Dark Deeds Books in Order

The Dark Deeds books are Susan Fleet's true crime side, separate from Frank Renzi but interested in many of the same things, obsession, cruelty, manipulation, and the long shadow violence leaves behind. This is not a narrative series with one detective or one ongoing cast. Each chapter is its own case, which makes the books easy to dip into. Fleet also keeps bringing the reader back to victims and consequences, not just lurid headlines.

Dark Deeds and Dark Deeds, Volume 2 both gather short case studies about serial killers, stalkers, and domestic homicides. The setup is simple and effective: meet the victim, meet the offender, follow the pattern, and see how the crime came together. Fleet keeps the chapters compact, so the books move quickly even when the material is grim. Volume 2 also adds a bonus chapter on Amy Bishop, whose earlier violent act did not stop later bloodshed.

These are grim books.

The range is part of the appeal. One chapter may look at a famous case such as the Boston Strangler question. Another may shift to celebrity stalking, an obsessive fan, or a domestic murder planned inside what looked like an ordinary marriage. The official chapter list hints at that variety, from killers nicknamed the Candy Man or the Eyeball Killer to stalker cases, family bloodbaths, and the notorious Amy Bishop story. The common thread is not fame. It is escalation.

Fleet's approach is more journalistic than flashy. She has done historical and biographical research in her music career, and you can feel that habit here. The chapters are interested in motive, method, warning signs, and the way families, institutions, or bystanders respond when something is clearly going wrong. Because the entries are short, the books work best as sharp portraits rather than exhaustive doorstop histories.

If you like true crime for psychology, case structure, and quick, self-contained reading, Dark Deeds is a good fit. If you want one long investigation with a single narrator, it may be less your lane. Start with Dark Deeds for the basic format and the first dozen cases, then move to Dark Deeds, Volume 2 for another round of crimes and the bonus chapter. Expect concise case files, a steady voice, and plenty of disturbing behavior.