Expanding the Shelf: Why The Red Herring Review Now Includes True Crime

Expanding the Shelf: Why The Red Herring Review Now Includes True Crime

The Red Herring Review was born from a deep love of mystery, suspense, and thrillers—stories that draw readers into tangled plots, shadowy motives, and the relentless pursuit of truth. From locked-room whodunits to psychological thrillers and supernatural chillers, the genres we cover are united by a single thread: the desire to understand what happened, who did it, and why. That is why we are excited to announce the natural evolution of our coverage to include True Crime books. This expansion is not a departure, but a seamless continuation of our commitment to engaging storytelling.

True Crime is, in many ways, the real-world sibling of the mystery and thriller genres. Instead of fictional detectives, it features real investigators, journalists, and sometimes victims, all seeking justice and clarity in a world where answers can be as elusive as in any Agatha Christie novel. These books captivate for the same reasons crime fiction does: a compelling case, a chilling villain, and a desperate search for resolution. Many of the conventions of mystery fiction—red herrings, unreliable witnesses, sudden revelations—appear just as often in nonfiction accounts of actual crimes.

Take, for instance, Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. Her haunting, meticulous chronicle of the Golden State Killer’s decades-long reign of terror reads like the most gripping thriller—but every detail is real. Similarly, Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood pioneered a style of narrative nonfiction that mirrors fiction’s emotional depth and structure. These books do not just inform; they immerse, unsettle, and compel. They satisfy the same itch as a fictional mystery while reminding us of the stakes in the real world, leaving readers intrigued and engaged.

True Crime also taps into our fascination with justice. While mystery fiction offers resolution and closure, True Crime often asks harder questions: What if the killer isn’t caught? What if justice fails? What if the system is flawed? These uncomfortable realities that fiction can gloss over are confronted head-on in True Crime. In doing so, it deepens our understanding of the very themes mystery fans love: motive, morality, power, and justice.

By adding True Crime to our reviews and recommendations, The Red Herring Review honors readers who are drawn to clever plots, complex characters, and the truth itself. This expansion offers a deeper understanding of the human condition and the story of Crime itself. We will cover everything from investigative classics to fresh takes on infamous cases and critical examinations of the genre’s ethics, biases, and social impact, providing a more comprehensive and thought-provoking reading experience.

For lovers of thrillers, suspense, and mysteries, True Crime offers more than grim fascination—it offers another angle on the human condition and another layer to the story of Crime itself. It shows that what happens in fiction often has a mirror in reality, and sometimes, reality is the most shocking story of all.

So whether you are chasing the next locked-room puzzle or dissecting a real cold case, The Red Herring Review is here to help you follow the clues. We remain committed to our core genres of mystery, suspense, and thrillers, and the inclusion of True Crime is a testament to our dedication to providing diverse and engaging content for our readers.