True Confessions of a True Crime Junkie

Yeah. Okay. So. I’m an author. I have more stories spinning in my head at the same time than a shrink would consider healthy. It’s like a never-ending batch of Jelly-Belly jellybeans—so many flavors, some of them weird, some of them unexpected, and a few that shouldn’t go together but somehow do.

All these people in my head have something to say. So, I take dictation. What’s wrong with that?

However.

While I’m sitting at my desk writing a new scene, resurrecting something I wrote fifteen years ago and twisting it into a new story, figuring out the business end of this venture, or working up the gumption to tackle social media (ugh), something is always running in the background. And that something?

True crime.

A reenactment, a documentary, a podcast, an old Forensic Files episode—it’s all fair game. If you walked into my office, you’d probably hear something about DNA advancements cracking a cold case from the ’80s, a breakdown of a high-profile trial, or a detective explaining how their gut instinct led them to a critical clue.

Why True Crime?

Some people find the obsession with true crime morbid. Maybe even a little voyeuristic. That’s fine—tastes vary. But for me, it’s not about the gore or shock value. It’s about the people.

Most true crime stories aren’t just about the crime itself. They include the experiences of the victims’ families, the law enforcement officers who refused to give up, the forensic scientists who piece together decades-old evidence, the journalists who dig for the truth, and the prosecutors who fight for justice. I’m particularly drawn to cases where advancements in technology solve seemingly impossible crimes from way back in the ago. (Love those.)

It's impossible to experience something from the past unless you hear it from the people who were there.

So, call it a guilty pleasure if you want, but I call it learning about the human experience—from the people who lived it in full, living color.

Fascinated by Human Nature

Most of us, thankfully, will never come face-to-face with true evil. But for those of us fascinated by human nature—well, we watch. We listen. We analyze.

I grew up watching mystery movies with my dad, who was a cop. We’d play whodunit together, breaking down the case and predicting the ending. Maybe that’s where my fascination with the darker side of human nature started. The sociopaths and psychopaths. The gaslighters and narcissistic prima donnas. The manipulators and emotional blackmailers. The ones who seduce and deceive.

Truth is always stranger than fiction.

And that’s why I keep watching, reading, and listening—because every true crime case is a lesson in human behavior.

My Respect for Those Who Pursue Justice

For all my fascination, I never forget that these aren’t just stories. They’re real.

Every case represents someone whose life was stolen. Someone whose family was left shattered.

That’s why my deepest respect goes to the investigators, forensic scientists, and dedicated officers who refuse to let the truth stay buried. They dig, they analyze, and they persist—until they find justice for the voiceless.

Want to Learn More?

If you’re as interested in the psychology behind true crime and the darker side of human behavior as I am, here are a couple of recommended reads:

• The Secret Guide to Dark Psychology by Emory Green

• Psychopathology: History, Diagnosis, and Empirical Foundations edited by W. Edward Craighead, David J. Miklowitz, and Linda W. Craighead

So, fellow true crime junkies—what’s your favorite case, book, or documentary? Ping me on Instagram and let’s talk about the weird, the twisted, and the downright unbelievable side of human nature.