Not sure what the criteria are, but I can recommend two books - BURIED DREAMS by Tim Cahill, about John Wayne Gacy, probably the most frightening true-life account of a serial killer I've ever read, and HOMICIDE by David Simon, about a year on the streets with Baltimore detectives - the TV series was based on it and it gives a really intimate view of the detective's mentality.

There are several non-fiction books on the Black Dahlia murder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_dahlia The 2006 Brian de Palma movie was based on the 1987 James Ellroy novel by the same name, inspired by those true events. For a well-written non-fiction book on a kidnapping, I recommend Gabriel Garcia Marquez' News of a Kidnapping.

Thank you, Shirley and David, for your recommendations. Here is the list so far: Black Dahlia murder - There are several non-fiction books on the Black Dahlia murder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_dahlia . The 2006 Brian de Palma movie was based on the 1987 James Ellroy novel by the same name, inspired by those true events. Buried Dreams by Tim Cahill, about John Wayne Gacy, probably the most frightening true-life account of a serial killer I’ve ever read Homicide by David Simon, about a year on the streets with Baltimore detectives – the TV series was based on it and it gives a really intimate view of the detective’s mentality. News of a Kidnapping by Gabriel Garcia Marquez for a well-written non-fiction book on a kidnapping