In addition to my love of books I have always had a passion for true crime. From a young age I was addicted to shows like “Dateline,” “48 Hours” and “Forensic Files.” My parents always joked that they knew I had been in the house if they turned on the TV and it was set to ID Discovery. Not only is True Crime fun to watch on TV, but cooking is more fun (for me!) if I have a True Crime audio book.
With many of our patrons forced to self-isolate and be at home, I’d like to take this opportunity to recommend three of my favorite true crime titles that have a connection to New Jersey.
The books below are all available via eLibraryNj :
The Good Nurse
by Charles Graeber
Charles Cullen, born in West Orange, NJ, is one of New Jersey’s most prolific serial killers. He was a registered nurse who practiced in Morristown, Livingston, Montclair, and parts of South Jersey and Pennsylvania. Cullen’s victim count is still unknown.
The First Family: Terror, Extortion, Revenge, Murder, and the Birth of the American Mafia
by Mike Dash
Before there was the Genovese Crime Family there was Giuseppe “The Clutch Hand” Morello. This book follows Morello and the birth of one of the famous “Five Families” of New York City.
The Cases That Haunt Us: From Jack the Ripper to Jon Benet Ramsey, the FBI’s Legendary Mindhunter Sheds New Light on the Mysteries That Won’t Go Away
by Mark Olshaker and John Douglas
This book was written by the detective who inspired the Netflix show “Mind Hunter.” While this book focuses on several cases, one of particular interest to New Jersey natives will be the case of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, otherwise known as the man who allegedly kidnapped the Lindbergh Baby. To this day there is disagreement on who is responsible. Explore the case that made kidnapping between states a federal crime and had a vast cast of investigators including New Jersey Police Superintendent Norman Schwarzkopf.
Written by:
Lindsay Sakmann
Information and Digital Services Librarian
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 