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True Crime

Once Upon a True Crime

Have you ever found yourself engrossed in a true-crime podcast, captivated by a documentary, or unable to put down a chilling narrative? Here at the library, we understand the undeniable pull of true crime. This guide will be your key to unlocking a wealth of resources – both thrilling and thought-provoking – within our collection. We'll navigate you through investigative accounts, explore the minds of criminals, and delve into the social and psychological factors that shape these real-life dramas. So, step into the world of true crime with us, and let the library be your launchpad for a captivating exploration.

The Murder of Helen Jewett

In 1836, the murder of a young prostitute made headlines in New York City and around the country, inaugurating a sex-and-death sensationalism in news reporting that haunts us today. Patricia Cline Cohen goes behind these first lurid accounts to reconstruct the story of the mysterious victim, Helen Jewett.

The Last Pirate of New York

Documents the story of underworld legend Albert Hicks, chronicling his mid-nineteenth-century crime spree and the plot gone wrong that culminated in an onboard massacre and manhunt in 1860 Coney Island.

Mrs. Sherlock Holmes

Mrs. Sherlock Holmes tells the true story of Grace Humiston, the detective and lawyer who turned her back on New York society life to become one of the nation's greatest crime fighters during an era when women were rarely involved with investigations

The Third Degree

The true story of a young man's abuse by the Washington police and an arduous, seven-year journey through the legal system that drew in Warren G. Harding, William Howard Taft, Oliver Wendell Holmes, John W. Davis, and J. Edgar Hoover.