Virgos are nit-picky. Pisces are delicate souls. Leos are fierce and loud. There's no end to the differences between the twelve zodiac signs. But everybody loves true crime.
Related: The Fascinating Evolution of True Crime
In a vast genre of real-life horrors, there are all kinds of stories to uncover. Luckily, you know have a handy horoscope guide to match your destined sensibilities to your ideal true crime read. Are you paired with a pernicious Ponzi scheme? Shackled to a shocking slaughter? Check below to see which true crime book you should read next based on your zodiac sign!
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Deadly Goals
Those born under the sign of The Ram are fire signs ruled by passion. In one light, they can come across as very enthusiastic. But on the darker side of that same coin, they read as quite aggressive. It's an attitude that lends well to a love of sports. So what better true crime book for an Aries to dive into than one full of football and infatuation gone wrong?
Pernell Jefferson was a promising young athlete—the star of his small North Carolina town. But when he started training with the Cleveland Browns, he wasn't the hero of the field anymore. He became an addict hooked on steroids and desperate for the adoration of his hometown. It was upon his return that he met Regina Butkowski, a woman he fell for immediately. But Regina wasn't as gone on Pernell—especially considering his frequent and brutal physical and sexual assaults upon her. It was no secret was Pernell was doing. So why, when Regina went missing only to be found later as a charred corpse, did the authorities refuse to turn to the obvious suspect?
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Fred & Rose
A Taurus, like any earth sign, has a certain perceived stability and respectability. They are both devoted and uncompromising. They love working with their hands! Especially when it comes to gardening...
Related: 10 Shocking True Crime Books About Murderous Families
Featured in this gruesome true crime account are Fred and Rose West, one of Britain's most notoriously deadly couples. In 1994, the facade of a nice normal married couple fell away when the remains of nine women were found on their property. These victims were dismembered and showed signs of sexual torture prior to death. Among the victim's were Fred's first wife, the nanny, and his eight-year-old stepdaughter. Where were these remains found? In the cellar, beneath the bathroom floor, and in their garden.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Every Move You Make
This air sign is also known as the sign of The Twin. They are naturally friendly, but have a tendency toward a dual nature. This makes them highly adaptable—or incredibly dangerous.
Gary C. Evans was a lot of things. A refined liar, a snitch, a top-notch manipulator, a master of disguise, and a career criminal. He was also a friend to investigative journalist James Horton. The pair met in 1985 after Evans ratted out his crime partner and childhood friend. What he failed to mention was that he'd killed him. After that, there were the suspicious deaths of two jewelry dealers. In 1989, Evans convinced a woman the father of her child had abandoned her—whereas in reality, he'd killed the man before embarking on a 10-year relationship with the woman. Another of Evans's friends disappeared in 1997. Growing suspicious, Horton set forth an investigation to find the truth to put Evans away. His investigation would end with one more shocking death...
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Poisoned Blood
Cancers are extraordinarily creative and imaginative creatures. On a good day, they're persuasive. On bad days? They're highly manipulative. And if they're feeling insecure, they may take extreme measures to feel appreciated. These flaws are neatly encompassed in the dramatic retelling of Audrey Marie Hilley's crimes in Poisoned Blood.
Marie had a pampered upbringing in Alabama, with access to the best of everything. In her adult life, she was married to her high school sweetheart, working a desirable job as a secretary, and experiencing the joys of motherhood. But she remained unsatisfied, acting out in ways that were at first shocking—and then ultimately deadly.
When her husband Frank fell ill, Marie shifted into a pattern of selflessness to take care of him. But four years after he died, her daughter Carol began to suffer the same illness. But the truth of the debilitating stomach pains was revealed when Carol was on the brink of death: Marie had poisoned both Frank and Carol with arsenic. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. It would soon come to light that Marie had a streak of crimes from Florida to New Hampshire, including fake identities, a second marriage, a false kidnapping, and a fake death.
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Leo (July 23-August 22)
Fire Lover
Leos are the first thing most people think of when it comes to fire signs. They have a calming confidence, a bold passion, and admirable courage. All qualities that would make a great firefighter or member of law enforcement. But this sign of The Lion can also be arrogant, self-centered, and demanding of praise. Traits which might make someone rejected by the emergency services into a deadly arsonist...
Related: John Orr: The Ex-Fire Captain and Serial Arsonist Who Secretly Carried Out His Own Arson Spree
John Orr had grown up in Los Angeles with an idolization of law enforcement. But after both the LAPD and the LAFD turned him down, he had to settle for employment at the Glendale Fire Department, where he eventually became a fire captain and one of Southern California’s best-known and most respected arson investigators. He had brought a few petty arsonists to justice, but one criminal evaded his search. The so-called Pillow-Pyro targeted homes, stores, and open fields. He wrought millions of dollars worth of damage and four deaths. And then he made one small mistake that would reveal himself as none other than the very man trying to track him down.
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
If You Tell
The quintessential earth sign, Virgos are often known for their maternal nature. But they can also be critical, harsh, and single-minded in a way that often as brutal affects on others. Especially if their motherly temperament is turned on its head.
In this book, Gregg Olsen follows the story of Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek. At the hands of their mother, they suffered more than a decade's worth of secret abuse. But while Shelly Knotek hurled degradation, torture, and psychological terrorization at her daughters, the girls forged a bond that made them stronger against her vile efforts. People fell for Shelly's sick weave of lies, but the girls stuck together to escape a terrifying tale that would results in several deaths.
Libra (September 23-October 22)
Tears of the Silenced
As the sign of The Scales, Libras are known for having a mind for justice. Those born under this air sign of unfairness, violence, and conformity—all foundations of this heart-wrenching true crime tale. If you're a Libra, you're going to be drawn to reads like this that, while dark in their beginnings, end with the victims finding peace.
At just six years old, Misty Griffin began to dress and live as an Amish girl alongside her family.But atypical of the traditionally peaceful people, Misty and her sister faced severe isolation, sexual abuse, and brutal physical violence on their mountain ranch. They were treated as slaves, and their father's rifle ensured they would be too afraid to escape. And though some knew of their living conditions, none cared.
Related: 14 True Crime Books That Focus on the Victims and Amplify the Voices of Survivors
As Misty grew older, she and her sister were moved to a more legitimate Amish community, as her parents feared the girls would attempt to flee. But the cruelty didn't stop there as Misty suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a Bishop. But she was not a clueless little girl anymore. She escaped captivity and reported the abuse walking out into a world without any identification and very little education. After escaping her former life, Misty penned this memoir to act as a beacon of hope for all who come after her.
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
No One Would Listen
Scorpios are a resourceful bunch. As such, of all signs of the zodiac, they have the greatest potential to be master manipulators. These water signs are often powerful people, but if they fall on the dark side of the sign of The Scorpion, they can be concealers of dark secrets, ready to strike out and sting. Much like Bernie Madoff.
Harry Markopolos was an accountant working in obscurity in a Boston equity derivatives firm. And then he blew the whistle on Madoff's sinister Ponzi scheme. But though he ran straight to the government, the industry, and the press, no one wanted to heed his warnings. This book details his investigation into Madoff's devastating financial crimes, as well as the collusion and incompetence that allowed it to continue.
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Trust Me
The sign of The Archer is generous—sometimes too generous, when it comes to their words. They have a tendency to talk big, even when they can't deliver. Details fall to the wayside when these fire signs get gabbing.
Henry Lee Lucas was arrested for the unauthorized possession of a handgun in 1983. While in police custody, he was suspected to be involved in the disappearance of two women. The authorities did all they could to press a confession out of him, and four days later, he admitted to the women's murders. But then came more confessions over the next months. Hundreds of murders and rapes allegedly committed alongside his partner, Ottis Toole. But as these confessions began to directly contradict each other, could the truth ever be untangled from Lucas's wild tales?
Capricorn (December 23-January 19)
Not Without My Sister
This earth sign loves discipline and self-control. They like to take the lead in things, and can be condescending when it comes to their control. Family and tradition are vital to Capricorns. But their temperament, when cranked up to extreme levels, may mirror the behavior of cultists...
The Children of God is an infamous religious cult, known by some for its connection to Rose McGowan and River and Joaquin Phoenix. Sisters Juliana, Celeste, and Kristina were subjected to the horrors of the cult as young as three years old, separated from their parents and thrust into a life of physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their new guardians. They were forced to watch and perform in orgies. Old men showered them with sexual advances and love letters. They weren't allowed medical care or education, and were forced into abusive relationships where they were beaten for any number of perceived "crimes."
Related: 12 Harrowing Books About Cults and Survival
It would be years until the girls' mother would be wracked with enough guilt to flee with Kristina and her younger children. Celeste was left behind to for the sake of the others, and after Kristina's search for her sister, it would still take years for Celeste to find the courage to leave for the sake of her unborn child. It would take even longer for Juliana to escape, spurred on only by the suicide of one of their sisters.
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
The Unicorn's Secret
This air sign is of a progressive mind. They fight for change and tend to be devoted activists. But while they love fighting for a cause, their aloof exterior can hide any manner of things. Those born under the sign of The Water Bearer won't want to miss the aptly titled The Unicorn's Secret: Murder in the Age of Aquarius.
Ira Einhorn was using his radical voice to the fullest during the 1960s and '70s. He was an antiwar activist, environmentalist, and New Age guru known as the "Unicorn." But in 1979, the mummified remains of his girlfriend Holly Maddux and flower child Bryn Mawr were found in a trunk in his apartment. Einhorn claimed this was the work of a CIA conspiracy, and a number of friends, socialites, and politicians fell in line with this story. Released on bail, Einhorn escaped to France. It would take two decades to track down this killer of hidden depths.
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Lost Girls
The sign of The Fish is the most sensitive of the zodiac, know for their strength of empathy and compassion. Amidst a harsh world, this water sign is often desperate to find any escape. As a sign that tends to shy away from cruelty, a Pisces might enjoy a read which shines more of a light on giving recognition to victims and their struggles.
Related: 13 Gripping True Crime Books for Fans of Lost Girls
Like this water sign, the girls targeted by the Long Island Serial Killer were just looking for a way out–a better life. What these sex workers found instead was death at the hands of a killer who has yet to be brought to justice.
The outrage started in spring of 2010 when Shannan Gilbert went missing. Despite her frantic 911, the police dismissed it as the mentally ill overreactions of a Craigslist escort. Seven months later, four bodies turned up: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, missing for three years; Melissa Barthelemy, last seen a year prior; Megan Waterman, who disappeared a month after Shannan; and Amber Lynn Costello, gone for only a few months. But where was Shannan?
Find more horror books to read based on your zodiac sign—don't forget to pick books for your sun, moon, and rising signs!:
8 Horror Books for Sagittarius Season
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