Looking for an unforgettable collection of books that are inspired by true stories, actual events, or real people? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending the most impactful novels in this category.
You’ll find detailed reviews of many of my favorites in the roundup below. These are not your typical “true crime” novels. I’m confident that you’ll find something new to love here.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Real people or events
Based on the life and diary of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife in Maine
What it’s about
Set in New England during the early days of America, a midwife finds herself in the middle of solving a rape and murder.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“It’s an unimaginative accusation and one that I am frankly tired of hearing. Witchcraft. As though there is no other explanation for a woman who excels at her work.”― Ariel Lawhon from The Frozen River
What a wonderful book! Historical fiction isn't my usual genre, but the cover and the accolades for The Frozen River made me give it a try.
On a high level, this mystery is about a midwife named Martha Ballard. The body of an accused rapist is found frozen in the river, and after examination, Martha says that the victim was murdered. She becomes a key witness in a trial for the woman who was raped because she treated the woman's wounds after the assault. The other accused man is a judge.
This novel has many layers. Beyond the mystery, there is the social commentary on women, family, sexual assault, and society during early days of America in New England. Paul Revere is mentioned as a friend of the family. The author depicts a rich setting of cold winter, warm homes and hearts, young love and pre-marital relationships, and the early court system. I couldn't put it down.
I will definitely read other novels by Ariel Lawhon!
Swallow the Rainbow by Khristina Chess
Real people or events
Inspired by the Super Outbreak of tornadoes on April 27, 2011, which was the largest in U.S. history and resulted in 368 confirmed tornadoes across 21 states and over 300 fatalities.
What it’s about
She survived the worst tornado in history—but now Savannah must survive what comes next: withdrawal, guilt, and the long road back to herself.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“That’s the thing about addiction. Now that I’m hooked, nothing else matters. Nothing. Not my mom, not Mr. Purrty, not the power outage, not my lack of clean clothes or showering, not the disaster surrounding us, not these kind people taking care of me, not my friends, nothing but the addiction”― Khristina Chess from Swallow the Rainbow
If you’ve ever loved someone with opioid an addiction—or suffer from one yourself—Swallow the Rainbow is for you. Savannah’s sharp, darkly unique perspective makes this more than just another teen addiction story—it’s raw, emotional, and beautifully crafted.
After the tornado, nothing is where it should be—not the roof, not the cat, not Savannah Young’s mother.
But that’s not the worst part.
The worst part is the empty pill bottle.
With roads blocked and power out across multiple counties, Savannah has no way to get more painkillers—and withdrawal is worse than any storm. As her neighborhood bands together to rebuild, she fights a more private war against opioid addiction, survivor’s guilt, and the wreckage of a past she thought she’d buried with her brother.
Wow—this book is unforgettable. Swallow the Rainbow grabs you from the first page and never lets go.
Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood
Real people or events
Inspired by the real-life kidnapping of eleven-year-old Sally Horner in 1948, an event which also influenced Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Lolita."
What it’s about
An 11-year-old girl is kidnapped by a pedophile and held for two years before escaping.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“How sad was it that grief had a shelf life, he thought. It’s only fresh and raw for so long before it begins to spoil. And soon enough, it would be replaced by a newer, brighter heartache - the old one discarded and eventually forgotten.”―T. Greenwood from Rust & Stardust
I never read Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, and after reading Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood, I never want to.
Both novels are based on the real abduction of 11-year-old Sally Horner in 1948. T. Greenwood's book, "Rust & Stardust," depicts the events primarily from Sally's viewpoint over the two years of her captivity. What horror. What evil. It's unspeakable. Indescribable. I kept turning pages, hoping for it to be over, hoping for her to escape, but it just went on and on.
There are other characters, including her mom, her sister, her brother-in-law, and others who met Sally along the way, suspected something wrong, and sometimes tried to help her. Rescue her. The whole thing is heartbreaking, for everyone, but especially for dear young Sally.
At the end of the book, the author includes two pictures of the real girl, a "before" and an "after." I stared and stared into her eyes. I hurt so much for this little girl and the trauma she experienced at the hands of Frank Lasalle, a 50-year-old mechanic and pedophile. Sally was not his only victim. And this same despicable creature, Frank Lasalle, inspired the narrator of Lolita. No thank you.
But Rust & Stardust is a deeply moving novel and worth the read if you like novels based on true stories.
Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W. Ihli
Real people or events
Inspired by a true crime (the Chowchilla kidnapping)
What it’s about
Two men kidnap a bus full of children and hold them for ransom.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“When there were enough bad things all around you, the only choice was to move to the least bad thing.” ― Noelle W. Ihli from Such Quiet Girls
What a great premise! A bus full of children vanishes. The men responsible have buried them underground in a shipping container while they demand ransom. The biggest hook for me: this is based on a true story!
Multiple viewpoint characters tell the story, and the pacing is taut and riveting. If you're looking for a quick read, give Such Quiet Girls a look.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
Real people or events
Inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff (the greatest maritime disaster in history)
What it’s about
A group of refugees fleeing the Nazis find their lives intertwined by fate and horror.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“I wept because i had no shoes, until i met a man who had no feet.” ― Ruta Sepetys from Salt to the Sea
Going in, I had no idea what this book was about, except that lots of people were reading it and it won awards. For sure, I had no prior knowledge of the historical event at its heart.
The multiple viewpoints and short scenes took a while to hook me. I didn’t like Alfred from the beginning, but the stories of the others pulled me in, the secondary characters as well as the main ones. All of them had compelling secrets. I wanted everyone in the group to escape, to be the handful of refugees to survive that horrific war.
Graphic details created a vivid backdrop. I could see the horses entombed in the ice with the people. I could see the starving cow, its udders burst in the cold. The dead and dying. War.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Why It’s like the women
Inspired by the dust bowls following the great depression
What it’s about
Set in America in the 1920s and 30s, a woman faces sorrow, poverty, and the struggle to survive with her children.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“Courage is fear you ignore.” ― Kristin Hannah from The Four Winds
In Texas 1921, a sickly, ugly young-ish (25) woman named Elsa sneaks out of her house and meets a young man, and this tryst leads to an epic life journey as a farmer’s wife during the dust bowl in the 1930s. Famine and health eventually drive her and her children to California in search of work, food, and stability. But California is no paradise for the migrant workers who end up there.
It sounds easy enough, but The Four Winds is an epic novel that reminded me of Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath in the way it portrayed the brutal hardships of the depression and drought that destroyed so many lives. I loved Elsa’s grit and hopefulness despite so many things working against her. I loved how she turned her mother-in-law’s initial antagonism into real love and family kinship. I loved her friendship with other women at the migrant camp, as well as her second chance at love.
As with all of Kristin Hannah’s novels, I learned some unexpected things about this time period through Elsa’s story. For example, the most severe dust storms were black blizzards of grit and dirt that blocked the sun, permeated everything, and even caused “dust pneumonia.” Imagine!
Wonderful book. Great read. Pick it up today! In fact, every Kristin Hannah novel is amazing.
Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood
Real people or events
Inspired by a series of articles in The Lowell Sun in 1971 about conditions at the Belchertown State School for the Feeble-Minded
What it’s about
A woman steals her 2-year-old daughter from a state-run institution and flees across state lines in a fight to be able to keep her.
Why I Love It - Book Review
“A body forgets, but the heart remembers.” ― T. Greenwood from Keeping Lucy
This thrilling historical novel by T. Greenwood explores the powerlessness of women at that time, society’s response to handicaps, and the unbreakable bond between mother and child.
After seeing an expose about the school where her daughter was taken at birth, Ginny decides to visit and see for herself. She is so shocked by the conditions that she checks out her daughter, who she is seeing for the very first time and who has Down Syndrome, and she flees with a friend to Florida. In the thrilling journey that follows, the two women are chased, have car trouble, take shelter in a seedy motel, and run out of money.
I loved the way the author portrayed the challenges Ginny faced. She’d never driven a car in her life. Any access to money came through her husband, who expected her to follow along and not ask questions.
Other Books You’ll Devour If You Like Stories Based on Real People or Actual Events
If you are looking for more novels like these, you might check out the Goodreads: Best Books Based on a True Story. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads.
Author Bio
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
