Author Claire St. Amant has had an extraordinarily exceptional career. Pounding the pavement, finding the stories, and living in the world of true crime. From the studio to the Texas towns, the Rangers and the family members behind the story, "Killer Story" presents it all. Putting readers in the rental car, at the hotel desk space, and even on the country roads outside of a fence waiting for the subject, Claire has fought it all and has the PTSD to prove it.

While America dines on binging true crime, Claire St. Amant gave up her mental health and time with family to chase down the stories - some of which became sensational and even some that didn't make the screen.

On the surface, I loved this book and getting a BTS glimpse into true crime journalism. It did have some Whiplash moments though where it took me a bit to realize the setting was a different state, time period, and case. This book isn't super deep as in the author doesn't go into her mental health crisis (which she's completely justified in not telling the whole world about) or the active discussion that true crime shows take advantage of victims and spotlight bad people. But overall, a Solid and Enjoyable listen.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ALC!

I really compelling memoir by a journalist who doesn't self-aggrandize. I loved the way she recalled the high profile cases she covered...and what it took to get interviews from the key players in them.

Claire St. Amant shares stories from her years as a journalist and TV producer for 48 Hours and 60 Minutes, bringing many high profile true crime cases to viewers. Not only does she share the details of these cases, but she also gives us all the behind the scenes details involved in producing stories for television. Each chapter is almost like a separate short story, covering a different case, so I found this a little confusing on audio until I got into the groove. A really unique nonfiction that I appreciated. Thank you for this advance copy.

This was a fascinating tell all about true crime television. It was very informative while still being engaging. I could see Claire grow up into her career through the years she covered. I don't even know her but I am so proud of her!

If you're a fan of true crime and enjoy watching shows like 48 Hours and 60 Minutes, this is the book for you. St. Amant started as a small town journalist covering crimes in Texas. Over time she worked her way into producing for 48 hours and 60 minutes. Her pathway to get there was quite the hustle and she had to see and hear a lot about unsavory crimes in Texas.

Each chapter seems to focus on a certain story that she covers. There was only one case that I was familiar with that she covered, but I wonder if I was a Texas local if I'd be familiar with more?

Good comparisons to this book would be I'll Be Gone in the Dark and Unmasked, but what we see is that St. Amant got out before her work succumbed her life fully. None of what she shares about the cases are too graphic. Listening to her read her book almost comes off cheery? Which I was okay with but, considering the subject matter it didn't seem to align well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Audio and BenBella Books for the gifted e-ARC and ALC. Tag teaming the audio (that the narrator reads) and the print was a great way to go.

I was a bit underwhelmed. The story was good. But I was expecting more true crime and less office politics and the reasoning behind a lot of true crime shows. Still interesting though!

The cover is eye catching, and I love the hot pink. Pink is not exactly the color most associated with true crime/murder and I love that they went with something unique.

The author does the narration for the audiobook and her voice/style of writing is very concise and straightforward. There isn't a ton of emotion in her voice. Some people might have an issue with this because it comes off a little blunt. I think when I read the synopsis, I was thinking I would get more of a behind the scenes look at how true crime stories make it into the media. And while that is the case, there's no juicy details. Maybe that's not something I should want?

I found myself not being interested in the story and just listening to get through it all. I wanted to love it because the idea is really neat and what an interesting job. Maybe audiobook is not the best way to read it. Again, this is just my opinion, and you may totally love it! So, if you love true crime and audiobooks are your preferred way to read them...do it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Claire St. Amant, and Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to read Killer Story. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.

KILLER STORY is a true exposé that takes readers deep into the sometimes shady underside of True Crime television.

KILLER STORY: The Truth Behind True Crime Television by Claire St. Amant is an Utterly Fascinating and Completely Unforgettable 5 Star Read.

I forgot to mention earlier how genius I think this book cover is. Using a photo of a remote control as the handle of a knife is exceptionally clever. The bright pink cover also draws potential readers’ attention to the book. A+++

In the ‘Acknowledgements‘ section of this memoir, Claire says:

“It is a privilege to tell stories for a living, and I’m still pinching myself that I get to do it.”

Love True Crime?
You MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!
Claire St. Amant has delved deeply into the world of true crime TV in a way that NO ONE HAS EVER DONE BEFORE.

Claire has deftly written about her decades of working for CBS, including producing over 20 episodes of “The First 48” and moonlighting productions for the highly esteemed “60 Minutes” franchise. But those tantalizing stories are only the tip of the True Crime iceberg.

Claire St. Amant proves that not only can she write for news magazines, produce multiple true crime documentaries in a single year, parent a small child, nurture a marriage, and host multiple podcasts, she is also an extraordinary book author.

Her writing is so engaging that even though the cases she writes about are in the past, she has the singular ability to grasp the reader’s attention and make them feel as if they are experiencing the action while it is happening.

I knew that as soon as I finished reading KILLER STORY, I would, through the power of on-demand television, be re-watching the 48 Hours episodes that Claire produced with newly opened eyes and a much greater appreciation of how much time and effort went into creating those single, hour long episodes of the storied True Crime powerhouse that is 48 Hours.

I think it is important, as a True Crime fan, reader, and book reviewer to point out that KILLER STORY doesn’t just recap the crimes and the reporting of each. It is Clair’s humanity that makes this book so engaging. It is her raw, unfiltered and honest portrayal of the toll it takes on those who are repeatedly subjected to viewing the worst of humanity that drew me into her story.

In her writing, Claire pulls no punches and opens reader’s eyes to the truth, whether they want it or not.

Will this book make some of Claire’s colleagues angry? Undoubtedly. However, though they may not like how they are portrayed, it is my humble opinion that if they don’t like what they read about themselves, they should think deeply about whether or not Claire’s portrayal of them is honest. If they don’t like reading certain things about themselves, maybe, just maybe, they should try to change their ways now that their eyes have been opened as to how they are perceived by colleagues. The smart ones will recognize the need for change and acknowledge the honesty of Claire’s portrayal of them. The others? They will act hurt and deny the truth. Hopefully, most of them will use this assessment of their behaviors as a wake-up call. I also believe (and I have no proof of this, not even a hint) that Claire could easily have sunk to the level of other memoirists and could have detailed even more shenanigans than she has written about. Instead, she chose to return to the crime stories, allowing readers unfettered access to how each case affected her in both the short and long-term.

KILLER STORY is peppered throughout with fascinating detail about the ins and outs of this popular genre.

I rate KILLER STORY: The Truth Behind True Crime Television as 5 out of 5 stars and if you are fan of True Crime TV, this is a book you will want in your home library.

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Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free review copy of this fabulous book.

I consume a lot of true crime content (too much probably) documentaries, podcasts, live court proceedings, dateline, 20/20 and 48hrs so to say I might be this authors target audience is an understatement. I was already familiar with the majority of cases discussed in the book but that was fine because this is more about the mechanics of the ‘story’ and process of print and tv journalism and producing.
I really appreciated how we started when Claire was already into her career and we didn’t have to skim through 3 chapters of her childhood and life story.
The book is well paced and felt like a real window into how cut throat and hard tv true crime journalism is.
Claire will chase a juror after deliberation, speak with suspected or convicted killers, use her baby bump to help her get an interview and while it might feel crass I can see it wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for people like me consuming the content.
Claire often calls the victims families or friends ‘characters’ which feels detached from the substance of what she’s writing about but I can see how that could happen after covering so many horrific crimes over so many years.
I think after reading the book to say Claire is tenacious, hard working and has a nose for an exceptional story would be an understatement and I look forward to anything else she brings out.

I would recommend this audiobook to library patrons who are interested in true crime podcasts and documentaries, such as 48 Hours and Dateline. Claire St. Amant, the author and narrator, is a former 48 Hours producer who has her own true crime podcast. She does an excellent job of narrating and the stories she shared gave great behind-the-scenes insight into how these true crime programs are made.

This audiobook wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I was drawn in by the description as I love true crime shows and podcasts. I don't know if I will look at them the same after I found out what goes on behind the scenes. The audiobook started out a bit slow, but it improved its pacing through the middle and by the end.

I'm conflicted on this because I am a huge true crime junkie but this book was not really what I was expecting. I thought it would be more about true crime but it really revolves more around office politics and the sometimes unethical methods of getting a news story. I think if you are interested in journalism or the makings of true crime television, this could be the book for you. She goes into a little detail of some cases but I not enough to get the whole picture. I would have to research the cases to learn more. I do like the points in the book where she talks about how reporting on crime all the time has taken a toll on her mental health. I thought that was really interesting and not something I've seen talked about enough.

This is a thrilling and personal memoir of journalist and true crime show producer Claire St. Amant, narrated by the woman herself, in text and audio form. This is less about the crimes themselves and more about how St. Amant has navigated a winding and challenging career through television as a journalist and a woman. I loved to hear about the clever trick she learned, including those through happenstance (pregnancy bumps have various uses). At the same time, I felt that there were bits and pieces missing ... probably to avoid being sued or simply rocking the boat too much. The author very lightly touches on mental health and #metoo moments, suggesting deeper issues lurking in her story (and likely many others). I was also a bit wary about how little reflection she has about being a journalist in true crime, trailing citizens and pushing her way into the lives of the bereaved or those she can use to catch even the hint of a scoop. Then again, that's the name of the game.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this memoir/true crime story, written and narrated by Claire St. Amant. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Claire spent almost a decade in network television covering the biggest true crime stories for 48 Hours and 60 Minutes. In this book, she details how she got there, the cases she covered, and the toll it took on her psyche.

This was a fascinating look behind the curtain of all those true crime stories I have watched for decades. Besides going over the cases, it was fascinating to see how these shows develop and get produced, and the race against the clock to beat the competition. The story of how she almost got indicted for a felony was unbelievable as well. I appreciated that the author narrated her story, feeling that it adds a more personal touch. If you're a true crime junkie, this book is for you.

Huge thanks to BenBella Publications and Claire St. Amant for the advance listening copy!

Killer Story is an absolutely fascinating deep dive into the world of true crime television production. Claire St. Amant pulls back the curtain on what it takes to create those gripping, hour-long episodes that keep viewers glued to their screens. From the meticulous research to the ethical dilemmas and behind-the-scenes chaos, her firsthand experiences make for a compelling listen.

The audiobook format made this even more engaging. Hearing these stories told aloud added an extra layer of intensity—some moments were downright chilling, while others shed light on the challenges and responsibilities of bringing true crime stories to the public. The narrator did a fantastic job capturing the tone, making the experience feel immersive and fast-paced.

As someone with a background in journalism, I found this particularly fascinating. St. Amant’s insights into investigative storytelling were both eye-opening and inspiring, and I was completely hooked from start to finish. If you love true crime, media industry deep dives, or just a well-told, behind-the-scenes story, this is one to add to your listening list!