12 Dark and Disturbing Nonfiction Books to Satisfy Your Morbid Curiosity

A gripping memoir about fighting for justice and how of the cases Holes worked on impacted him both personally and professionally. Read a free excerpt here.

The most powerful and heartbreaking memoir I’ve ever read. Kruzan is a survivor of child abuse and sex trafficking and she tells her honest and empowering story so eloquently. I cannot recommend enough. This is such an important story.

Initially, I thought this memoir was about a crime but it’s so much more—Harding not only dealt with a life-altering experience (being kidnapped as a teen which resulted in PTSD) but she also grew up within a highly dysfunctional family and abusive mother. Great insight into how childhood trauma affects you well into adulthood.

I definitely made this book my entire personality when I first read it years ago. Cahalan tells us the story of how she went from sanity to insanity in a very short amount of time and the diagnosis of a rare neurological disease.

Such a compelling read and touches on one of my favorite subjects: mental illness. Not only that, it tackles genetic markers as well. In this book, we meet the Galvin family who has 12 children, SIX of which are diagnosed with schizophrenia. 

Oh my gosh, this book. I don’t know what to say other than it is so disturbing and sad. It’s about dissociative identity disorder and the fight to survive a childhood of abuse.

Melinek is a forensic pathologist working as the NYC medical examiner when 9/11 happens. She tells us what it’s like to perform autopsies, investigate death scenes as well as counsel grieving families.

I can’t get enough of Caitlin Doughty. Her books are so informative and morbid but also FUNNY. Doughty definitely knows how to keep readers interested in all things dead.

This is actually my newest acquisition! I cannot wait to read it. Not only does it have an absolutely gorgeous cover but it’s about Campbell talks to embalmers and executioners and EVERYONE who has made death their life’s work.

We’ve got to start with the most iconic true crime novel of all time. Ann Rule does it best and her first book about her time working with Ted Bundy—who ended up being a prolific serial killer is chilling.

I remember reading this book when it first came out and I could NOT put it down. I was completely engrossed in this fast-paced true crime story about a serial killer I’d NEVER heard of: Israel Keyes. The crimes are so terrifying, I can’t believe how this story ends.

I don’t see this book mentioned often and it is a great read (albeit freaky AF). Carlo (who also wrote The Night Stalker), introduces us to Richard “The Iceman” Kuklinski. Kuklinski is a top mob hitman who claims to have killed over 200 men and taking pride in his methods.