In television, now more than ever, crime pays.

A search for “true crime” on Netflix produced 300 titles. Nearly half of Apple’s top 20 podcasts in the U.S. are devoted to true crime, and the internet is chockablock with recommendations for the best new true crime books.

As I type this, Paramount is announcing that Dennis Quaid will play the real-life serial killer notoriously called “Happy Face,” based on the “Happy Face” podcast from iHeart. And Village Roadshow Entertainment is announcing both a scripted series and a two-part documentary based on the story of convicted serial killer William Dathan Holbert, better known as “Wild Bill,” who is currently serving 47 years in prison for five murders.

Why are Americans drawn to this genre more than at any time in TV history? Some people suggest the trend is linked to the continuing perception of rampant........

© Yuma Sun