Books About True Crime

The Best True Crime Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about true crime? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

As Good as Dead
#3 in Series
Good Girl, Bad Blood
#2 in Series
Shackled
Two Can Keep a Secret
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About True Crime

Jailbreak at Alcatraz
Sale price
$1248
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Jailbreak at Alcatraz

By Tom Sullivan · Book #2 in the Unsolved Case Files series

Three inmates vanish from Alcatraz, sparking an unsolved mystery.

106 pages· 7,212 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 332 ratings
$12.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In 1962, Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers pull off a daring escape from Alcatraz, leaving behind a baffling mystery. As the guards discover their absence, a decades-long manhunt begins. Dive into this gripping true story, complete with FBI files and investigation photos, and unravel the secrets of an escape that defied the impossible. Will the truth ever surface?
As Good as Dead
Sale price
$1248
Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2021

As Good as Dead

By Holly Jackson · Book #3 in the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series

A podcaster faces real-life danger as threats escalate and a serial killer's case resurfaces.

480 pages· 132,546 words· Est. 12.5 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 616,847 ratings
$12.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Pip, a true-crime podcaster, is haunted by her last case as she prepares for college. Anonymous threats turn into real-life stalking, linking to a serial killer caught years ago. With police dismissive, Pip must unravel the truth herself or risk becoming the next victim. As the mystery deepens, her small town's secrets threaten to consume her. Can Pip solve the case before she disappears?
Good Girl, Bad Blood
Sale price
$1049
Chapter Book · Ages 14–18 · 2020

Good Girl, Bad Blood

By Holly Jackson · Book #2 in the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series

A missing person, a town's secrets, and a race against time. Can Pip solve the mystery before it's too late?

416 pages· 93,253 words· Est. 8.5 hour read
4.3/5 Goodreads · 840,005 ratings
$10.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Pip's true-crime podcast has captivated listeners, but when Jamie Reynolds vanishes on a night of remembrance, she must return to sleuthing. The police refuse to act, leaving Pip to uncover her town's hidden darkness. As she delves deeper, every revelation is broadcast to an eager audience. With time slipping away, can Pip find Jamie before it's too late, or will the secrets she unearths prove too dangerous? Dive into a gripping mystery where every clue is a step closer to the truth—or peril.
Escape at 10,000 Feet
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$2089
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2021

Escape at 10,000 Feet

By Tom Sullivan · Book #1 in the Unsolved Case Files series

Unravel the mystery of America's only unsolved airplane hijacking.

104 pages· 4,149 words· Est. 37 min read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 860 ratings
$21.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: On November 24, 1971, a mysterious man boards a flight in Portland, demanding $200,000 and parachutes, threatening to detonate a bomb. Dive into the gripping true story of D.B. Cooper, the elusive hijacker who vanished without a trace. This graphic nonfiction series combines comic panels, FBI documents, and photos to captivate sleuths and history buffs. Will you uncover the secrets behind this unsolved case?
Where Is Alcatraz?
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Where Is Alcatraz?

By Nico Medina, Who HQ, David Groff (Illustrator) · Where Is . . . ? series

A book about the history of Alcatraz prison and its notorious inmates.

112 pages· 7,850 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 722 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Discover the enigmatic history of Alcatraz, from its eerie legends to its notorious inmates like Al Capone. Explore thrilling escape attempts, including one involving spoons and raincoat rafts. What secrets does this infamous island hold?
Shackled
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2024

Shackled

By Candy J Cooper

Judges profit from sentencing kids to detention. Uncover the scandal.

192 pages· 36,653 words· Est. 3.5 hour read
3.9/5 Goodreads · 736 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In Pennsylvania, two judges harshly sentenced over 2,500 children to a for-profit detention center, pocketing cash in return. As the center filled, a pattern of corruption emerged. Discover the shocking truth behind one of the largest violations of children's rights in American legal history. What sinister forces allowed this to happen, and who will hold them accountable?
Two Can Keep a Secret
Sale price
$1398
Chapter Book · Ages 14–+ · 2019

Two Can Keep a Secret

By Karen M. McManus

A town's deadly secrets resurface as Ellery uncovers a chilling mystery.

352 pages· 82,740 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
3.9/5 Goodreads · 178,500 ratings
$14.99Save 7%
Paperback
Summary: Ellery moves to Echo Ridge, a town haunted by disappearances and murder. As homecoming approaches, another girl vanishes, and Ellery must navigate a web of secrets. Can she unravel the truth before becoming the next target?
The 500 Million Dollar Heist
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

The 500 Million Dollar Heist

By Tom Sullivan · Book #3 in the Unsolved Case Files series

Two thieves steal $500 million in art, leaving an unsolved mystery.

104 pages· 6,414 words· Est. 54 min read
3.9/5 Goodreads · 303 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: In 1990, two men disguised as police officers infiltrate the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, executing the largest art heist in U.S. history. Thirteen masterpieces vanish, including rare Rembrandts. Despite exhaustive investigations, the case remains unsolved. What secrets lie behind this audacious theft, and will the truth ever surface?
Haunted Hotels
Sale price
$2708
Picture Book · Ages 9–13 · 2008

Haunted Hotels

By Sarah Parvis · Scary Places series

Check in if you dare—these haunted hotels hold chilling secrets.

32 pages· 2,893 words· Est. 23 min read-aloud
4.0/5 Goodreads · 62 ratings
$28.50Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: Step into the eerie world of haunted hotels, where guests encounter icy rooms, invisible presences, and mysterious shadows. Each of the eleven hotels harbors a chilling history, leaving visitors questioning reality. Will you uncover the truth behind the paranormal tales, or will the ghosts remain a mystery? Dare to explore the unknown and decide for yourself if these hauntings are real.
What Do We Know About the Mystery of D. B. Cooper?
Sale price
$674
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2024

What Do We Know About the Mystery of D. B. Cooper?

By Kirsten Anderson, Who HQ, Tim Foley (Illustrator) · What Do We Know About . . . ? series

A hijacker vanishes mid-flight with $200,000. Did he survive?

112 pages· 8,635 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 142 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In 1971, a mysterious man hijacks a plane, demands $200,000, and parachutes into oblivion. Known as D. B. Cooper, his fate remains one of America's greatest unsolved mysteries. Did he escape with the money, or did he meet a different end? This book delves into the enigma that has baffled the FBI for over fifty years, exploring the clues and theories surrounding his daring escape. Discover what we know and what remains hidden about this infamous case.
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