someone who also loves true crime.

This book brings up important questions about why we love true crime and why women in particular are fans. Some possible answers are posed such as being at risk/vulnerable but this book doesn't go a long way in attempting to answer those questions. In saying that, I don't think the intention of this book was to answer these huge questions but just to make us aware.

The illustrations were great throughout the book. The layout was easy to read & understand.

I liked how much information the book had about different true crime cases and how well conveyed that information was.

Overall, I gave it 4 stars⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell & Andrews McMeel Publishing for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a copy of this eArc.

I'm going to be honest, I was a little suspicious when requesting this as the description is, self-admittedly, "A humorous graphic investigation of the author's obsession with true crime, the murders that have most captivated her throughout her life, and a love letter to her fellow true-crime fanatics." The humorous is really what threw me off, so I decided to try to give it the benefit of the doubt because I am a forensic science student who is subsequently also interested in true crime because of it.

Big mistake.

The book opens up with "Welcome to my book, my murder book!" and asks if you're here because you love murder or your sister/girlfriend/some woman in your life loves it. It very much rubbed me the wrong way. I get the whole "grab the reader's attention with a joke" but given the seriousness of the topic of true crime, it felt in very poor taste. There should be nothing to "love" or be obsessed about in relation to true crime, especially as this is not directed towards victim advocation but a seeming fetish for serial killers like the Tumblr fangirls. And this honestly does not improve throughout the rest of it. Making references to Nancy Grace's "determination" when she has been proven countless times to be problematic, talking about a hope to be murdered some day, ignoring the racism within the community itself for most of it, and more. It felt more like an exploration of victims and an author trying to be "not like other girls" than describing an actual interest in true crime investigation.

Also, it was just super disjointed. I had to reread often as I would get lost every few pages.

Save yourself the time and money and don't read this.

I need to start this off with this: I love true crime and I love a good murder mystery. I have watched all the CSI's and all the Law and Order's [and loved them all]. I am forever intrigued by trials for suspected murderers, the hunt for killers and the process behind them. I absolutely adore British crime TV [I may or may not have just binged a whole season of a new show today]. I think John Grisham and his books are amazing. I am a total "guess who the murderer is" junkie. I say all that to let you know that this book should have absolutely been right up my alley.

Unfortunately, it so was not.

I am not sure if it was the format, or how the story was told or what it was, but this was the most disjointed story I have ever read and it made it close to impossible for me to get even a smidgen of enjoyment out of it. The story jumps around a lot, there is excessive language, and there are huge gaps within the story that are never really resolved or the thread isn't picked up again and you are left wondering why it was even in the story to begin with. What was to be a book where I could bond with the author over a love of all things murder [and yes, I am deeply aware of just how awful that sounds], ended up being nothing more than a two day dive into a book of frustration and deep unfulfillment. I am really disappointed in this one - in my opinion, it could have been so much more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder Book is described by the publisher as “A humorous graphic investigation of the author's obsession with true crime, the murders that have most captivated her throughout her life, and a love letter to her fellow true-crime fanatics.” Unfortunately I did not find it humorous, and in fact am rather disturbed that it would be considered humorous for someone to say that they “hope to be murdered someday.”

Thanks go to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Murder Book was one of my most anticipated late 2021 releases and for good reason. Like many others, I have found myself drawn in by the dark world of true crime. And I love what graphic memoirs bring to the table in terms of their storytelling – although I’m sure this would have worked just as well in prose too.

Despite its dark topic, Murder Book is wonderful, witty and warm. The anecdotes are a lot of fun. And it offers an interesting perspective on why we’re so drawn to true crime, especially from a female perspective. I also loved the relationship between Hilary, her mother and sister and the bond that they have over their shared interest in all things murder-related.

I wanted to read this book because I feel like I'm the only woman I know that is not borderline obsessed with true crime and it sounded like it would explain the reasoning behind the genre's surge in popularity. Boy, did it deliver on that.
Fitzgerald Campbell is unapologetic in her interest in true crime and can trace it back for generations. She carefully explains the finer details of true crime and how it's being consumed by more and more people while giving personal details about how she got interested in the genre, all while presenting the pertinent points of some of the most famous cases that she feels a connection with due to different circumstances. And she doesn't just give superficial details, she goes deep into the cases and the reasons why this intense interest in true crime is becoming more and more common.
It's fascinating, educational, and personal. It makes for riveting reading material that really does shed light on why true crime can become such a focal point for women. She doesn't manage to convert me, but I think I understand the appeal a whole lot more.
The only question I have now is why she feels it necessary to draw herself on the toilet so many times? Is it a running joke with her cartoons that I'm not familiar with? I have so many questions about that.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the early read!

I was really wanting to like this book about the True Crime obsession. Especially, since I am one of the people with the True Crime fever. I listen to True Crime podcasts during my morning and evening commute almost everyday. Unfortunately, I couldn't last long enough in this book to see if she ever got to the meat of the story. Her story telling was just a little too hectic for me, so I had to put this down. Unfortunately, I think her hectic story telling was supposed to come off as charming. Someone will enjoy this but it wasn't for me.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review through Netgalley.

Campbell’s graphic novel explores her own fascination with true crime as well as the reasons that women are fascinated with true crime. I thought this was an interesting topic because I fall into that category. This was such a great way to discuss crime and fan culture. I loved the art and organization of this graphic memoir. I was enchanted by Hilary’s parents and her relationship with them. I definitely saw myself in the story. I did think it was especially wordy on some pages. It was just a bit much to take in, but that didn’t deter me from highly enjoying this. Very thought provoking and full of humor. I highly recommend this book for Nonfiction November- releases on November 9th, 2021!

Murder Book, a graphic novel by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell, explores the obsession people have with true crime and how historically humans have always been entertained by violent death. The author gives us her introduction to her obsession with watching crime and how she and her mom bond over Law & Order. Hilary manages to handle this morbid topic in a hilarious real way, while also acknowledging the victims and how important it is for women to control the narrative in these stories where the media tend to show women as victims.

This Graphic novel is illustrated in black and white. Each character and situation is so well drawn, facial expressions and body language are really captured very well, and the characters come alive on the page. I insistently recognized myself and my mom in this book since we are also obsessed with watching true crime to the extent that we now feel qualified as detectives. This novel totally captures all of the thinking that goes into that and how silly it is, I laughed out loud several times.

The book does go into the history of some famous cases like the Zodiac and Bundy cases reminding us of the victims and viciousness of the murders, but it is mostly a personal account of how true crime has been present in all of our lives and how serial killers back in the 1970’s did cause fear and havoc in the lives of people whether they were direct victims or not, women still had to live in fear.

This graphic novel is long and filled with dialogue keeping a balance between hilarious, informative, respect. Definitely worth a buy for anyone who loves watching true crime.

Unique And Quirky…
Really very entertaining. A graphic compilation of the author’s addiction to true crime and those murders that have most fascinated her most to date. It’s unique and quirky and makes for an extremely enjoyable read. True crime fanatics are sure to enjoy.

Murder Book is an enjoyable graphic novel that feel personal and terrifying at the same time. While reading Murder Book I felt like I was having a girl night in with some wine and popcorn, talking about true crime and why we are so invested in knowing more about what happened.

I am interested in crime as well. I love Agatha Christie's Who-done-it's and her title as the queen of crime fits her very well. I also watch documentaries on murders and true crime on Netflix.

The author of Murder Book told a very personal story with fun graphics on how she came to love True Crime and the crimes she was so invested in, or still is invested in. Maybe you even learn a thing or two about True Crime and find a TV show, book or podcast that you could get into.

This graphic novel is a must read for fellow (true) crime fans.

This is such a fascinating look at our obsession with true crime in all its different formats through this graphic memoir. Hilary takes us on a journey through her own interactions with true crime and how she came to become addicted to it. She also tells some of the key and pivotal cases in true crime in her amazing comic boy illustrations!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Murder Book by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell.

A graphic novel about true crime and being a true crime fanatic? Sign me up, this is my world and these are my people?

And that's basically what this is. The author, through her sketches and stories, outlines what it has been like for her to be a true crime junkie, and how one ends up becoming one. She's silly, sarcastic, sweary and fun. I definitely enjoyed the second half more than the first. It may have part been because it took me a second to get the her flow and graphics. I also had a hard time on the rare occasion being able to read her writing. However, most of all, I just found myself shouting "yes!" in my head, with each new case. Be my best friend Hilary! I want to talk about true crime with you.

A fun graphic memoir for fans of true crime. As someone who is obsessed with true crime, I loved so much of this. It introduces well known cases in a unique way. Takes a new direction in deciphering why so many people have become true crime obsessed. And the artwork is just beautiful. My only criticism is that it felt a little too long and drawn out in some places, but that could just be due to my taste in graphic novels being short. I highly recommend anyone looking for a fun read about true crime picks this up.

This was an interesting format for a memoir. I don’t think I’ve read a graphic memoir before, but I think it worked well for this book. The book is about the author’s love of true crime. There were some cases that I was already familiar with, but I still found myself learning about new things for each case. I even did a little research on some of the cases. I loved the art. Even though this was about true crime, I did find myself laughing at some of the things Hilary wrote.

Murder Book
A Graphic Memoir of a True Crime Obsession
by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell
Pub Date 09 Nov 2021 |
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga


I am reviewing a copy of Murder Book: A Graphic Memoir of a True Crime Obsession through Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley:


Murder Book A Graphic Memoir of a True Crime Obsession is a humorous investigation into the author's obsession with true crime, the murders that have most captivated her throughout her life, and a love letter to her fellow true-crime fanatics.





Why do so many find it fun to read about death and dismemberment? In Murder Book, lifelong true-crime obsessive and New Yorker cartoonist Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell tries to puzzle out the answer.




Let me start off with the things I loved about this unconventional graphic exploration exploration of a lifetime of Ann Rule super-fandom, amateur armchair sleuthing, and a deep dive into the high-profile murders that have fascinated the author for decades, first of all the humor was great as were the graphics, and as a true crime aficionado myself I found the book relatable in many cases.




Now to get on to the thing I did not like about the book, that was the political undertones in the book, there is good and bad in everything political leaning, so signaling one out I don’t feel is the place for a true crime graphic novel.


I give Murder Book four out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

My fellow millennial Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell channeled her ever popular true crime interest into a graphic novel that unfortunately reads more like a creative writing exercise than something ready for publish. Part memoir, part anthology of murder in media, I think this book would be more successful if it was crafted more carefully. However in its' current disorganized nature, it doesn't have the amount of empathy to differentiate this interest from anything else. In theory you can substitute the subject matter with any other interest else like knitting or basketball it would fit the mold.

Rating this 3 stars because I think the illustration style deserves more credit than I saw in earlier reviews

The Murder Book is a fast-paced relatable comic, highlighting the psychological POV of "Murder/Thriller" reader enthusiast during the pandemic season. A must read !

This memoir-style graphic novel tells the story of the author/artist’s obsession with true crime. She explores several crimes, especially murders, while examining the reasons why so many women love true crime. The drawings play a major part in telling the story of the author, and how a true crime story helped her see her own less-than-ideal relationship. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys graphic novels and especially true crime.

I found this book exciting as our family and many friends are True Crime fans. Sometimes it seems like gossip but challenging to try to solve. The main player is a young lady who tracks her interest back to her mother and family. Lot of talk and speculation about the latest crime. Women identifying the threat of violence and crime with their intelligence trying to solve or develop cues. Great illustrations, some of which I shared with family. For the True Crime fan this is a great read and review of crimes in our country.