Holiday gifts for true crime junkies & book lovers

‘Tis the season for crazy people the world over to flock to shopping malls, stand in line, and expose themselves to a certain contagious virus, all to buy a bunch of crap their friends and family don’t really need.

I mean, let’s face it. What did you get for Christmahanakwanzika last year? Yeah, I don’t remember, either.

I’m not saying I’m against gifts. I love giving and receiving them! But don’t just grab that generic gift basket of hand lotion and body spray that might make your loved one break out in a case of hives. (I speak from experience.) Get them something they’ll really treasure!

Which brings me to today’s post! Below you will find my curated list of true crime- and book-themed gift ideas. I’ve done all the legwork for you, thus taking all the stress out of your holiday shopping. As a bonus, you can buy all these things online! No need to leave the house, or even put on pants. You’re welcome.

Gift ideas for…

• The bookworm who likes to hibernate all winter
• The true crime obsessed
• The social butterfly
• The nerd or technophile
• The young at heart
• The morbidly curious
• The literary scholar

Oh, and. Keep in mind that you deserve a gift, too. Just sayin’.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase any of the recommended products, I receive a teeny tiny commission, but it costs you nothing!

For the bookworm who likes to hibernate all winter

My Thrill Club Book Subscription Box

Each month, My Thrill Club subscribers receive two hardcover books. Can’t decide whether you—er, uh, your friend—wants mystery, thriller, or horror books? Choose the “surprise me” option to be… well, surprised. Supply your own fedora for an authentic mystery reading experience. Starting at $16/month.

You Might Also Like: No time to sit down and read? Your loved one will love an Audible subscription!

Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug

If you’re like me, you have a beverage next to you at all times: tea in the morning, water in the afternoon, and wine in the evening. Water and wine are easy to keep at the correct temperature, barring power outages and fire-breathing dragons, but tea and coffee require some extra tools.

Enter the Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug! It keeps your beverage warm for 80 minutes, so while you get sucked into a good book like Anonymous Source (see what I did there?!), your tea/coffee/hot chocolate/toddy stays nice and warm. I haven’t yet been able to justify spending this much on a mug, but isn’t that what gifts are all about—buying someone something they wouldn’t buy for themselves? Hint, hint. Starting at $100.

Wearable Fleece Blanket with Sleeves and Foot Pockets

With the coldest weeks of winter ahead for those of us in the northern half of the northern hemisphere, you’re going to need one of these “wearable fleece blankets” (read: knock-off Snuggie) to keep warm while you cozy up with a good book. And did you see they have FEET POCKETS? No more cold toes sticking out the edge of the blanket! This sucker will keep your tootsies toasty. Starting at $25.

For the true crime obsessed

Cold Case Puzzles

Featuring more than 100 crime-themed brain teasers, this book test exercise your most important muscle. Test your verbal, visual, memory, and logic skills by solving these cold cases, and when you’re finished, help yourself to a donut like the detective you are. There are several other books in the series, including CSI Puzzles and Criminal Mind Puzzles. Starting at $8.

Crime Scene Do Not Cross Lanyard Keychain

Great stocking stuffer for the wannabe cop. Add a detective’s field notepad and this forensic bullet caliber comparison set, throw everything into a reusable zippered evidence bag, and you’ve got yourself a themed gift—complete with wrapping! Less than $10 for the lanyard.

Murder Minute Premium Subscription

Love true crime and mysteries, but no time to sit down and actually read a book? Grab your loved one a subscription to the Murder Minute app, which features a new true crime story every day. Premium listeners get twice as much murderous content as free users, including photos, analysis, and every episode of a story all at once, so you can binge to the gory end. Subscriptions start at $2.

You Might Also Like: A premium subscription to a podcast channel like Wondery.

For the social butterfly

Hunt A Killer: Body On The Boardwalk

Someone has been killed at a seaside amusement park! (Cue ominous music.) Uncover the dirty secrets that led to her death in this murder mystery game for ages 14+. It’s wholesome fun for the entire family!

Hunt A Killer also offers Death at a Dive Bar, Nancy Drew’s Mystery at Magnolia Gardens, and Agatha Christie’s Mystery at Hunter’s Lodge, among other self-contained (read: non-subscription) mystery boxes. Starting at $30.

Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist

Know someone who likes reading and imbibing in the occasional (or more frequent) adult beverage? (Raises hand.) This book features 65 literary-themed drink recipes inspired by history’s most recognized novels, including the last of the mojitos, love in the time of Kahlua, vermouth the bell tolls, and Romeo and julep. The series also includes Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margarita and the Hollywood film-inspired Gone with the Gin. Enjoy the classics you read and watched in high school in a much more fun and enlightening way! Starting around $5.

When I Think About Books Glass

You’ve got the cocktails. Now you need something to put them in… like the punny wine glass pictured above. Also comes in a rocks glass and pint glass. Priced around $20.

For the nerds and technophiles

Blue Light Glasses

Did you know? Blue light is evil. Not like serial killer evil, but it causes eye strain and blocks melatonin production, and a bunch of other sciencey things. If you spend a lot of time on a computer or tablet, blue light glasses are a MUST, especially in the evening hours. Note the yellow-tinted lenses that counteract the blue light. (That’s color science, yo.) If you don’t like this style, there are literally eleventy billion options out there. Starting at $11 for the pair shown.

Kindle Paperwhite

This one is a bit obvious, but I had to throw it in. Amazon’s newest version of its Kindle Paperwhite features a 6.8” display with thinner borders, adjustable warm light, up to 10 weeks of battery life, and 20% faster page turns. (If you’re looking for something to do, time the page turn, compare it to an older model Kindle, and report back.) You can even add Kindle Unlimited to your purchase, so your nerdy friend will have immediate access to tons of reading material! Bonus points if you pre-load Anonymous Source before gifting. Starting at $140.

Flippy Multi-Angle Soft Pillow Lap Stand

Now that your nerdy friend has a Kindle, he or she needs something to put it on so as not to expend too much energy. This pillow takes all the physical effort out of reading. It was designed by an optical engineer (whatever that is) to give you three viewing different angles so you can choose the best one for your environment. And it comes in approximately 157 colors and patterns! Starting at $30.

For the young at heart (literally or metaphorically)

Detective Spy Kit for Kids

Foster your kid’s curiosity, problem-solving skills, and future true crime obsession with this kit. Featuring 15 forensic-based experiments, this science kit includes a top secret envelope, magnifying glass, crime scene tape, and more. Currently priced at $40.

You Might Also Like: KidzLabs Fingerprint Kit

Highlights for Children Magazine

I LOVED this magazine when I was a kid! Goofus and Gallant, hidden pictures, arts and crafts, and so much more engaging material I had no idea was educational. And it really is great for all ages, because nowadays, Highlights offers options for a wide range of ages. In fact, I just bought my niece a subscription of the “Hello” magazine for her first birthday. Starting at $30.

You Might Also Like: A subscription to Nat Geo Kids.

Superhero Floating Bookshelf

You’ve got books. Ergo, you need a place to keep them. And no, the floor is not an acceptable place. (I mean, do you know how long it took that author to write that book? And you’re just going to toss it on the dirty carpet that the cat threw up on last week?! YOU MONSTER.)

Anyway. Grab a couple of these Invisible Hanging Metal Floating Bookshelves in your choice of hero or heroine. Your kiddo will get a kick out of the brave soul who never tires of keeping his or her books organized and off the floor! And that’s sure to make the parents happy, too (wink, wink). Starting at $26.

For the morbidly curious

The Big Book of Serial Killers

Some people love to be scared. You know the types: Roller coaster fiends, horror junkies, haunted house visitors, ghost hunters. Jack Rosewood’s highly rated encyclopedia of murder (and the second volume!) will scare the bejeezus out of anyone with an unhealthy fascination with serial killers. As one reviewer put it, this book “will surely raise more than a few hairs on the back of your neck.” List price $20.

The Forensic Casebook: The Science of Crime Scene Investigation

Ever wondered how the experts analyze a crime scene? This highly rated book by Ngaire E. Genge covers the A to Z of CSI—including lifting fingerprints (and lip, feet, and ear prints!), examining trace evidence, and identifying blood spatter patterns—using true crime stories and photos. Starting at $15.

The Serial Killer Cookbook

I feel I need to say this first, because the title is a bit misleading: No, this is not a book about how to cook serial killers or how serial killers cook their victims. If you’re disappointed, you might be in the wrong place.

Okay, now that that’s out of the way… This is a cookbook of serial killers’ last meals before they were executed. Not only will you enjoy meals like seared steak with hash browns, toast, and fried eggs (Ted Bundy), but you’ll enjoy your guests’ looks of horror when they stop by and see the book in your kitchen! Truly a gift that keeps on giving. Starting at $12.

You Might Also Like: Mixology and Murder: Cocktails Inspired by Infamous Serial Killers, Cold Cases, Cults, and Other Disturbing True Crime Stories

For the literary scholar

Shakespeare Insults Generator

One of my greatest writer superpowers is being able to insult someone without letting on that I’m insulting them, because the insult sounds so eloquent and fancy. Now you and your fellow swaggering rascals can mouth off using the most eloquent insults one could never imagine. Have a couple of tequila mockingbirds and practice insulting your significant other for a very merry holiday. In the mean time, be off with you, penurious and indubitate beggar! Starting at $20.

You Might Also Like: Shakespeare Insult Generator Book: Mix and Match More than 150,000 Insults in the Bard’s Own Words

Pride and Prejudice Book Scarf

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! — When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” Such a pretentious scarf! Perfect for your friend who fancies herself an amateur professor of literature. You’ll also find scarves featuring excerpts from Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and other classics. Priced at $35.

Personal Library Kit

For a bibliophile, there’s no greater pleasure than sharing beloved books, but no crueler pain than losing them for good. (So says the product description. Based on my research, I’m betting there are more painful things. Do not look at my browser history!) This novelty gift will make book lending more fun, and as a bonus, you can start charging overdue fees when your friends don’t return your book on time. The kit comes in four different styles; shown above is the original version. Starting at $18.

Do you have any gift ideas to add to this list? Plan on buying yourself a much-deserved holiday gift? Share in the comments below!

Cover photo by Jill Wellington from Pexels