Sword and Scale is a must-listen podcast for fans of true crime everywhere. Covering some of the most heartbreaking and tragic murder cases in modern history, the show’s host Mike Boudet clearly knows a thing or two about great true crime stories. As part of our True Crime Podcaster cast of Guest Editors this month, Mike let us in on the true crime books he’s currently loving.

A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic’s Wild Ride to the Edge and Back by Kevin Hazzard

This book is not necessarily “true-crime” but quite close… it is one of my all-time favorite books. Kevin was a paramedic in central Atlanta (which is known for its unspoken violent underbelly of criminal activity). The things he’s seen and the way he fleshes out his stories are the stuff of nightmares. However, they happen to be very real.

This is another amazing book that sits just outside of the “True-Crime” genre but also has strong ties to it and shares the same morbid fascination. It’s about a forensic pathologist’s experiences, and it describes every single gruesome detail.

A Small Shadow for Small Ghosts: Murder and Memory in an American City by Laura Tillman

Now if you want a real true-crime book, A Small Shadow for Small Ghosts will quench your thirst. But I warn you… prepare yourself. I’ve never gotten so emotional reading a book before. It’s beautifully and poetically written, but it is sharply vivid and doesn’t sugarcoat. You’re going to see some very disturbing things in your mind’s eye while reading this book, and you will never be able to unsee them. Proceed at your own calculated risk.

Want more book recommendations from Mike and the Sword and Scale team? Visit their website now!

(feature image courtesy of Mike’s YouTube Channel; designed by She Reads)