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Most recently published stories in Criminal.
Most Anticipated Mystery Novels of 2018
Speaking as a writer, there's something both respectable and awe-striking about the kind of author who can write a book that people look forward to reading. It's doubly true when it comes to crime, thriller, and mystery novels because of how easy it is to fall into a Scooby Doo type of writing trap.
By Cato Conroy8 years ago in Criminal
Parents Who Kill Their Children
Elise and Harry Donnison were murdered by their mother, Fiona Donnison, in 2010. She smothered them while they were sleeping with their own pillows. The reason? To get back at her husband for leaving her and starting a new relationship. Forensic Science International published a study based on three decades of filicide (child killing) events between 1976 and 2007. In the United States, these crimes occur at the rate of 500 a year. Victims of parental murder were usually under six years of age (72 percent). One-third of those cases were babies under a year old. In fact, a baby is in the greatest danger of being killed on the very day it is born. There are five recognized motives behind filicide:
By Monica Bennett8 years ago in Criminal
The Known and the Unknown
It was a humid day in June when Luna Smithers decided she wanted to have ice cream with her boyfriend of one year, Luis Martinez, at his house. She pulled up to his house in her powder blue Corvette. She noticed that his car was the only one in the driveway, so his family must have recently left because they were there when she called. She took a breath and stepped out of the car, taking the tubs of ice cream out with her. As her black strappy sandals hit the ground, she got a feeling in her stomach. It felt like flutters, but not of butterflies, more like the rugged wings of moths who are searching for the light of day after years of darkness. She doesn't know why she had this bad feeling about being here since she is actually here often. She shakes it off, her long chocolate brown curls swinging right along with her head. She goes up to the red wooden door, with the seemingly menacing bull door knocker looking her directly into her eyes, and she texts Luis to come to the door.
By Tiana Covington8 years ago in Criminal
Best True Crime Books of 2018
Are the best Criminal Minds episodes on repeat just not cutting it anymore? Have you already finished Mindhunter and all TV shows similar to Mindhunter? I know the feeling. I don't know what it is, but anything related to serial killers or true crime is a must-watch in my book. Maybe that says something about me... Oh well, best to ignore it.
By Jesse Kinney8 years ago in Criminal
Must Read Murder Mystery Novels
If there's one genre of thriller that is as old as time, it's the classic murder mystery "whodunit" novels. It's easy to see why. There's just something absolutely gripping about trying to figure who did the deed, and how that odd morbid curiosity tends to make things even more appealing.
By Buddy Brown8 years ago in Criminal
Criminals: Where Are They Now?
They achieved notoriety through their crimes. We were privy to every moment of their lives when they were arrested, became media sensations, and were tried and convicted. These criminals paid their debt to society and then got out of jail. What happened after prison?
By Monica Bennett8 years ago in Criminal
Are Prisons Effective?. Top Story - April 2018.
To diminish crime, what should we do? Should we throw the criminal in prison so that when they get out, they will think twice before committing another crime? Having criminals in prison keeps them off our streets, which makes society feel safe. But is prison the only solution for preventing crime? Or is there an alternative to it? Research has shown that prison is not effective, as it does not reduce crime, despite placing criminals in prison. It may be that offenders are encouraged to reoffend after finishing their sentence. However, do they reoffend because of what they are surrounded by, more crime? What causes criminals to step forward and end their lives in prison? A tragic trend which has increased in recent years.
By Krishna Bhandari8 years ago in Criminal
Top Classic True Crime Books You Must Read
True crime will always be one of the most popular genres to involve real history. It's dramatic, morbid, extreme, and always manages to show sides of humanity that we don't always see. This genre also tends to be one of the scariest out there, simply because it's 100 percent real and actually has happened.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Criminal
The First One
The Last One I sat at the table, waiting patiently for the cop to walk in. For the questions to start. Why did I do it? How many? When, where, what time? I wasn’t afraid. I knew what I’d done. I knew it was wrong. I knew none of them deserved it. That it should have been him, and only him. But when it came to him, I couldn’t. The interrogator walked in then. He was tall, handsome, clean shaven, had unmistakable green eyes, a confident stride, as if he knew exactly what he was doing. His hair was long for a man but not too long and he never looked at the ground, always straight at me. Straight into my piercing grey eyes. Making sure I knew he was in charge, not me. I had no control. I turned myself in, making it clear I was putting my life in their hands.
By Alyssa Martin8 years ago in Criminal
Real Life Detectives
MARY DOYLE Often described as a feisty redhead, Mary Doyle is the Chief Superintendent of Britain's Manchester Police Force. Doyle joined the force at age twenty and has had a celebrated career of 24 years so far. She has tread a path that few women in this country have been able to. Manchester is a large city, with the problems of all big cities. Doyle will now be firmly butting heads with organized crime. Manchester has between 27 and 40 of them. She was involved in the investigation into the murder of Indian student, Anuj Bidve, which made international news. Bidve's murderer, Kiaran Stapleton, gave his name as "Psycho Stapelton" at one of his hearings. Doyle found his sentence of 30 years without parole to be "satisfying." It was a high-pressure case and her response to being chosen to investigate it was “They knew that because of the circumstances of it and the potential impact it could go worldwide and would be in the international spotlight, so they wanted someone reasonably qualified." Mary was also involved in the investigation of Dale Cregan who murdered a criminal father and son, and two police officers as well. Doyle has taken over a hornet's nest of controversy after some high profile blunders under her predecessor, but she is resolved to bring greater consistency to how police departments deal with cases.
By Monica Bennett8 years ago in Criminal
Escape
You walked in and my world stopped. Not in the good way that you'd think. Not because I was so in love with you that setting my eyes on you once again would make me melt in your presence. It stopped, because I had finally escaped you and now... now you found me. You didn't lay your eyes on me yet as I pressed myself into the booth of the diner. You were slowly looking around and I knew if I make a dash for it at that moment, I would be caught for sure. I glanced around for a low key escape route, every other glance I would look at you. Your face slowly started to reach my section, I could see the scowl on your face and eyebrows furrowed as you concentrated, searching for me. I only had a matter of seconds before you'd finally see me. Desperately, I slid under the table out of sight from at least where you were standing. I took a few deep breaths and closed my eyes, focusing on the sounds around me, trying to calm myself down. Through the clinking of silverware on plates, lively chatter, and sizzling of the grill, I hear you, your footsteps as they approach my table. I quickly open my eyes and see your shadow from the sun shining through the window come into view. I tuck my feet as close to my body as possible, hoping that you didn't know I was there. As you slowly passed by my table, I could feel my shoulders get less tense and I knew I had to make a run for it. I got down on my knees and peaked out to see where you were, to make sure I had enough time to make it to my car and go. You were still strolling down the aisle slowly. I quickly slid myself out from under the table and ran towards the door, not looking back. I ran quickly to my car, unlocking it as I scurried through the parking lot. I heard the diner door open and shut quickly and fast footsteps behind me. As I reached my car I swung open the door and threw myself in before slamming the door shut and locking it. I placed the key in the ignition and started the engine, quickly throwing my car into reverse and backing out, hoping no one was behind me. I backed out and started racing through the parking lot. When I reached the exit, I saw you for the last time standing in the middle of the only way in/out of the parking lot, smirking at me. I knew in your head you were thinking that you had won, because you always did in the past, that I wouldn't dare hit you with my car, even if that meant going back to your hurtful hands and harsh words. I wouldn't do it because I am weak, a coward, stupid, but you were awfully wrong. I slowly lifted my foot off the break and before even blinking I slammed my foot on the gas and accelerated forward. You didn't have time to think before the front end of my car came crashing into your body, throwing you over my car and onto the asphalt. With tears in my eyes, I was the only one smiling now as I sped out of the parking lot.
By Skyler Blasingame8 years ago in Criminal
