The Girl Who Was Taken

The Girl Who Was Taken engages with the societal fascination with true crime and forensic science, showcasing a multifaceted phenomenon rooted in human curiosity, the pursuit of justice, and a desire to understand the complexities of criminal behavior. A nonfiction genre, true crime discusses the details surrounding a crime and is popular across mediums like books, TV shows, and podcasts. True crime stories have roots that extend back centuries, and the contemporary American genre can be traced back to Truman Capote’s 1965 book In Cold Blood, which focuses on the murders of a Kansas family in 1959. Other famous books in the genre include Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry, which details the Manson murders, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer.

While The Girl Who Was Taken is a work of fiction, the obsessions of the Capture Club, which include poring over details of abductions, reflect some of the tendencies of true crime fandoms. Likewise, Megan’s memoir would be considered a work of true crime literature. Donlea’s storytelling also bears hallmarks of true crime literature by detailing the scientific methods and technologies used in crime scene analysis, evidence collection, and forensic pathology.

In alluding to true crime, Donlea both critiques the genre and acknowledges its upsides. For example, Nicole finds comfort in reading about other abductions after losing her sister, alluding to the catharsis people might feel reading about crimes. However, this leaves her vulnerable to Casey’s nefarious intentions, showing how an interest in extreme violence can result in toxic behaviors and coping mechanisms. Similarly, studies have shown that true crime audiences can develop a distorted sense of reality, disproportionately believing that they will be victims of crimes (Volpe, Allie. “Your True Crime Obsession Could Be Hurting Your Mental Health.” Vice, 12 Apr. 2021). For example, some true crime fans create evidence binders with hair samples and other materials that might help investigators solve their future disappearances. Other studies show that true crime media, which is often created without consent, can retraumatize victims and their families (Chan, Melissa. “‘Real People Keep Getting Re-Traumatized.’ The Human Cost of Binge-Watching True Crime Series.” TIME, 24 Apr. 2020). This is reflected in Megan’s reflections on her memoir in The Girl Who Was Taken, which only increases her distress rather than providing closure.

The Capture Club’s abductions are a sweeping condemnation of true crime obsession, but Nate’s knowledge of kidnappings proves to be a valuable asset in Livia’s investigation. With this, Donlea acknowledges the real-life instances of true crime fans or media either uncovering new evidence or encouraging authorities to reopen cold cases. For example, the 2014 podcast Serial examined the trial of Adnan Syed, who was convicted of killing his girlfriend even though the evidence was not conclusive. His life sentence was overturned in 2022 (Levenson, Michael. “Judge Vacates Murder Conviction of Adnan Syed of ‘Serial.’” The New York Times, 19 Sept. 2022).