Crime

Things You Should Know But Don’t: Early Signs of a Killer
Posted July 17, 2023 Written by Claire

Often times when the FBI is looking for a serial killer, they will begin building a criminal profile to help […]

A man in a suit against a dark background holding a playing card up towards the camera. It is the ace of hearts.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: The Calling Cards of Killers
Posted April 10, 2023 Written by Claire

While “calling card” has a context in crime, the term has its origins in an 18th century social practice. Often, […]

A man in a business suit holding a blank masquerade mask
Things You Should Know But Don’t: Copycat Killers
Posted March 27, 2023 Written by Claire

You’ve undoubtedly heard the term “copycat killer.” It’s often used as a popular trope in crime dramas and police procedurals […]

Dark photo of a female detective looking at a cork board. On the board there are notes and newspaper clippings.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: The Golden Age of Serial Killers
Posted January 16, 2023 Written by Claire

John Wayne Gacy. Jeffrey Dahmer. Ted Bundy. The Zodiac Killer. Son of Sam. Even people who don’t actively seek out […]

Dark wooden cellar door open at bottom of old stone stairs bright sun light rays shining in
Things You Should Know But Don’t: America’s First Serial Killer
Posted September 26, 2022 Written by Claire

The period from 1970 until the late 1990s is popularly known as the “Golden Age” of serial killers in the […]

A shadowy vampire showing their fangs on a dark background
Things You Should Know But Don’t: The New Orleans Vampires
Posted August 15, 2022 Written by Claire

My newest novel, Blood on the Bayou, is centered in New Orleans, one of the most unique cultures in the […]

A black and white image of balconies in the French Quarter of New Orleans with plants hanging off of them.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: The Axeman of New Orleans
Posted July 4, 2022 Written by Claire

From May 1918 to October 1919, the people of New Orleans found themselves terrorized by a serial killer who became […]

Detective board with photos of suspected criminals, crime scenes and evidence with red threads
Things You Should Know But Don’t: Digital Detectives Part 2
Posted January 17, 2022 Written by Claire

My last blog covered some of the basics of a phenomena often referred to as “crowdsourced investigations”, a reference to […]

An illustration of a magnifying glass with a fingerprint in the middle. It is on a black background with red and blue binary and digital effects.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: Digital Detectives Part 1
Posted January 3, 2022 Written by Claire

True crime as a genre has been captivating audiences for the better part of the last decade. While true crime […]

A hand reaching out from a dark background holding a red marker. They are using the marker to draw a red circle around a group of white icons representing people. Other faded icons of people appear in the background.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: The Serial Killer Algorithm
Posted November 8, 2021 Written by Claire

The idea of technology and machines making some jobs easier- or even obsolete- is not a new concept. It’s been […]