Camilla Jessen
Their books captivated audiences. But behind the gripping stories were darker truths.
They write books that captivate us. But some of these stories were more than just fiction. Behind the scenes, their authors had criminal records, secrets, and lives that could rival any thriller.
Some wrote after committing their crimes. Others were already publishing before the truth came out.
Some processed their guilt, others turned themselves into icons.
These 10 authors show just how thin the line between reality and storytelling can be—and they raise the question: can we really separate the work from the person?
1. Jack Unterweger
The poster boy of criminal authors. Convicted in 1974 for murdering an 18-year-old prostitute, he began writing in prison. His book Purgatory: A Journey to Prison became a literary success, prompting public figures to call for his release.
Freed in 1985, he worked as a journalist—even reporting on crimes while committing new ones. Between 1990 and 1992, he murdered 11 more women across Europe and the US.
In 1994, he was sentenced to life in prison. He hanged himself the night after his conviction.
2. Issei Sagawa
A name more associated with horror than literature.
In 1981, while studying at the Sorbonne, he murdered and cannibalized fellow student Renée Hartevelt. French authorities declared him mentally unfit to stand trial.
Deported to Japan in 1984, legal loopholes led to his release.
He went on to write books, paint, and appear on TV. Despite showing little remorse, he became a bizarre media figure until his death in 2022.
3. William Burroughs
One of the Beat Generation’s most famous authors, Burroughs accidentally shot his wife Joan Vollmer in 1951 during a drunken “William Tell” game.
The event haunted him and influenced his writing, which often dealt with drugs, alienation, and violence.
4. Anne Perry (Juliet Hulme)
Now a bestselling British crime author, Anne Perry was once Juliet Hulme—a teenager who, along with her friend Pauline Parker, murdered Pauline’s mother in 1954.
The case shocked New Zealand and made global headlines.
Perry served five years, then started a new life in England.
Her past remained a secret until the 1990s, when it resurfaced, but she continued her writing career despite controversy.
5. Jack Henry Abbott
Convicted of murder, Abbott began writing in prison.
His letters reached author Norman Mailer, who supported his release.
In 1981, he was freed—and just six weeks later, he stabbed a man to death in New York.
His story became a symbol of rehabilitation gone wrong. He was re-arrested and spent the rest of his life behind bars, where he continued writing, including In the Belly of the Beast.
6. Michael Peterson
In 2001, Peterson’s wife was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. He was later convicted of her murder, though he reached a plea deal in 2017.
His case gained global attention through the documentary The Staircase.
Once a writer and professor, Peterson now continues to publish, but his reputation is forever marked by the case.
7. Edward Bunker
At 17, Bunker was locked up in San Quentin. A life of armed robbery and crime led to 18 years behind bars—but also to a writing career.
His novel No Beast So Fierce was later adapted into Straight Time starring Dustin Hoffman.
Bunker even acted in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs as Mr. Blue.
8. Jean Genet
Jean Genet was born in Paris in 1910 – illegitimate, given up for adoption, and uprooted at an early age. A thief, vagabond, and prisoner, he began writing in jail.
His books, like Notre-Dame-des-Fleurs, turned criminals into saints and rebels into icons.
His criminal past wasn’t hidden—it defined his work and worldview.
9. Krystian Bala
The Polish author’s debut novel Amok drew attention not just for its violent content, but for how closely it mirrored a real murder.
Police connected him to the 2000 killing of businessman Dariusz Janiszewski. Bala had sold the victim’s phone and included disturbing details in his book.
IEmails and sadistic comments sealed his fate. He was sentenced in 2007 to 25 years. He continues to claim innocence.
10. Albert Nussbaum
A skilled bank robber and writer, Nussbaum committed over a dozen heists between 1960 and 1962.
He wrote even while on the run, using his time in hiding to draft stories.
After his arrest, he continued to publish from prison and later advised TV writers on crime realism.
The article is based on information from Esquire.
