Sun Sets' and it's spelled S-O-N because it's about my son and it's about my son more or less vanishing out of my life.

The book was written, my son was up in the mountains with myself. We used to own a resort up in the Poudre Canyon and that's here in Colorado and it was 1999 and there was a group of people who went on a hike and they took my son with them and he vanished on the hike.

But the book is about just the mystery and the theories that could be representing his disappearance and we're not really sure to this day exactly what happened to him, but it's a strange story.

But it's all about the disappearance of my son and my quest to find out what happened to him.

It's a cold fact of life that we have humans that are more concerned with how they come off than getting results.

The Bands of Mourning: A Mistborn Novel (The Mistborn Saga, 6) Cover

Brandon Sanderson

The Bands of Mourning

A Mistborn Novel (The Mistborn Saga, 6)

The hosts discussed this Mistborn novel by Brandon Sanderson, describing it as a medieval magical story similar to Game of Thrones but more realistic.

"

And it's a Mistborn novel. People rave about this book because it's medieval magical kind of environment, but it's kind of like game of Thrones where they don't just go full bore into magic and to dra...

— Episode: Steven Avery - 166

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: Steven Avery - 166

The hosts discussed this Mistborn novel by Brandon Sanderson, describing it as a medieval magical story similar to Game of Thrones but more realistic.

"

And it's a Mistborn novel. People rave about this book because it's medieval magical kind of environment, but it's kind of like game of Thrones where they don't just go full bore into magic and to dragons. It just is a lot more realistic and that's his common sense, common ground way of writing in his style.

So something to look forward to. Yeah. If you're in a fantasy, definitely want to head over to Amazon and check out the reviews. This is a highly regarded author.

The Scarlet Mansion Cover

Allan W. Eckert

The Scarlet Mansion

It is a novel based on H.H. Holmes from the 1980s, described as well-researched but highly sensationalized, including a portrayal of Merta Holmes as complicit in the crimes.

"

I just finally got around to reading The Scarlet Mansion, the novel based on Holmes from the 1980s. Alan Ecker wrote it.

— Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

It is a novel based on H.H. Holmes from the 1980s, described as well-researched but highly sensationalized, including a portrayal of Merta Holmes as complicit in the crimes.

"

I just finally got around to reading The Scarlet Mansion, the novel based on Holmes from the 1980s. Alan Ecker wrote it.

Play Me Backwards Cover

Adam Selzer

Play Me Backwards

It was mentioned as the speaker's most recent novel, focusing on young adults who worship the devil.

"

My most recent novel was called Play Me Backwards. It's a book for young adults who worship the devil.

— Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

It was mentioned as the speaker's most recent novel, focusing on young adults who worship the devil.

"

My most recent novel was called Play Me Backwards. It's a book for young adults who worship the devil.

Abraham Lincoln: The Ghost Years Cover

George Dudding

Abraham Lincoln

The Ghost Years

It's a book about Abraham Lincoln supposedly haunting the White House, attending sances, and predicting his own death; the author attempted to trace these stories back to their primary sources.

"

Then also I did one about a ghost of Abraham Lincoln last year that was about Abraham Lincoln goes lower all these stories about Lincoln haunting the White House and...

— Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

It's a book about Abraham Lincoln supposedly haunting the White House, attending sances, and predicting his own death; the author attempted to trace these stories back to their primary sources.

"

Then also I did one about a ghost of Abraham Lincoln last year that was about Abraham Lincoln goes lower all these stories about Lincoln haunting the White House and attending seances and predicting his own death. I tried to trace all of those back to their primary sources.

The Ghosts of Chicago: Expanded Edition: Revised and Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition Cover

Adam Selzer

The Ghosts of Chicago

Expanded Edition

This book is similar to the book about Abraham Lincoln, covering Chicago ghost stories.

"

There was one about ghosts of Chicago which is similar with Chicago ghost stories.

— Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

This book is similar to the book about Abraham Lincoln, covering Chicago ghost stories.

"

There was one about ghosts of Chicago which is similar with Chicago ghost stories.

Flickers Cover

Arthur Slade

Flickers

Published about a year ago, this book covers the silent film scene in Chicago.

"

Oh what called a flickering empire silent which is all about silent the silent film scene in Chicago that came out about a year ago.

— Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Published about a year ago, this book covers the silent film scene in Chicago.

"

Oh what called a flickering empire silent which is all about silent the silent film scene in Chicago that came out about a year ago.

The Rise, Fall and Revival of Dental Prosthesis Cover

B. J. (Bernard John) 1866-1932 Cigrand

The Rise, Fall and Revival of Dental Prosthesis

This book, published in 1892, was mentioned as a book the speaker read from one of the characters in the case.

"

He wrote a book called The Rise and Fall and Revival of Dental Prosthesis in 1892.

— Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

This book, published in 1892, was mentioned as a book the speaker read from one of the characters in the case.

"

He wrote a book called The Rise and Fall and Revival of Dental Prosthesis in 1892.

A practical guide to Box-Jenkins forecasting Cover

J. C Hoff

A practical guide to Box-Jenkins forecasting

This book, by the father of dehorning cattle, was described as more entertaining than it sounds due to the author's cantankerous nature and ranting about enemies.

"

He wrote a book called the Hoffs Practical dehorner or every man his own dehorner which is way more entertaining than it sounds because the guy is such a cantankerous old fart.

— Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

This book, by the father of dehorning cattle, was described as more entertaining than it sounds due to the author's cantankerous nature and ranting about enemies.

"

He wrote a book called the Hoffs Practical dehorner or every man his own dehorner which is way more entertaining than it sounds because the guy is such a cantankerous old fart.

Wed By Proxy (Brides of Karadok Book 1) Cover

Alice Coldbreath

Wed By Proxy (Brides of Karadok Book 1)

Published in Chicago in 1896, shortly after Holmes' hanging, this book explores the theory that Holmes faked his death. The speaker only found a copyright entry for the book, suggesting it may have had limited distribution.

"

I just recently while I was digging through the copyright records yesterday there was a book published in Chicago in 1896 like right after the hanging called Hanged by Proxy or how H.H. Holmes cheated...

— Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: H.H. Holmes - 164

Published in Chicago in 1896, shortly after Holmes' hanging, this book explores the theory that Holmes faked his death. The speaker only found a copyright entry for the book, suggesting it may have had limited distribution.

"

I just recently while I was digging through the copyright records yesterday there was a book published in Chicago in 1896 like right after the hanging called Hanged by Proxy or how H.H. Holmes cheated the gallows.

This House is Haunted Cover

John Boyne

This House is Haunted

It is a book about the Enfield Poltergeist case; the podcast hosts discussed how the book's title might be more fitting as "This House is Poltergeisted" given the nature of the events.

"

Guy is writing a book called This House is Haunted.

— Episode: The Enfield Poltergeist - 151

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Enfield Poltergeist - 151

It is a book about the Enfield Poltergeist case; the podcast hosts discussed how the book's title might be more fitting as "This House is Poltergeisted" given the nature of the events.

"

Guy is writing a book called This House is Haunted.

So it should have been... This House is Poltergeist. Poltergeisted, right? Janet Geist. Well something. I don't know the title seems okay but it doesn't seem as fitting so... It's simple, I like it.

101 Music Games for Children: Fun and Learning with Rhythm and Song (SmartFun Activity Books) Cover

Jerry Storms

101 Music Games for Children

Fun and Learning with Rhythm and Song (SmartFun Activity Books)

This book was mentioned as belonging to Janet, one of the daughters in the Hodgson family; it was mysteriously found in a neighbor's house, with Janet supposedly teleporting it there.

"

The name of the book is fun and games with children that she drops off in the neighbor's house and then reports what her neighbor's house looks like on the inside, which she should not know because sh...

— Episode: The Enfield Poltergeist - 151

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: The Enfield Poltergeist - 151

This book was mentioned as belonging to Janet, one of the daughters in the Hodgson family; it was mysteriously found in a neighbor's house, with Janet supposedly teleporting it there.

"

The name of the book is fun and games with children that she drops off in the neighbor's house and then reports what her neighbor's house looks like on the inside, which she should not know because she's never been in the neighbor's home.

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