Check out these posts by Mitzi Szereto and her book Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns
True Crime, Small Towns and Me
It seems like only yesterday when my debut true crime book The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers was published. Now here we are, roughly three quarters of a year later and living in a very different world. Be that as it may, I’ve continued to toil away in my true crime workshop in order to bring you The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns, the second volume in my original anthology series.
Does it sound like I’m developing a true crime franchise here? The answer is yes!
I’ve been asked, “Why small towns?” Well, many of us have an idealised image of small towns. Modern life, particularly in urban areas, make us pine for a simpler and less frenetic lifestyle – one in which we don’t have to keep looking over our shoulders to see who’s creeping up behind us, harbouring ill intentions. Safe and friendly are qualities frequently associated with small-town living. But like so many things in life, the reality is often very different. Perhaps the small-town ideal is simply a myth. Because even the most “perfect” small town likely has something sinister lurking beneath the surface – and when it’s freed, watch out! It’s easy to assume that this is just another unfortunate result of living in today’s world (and there is definitely truth to that), but as some of the accounts in this book will show, things weren’t so pristine and wholesome in the past either.
It was a pleasure to work with so many fine writers from all over the world – the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Latin America, Australia, and the Caribbean. In fact, the stories in the book are as international as the writers. Contributors in this collection include Alexandra Burt, Christian Cipollini, Edward Butts, Tom Larsen, Mark Fryers, Anthony Ferguson, Deirdre Pirro, Joe Turner, C L Raven, Charlotte Platt, Stephen Wade, Iris Leona Marie Cross, Paul Williams, David Brasfield and, of course, me! Each story has been written specifically for this anthology – these are not reprints. We have true crime accounts from small towns in California, the Pacific Northwest, the American South, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Italy, Ecuador, and Trinidad. Which only goes to show that small towns, regardless of what country they’re in, are not immune when it comes to crime, especially crime of the deadlier kind.
Over the next few months I’ll be chatting with my contributors in special Facebook Live Events, which will stream to my author PAGE. These videos will also be available for later viewing, and posted on my WEBSITE (along with some random mugshots). We had a fantastic time doing these live streaming events for the previous book, The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers. If you missed any and would like to catch up with these exclusive writer chats, you can do so HERE.
Mitzi Szereto – True Crime Stories – Small Towns
Mitzi Szereto has done all the work for us as she compiles the many, and I say again MANY gruesome accounts of true stories. This book highlights some of the small towns around the world and tells us the facts of the crimes, especially highlighting serial killers. These are the ones that do not make the big headlines, as they are in small communities everywhere. She visits the sights and walks in the same paths as they do. Taking notes and visiting with locals of the area to give their insight.
Somewhere in our upbringing, we are told that big cities are where all the crime is, especially murder. Well, read this and find out the truth of that statement. As Mitzi goes from sight to sight, she fills us in on the background, the chase, and the final results of legal action.