True crime has never been hotter, and in 2025, the genre’s grip on our imaginations is tighter than ever. From podcasts to docuseries, we’re hooked on unsolved mysteries, shadowy figures, and the chilling question: what really happened?
If you are curious about mysteries, here is a roundup of the best true crime mysteries to date. These cases keep you guessing, including one that’s too wild to ignore, straight from the pages of How to a Kill a President: Colt the Smoking Gun, Volume 1 and 2 by Colt Donaldson.
First up: the Zodiac Killer. Decades after terrorizing Northern California in the late ’60s, this cipher-loving psychopath remains unidentified, his taunting letters a puzzle unsolved. Then there’s D.B. Cooper, the dapper hijacker who parachuted into legend with $200,000 in 1971, vanishing without a trace. Both are classics—elusive, maddening, and perfect for late-night theorizing.
Next, the Black Dahlia. Elizabeth Short’s 1947 murder in Los Angeles, her body bisected and posed, is a haunting blend of Hollywood glamour and grisly violence. No one’s cracked it despite countless suspects. Closer to today, Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 death in a Manhattan cell—suicide or silencing?—spawns endless speculation, with his Lolita Express logs naming the rich and powerful. These cases thrive on mystery, power, and the nagging sense of a cover-up.
But for a true crime tale that’s personal, raw, and layered with conspiracy, let’s talk about the Colt Family Enigma from How to a Kill a President: Colt the Smoking Gun. Donaldson recounts a string of suspicious deaths in 2017: his sisters, Theresa Susan and Beverly, and father, Big Donny, all linked to their ties with Donald Trump. Theresa’s alleged overdose, Beverly’s liver failure near Mar-a-Lago, and Big Donny’s sudden stomach issue. Is it a coincidence or something darker? The book hints at a Colt-Trump connection stretching back generations, with the Colts wielding influence over elections and underworld dealings. Was this retribution for knowing too much? Donaldson’s own near-death from a “bee sting” that turned out to be a needle puncture adds a chilling twist. If you want to uncover this mystery, both Volumes 1 and 2 will offer you an inside glimpse into the mystery, that will only deepen your interest, making you want to uncover the truth. It is a true crime mystery begging for answers.
Volume one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DX3Y1QCQ.
Volume two: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DX3NHG2P.
What sets this series is its intimacy—family secrets collide with political intrigue, making it feel like you’re eavesdropping on a confession. It’s not just about whodunit; it’s about how far power reaches. For the full, unvarnished story, grab Colt the Smoking Gun, Volumes 1 and 2—a must for any true crime fan craving a fresh, firsthand mystery.
These cases—Zodiac, Cooper, Dahlia, Epstein, and the Colts—keep us up at night because they defy resolution. They’re the best true crime mysteries to date, blending raw humanity with the shadowy unknown.
Which one’s your favorite unsolved riddle?