I have always been a fan of reading true crime books. I love reading about Jack the Ripper (and have done a couple of the walking tours), I find the Krays interesting and serial killers fascinating. It is hard to believe how some of these people can do the things they do and the reasoning behind their crimes will always make very interesting reading. But these crimes are mostly in big cities where a lot of people think things are unsafe. Now Mitzi Szereto has compiled a book of true crime stories featuring murder stories, criminal case studies, and more with a difference, they have all happened in small towns around the world, in places that would normally be considered a safe place to live.
“Mitzi Szereto is an author and anthology editor whose books encompass genres ranging from true crime and crime fiction, gothic fiction, and horror, to cosy mystery, satire, sci-fi/fantasy, erotic fiction, and general fiction and non-fiction. Some of her many popular titles include The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers, Florida Gothic, and Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts. She has the distinction of editing the first anthology of erotica to include a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Mitzi has appeared internationally on radio and television and at major literature festivals, and has taught creative writing around the world. She created and presented the London-based web TV channel Mitzi TV, and plays herself in the pseudo-documentary British film Lint: The Movie. Her blog of personal essays can be found at Errant Ramblings: Mitzi Szereto’s Weblog.”
The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns, by Mitzi Szereto, is a collection of 15 true crime stories written by 15 different authors (including one by Mitzi Szereto herself). It spans over 100 years of crime across 4 continents including the US and UK. It has been compiled and edited by Mitzi Szereto to bring a fascinating look at small town crime – and we are not talking about littering or bad parking, but gruesome murders.
When we think of small towns we think of nice and pretty towns and villages with friendly people and a safe and secure place to live, but this new book shows that they are anything but and can be just as deadly as bigger cities.
The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns features stories of brutal murder, spree killings and quiet, unassuming murders that are still unsolved. The crimes featured in this book have all happened in small towns and cover a range of reasons from revenge and vengeance to profiteering.
Overall, I found this to be a very interesting and fascinating read. As a lover of true crime this anthology of stories is a fascinating read and at times quite shocking. The stories have been well-researched with excellent attention to detail and has been put together very well to give a chilling insight into small town murder. Do you know if your neighbour is eating his friends?
If you live in a small town where you consider it safe to leave you doors and windows unlocked as terrible things only happen in the cities, after reading this you may just think again and start locking up at night. Your wholesome and safe perception of small town life will be shattered after reading this book. Small towns are safer? This book will show that they are not – according to the FBI, small towns have a higher rate of violence than their city cousins.
The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns is a fascinating read of excellent, detailed true stories (some of which are gruesome and unpleasant reading, but all true) that will grab the attention of any true crime aficionado. A shocking collection of stories of true crime that have happened in countries on four continents over 100 years and how some of these crimes have seen changes in the law in different countries, especially regarding guns.
Each author has their own style of writing and the mix is very interesting, keeping the stories flowing without being a similar story throughout the book. The stories are fairly short, focusing on the facts and possible reasons why that happened, making a quick and fascinating shocking read. The “About the Contributors” section at the back of the book is a good addition, giving you a short snippet about each author.
Definitely a book for any true crime reader. A detailed, well researched and well put together collection.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £16.95 (Paperback / Kindle / Audiobook)
For more information, visit mitziszereto.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
