From Yara to the monster of Florence, here are five Italian books that tell true stories of crimes, between psychological analysis, journalistic investigations and social reflections.
The True Crime It is now a global cultural phenomenon that has conquered millions of fans all over the world, thanks to its unique ability to intertwine realities and narrative. Documentaries, podcasts, TV series and books that tell stories of real crimes have recorded exponential growth in recent years, revealing a profound interest in psychological, social and investigative dynamics behind the black news events. This genre stands out for its evocative force, in fact it is not limited to telling the crimes, but investigates the contexts, the victims and the culprits, stimulating a wider reflection on the limits of society and human nature.
The True Crime in Italy: data and context
Also in Italy the True Crime has conquered an growing audience, partly stimulated by the real increase in certain criminal phenomena. According to the official data of the Ministry of the Interior relating to 2022, there was an increase of 4.9% of the crimes reported compared to the pre-plays, with significant peaks in large cities such as Milan and Rome. In particular, thefts, robberies and violent crimes, often at the center of the True Crime stories, show a growth that feeds the interest of the public towards these black news stories. The notoriety of some Italian cases has contributed to spreading this genre also in our country, giving life to a real movement of fans and scholars.
True Crime between entertainment and social reflection
The success of the True Crime lies in its dual nature: on the one hand it offers suspense and emotional involvement typical of the thriller, on the other it urges a wider reflection on human and social fragility. The fascination for these stories stems from the desire to understand evil, to investigate the mechanisms that lead to extreme gestures and to give voice to the forgotten victims.
In Italy, as in the rest of the world, the True Crime is not only entertainment, but also a tool that stimulates civil awareness, inviting to deal with problems of justice, security and collective memory.
