Reading List

Ah, summer— sun, sand, and an endless to-do list. From beach trips to backyard barbecues, it seems like there's always something demanding our time. But fear not, my fellow over-scheduled peeps! If you find yourself juggling more activities than a circus performer on Red Bull, I've got just the escape you need: true crime novels.

While everyone else is sweating, you can chill with a read that'll make you double-check your locks at night. So, here's a hand-picked list of true crime tales guaranteed to make you question everything—and maybe cancel that family vacation.

1. Blues & Bad Blood by Texan Katheryn Casey - This is a short one at only 6k words about the murders of Texas musician John Vandiver and his girlfriend Debbie Davis.

2. Buried Memories by Irene Pence - Thew Texas Black Wido, Betty Lou Beets, murdered two of her husbands and attempted to kill two more.

3. Tower Sniper: The Terror of America’s First Active Shooter on Campus by Texan Monte Akers - In 1961 Charles Whitman shot and killed 15 people and wounded 31 from the University of Texas tower in Austin. This is a very detailed account of what led to the shooting.

4. Mother Love, Deadly Love by Anne McDonald Maier - How could I put a list together and not include a book about the Cheerleader Mom Murder? This is it. Wanda Holloway attempted to murder the mother of a cheerleader so her daughter could have a place on the squad.

5. Ladykiller: The True Story of a Texas Cop and Wife-Killer — and the Unbelievable Perversions of Justice that Almost Set Him Free by Texan Donna Fielder - Okay, after that title I feel like I just read the book. Vikki Lonzano’s murder happened the day after her 16th wedding anniversary. This book details the events that led to the murder as well as the trial.

6. Cold Kill by Jack Olsen - Wealthy Houston couple James and Virgina Campbell are murdered in their sleep by their daughter Cindy and her boyfriend David West.

7. Luggage by Kroger by Gary Taylor - This one the title got me. It’s a memoir of this Houston journalist’s affair with attorney Catherine Mehaffey murdered her common-law husband and then became enamored with Gary. This story was the inspiration for the movie Fatal Attraction.

8.  To the Last Breath - by Texan Carlton Stowers - Who murdered 2-year-old Renee Goode? Would you believe her own father?

9. A Clue from the Grave - by Irene Pence - Kathleen Lipsomb’s naked body was found on a road just northeast of San Antonio in June of 1986. How could her estranged husband have murdered her if his alibi was rock solid? This case has been covered by Forensics Files and a few other shows.

10. Blood Rush by Texan Patricia Springer - Serial Killer Ricky Lee Green murdered with his wife Sharon until she called the cops.

So, whether you're skimming out the pool or hiding from your cousin's BBQ, these true crime novels will give you the perfect excuse to escape the chaos to immerse yourself in a world where the only thing hotter than the Texas sun is justice.

Happy reading—and remember to check your windows tonight.