True crime

True crime is a genre of non-fiction work in which an author examines a crime, including detailing the actions of people associated with and affected by the crime, and investigating the perpetrator's motives. True crime works often deal with violent crimes such as murders and serial killers, including high-profile cases (such as JonBenét Ramsey, O. J. Simpson, and Pamela Smart), and more obscure or unsolved cases that the author wishes to bring wider attention to. A true crime work may use either a journalistic style with a focus on known facts, or a speculative style with a larger focus on the author's personal conclusions regarding a crime.

True crime has taken the form of various forms of media, including literature such as magazines and books, television series and documentaries (which may sometimes feature dramatized scenes of the crime based on published accounts), and digital media such as podcasts and internet video. A true crime series may be structured as an anthology of stories focusing on different cases, or cover a single case in a serialized format. True crime podcasts experienced a major growth in popularity in the mid-2010s, with Serial setting listenership records, and the genre as a whole having seen long-term gains in overall listenership. True crime works have been particularly popular among women.

True crime has been credited with helping to increase interest in crime among the general public, while decreasing trust in the criminal justice system. Some true crime series have impacted the perceptions to specific cases among the public and authorities. The genre has faced criticism for often relying on sensationalism and shock value, with concerns that true crime works are disrespectful to crime victims and their families, may emphasize specific points over others in order to suit an author's preferred narrative or opinion, or may contain fictionalized content.