One great book is 'Sharp Objects' by Gillian Flynn. It features a complex female character with some disturbing tendencies. Another is 'American Psycho' which also has a female character with rather dark and violent aspects in its story. And 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' has a female character, Lisbeth Salander, who has a very dark past and is capable of extreme actions in certain situations.
One of the best is 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It features the infamous Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant and terrifying serial killer. His psychological games with Clarice Starling are captivating. Another great one is 'American Psycho' by Bret Easton Ellis, which delves into the mind of a wealthy and deranged killer in the 1980s. And 'Red Dragon' also by Thomas Harris is excellent, introducing the character of Francis Dolarhyde, a serial killer with a complex and disturbing backstory.
One great fictional serial killer book is 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It features the infamous Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant and terrifying psychiatrist who is also a serial killer. His interactions with FBI trainee Clarice Starling are both chilling and fascinating.
For mystery lovers, 'American Psycho' is a must - read. The mystery lies in trying to fully understand the mind of Patrick Bateman, the serial killer. His actions are so extreme and his dual life is so well - hidden that it's like peeling back layers of an onion to figure out what's really going on. Also, 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' has a great mystery surrounding the serial killer on an island. Lisbeth Salander's investigation into the case is full of surprises.
'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' by Michelle McNamara is a good choice. It's a non - fictional account that reads like a fictional thriller. It focuses on the hunt for the Golden State Killer. It's well - written and easy to follow for those new to this genre.
I would say 'The Bone Collector' is a great fictional serial killer book. The way the detective, despite his physical limitations, tries to solve the case is really inspiring. And 'Darkly Dreaming Dexter' is unique as it makes you root for a serial killer in a strange way. He has his own code of ethics which makes the story very interesting.
One great book is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. It features a complex female character with some very disturbing and manipulative tendencies that border on serial - killer - like behavior in terms of her psychological warfare against her husband. Another is 'Sharp Objects' also by Flynn, where the main character uncovers the dark secrets of her small town, and there are female characters with some seriously twisted motives. And 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' has Lisbeth Salander, a complex and somewhat vengeful character who has her own brand of justice, which could be related to the idea of a female serial killer in a more abstract way.
Some might like 'My Sister, the Serial Killer' by Oyinkan Braithwaite. This book offers a unique perspective as it's about a woman dealing with her sister who is a serial killer. It's a darkly humorous take on the subject. 'The Silence of the Lambs' also has elements related to female serial killers, with the character of Buffalo Bill and the strong female lead in Clarice Starling. Additionally, 'The Ice Twins' has a female character with a very mysterious and potentially murderous past that unfolds throughout the story.
First, you need to give them a unique and disturbing backstory. Something that shapes their twisted mindset. Also, think about their motives - what drives them to commit those heinous acts?
The novel 'The Girl on the Train' can also be considered in this category. The female lead's alcohol - induced blackouts and her obsession with a couple she watches from the train lead to a complex web of mystery and death. It shows how a woman can be involved in a series of events that seem like the actions of a serial killer in a sense of being an unreliable narrator with a dark side.