4 stars-I am a huge fan of the Friday night crime docs on the big networks, so reading about the behind the scenes was right up my alley. The author gives a very (and I mean VERY) detailed account into what goes into scouting a story, getting the victims to agree to tell their accounts, and all of the parts of production that we take for granted. A must read for true crime fans! Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

A must-read for true crime enthusiasts, offering a captivating behind-the-scenes examination of true crime television.

In Killer Story, Claire St. Amant pulls back the curtain on her time as a producer for 48 Hours, offering a firsthand look at the fast-paced, high-stakes world of true crime television—while also navigating the personal demands of being a wife and mom. If you're the type to binge entire seasons of 48 Hours in one sitting or love behind-the-scenes insights into investigative journalism, there's plenty to enjoy here. But fair warning: this book leans more memoir than exposé.

Network competition is cutthroat, but reading about the backdoor deals, last-minute scrambles, and underhanded tactics to secure exclusives was fascinating. St. Amant doesn’t gloss over the relentless grind of chasing leads, earning trust from victims’ families and authorities, and balancing it all with the unpredictability of home life.

What stands out most are the cases she covered—some well-known, others lesser-known but equally gripping. Seeing these stories from a producer’s perspective adds a fresh layer to how crime reporting is shaped for television. That said, if you're hoping for a deep dive into specific cases, you might feel a little shortchanged. The book focuses primarily on St. Amant’s career and personal experiences rather than the crimes themselves.

Killer Story is a compelling pick for true crime enthusiasts, particularly those curious about what goes on behind the scenes of investigative TV. Just know that this is, first and foremost, a biography—with true crime elements woven in rather than taking center stage.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, but with the right expectations. If you’re here for Claire St. Amant’s journey, you’ll be hooked. If you're looking for an in-depth breakdown of major cases, this might not fully scratch that itch. Still, it’s an engaging read that offers a glimpse into a world most of us only experience from our couches.

Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I just wanted to say wow. I really enjoyed this book, it was so insightful and so easy to follow along with the timeliness which made it even better. I haven't really read anything like this before so as a true crime girlie it was so refreshing to read.
I would massively recommend to anyone true crime obsessed as it just scratches that itch you have to learn the behind the scenes of trials and documentaries made after the trials have ended.

I want to say a huge thankyou to Claire for writing this amazing book and also a huge thankyou to BenBella Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to recjeve this incredible arc.

I have been watching True Crime on television and the internet for a long time now and found this to be a very interesting and thought provoking read, it answered many of my questions I had.

I enjoy watching true crime tv and was excited to read this memoir about the story. Claire St. Amant has a strong writing style and I really enjoyed reading this going on. I enjoyed how good everything was and was invested in the memoir element.

Killer Story The Truth Behind True Crime Television by Claire St. Amant was one of the better memoirs I have read. I am very into true crime so the memoir felt like a private, behind the scenes tour of different cases St. Amant had reported on. Each chapter could be even better as a podcast episode.

This book is a must read for every true crime buff! Claire takes you behind the scenes to look at what it’s like to produce a true crime tv show. From trying to find a captivating story, to being able to get the green light from studio executives to produce the show, and even getting a jailhouse interview with the accused; Killer Story truly has it all! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advanced readers copy of this book.

Killer Story is a must have book for the true crime buffs and enthusiast. It's an amazing read filled with raw memories and it is simply fascinating. As an avid watcher of true crime documentaries, I was enthralled by this book. 5 out of 5 stars

Claire St. Amant’s *Killer Story* is the kind of book that grips you from page one and doesn’t let go. If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes of true crime television, this memoir is your all-access pass. From newsroom rivalries to tense courtroom moments, *Killer Story* gave me an adrenaline-fueled look at what it takes to bring true crime stories to life. St. Amant’s firsthand experience covering major cases adds an undeniable authenticity and urgency to her narrative. But what makes this book truly stand out isn’t just the cases themselves, it’s the raw, behind-the-scenes revelations about the industry.

One of the most fascinating aspects of *Killer Story* is its dive into the relentless nature of investigative journalism. She took me through the exhausting process of getting there. I think, readers will find themselves on the front lines as she battles red tape, skeptical attorneys, and uncooperative witnesses, all while navigating newsroom politics and the pressure to deliver gripping content. What really makes this memoir shine is its honesty. She doesn’t sugarcoat the business of true crime reporting. She lays bare the blurred lines between justice and entertainment, between ethical storytelling and sensationalism. The book raises thought-provoking questions about what it means to tell these stories and who benefits from them.

That said, the sheer number of cases covered can sometimes feel overwhelming. A more focused narrative on fewer cases might have allowed for deeper emotional impact. But if you’re a fan of true crime and want a no-holds-barred look at how these stories make it to air, *Killer Story* is an absolute must-read. *Killer Story* is more than just a gripping true crime read but it’s an eye-opening exploration of the sacrifices journalists make to bring these cases to the public.

I'm not quite sure how to begin with this one! I was captivated by the book's concept, although I was initially hesitant, as memoirs can sometimes feel lengthy and tedious. Fortunately, that was not the case here! From the very first page, it was engaging and fascinating! It was truly fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes look at how true crime television operates. I thoroughly enjoyed Claire's journey and the way she wove in the stories she had worked on! I simply couldn't put this book down! The writing was seamless, and the stories kept me completely engrossed! It was such a unique and refreshing memoir, and I truly loved every moment of it!

As a true crime buff and a journalist this book jumped out at me when I saw the cover.

Clair St. Amant takes readers through her career in journalism, specifically true crime television, chapter by chapter. We follow her from a newspaper reporter to a producer for 48 Hours. Milestones are highlighted by the cases she's covering at that time.

It's a passionate story about telling people's stories and empowering them to tell their own. It's a behind-the-scenes treasure trove of how the sausage is made for people, not in the industry.

It's a self-help declaration of listening to your gut and following your dreams.

I found this book fascinating. An avid watcher of true crime I knew the cases mentioned and hearing how the people involved chose to come forward or why some people didn't interested me.

It's a fast and entertaining read.

There’s a lot in this book but it didn’t go as far into the true crime side as I was expecting it to. It was more of an insight on a journalists/media/producers job.

Claire St. Amant's memoir is a page-turner that rings with authenticity. As a true crime reporter, she spent years going toe to toe with murderers rapists, and violent criminals. The book is rich in details. When she is sitting across a table from a cold-eyed serial killer, we can almost feel her heart thudding. She brings high-level emotion to every scene and I read this book in two sittings. Highly recommend. With courage and talent, she opens up a dark world to us.

Let me tell you, Claire St. Amant has led a life that reads like its own true crime series—minus getting murdered, thankfully. In "Killer Story," she pulls back the curtain on her time as a producer for CBS’s "48 Hours," blending the adrenaline-fueled world of true crime television with her own personal journey as a wife and mom. If you’re a sucker for a personal behind-the-scenes look at high-stakes journalism (or you’re the type who can’t help but binge entire seasons of "48 Hours" in one sitting), there’s a lot here to love. But, fair warning, this book leans more memoir than exposé.

It’s no surprise that competition between networks is brutal, but reading about their underhanded, last-minute antics to secure exclusives? That was fascinating. Claire St. Amant doesn’t shy away from the grit, either—detailing the grind of chasing leads, building trust with families and authorities, and somehow balancing it all with the demands of home life.

What really stands out are the cases St. Amant covered. Some were new to me, while others were nationally known crimes. Seeing these events from a producer’s perspective added a new layer to my understanding of how these stories are crafted for television. However, if you’re hoping the book will focus heavily on the cases, you might be a little disappointed. The book is focused on St. Amant’s career and her own experiences.

"Killer Story" is a good choice for true crime enthusiasts, especially those curious about what goes on behind the scenes of shows like "48 Hours." Just keep in mind that you’re signing up for a biography first and foremost—one that’s fascinating in its own right but doesn’t quite satisfy the craving for an in-depth behind-the-scenes breakdown of major true crime stories.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, but with a caveat: go in for the compelling life of Claire St. Amant, and consider the true crime tidbits a bonus. It’s not perfect, but it’s an engaging peek into a world most of us only see from our couches.

Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

If you've ever wondered how a show like 48 hours comes together and how working on a show like that affects people - this is the book for you.

As much of the book covers Claire driving across Texas reporting for 48 Hours and 60 Minutes it would make a perfect road trip audiobook. Just don't listen at night. The first-hand account of interviews with suspects or offenders are truly chilling and written in vivid detail.

As other reviewers have mentioned I had hoped that this book would feature some of the author's perspective on the ethics of true-crime reporting and the explosion of true-crime content in the last decade. While this book does cover Claire's own decisions about new mediums for her career and storytelling in that context, it fell short of engaging with those broader considerations.

Thank you to BenBella Books, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for this eARC prior to publication.

3.5. Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for a review

I don’t usually rate non-fiction because I genuinely believe it all depends on the reader and their own interpretation of the information they have read. However, as this is an arc review, I must settle on a middle rating.

This was a new read for me that focuses on true crime from a completely different perspective. I’ve never read anything by a true crime producer or individual whose worked within the TV sphere of reporting on true crime so for me this was a fascinating and enjoyable read.

I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes of American True crime television. Unlike within the UK, American crime reporting is vastly different due to the different laws around journalistic reporting. For example, video and tv reporting from within a courtroom – something we do not see within the UK. So, I found all this interesting and educational. It was also interesting to see the accessibility level producers and journalists have during a criminal trail – something again that is so restricted here.
I also enjoyed the authors voice in this. I appreciated the personal elements intertwined with the job. It was very authentic and depicted how the author was feeling at certain aspects of her career. The language used was not overly complicated and I appreciated the author taking moments to describe what certain terms and phrases meant.

I will say a big negative was the switching between similar stories at points did become quite confusing. Although it wasn’t annoying that a story would stop and start - because that is very much a reality – the similarities of the cases meant at times I mixed up information in my own head which then made me question what the author was talking about.

This book is showing the background and an insight into the life of a true crime producer, and I think it did it quite successfully.

I will say for anyone reading who is expecting this to be an exploration of certain cases in depth or a reflection of the impacts of intrusive journalism on victims and families and the ethics of this – this book potentially isn’t going to give you all that information. Whilst the author is acknowledgeable of the effects of her own intrusion of these people, it at times doesn’t give you a foregone conclusion or deeper exploration. Similarly, like with a lot of cases, you as the reader, don’t always find out the results of a case or trial because the author was no longer working on it.

Overall, an enjoyable read and one that I think many would enjoy for a different perspective on true crime journalism and storytelling.

Once again thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

A fascinating look at what it takes to work and succeed in the increasingly larger world of true crime television. The author takes you through her journey working for CBS on the legendary shows 48 hours and then 60 minutes. This was very well written and has lots of great behind the scenes stories. I highly recommend this for all true crime fans out there, especially fans of the referenced shows and the author's podcast. Give it a read!

I thought this would be more True Crime than it turned out to be. It was still a good book, but it wasn’t what I expected or wanted.

The book is a look at the crime news scene, but there’s not a lot of closure in the cases she talked about. I love looking up things while I’m reading to find out more, but I don’t like looking up what could be wrapped up in a sentence. There’s a lot of that here.

The bureaucracy sections slow the book down a lot and there aren’t a lot of deep thoughts into how her job affects others.

For what it is, I enjoyed it. I’d recommend it, with caveats.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

I am admittedly a True Crime fanatic, so hearing of Claire St. Amant's book promising behind the scenes access was extremely alluring. Aside from she is doing my dream job, I was all in for more reasons than I can count. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how the sauce is made at 48 hours and other shows I have enjoyed for years now. In fact, most of the stories that were referenced I had seen the episode, with the exception of the Samuel Little story, I don't watch 60 minutes. My point being that this was a good read, fascinating really and it's written in a way that keeps you engaged and wanting more. What a journey, what a job and what a book. I enjoyed it with every fiber of my being.