The Best Research Tools for Crime Writers
Whether you write thrillers, horror novels, or even cozy mysteries, creating stories centered on death and destruction can get a little… well, dark. In the name of accuracy, writers of crime fiction and other “dark” genres find themselves pondering subjects that others prefer to avoid, from the decomposition process of human bodies to the least traceable types of poison. The result is often a Google search history that would land even the purest of souls on any number of government lists.
Technological surveillance aside, sometimes the bit of info you’re searching for is so specific or obscure that Google doesn’t quite do the trick. But with targeted resources like the ones I’ve listed here, you can spend less time scrolling through search results and more time applying real-world knowledge to your fictional crime or investigation. Keep reading to learn more about some of the best research resources for mystery, thriller, horror, and crime fiction writers.
The Legal System
The Marshall Project: Through The Marshall Project’s in-depth reporting and first-person narratives on the criminal legal system, you can learn more about a range of subjects, such as updates in forensic science, what it’s like to be a corrections officer, how the bail system works, and more.
The Innocence Project: Wrongful convictions are a very real aspect of the American legal system, and the Innocence Project highlights systemic issues that contribute to the miscarriage of justice, from forensic techniques that have been debunked or misapplied to interrogation methods that commonly result in false confessions.
National Legal Aid and Defender Association: Writing a character who is or is represented by a public defender? The National Legal Aid and Defender Association offers an overview of how legal aid works, standards defenders must adhere to, and a database of research on location-specific civil legal aid programs.
National Archive of Criminal Justice Data: When you want to learn more about specific types of crime, from the demographics of offenders or victims to the intricacies of the sentencing process, this database is the place to look. It has more than 3,100 curated studies and data sets on policing, corrections, courts, and crimes.
Weapons, Death, and Bodies
Harvard Injury Control Research Center: Look here for peer-reviewed research on topics related to firearms and gun violence, such as proper gun storage and the use of firearms for self defense. The website even includes a page on “bad science” refuting some common misconceptions about guns.
National Capital Poison Center: This resource offers detailed information on common household items that can cause serious illness or death and the symptoms they elicit, as well as how to help someone if they’ve ingested something that may be poisonous.
Autopsy Files: Though it doesn’t score many points for presentation, this website does offer a robust collection of autopsy files and death certificates that have been made public. Most belong to famous people like John Denver and Natalie Wood, but it also includes some documents related to high-profile crimes involving ordinary people.
Law Enforcement Procedures
FBI Handbook of Forensic Services: This handbook, updated in 2019, breaks down the FBI’s procedures for forensic investigation in detail, including maintaining a chain of custody, examining different types of evidence, securing a crime scene, and more.
Crime Scene Investigator Network: On this website, you’ll find a comprehensive collection of articles and videos about best practices for crime scene investigation, as well as what type of training and education it takes to become a crime scene investigator.
Interpol: If your fictional crime involves crossing borders, Interpol’s website has tons of useful information on how the international force operates, from officer training and forensic techniques to fugitive investigations and border control.
Historical Information
National Archives: The National Archives’ online catalog has a wealth of primary source material to sift through, from PDFs and periodicals to maps and photographs. This is the place to look for things like immigration records, historical police manuals, letters, prison orders — you name it. (And if you can’t find something there, most states also have their own archives with digital collections.)
Library of Congress: For historical fiction writers, few resources can compare to archival newspapers, and the Library of Congress has a collection of more than 15 million pages from newspapers published between 1789 and 1963 available to browse online. Simply search for the years or period in which your story is set, and you’re sure to find a few headline-making crimes.
Historical Crime Detective: Created by a crime writer, this website profiles lesser-known cases from throughout history, providing plenty of inspiration and some helpful details around how crimes were discussed and investigated in days gone by.
Though online resources can be incredibly useful and convenient, I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention that sometimes speaking directly to an expert is the best way to go! If you’ve scoured the internet and still can’t find what you’re looking for, consider reaching out to a university researcher (many colleges publish lists of experts who are available to talk to the media/public), scheduling a ride-along with a law enforcement officer, or chatting with your local historical society or librarian about how to find what you need.
The information is out there — now go forth and research with confidence!
