I received an arc of this book from netgalley in return for an honest review. Okay... I loved this book way more than I was expecting too. Most graphic novels I find to be quite shallow and whilst they're interesting they tend to lack depth. That definitely can't be said for this comic. The author manages to entertain the reader with amusing anecdotes about life as a true crime fan, whilst simultaneously managing to teach the reader so much about the history of true crime and the role it plays in gaining justice for the victims. If you've ever been interested in true crime or better want to understand the mind of someone you know who is, I'd highly recommend reading 'The Murder Book'.

I enjoyed the gist of this, particularly the start and the end, alongside the insightful thought process throughout, but that was it. As a fellow true crime lover, I really struggled with the re-tellings of some of true crimes most notorious cases, because as a book advertised to true crime lovers, they seem a bit defunct. I can imagine if you didn't know many of the stories or the ins and outs of the cases then it would be much more enjoyable. Having said this, I love how this book recognised how weird it is to enjoy true crime. I love love loved the conclusion about what's important in the true crime world, focusing on what stories get notoriety and why, highlighting how women are more interested in true crime as a form of protection through knowledge, but also how black stories get such a different gaze in reporting as a whole. This graphic novel really draws attention to the historically sexist and racist reporting that many cases had and I did truly love that, I just felt that the middle was a bit like re-reading stuff you already know (like when you repeatedly study the same things in history at school). So, if you're new to true crime, absolutely give it a read, and if you're not and are a morbid fan like many of us, then it's still worth a read, even purely for the humour and insights.

Release date: November 9th, 2021!!

I did not like this. I didn't even ~get~ this to be completely honest. It's a memoir depicting the creator's own personal experience with becoming obsessed with true crime. But it's also an account of specific serial killers and crimes and it describes what it's like being obsessed with true crime in general and it goes on random unnecessary tangents and it's all over the place. Ugh.

The art style and page layout instantly threw me off and made the story extremely agonizing to get through. I consider myself pretty capable to get through all kinds of different page layouts (avid graphic novel reader, have taken college classes on the topic of panel design, etc.) and this was too much. The panels were all over the place, the writing/font was really hard to read, and the drawings were random and sometimes weren't even cohesive. I just didn't enjoy it at all.

The next, and main, issue is the topic overall. I wouldn't consider myself a "true crime junkie", but I do listen to some podcasts, have watched a few movies, and sometimes watch videos on YouTube talking about it. But I've found myself leaning further and further away from it because it's become so saturated and seems more like a fandom than anything else. Which is EXACTLY what this book did. It seemed more like an ode to being a true crime junkie and viewing it more as some strange fandom than discussing true crime in general and placing the appropriate sympathy with the victims. I understand wanting to know more about true crime (as I said, I sometimes indulge myself if curious enough), but the way she talks about being OBSESSED with murder is very out of pocket and gross. This book just made me feel SUPER icky and I didn't like that at all. I definitely do not recommend this, even if you are obsessed with true crime. It's not only not a very good graphic novel, but it turns real-life murders into some gross fantasy. Ew ew ew ew.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my very own, as always.

Though parts of this graphic memoir do as it promises (look at why people get so hooked on true crime), much of it actually delves into true crime stories and feels a bit exploitative like the genre as a whole. There are moments where the author acknowledges and scratches the surface of the huge problems with true crime obsession (systemic racism meaning the media and society focus on white victims, etc) but it is far too simplistic of a look at these topics (and only explicitly discussed near the very end). Basically, this book feels like the author’s self-talk to convince herself why it’s okay to be obsessed with true crime but doesn’t really meet the mark.

Super-fun graphic novel memoir of that author’s lifelong true crime obsession. I am a smidge surprised that given the huge focus that she gives on several notorious crimes and staples of the genre, she doesn’t spend a little bit more time on the true crime mania.

Not my cup of tea. There are some interesting parts: the exploration of true crime, both the history of the genre and theories of why people, particularly women, are so fascinated by it (though I feel like book could've dug deeper on the *why*). I don't think the autobiographical parts do much for the story — the author comes across as less introspective and more narcissistic, even self-congratulatory about her love for true crime. The humor didn't really work here, some jokes felt disrespectful to the victims while others were simply unfunny.

Wow! WoW! WoW! This is the book that I didn't know I needed in my life!

As a true crime fanatic I can totally relate with the author and her eternal question "is there something wrong with me? is it normal to be so much into True Crime?"

I can't wait for this book to be out so I can buy the physical copy and read it all again!!! if you have listened to all the true crime podcasts out there, or keep checking Netflix for new crime documentaries, or if you can't stop thinking "did she really fall down the stairs?" then... you need this book!

#truecrimejunkies

I really enjoyed this genre mash up of the memoir of a murderino and the true crime stories she's addicted to. I even came across some stories I've not heard of before! A must for any fan of true crime!

Writer, comedian, cartoonist and a distant relative of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell has a hilarious take on life. And death. Murder Book: a graphic memoir of a true crime obsession provides a concise history of True Crime reporting in the US - from true crime books to podcasts - and also examines why the women down the generations in her family have been obsessed with the morbid. And if, somehow, you aren’t yet addicted to true crime yourself, Murder Book might just end up being your gateway drug to the cold blooded world of true crime.

A graphic memoir that pretends to take into account the victims involved in True Crime, but ends up being just as, or even more, exploitative than a lot of True Crime is. And all of it told in quite poor art.

Beyond problematic.

Growing up as a women in the true crime era, I am able to relate to Hilary on a level that some, if not most, can’t. The way she writes this, along with the illustrations, is done so well. I’ve heard of some of these serial killers but it was good to be informed about a few others!

Amazingly comprehensive study and analysis of the allure of the true crime genre through books, tv, movies and podcasts highlighting many famous cases in grsphic novel format. Always entertaining but impressively well thought out, relating of the lure of the genre by making it personal from her mother to herself and her friends. The retelling of the Ted Bundy story had nuggets of info that were new to me and the format was surprisingly able to be info dense without seeming to be so.

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! It takes my feelings and artistically lays them out in black and white. Not that I ever thought I was the only lover of true crime, but it is so wonderful to receive validation from someone who feels exactly like I do.

I thought that is was an interesting read and the art was entertaining, but some parts of the story telling felt slow to me and like too much extra information. I did think that the info about the actually true crime and the evolution was interesting to read.

I downloaded this book on a whim from the Read Now section of Netgalley.

I’m not even a massive fan of True Crime but I was intrigued. Plus is a graphic memoir; that caught my attention.

I read it all in one day and it inspired me to download several TC audiobooks! I really enjoyed the way the author discussed some cases that really made an impression on her. And the ongoing search for why she loved true crime so much was very interesting.

If you are a fan of true crime, this book is a must! If you’re not, this book might inspire you to give it a try. Murder Book is short, funny, informative, thought-provoking, and entertaining. Plus presented as a graphic memoir really sets it apart.

Ok, I’m a long time fan of true crime cases from tv to books to podcasts. I have been a fan long before it became popular. I grew up in Chicago so John Wayne Gacy was likely the one who sparked my interest as I was a very young kid when he was arrested and lived only a few miles away. Reading this comic book was familiar as if the author and I had similar thoughts & experiences with cases we heard about. This was a ton of fun to read and I appreciated all of her effort into the detail of all of the cases represented. Ive always been drawn into the psychology of the murders more than the act itself and will likely buy this book to peruse the physical copy.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It is the perfect blend of true crime documentary, memoir and graphic novel. The art was exceptional and truly brought the story to life in a way that was relatable and hilarious. I love how the author talked about her journey through the world of true crime obsession. She analytically describes the “murder gene” being passed down through generations of her family while showing us glimpses into her past and that of her family. Non-traditional graphic novels are incredibly hard to come by, let alone worth reading. Murder Book blows them all out of the water. A must-read for anyone who considers themselves a murder lover.

a very humorous non-fiction graphic novel that tries to shed light on obsessive behaviour towards true crime content, as well as the authors takeaway from true crime cases such as The Zodiac Killer or Ted Bundy.

4.5 Stars
When I was 12 years old my absolute favourite thing to watch was unsolved cases on Youtube and Netflix. There was nothing quite so captivating or addicting. It had all the extravagance and unbelievability of fiction and yet it had actually happened. I was hooked for nearly a year. Then, I began to notice some changes in myself. I had a harder time trying to sleep, I was warier of strangers and generally more anxious and paranoid. It got to the point where I'd never feel truly safe because I had heard at least one story where a girl was kidnapped or killed in every situation. One day, I decided my love for these cases wasn't worth the emotional toll they were having on me and I cut them out. Years later, I received an ARC of an upcoming graphic novel memoir about a woman's obsession with true crime and I saw it as a chance to explore what might've been and reminisce on my past. Low and behold, I got much more than I was expecting.
This book is funny, witty, insightful, dark and serious when it needs to be. It opens with the question of what draws people to true crime and spends the book trying to answer it. Rather than following a linear path like I was expecting, this book ping pongs between different memories, favourite cases and the author's ever-evolving monologue as she tries to provide insight. Some ideas and jokes are regularly revisited and consistent throughout the story while others only make brief appearances, but rest assured, all are given the page time they deserve. There's a sense of chaos to this book because of how it's formatted and plotted and yet the author somehow manages to make it cohesive with a good flow that makes putting it down difficult.
Another thing I didn't expect to find were the hidden depths to the subject. From the role of empathy, to the pressure of society, to the reactions and publicity of different crimes, I feel I walked away from this book knowing significantly more about the world of true crime than I'd originally hoped to.
If you haven't already figured out what I'm trying to say here, I'll simplify things for you: buy it. If not for you, then for your crime-obsessed friend or family member. Just find someone in your life who you can buy this for and I promise you won't regret it.

The tone of this true crime memoir is light and humorous, and the author chronicles her passion for true crime as well as the history of the women in her family and their shared interest. As someone who is not a true crime fan, I was curious to see the draw to this genre. I think the book would hold more interest for those who are true crime fans.