Warning: This article discusses extreme violence and death.

True crime is one of the most popular television genres, and there are plenty of amazing books that desperately need to be adapted for the smaller screen. Films are already a significant medium for true crime novels, such as the recent release of TV is a better medium for book adaptations.

Certain TV shows are believed to be based on real-life events, but they aren’t. For example, a true crime case inspired The Fugitive, both the show and the film, but the two are actually fictional stories. Over the years, many incredible true crime novels have haunted readers with gritty and horrifying details, but these depictions of the most heinous acts have yet to be made into a TV show. From grizzly murders to relatively unknown but impactful figures in law enforcement, these true crime books deserve the TV adaptation treatment.

10 American Sherlock

By Kate Winkler Dawson

American Sherlock by Kate Winkler Dawson is a fascinating true crime novel that focuses on the true story of Edward Oscar Heinrich, one of the very first forensic scientists in U.S. history. Set in California in 1933, American Sherlock recounts various events from Heinrich’s career, in which he solved an astonishing 2,000 cases. The novel delves into how Heinrich is gifted the title of the American Sherlock Holmes, and the impact he had on the world of criminal investigations is nothing short of groundbreaking.

While many Sherlock Holmes movies and TV shows are currently in development, American Sherlock offers a new, unique twist. Heinrich is a real historical figure, so he would be a fascinating individual to bring to life because he has flaws and more elements of humanity than Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic literary character. Heinrich’s legendary efforts and brilliant scientific achievements are crucial to law enforcement, even years later, and an adaptation of the peaks and valleys of his career has the potential to be a fantastic and engaging watch.

9 Coronado High

By Joshuah Bearman

Joshuah Bearman’s Coronado High is a fascinating book and a story that has great promise as a TV adaptation. The book is a full-length novel that follows on from Bearman’s Atavist article of the same name, which dives into the events of a group of high school students in the ‘60s who built up a multi-million drug empire (via Joshuah Bearman’s interview with ScreenRant about Little America also proves this.

One of Bearman’s past articles is also the basis of the Oscar-winning movie Argo, so there’s no doubt that Coronado High can work on-screen.

The students in Coronado High are initially depicted as stereotypical surfer hippies from the late 1960s, but in reality, they are drug-smuggling geniuses. Their fascinating idea of using swimming bundles to shift tonnes of marijuana across the Tijuana border in the summer of 1969 leads them to oversee a full-blown operation, which is run by their teacher, Lou Villar. Villar tells his students to stay away from substances, but behind the scenes, he’s a prominent Kingpin, which makes him a brilliant potential protagonist for a TV adaptation.

8 The Executioner's Song

By Norman Mailer

The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer is easily the author’s best piece of work. The book concentrates on the murderer Gary Gilmore, a man whose brutal killings of two men in 1976 resulted in one of the strangest requests for the death penalty of all time. Gilmore’s fight against the legal system and his pleas for his demise over the years create an engaging and impactful tale, and Mailer’s translation of the criminal’s drawn-out journey is fascinating.

The Executioner's Song is a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner, which gives audiences hope that a TV reinterpretation of the baffling true story will be an amazing watch. Although The Executioner's Song has been adapted as a made-for-TV movie before, remaking the project in the era of streaming offers a lot of promise. Gilmore’s harrowing experience highlights him as both relatable and unlikeable, and he’s a great individual to focus on. The Executioner's Song could easily become one of the best miniseries ever, or even a multi-season TV show, especially following the success of titles like The Devil’s Hour recently.

7 The Burning Of Bridget Cleary: A True Story

By Angela Bourke

Angela Bourke is a fantastic author in the crime and folklore genres. Although she is known for her books inspired by mythology, she is also the mind behind the amazing nonfiction title The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story. Bourke’s novel looks at the mysterious disappearance of Bridget Cleary in 1895, the discovery of the woman’s corpse, and the suspicious responses of her family in the fallout of her death. What’s so fascinating about this true crime book, however, is that Bourke also delves into the superstitions and legends of fairies in the rural area of Tipperary, Ireland.

Even though Bridget Cleary’s death has been solved, the combination of the gruesome details of her demise and elements of the ethereal is an excellent premise for the screen.

The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story may be based on factual events, but it has the potential to work as a beautifully intriguing fictional TV show. Even though Bridget Cleary’s death has been solved, the combination of the gruesome details of her demise and elements of the ethereal is an excellent premise for the screen. A show based on The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story could go in several directions, and the idea could be amazing as either a docies or a loose reimagination with a fantasy twist.

6 The Devil In The White City: Murder, Magic, And Madness At The Fair That Changed America

By Eric Larson

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson is a captivating historical book presented in a novelistic style, offering a unique angle. The title, which is split into four parts, is set in the late 1890s and jumps between two key narratives: the architect of the 1893 World Fair, Daniel Burnham, and the serial killer H. H. Holmes. Although the two stories don’t overlap very much, the unusual split between the men’s stories presents readers with an excellent insight into the time that these events play out.

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An adaptation has been planned previously by Leonardo DiCaprio, who owns the book rights, but the project has never happened. However, there’s still hope for future attempts. Even if a network or streaming service decides to just focus on Holmes and eliminate Burnham’s storyline, there’s a good chance that The Devil in the White City could be a huge success. There are plenty of the best serial killer TV shows airing on Netflix right now, and The Devil in the White City can easily replicate the same hype that titles like You and Mindhunter have.

5 My Dark Places By James Ellroy

My Dark Places is a truly distinctive true crime story because the author, James Ellroy, is so close to the actual events. The book recounts Ellroy’s experiences at the age of ten following the brutal murder of his mother, Jean. Ellroy doesn’t sugarcoat his relationship with Jean during his childhood, but his outlook on the crime, which is forgotten by many except for him, is a refreshing take. The complexities of Ellroy’s grief, from his youth to adulthood, are extremely profound and would be a great starting point for a TV adaptation.

There have been several fantastic mystery TV series throughout the 2020s already, but there’s always room for more, and My Dark Places is an ideal candidate to the list. The compelling story of Jean’s unsolved killing and Ellroy’s personal connection to the crime could be an interesting way for a TV adaptation to use a nonlinear timeline. However, another reason why My Dark Places stands out from other true crime books and warrants a TV show is that another notable crime frequently overshadows Jean Ellroy’s murder – the Black Dahlia case.

4 Helter Skelter: The True Story Of The Manson Murders

By Vincent Bugliosi (With Curt Gentry)

The 1974 publication Helter Skelter: The True Story of The Manson Murders isn’t the first book to discuss the nefarious killer Charles Manson. However, Helter Skelter is a unique take on the events of Manson’s trial because prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi is the co-author. The book analyses the investigation, arrest, trial, and sentencing of Manson over his horrific killings of multiple women. In 2024, 50 years after its release, Helter Skelter is still the best-selling true crime book in history.

Although there are already multiple adaptations of Helter Skelter, they are mainly films, and there has yet to be a fictional TV show version of the book. There are also several movies that explore the Manson murders, but Bugliosi’s point of view deserves further expansion, and the TV format is a great way to do so. By staggering Bugliosi’s astonishing historical across a number of episodes, viewers can truly appreciate the most dramatic parts of Helter Skelter. Plus, Bugliosi’s life is very intriguing by itself, and this would be a good subplot, especially if it is dramatized.

3 American Predator

By Maureen Callahan

Maureen Callahan’s American Predator is a notable true crime book because it looks at the crimes of Israel Keyes, a mass murderer who isn’t discussed as much as figures like Ted Bundy or John Wayne Gacy. Many are unaware of Keyes, who is worthy of being a Mindhunter serial killer, but his blood-curdling actions are some of the most disturbing crimes in modern history. American Predator looks at Keyes’ process, which includes him burying specific tools and resources, traveling across the US to use them, and then returning to his mundane life as if nothing had happened.

Maureen Callahan also wrote Poker Face: The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga (2010) - A biography of the pop star Lady Gaga

The reason why Callahan’s book is so enthralling is that it discusses how Keyes manages to go undetected by police for so long. His killings are random and sporadic, and the lack of obvious motivation is terrifying. The author also delves into his deeply loving relationship with his daughter, which raises the stakes. A TV adaptation of American Predator could be an intense and gripping watch, switching between the points of view of Keyes, his daughter, and even Callahan herself.

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2 People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate Of Lucie Blackman

By Richard Lloyd Parry

People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman by Richard Lloyd Parry is a perfect candidate for a TV adaptation for several reasons. Lucie Blackman is a young British woman who is killed and dismembered in Japan in the year 2000, a story that Parry follows closely as a journalist. The decade-long trial over Lucie’s murder against the man accused of her death, Joji Obara, is a tense and intricately detailed story. However, Lucie’s death isn’t the most compelling part of People Who Eat Darkness; it’s Parry’s involvement.

A perfect candidate for a TV adaptation for several reasons.

A TV show recreation of People Who Eat Darkness has a lot of material to draw from. For example, Obara’s attempts to sue Parry and the mysterious packages containing surveillance images delivered to the reporter are two fantastic potential plotlines. As there is an incredible ten years of story to cover, minimum, there are easily multiple seasons worth of content for a People Who Eat Darkness adaptation. There are many thrilling crime dramas for wannabe detectives that focus on investigators who aren’t the police, and People Who Eat Darkness could also be one of these shows.

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1 Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil

By John Berendt

John Berendt’s first-ever project, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, is a brilliant non-fiction book. The novel looks at antique dealer Jim Williams and his trial for the killing of Danny Hansford, one of his employees, and it is still one of the longest-standing titles on the New York Times bestseller list. Berendt uses the testimonies of local residents and his own experiences to form a nail-biting recount of Williams’ arrest, sentencing, and denial of murder.

While the events of the true crime book are blurred in comparison to Berendt’s actual involvement with the case, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is unique because Williams agreed to work with the author in the hopes that his story would be shared. The Pulitzer Prize nominee is the inspiration for the underrated Clint Eastwood movie of the same name, but it desperately needs to be adapted for TV. This is especially because, in 2024, Berendt has officially said he believes William is guilty (via Garden & Gun Magazine).